Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering selects Allison Transmission 3000 Series

Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering (KPE) has chosen the Allison Transmission 3000 Series for its latest range of armoured vehicles.

KPE currently produces or plans to produce the Arlan AWV (armoured wheel vehicle) 4×4; the Nomad AWV 4х4 and the Barys APC (armoured personnel carrier) 6х6 and 8х8. Each is mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) and equipped with a Cummins diesel engine and six-speed Allison fully automatic transmission.  The company plans to export its vehicles to other countries.

According to deputy director general at Kazakhstan Paramount Engineering, Johan Delport, the development of the drivetrain began in 2006. The company’s engineers compared several transmission solutions offered by various manufacturers by testing them in real-life scenarios.

“When selecting the transmission to pair with the Cummins diesel engine, we focused on two basic factors. The first one is the simplicity and speed of integration, which impacts the speed of production and maintenance. In this regard, the fully-automated Allison transmission was a very successful solution as it is quite popular and widespread, and it has shown good results in combination with this engine,” said Delport.

Transmission weight was another consideration. “You see, armoured vehicles are rather heavy themselves. So, we had to use any opportunity to reduce the total weight of our vehicles. The Allison automatics have enabled us to achieve this goal as well.”

Another important factor is the ability of the powertrain to respond to the peculiar operating conditions in Kazakhstan. The annual temperature range is about 100  °C, from +50  °C in summer to -50  °C in winter. The cooling system of the engine and transmission, as well as the power supply system, have been significantly improved especially for Kazakhstan.

“Taking into account such tough temperature conditions and with the terrain changing by region, from southern mountains to central flats to northern hills, the transmission has to be exceptionally reliable and efficient,” Delport added. “Our experience of operating Allison automatics showed that they are perfect for such conditions. In particular, their second operating mode intended for mountainous areas, means you can switch between modes with a single button. Moreover, all transmissions used in our armoured vehicles are configured by Allison engineers for sandy terrain, which ensures improved off-road performance.”

One of the main advantages of Allison fully automatic transmissions is their ease of operation in military vehicles. Quick acceleration is made possible by the smoothly multiplying engine torque that delivers more power to the wheels. The driver can concentrate on the road without paying attention to gear changes, which is highly important in combat conditions when every second counts.

“You can easily get used to new armoured vehicles with Allison transmissions, not only for experienced drivers, but for any person with basic driving skills,” Delport explained. “Our employees drive AWVs: all of them easily manage it on the fly, without any problems.”