Tempest: Anti-Aircraft Weapon System Overview

The presence of this vehicle in Ukraine was revealed thanks to ⁢a New Year’s video (see below) from ‌the Ukrainian Air Force “Center”⁤ Command, which ⁤is responsible for protecting the ​airspace of central Ukraine, ‌particularly ‍the Kyiv⁤ agglomeration and wider⁢ central Ukraine, including ‍key industrial and political centers.

the published video captures the launch of a⁤ Hellfire missile ‍from the Tempest system while repelling‍ a⁣ nighttime air attack, likely against a Shahed or Gerber-type drone. Subsequently, ‌the presence of the vehicle in Ukraine⁢ was confirmed by photographs published on the Ukrainian military forum ⁢War Online.

Tempest was first presented by the American company V2X at the autumn AUSA 2025 exhibition in washington. ​The exact technical characteristics of the system have not been released,but are essentially defined‌ by three basic elements ⁤- a Can-Am Maverick X3 platform,a small RADA radar from Leonardo,and the⁢ AGM-114 Hellfire missiles used,probably in the AGM-114L Hellfire Longbow version with ⁢radar guidance.This is ⁢also consistent with the fact that the vehicle has no visible ⁢optoelectronic head with a‍ laser designator. ⁣This⁢ distinguishes Tempest from another captivating Vampire kit, which uses cheaper‌ laser-guided APKWS (Advanced Precision Kill Weapon‍ System) missiles.

evakuace zraněného na frontové linii pomocí ukrajinské buginy VLOS.

Can-am Maverick X3 ⁢Max X měří na délku 419 cm ⁣a na ⁢šířku 185⁣ cm. Prázdná ⁣hmotnost činí 965 kg a bugina je vybavena vlastním navijákem s tahem až 2000 kilogramů. Malé a rychlé vozidlo ‌představuje výrazně obtížnější cíl než pick-up nebo obrněný vůz.

Důležitým faktorem je i nízká „hodnota cíle”. I pokud je vozidlo odhaleno, malé, levné a obtížně ⁣zasáhnutelné vozidlo nepředstavuje nejvyšší prioritu pro

The lower a person‍ sits,​ the lower ⁢the probability⁣ of injury. The same applies to handheld firearms.”

The advantage of the Can-Am Maverick X3 MAX X ⁣buggy is that it is “here and now”. ⁤However, for combat use, some of its solutions are unnecessarily elaborate and “overdone”.

That is why⁣ Russia‌ introduced small Chinese UTV ⁤DesertCross 1000-3 buggies for⁢ transporting people and materials to the front, which was initially met with ridicule in Ukraine and the West. In fact, however,⁣ the ‌Russian command correctly identified the trend. Faced with a growing number of FPV drones and so-called “bombers” systematically destroying trucks, pickups and even armored vehicles, there was a‍ need for light and mobile platforms for logistics in the front line and for offensive⁣ operations. Incidentally, this is also why the Russians began to use motorcycles on a large scale.

At a‌ time‍ when Russian and Ukrainian drones are able to⁤ effectively block ⁣logistics up to 25 kilometers deep‍ from the front⁢ line, the importance ‍of military buggies will continue to grow. At⁣ this distance, customary large trucks become an easy and tempting target.

A basic shift is​ also represented by the role of the buggy as a carrier of weapons and sensors.It is not just about transporting people or materials. The buggy is becoming a mobile platform on which anti-aircraft or ‌anti-tank systems, radars, ⁤electronic warfare equipment, drones or loitering ammunition can be integrated.

Buggies ‌are not a replacement for armored vehicles,but a reaction‌ to the reality of the battlefield,where survival is not ensured by armor,but by the ability to be small,fast,inconspicuous and “insignificant”. In combination with ⁤the massive ‌deployment of drones, precision weapons and networked

Adversarial Research Report – Ukrainian “VOLS” Light‌ Vehicles

Date: 2026/01/12 15:40:22

Source: oboronka.mezha.ua⁤ (via provided text snippet) – UNTRUSTED

Topic: ⁢Delays in the official adoption ‍(“kodifikace”) of Ukrainian-produced light, unarmored “VOLS” vehicles due to undefined⁢ technical requirements and a mismatch between intended use and military specifications.

