The Armed Forces could be "Ukrainian Bradley", but before the invasion of the program was curtailed - the media (photo)
The idea of developing Babylon BMP emerged in 2016. The team of designers of AREU, under the leadership of Mykola Stepanov and his son Sergiy, suggested that the Defense Ministry create a heavy BMP on the basis of the T-64A tank. The machine should be equipped with a modern digital control complex, hybrid drive and reinforced armor. The designers managed to reach the required level of protection. On the tests, the layout stood a 125 millimeter ammunition from 500 meters.
To begin the development of the project, the Central Research Institute (Central) had to provide the technical task of AREU. However, this process took over two years, and the works began only at the end of 2018. The Central Head, General Igor Chepkov, explained that although the technical task was developed quickly, the reconciliation of tactical and technical requirements took a considerable time.
In addition to long -standing, designers, including Sergei Stepanov, have encountered mistakes in the document such as outdated standards and unrealistic requirements. According to Stepanov, one of the unusual requirements was the need to equip the fighting machine with a dynamic protection of the HSCC. This has caused misunderstanding, as usually the general goals and characteristics, not specific products, are usually indicated in the technical task.
"Aye" expressed his dissatisfaction with the fact that Chepkov insisted on the use of HSCC in the project, which allegedly became a key point of conflict between the company and the customer. Although the CNIA agreed to adjust the technical task at the request of "Area", some aspects, such as reservations, remained unchanged.
In the second stage of the development of the project - the creation of design documentation - the process slowed down due to changes in the technical task, which were considered within six months. At this time, the company faced financial difficulties, but despite this, it completed this stage, receiving a positive response of military representatives. However, weird events later arose. The military came to the plant unplanned to check the execution of the contract, and the results were positive.
Later, Areya management was summoned to a meeting of the Verkhovna Rada Security Committee, which discussed the issue of the transfer of the Project "Babylon" to another enterprise. Although there were no negative points in the following inspections, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, relying on Chepkov's letter, suspended the payment of the Administration. Later, the advance was paid, but the company was faced with pressure and supply to move production to another plant.
At that moment, at the Kiev Armored Plant (KBTZ), where the workshops for the production of the Babylon research design were already prepared, and all necessary agreements were signed, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine was equally insisted on the transfer of production to Kharkiv. The company "Aye" did not agree with this because it has already gained employees in Kiev. The third stage of development did not receive funding, and Aye was again without funds by the end of 2021.
This has led to losses of UAH 28 million, which have not been compensated because the contracts do not provide for the customer's liability for the disruption of financing. During this time, the designers created unique software, optical-electronic devices, energy unit, but all these efforts were in vain.
The Program of the State Defense Order (SKR) "Babylon" was closed on February 22, 2022, two days before the invasion of Russia, without taking into account the position of the Armed Forces Command, according to the results of the internal audit of the Ministry of Defense. The Ministry of Defense did not seize the design documentation and layouts, which spent UAH 50 million in taxpayers. By law, this property belongs to the Ministry of Defense.
Upon completion of the contract, "Aye" had no right to put technical documentation and layouts on the balance, and asked them to pick up, but it did not happen. Later, the internal audit of the Ministry of Defense mentioned the lost property. The audit confirmed that the agency did not accept material values owned by the Ministry.