From February 8 to 12, Saudi Arabia will host in Riyadh the world’s leading defense companies at the International World Defense Show (WDS). In recent days, companies and countries have been finalizing preparations to display their latest developments, platforms, and services aimed at equipping armed forces around the globe. Among them is the Russian state-owned conglomerate Rostec, which has confirmed its participation, marked by the exhibition of several platforms, most notably the new BTR-22 8×8 wheeled armored combat vehicle (WACV), which is currently undergoing testing and evaluation by the Russian Ground Forces.
Through an official statement issued upon the arrival of the equipment in Riyadh, the state consortium noted: “Our company Rosoboronexport will showcase at the international defense and security exhibition World Defense Show 2026 in Saudi Arabia the latest Russian weapons systems. Nine world and international premieres are expected.”
Based on videos and images that quickly went viral on social media, it was confirmed that Rostec, through its export agency Rosoboronexport, will display at its stand the Planshet-A artillery command-and-control vehicle, the Sarma multiple rocket artillery system mounted on a KAMAZ-63501 truck chassis, the remotely operated weapon station “Ballista,” and the aforementioned BTR-22, the latter being presented as a solution intended to replace the current BTR-80/82 family of wheeled armored vehicles.
At present, and with updates on the more advanced VPK-7829 Bumerang program being scarce—if not virtually nonexistent—the BTR-22 is emerging as a new generation of 8×8 wheeled armored vehicles for infantry transport and fire support.
According to reports from late January 2024, the Russian Ground Forces have been conducting tests and evaluations of the new vehicle, which—much like the Bumerang—features a Western-style design and bears similarities to vehicles such as the 8×8 LAV-25, still operated by the United States Marine Corps (USMC).
As previously noted, the BTR-22 is positioned as a more cost-effective armored platform compared to the Bumerang, with greater ease of mass production in order to more rapidly replace the Soviet-origin armored vehicle families still in service with the Russian Ground Forces.
In terms of specifications, the vehicle is expected to weigh around 20 tons, with a length of 7.6 meters, a width of under 3 meters, and a height of 3 meters—figures that are smaller compared to the Bumerang (8.8 meters in length, 3.1 meters in height and width, and a weight of 34 tons).
Finally, regarding armament, the BTR-22 is equipped with a remotely operated weapon station fitted with a 30 mm cannon (presumably the 30A2), complemented by a smaller-caliber coaxial machine gun. During its presentation at the Army 2023 Forum, the displayed vehicle featured a BPPU turret mounting the aforementioned cannon. It was also indicated that it could be armed with the 2A42 cannon, a heavier PKT-family machine gun, and Konkurs-M anti-tank missiles.
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