MZKT

In 1954, MZKT, the Minsk Wheeled Tractor Plant, was founded to develop artillery tractors; it then developed a series of heavy weapons transporters for the military of the USSR, including heavy offroad trucks such as the MAZ-537 and MAZ-7310. It was a division of Minsk Automobile Plant (known as MAZ). In 1991, MZKT was spun off into a separate company; its former parent, MAZ, continues to make a broader range of heavy vehicles.

In 1992, military orders slowed, and MZKT attempted to adapt its products to civilian uses, such as mining trucks and crane carriers.

In 2020 it was said that the MZKT was the primary supplier for the chassis of such Russian army vehicles as the launcher for the Topol-M because the domestic Russian products are of comparatively low quality.

Products

Many post-independence MZKT trucks continued to use a MAZ cab which resembled the Iveco Turbostar cab; starting in 2010 these were replaced with Belkarplastik cabs which resembled the 5th generation Isuzu Forward, which are also used by Yarovit trucks. The civilian brand of the group Volat manufacturers tractor trucks, ballast tractors and trailers for transportation and commercial use.

MZKT-6922

MZKT-6922, used with Tor and other surface-to-air missile systems.

MZKT-79221

MZKT-79221 transporter erector launcher for the Topol-M missile; a successor to the MAZ-7917, which was, in turn, a successor to the MAZ-547

MZKT-7930

The MZKT-7930 "Astrolog" is carrying the Iskander ballistic missiles, and the Pantsir-S1 air defense system, and radars for the S-300 missile system. Also Uragan-1M MLRS.

International sanctions

On 17 December 2020, MZKT was added to the sanctions list of the European Union.

The United Kingdom and Switzerland have also sanctioned the company.

In 2022, the plant, its director, Aliaksei Rymasheuski, and deputy director, Aliaksandr Vetsianevich, were included in the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List of the United States, as well as in the sanctions lists of the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Ukraine. In addition, Japan has imposed sanctions against the MZKT.

On April 19, 2024, the U.S. State Department imposed sanctions on MWTP pursuant to Executive Order 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. The State Department statement read: "[MWTP] has worked to supply special vehicle chassis to Pakistan’s long-range ballistic missile program. Such chassis are used as launch support equipment for ballistic missiles by Pakistan’s National Development Complex (NDC), which is responsible for the development of Missile Technology Control Regime Category (MTCR) I ballistic missiles."[1]