MAXXPRO FIRST LOOK — Ukraine’s armored beast shocks Putin’s army

Added: 2026-05-13

[00:00:04]These images have recently spread around the world. The video shows the true heroes of the 68 separate Jerger Brigade. Our defenders found themselves in a tactical semi-encirclement in the Pokovska direction. The guys held the defense for several days, but when the situation became critical, it was decided to evacuate the personnel from their positions. This task was entrusted to two American armored personnel carriers.

[00:00:31]Despite the intense artillery barrage, the vehicles not only saved the soldiers lives, but also managed to survive, breaking through a hail of enemy fire.

[00:00:42]So, what is this technological marvel that even Russian artillery can't stop?

[00:00:47]And how many of these Americans are already in service with the Ukrainian armed forces? All this and more in today's arsenal.

[00:00:58]At the front, it's known as nothing other than Mad Max. The International Max Pro is an armored personnel carrier produced by the American company Navistar International, adopted by the US military in 2007.

[00:01:11]This 13ton ton vehicle was desperately needed by Allied forces in Iraq.

[00:01:17]Lightly armored and often completely open, Humvees in the local deserts turned out to be far too easy a target.

[00:01:25]And the US Army desperately needed something more reliable. Just imagine, 63% of US military fatalities and 69% of those wounded in Iraq between 2003 and 2007 were the result of improvised explosive devices.

[00:01:43]Moreover, these devices often disabled all allied vehicles as well. Seeing all this, the Pentagon urgently launched a program to build armored vehicles protected against mines and small arms fire from ambushes. The result of all this was the International Max Pro. With a length of 7.2 2 m and a width of 2.5 m. The American armored personnel carrier weighs up to 13.5 tons. And when fully loaded, up to 15 tons since it can carry a crew of 6 to 10 people in full gear. As you might have guessed, MedMax suspension is four-wheel drive 4x4. And all of this is powered by a high torque engine with a capacity of 330 horsepower.

[00:02:27]Here is the front part. As we can see, the engine is placed under the hood here. But despite this, it is protected from mines and bullets. It is designed to withstand explosions and bullets of machine gun caliber and below. Safety is something that the Americans approached with the utmost seriousness in their armored personnel carrier. Despite criticism of the project at the beginning, the final result pleasantly surprised the American military. With such armor, neither Iraqi insurgents nor even more importantly, their minds were a threat to them. You can see exactly how powerful the suspension system is here. And you can also notice how some of the protective plates underneath are angled outwards so that you can deflect the force of an explosion. This is a key part of the classic V-shaped hole design. You can even see additional armor plates welded on there as well for extra protection. As a result, since 2007, the Americans have produced over 9,000 armored vehicles and supplied them to the armed forces of 22 countries, including Ukraine. Notably, the Ukrainian armed forces currently have more than 400 of these foreign armored carriers in service. Only the United Arab Emirates and the Americans themselves can boast a larger arsenal.

[00:03:45]The armor here meets NATO standards, although I personally took a look at the armor in the body. As we can see, the doors are armored. One armor plate, then another armor plate. In the areas around the handles where there is a weak spot, additional armor has been welded on.

[00:03:58]Everything is done as competently as possible. It is precisely this attention to detail, so to speak, that has earned the armored personnel carrier such a good reputation. It has saved not just hundreds, but possibly thousands of soldiers lives around the world.

[00:04:14]However, the most difficult test for the International Maxro is happening right now in Ukraine.

[00:04:21]>> The most significant advantage is that it can successfully withstand an anti-tank mine. Our guys have driven right over them. Thanks to its V-shaped hull, the American deflects the blast wave away from the crew. In the West, they claim that the Max Pro can protect soldiers from a mine explosion of up to 7 kg in TNT equivalent. are guys that Mad Max can handle even more than that.

[00:04:47]In general, the battles that stuck in my memory were near Pavlovka. I remember back then I was leading the column driving a similar vehicle and a tank hit this new equipment. As I told you, its armor is really good because the tank shell hit right under the rear wheel.

[00:05:01]The vehicle, well, it did catch fire. It started burning, but I was still inside and even the shrapnel didn't penetrate it. The crew was able to get out safely.

[00:05:10]The American armored personnel carrier is even equipped with a wheel fire suppression system for such situations.

[00:05:17]One of the very cool features of this heavy armored personnel carrier is that it actually has a built-in system that can spray liquid directly onto your tires. So, if your tires happen to catch fire, it can spray, for example, cold water on them, which will effectively keep you from burning up inside. The Max Pro is extremely convenient and easy to operate. Our soldiers on the front lines have repeatedly proven that with such equipment, nothing can stop them. Even when shells explode just a few meters from the cab, the vehicle confidently keeps moving forward, bringing the crew to safety. In my opinion, as a driver, it's very comfortable and efficient. It is designed to transport personnel for the group that will be carrying out the assault. If there is some room or building, the vehicle with such a machine gun is intended to provide covering fire, take out enemy equipment, and support the landing party with fire.

[00:06:12]That is why the American International Maxpro remains one of the most widely used Western MRAP class armored vehicles in our country's defense forces.

[00:06:22]After all, for Ukraine, nothing is more important than saving the lives of its own soldiers. And MadMax seems to handle this job better than anyone else. people stay alive. There's a capsule. Yes, it's fully armored. The glass gets hit by shrapnel, but otherwise everything's fine. And how can the much wanted, supposedly unrivaled Russian military industrial complex, respond to all this?

[00:06:47]Their multi-purpose vehicle with enhanced protection, although developed almost 10 years after the International Max Pro and having slightly better specifications on paper, turned out in reality, like everything labeled made in Russia, to be a complete failure. Even though at Kremlin military exhibitions, it was praised more than any other. The Tiger was originally developed by the Gorki Automobile Plant at the request of the United Arab Emirates, but its fate has long since changed. The Tiger is now produced by the military-industrial company, the Military Industrial Company. It is manufactured at the Azamas Machine Building Plant, while the bodies and armored hulls are welded in the city of Vixa.

[00:07:31]Tigers are in the Russian army. Tigers are in the Russian police. Tigers are in special forces. But for potential customers of this type of armored vehicle, let us recall Russia developed the Tiger to meet the needs of the Arab market, Putin's beast seemed too vulnerable and weak. As a result, the project was quickly abandoned and the Tiger was hastily upgraded to the Spartac. This is yet another creation of the Russian military industrial complex Ural. As is well known, all vehicles undergo restyling, and armored vehicles are no exception because what we have here is a restyled Tiger. Well, the basic set of men's tools remains the same, a shovel, an axe, and a saw.

[00:08:13]The armored body also remains the same, but the vehicle itself has changed somewhat in appearance. It features a completely redesigned hood, new bodywork, and updated headlights.

[00:08:24]It is now equipped with external video cameras and features digital display monitors located inside the cabin. But with its new shapes and video cameras in the cabin right next to the shovels, axes, and saws, the Kremlin's military-industrial complex once again failed to surprise anyone. Military analysts are certain if the American Maxpro were to meet Putin's armored vehicle on the battlefield, there wouldn't be a trace left of the latter.

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