April 27, 2023 - The Zagreb company DOK-ING presented an innovative, multipurpose anti-terrorist robotic vehicle MV-3 Hystrix, currently the only one of its kind in the world, developed over the course of three years, in a project worth HRK 18 million.

As Index reports, the founder and owner of DOK-ING, the innovator Vjekoslav Majetić, pointed out that the vehicle is unique and has already received users' support. "During development, we changed the characteristics of the machine and adapted it to the needs of future users," said Majetić.

He emphasized great interest in Hystrix on the world market and that the price of the robotic vehicle has not yet been established. To develop the entire project to the current level, he said, HRK 18 million was spent, of which EU funds were nine million.

The vehicle is intended for the police and the army. Its primary purpose is to operate in closed spaces, and it has strong ballistic protection on the front. It can work in daytime conditions and conditions of reduced visibility. It is equipped with a series of cameras - infrared and thermal, so it can operate even at night. When using the machine, the special forces have maximum security.

What kind of vehicle is it?

The use of Hystrix reduces intervention time because the perpetrators can be located and reached in a short period, and, among other things, it is also used to extract the wounded. The advantage of Hystrix is that it has complete special equipment intended for solving crises. It has built-in gas sensors, allowing it to detect propane and butane, so it can work even in conditions of attack by toxic agents.

Since it is an electric vehicle, it is important to note that its autonomy is around eight hours, but it can also be powered by electricity in the field.

Defense Minister Mario Banožić also pointed out that the Hystrix project is proof of how much the DOK-ING company participates in the research and development of machines for the needs of the military industry, but also how much it contributes to the safety of citizens, all those who live in the EU and outside it. According to him, the company DOK-ING is one of the flagships of the domestic defense industry, which, apart from the production itself, also participates in developing defense products.

"Their truly innovative solutions contribute to all the tasks we have, and they also contribute to other components of homeland security," said Banožić. He is certain vehicles like the Hystrix will find their place on the market, and the Ministry of Defense will support them.

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