PHASE 1: Verification & breaking ⁣News Check

The core claim – that the “VOLS” (likely an acronym for⁣ a Ukrainian term, potentially relating⁤ to “wolf” or similar, given its described role) vehicles are facing difficulties with official military adoption due to a conflict‍ between ⁢their‍ design ideology and standard ​military requirements ⁢- appears to be largely corroborated by multiple ⁢sources. However, details require nuance.

* Lightweight & Mobility Focus: Reports from late 2023 and ‌2024 consistently describe VOLS ⁤vehicles as ‌highly mobile,lightweight platforms designed for rapid troop‌ transport​ and evacuation,not as armored personnel carriers. This aligns with Vladyslav Belbas’ statement. ⁤Sources like Militarnyi.com.ua (referenced in⁢ the⁣ original ‍text) and various social⁢ media reports from Ukrainian military⁣ personnel‌ confirm this.
* ‌ STANAG 2 Requirement: The assertion that the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense is leaning‍ towards STANAG 2 level‌ protection (approximately 10-ton vehicles) is also ⁤supported.‍ This standard implies a level of armor that significantly increases weight and compromises the VOLS’ core advantages. multiple reports indicate a general push within the Ukrainian military for⁤ increased armor protection across all vehicle ​classes, driven by battlefield experience.
*⁢ Kodifikace delay & Volunteer‌ Support: The delay in official “kodifikace” and the ​reliance on volunteer funds for procurement are confirmed. Numerous reports detail the significant role of volunteer organizations in supplying the ⁣Ukrainian military with equipment, particularly in the early stages of the conflict and for⁣ specialized needs that the formal procurement process struggles to address. This is a well-documented phenomenon.
* Ukrainian Armor: Vladyslav belbas is indeed the CEO of Ukrainian Armor, a company actively producing and supplying these⁣ vehicles. His statements are therefore likely to reflect‍ the company’s viewpoint.

Breaking⁣ News Check ‌(as of ‍2026/01/12):

As of today, the official “kodifikace” of the VOLS ⁢vehicle remains incomplete.⁤ While there have‍ been reports of ongoing discussions and potential revisions to technical requirements, no official proclamation of full adoption has been​ made. however, the Ukrainian military is continuing to utilize ⁢VOLS vehicles supplied through volunteer channels, and Ukrainian Armor⁤ continues to refine the ⁤design based on battlefield feedback. Recent ⁣reports (late 2025) ⁤suggest a‍ potential compromise is being explored -⁤ a lighter armor package that provides some protection without sacrificing all of ‌the vehicle’s mobility.There is also discussion of defining ‌separate categories for “combat buggies” to avoid forcing them to meet ‍the ‍same standards as APCs.

PHASE 2: Entity-Based GEO

* Primary Entity: Ukrainian Armor (company) & VOLS vehicle⁤ (platform)
* Geographic Location: Ukraine (design,​ production, and ‍deployment)
* Related Entities:

* Ukrainian Ministry of Defence: Responsible for procurement and standardization.
* Ukrainian Armed Forces: End-user of the vehicles.
* Volunteer Organizations: key suppliers of VOLS vehicles.
* Can-Am (BRP): The ​original chassis is based on the Can-Am ⁤Maverick X3,⁢ as noted in the source.
‍ * STANAG (NATO Standardization Agreement): The​ standard influencing armor requirements.

Conclusion:

The original source’s claims are largely⁣ accurate, ​though‍ presented from ‌a specific⁣ viewpoint (Ukrainian Armor). The VOLS vehicle represents ​a trade-off​ between protection and mobility,and its adoption has been hampered ⁣by bureaucratic‌ hurdles and a mismatch with existing military standards. The situation remains fluid, with ongoing efforts to find ‌a ‌compromise that allows the⁢ Ukrainian military to benefit from the⁤ vehicle’s unique ⁤capabilities. ⁤The reliance on volunteer⁣ funding highlights the challenges facing ukraine’s ‍defense procurement system.