Chechen Light Military Vehicle to be Called “Jihad Machine”

ChechenAvto LLC is in talks with authorities in Russia’s Chechen to produce light military vehicles – named “Jihad Machines” at an existing plant in the region.

An official with the government of the Chechen republic told government-owned TASS that Jihad Machine will be tested at the Russian University of Special Forces.

"The day before, the Chairman of the Government of the Chechen Republic, Muslim Khuchiev, and the Minister of Industry and Energy of the region, Adam Khakimov, held a number of working meetings with the leadership of the Russian Industry and Trade Ministry. During these meetings, they discussed the launch of production of the Jihad Machine at the production site of Chechenavto LLC and its further testing at the Russian University of Special Forces," the official said.

Local government officials are also reportedly considering the creation of a large center for the repair and maintenance of military equipment, including armored vehicles.

"Given the importance of the railway for logistics, the creation of the center is being considered on the basis of Chechenavto LLC or on the territory of the special economic zone of industrial production type such as Grozny," the official added.

Chechen authorities want to create the first automotive cluster in the south of Russia. Lada Granta cars are currently assembled at the ChechenAvto plant, and in October last year, they launched the assembly of the new Gazelle-Next model in cooperation with the GAZ Group.