BAKU, September 12. /ITAR-TASS/. The infantry combat vehicle “Atom”, developed by the Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) research and production corporation, will be shown in operation for the first time at the IDEX-2015 international exhibition of armaments in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) from February 22 to 26, next year, UVZ General Director Oleg Siyenko told ITAR-TASS in an exclusive interview at the ADEX-2014 international arms exhibition.

The UVZ General Director said, "In the near foreseeable future, earlier than our new vehicles (based on the universal platform ArmataNote by ITAR-TASS), we shall display the “Atom” in action. We hope that already at the IDEX-2015 in Abu Dhabi the new vehicle will be shown in operating conditions. It will operate and fire".

Siyenko pointed out that it is supposed to show the BMP Atom in an entirely Russian design. "This will be precisely a Russian-made vehicle. We are currently under [the impact of] sanctions. The French also have their hands tied [by sanctions]," the UVZ chief said.

In June, Siyenko said that the work on the Atom vehicle would be brought to fruition. “We shall discuss the BMP Atom with our partners. They tell us about their readiness to move ahead (with the work),” he related in comment on reports that had appeared in the media about termination of the work on the project on the initiative of the French side in view of the Ukrainian crisis.

“As far as the Atom vehicle is concerned, all work, of course, will be brought to a logical end, the more so as Rosoboronexport (Russia's public joint-stock company) marketing experts maintain that the vehicles are needed on the market. It was originally intended for third countries," the UVZ chief pointed out at that time. He also stressed that the characteristics of the BMP Atom's 57mm automatic gun considerably exceed the earlier declared six-kilometer aiming range.

The BMP Atom has been co-developed by Burevestnik (petrel) Central research institute (which is part of the UVZ) and the French Renault Trucks Defense Company.