The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has codified and approved for use a domestically produced armored vehicle, the MAC OWL “Sova” (Owl), which has become the safest Ukrainian MRAP with the highest level of mine protection.
This unique vehicle is capable of withstanding explosions of up to 10 kg in TNT equivalent (STANAG 4569 standard), has the thickest side armor, and is adapted for mounting a dome-type electronic warfare system against FPV drones, giving the crew maximum chances of survival in modern warfare.
The “Sova” armored vehicle was developed and manufactured at a Ukrainian enterprise. Engineers based the design on the concept of the South African Mbombe armored vehicle.
During development, designers worked together with military personnel to incorporate 30 years of experience from local conflicts, including the specifics of Russia’s war against Ukraine. The result is an armored vehicle with the highest level of crew protection.
Depending on configuration, the MAC OWL “Sova” weighs between 14.2 and 15 tons. It is equipped with an 8.9-liter turbo-diesel engine producing 450 horsepower—the most powerful among all Ukrainian special armored vehicles.
The vehicle has a ground clearance of 45 cm, comparable to heavy military trucks. At the same time, its total height does not exceed 2.8 meters. The cabin accommodates a crew of 2 and either 6 or 8 troops. It is designed to support up to 10 electronic warfare modules, providing full dome protection against FPV kamikaze drones.
The MAC OWL “Sova” is an MRAP-class vehicle, meaning it is specifically designed to protect against mines and ambushes. It features a load-bearing armored hull with a V-shaped bottom, special shock-absorbing seats for the crew, and energy-dissipating components. The vehicle can protect its crew from detonations of up to 10 kg TNT equivalent, in line with the STANAG 4569 standard—the highest for wheeled vehicles. It also has 16 mm side armor, the thickest among both domestic and foreign counterparts.
The “Sova” armored vehicle offers several key advantages over other Ukrainian and foreign special armored vehicles:
- highest crew protection against mines
- lowest silhouette
- most powerful engine
- thickest lower and side armor
- highest ground clearance
- independent hydropneumatic suspension for improved ride comfort
- rear ramp with servo drive for faster troop deployment
These features provide the crew and dismounted troops with maximum survivability on the battlefield.
It is also noted that in 2025, the Armed Forces of Ukraine received 25% more specialized armored vehicles compared to 2024. Most of these are MRAP-type vehicles, designed with enhanced protection against mines and ambushes. Such vehicles feature a V-shaped hull to disperse blast energy, special shock-absorbing seats, and a monolithic armored capsule combined with external energy-absorbing components such as wheels, chassis, and engine units.
