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Four-axle off-road military Mustang KAMAZ-6350 is the biggest truck in the range of KAMAZ vehicles.

If it were not for its high fit, interior of this Mustang truck almost doesn’t differ from the one of a mass-produced.

There is a tire pressure regulator under the front panel; on the right down side of the steering-wheel there are located toggle switches of inter-axle blocking and 2-gear transfer case.

One of the switches on the instrumental panel activates interlocking of wheels of the rear axles.

Danis Valeev, Chief designer of KAMAZ Inc., comments:
Four-axle Mustang truck has a perfect cross-country capability. It has passed all running tests without any single failure! The truck is capable to cross up to 1750mm deep fords. We decided not to introduce any front axle blocking for the truck not to loose its maneuverability. This truck is equipped with a 16-gear ZF of a «double H» switch type.

Mustang runs easily at a rather high speed (up to 60 km/h) even on off-roads, as its suspension is capable to cushion the toughest road bumps. Thought the truck has got four axles, its steerability is still very good. It is interesting to note that a low-speed engine makes it possible to run the whole way at two highest gears (at «minus» position of a divider). And there is no noise in the cab.

Danis Valeev, Chief designer of KAMAZ Inc., comments:
Initially only first samples of Mustang trucks were equipped with ZF transmissions. Now, as standard, we install a ZF gearbox only upon a customer’s order and mainly on civil versions of this truck whereas the majority of Mustang vehicles are equipped with domestic KAMAZ-161 8-speed gear with a demultiplicator.

Mass production of KAMAZ-6350 was started only… in 2003! But when there was decided to resume developing a Mustang family trucks (including 3 models, i.e.: 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8) KAMAZ had just to update its available off road vehicles thus getting a new vehicle.

Danis Valeev, Chief designer of KAMAZ Inc., comments:
Modernization was to meet several targets. First of all, all Mustang trucks are now powered only with EURO-2 engines. The vehicle’s design has been slightly changed too and now it has a new transfer case. Besides, nowadays RF Army requires more vehicles with a container type body so it was necessary to improve chassis too. Additionally, based on Mustang family vehicles there has been developed a series of new modifications, including a four-axle prime mover, and an all-welded armored cab version by ASTEIS company.

There are multiple fastening devices on the «container» type body of a Mustang military truck. They are provided for mounting armored panels. Mustang trucks are equipped with the most powerful engine — 360hp — among the KAMAZ range trucks. The only foreign components in it are SHWITZER turbocharger and BOSCH nozzles.

Right now the latest version of Mustang is being tested. It has a so called hydraulic range gearbox that has been designed in NAMI. Hydrodynamic converter between engine and mechanic gear ensures 2,5 times increase of torque at start!

Mustang axles are unified with those of KAMAZ-43118. Hydraulic booster of the steering wheel is the same as of KAMAZ-4310, but has a higher capacity. The vehicle is also equipped with haudraulic cylinders of a domestic supplier to operate the second axle wheels. In general, though Mustang trucks are quite unique, they still have very much in common with mass produced KAMAZ vehicles, hence meeting requirements of RF Military Forces.

This vehicle is the most powerful with reference to power to weight ratio in the Russian Army. So far, there were manufactured only seven complete sets of Mustang trucks (each set consisting of 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8 trucks).

In general, a four-axle KAMAZ-6350 military truck is still a rare (and even a unique!) vehicle. Apart from prototypes so far there has been assembled only about 30 units. TatNefteGeoPhysica is the major customer of these trucks, as it uses off-road trucks for seismic surveying operations.

In its experimental shop KAMAZ Inc. is currently assembling 79 units of KAMAZ-6350 trucks per month. These off-roads can be proud of their birthplace, as «Paris-Dakar» racing trucks are being assembled and tested next to them…