The Multipurpose Tracked Chassis (MTC) was developed by OBRUM some years ago and originally utilised some components of the Russian MT-S full-tracked transporter.

The MTC has been developed as the basis for a complete family of armoured vehicles that can be used for a wide range of battlefield missions, ranging from Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) through to self-propelled artillery and minelayer.

As of November 2005, quantity production of the MTC had yet to commence. Although the MTC was developed by OBRUM, quantity production would be undertaken at another facility.

It is expected that the first production application for the OBRUM will be the 155 mm/52 calibre Krab self-propelled artillery system, currently undergoing trials with the Polish Army. Two prototypes/preproduction Krab have been built but as of November 2005 production had yet to commence.

The hull of the MTC is of all-welded steel armour construction that provides the occupants with protection from small arms fire and shell splinters. For some applications, such as the BWP 2000 IFV, protection over the frontal arc is provided against attack from APFSDS-T projectiles up to 35 mm in calibre.

The driver is seated at the front of the hull on the left side and is provided with a single-piece hatch cover that opens to the right. In front of this is a single wide-angle periscope that can be rapidly replaced by a passive periscope for driving at night. In addition there are two periscopes in the roof-hatch cover which give observation either side of his position.

The diesel power pack is to the right, with the air inlet/outlet louvres in the roof and the exhaust outlet on the right side.

If being used as a weapons platform the weapon is normally mounted in the centre of the hull. The normal means of entry and exit is via a large door in the hull rear that opens to the right. For some applications, such as the BWP-2000 IFV, a power-operated ramp is provided.

Suspension is of the torsion-bar type with either side having seven dual rubber-tyred road wheels with the drive sprocket at the front, idler at the rear and three track return rollers. The upper part of the track is covered by a sheet-metal skirt.

Standard equipment includes an NBC system and a fire-detection and suppression system. An auxiliary power unit with a rating of 10 kW is fitted as standard. Some versions have an unditching beam carried across the hull rear.

OBRUM has proposed that the chassis of the MTC could be used for a wide range of applications including:

• BWP-2000 IFV (prototype built and tested)

• Krab 155 mm/52 calibre self-propelled artillery system (two prototypes built for Polish Army) (as of November 2005, no production orders had been placed for the Krab by the Polish Army)

• Ambulance

• Ammunition resupply vehicle

• Armoured recovery vehicle

• Bridgelayer

• Command post vehicle

• Evacuation and repair vehicle

• Engineer vehicle

• Missile launcher

• Self-propelled mortar

• Surface-to-surface rocket system

• Radar system

• Minelaying system (called Kalina, prototypes built and tested)

• Mine scattering system

• UAV carrier and launcher