VIU - 55 Munja VIU - 55 Munja ( en : Lightning ) is a combat engineering vehicle produced by Serbia . VTI has done the conceptual design of the " Munja " general - purpose engineer vehicle and the Čačak - based Overhaul Depot has built the vehicle . The main idea was converting the T - 55 tank , using its main structure and subsystems and adding new components , equipment and devices to create a vehicle for entirely different purposes . Good terrain negotiating ability and ballistic protection of T - 55 tank were retained , while engineer equipment and armament were refitted . It is the first armoured vehicle for the engineer corps outfitted with special purpose engineer equipment and respectable armament , belonging to the most modern designs of this kind . It is designed to negotiate natural and man - made obstacles , blocking , fortifying and repair of roads and for safe transport of engineer teams and equipment in combat conditions . VTI designers have thoughtfully arranged accommodation for 8 members of the crew ( 2 permanent members – driver and deputy commander , also gunner of the 30 mm automatic grenade launcher and 7 . 62 mm machine gun , and a 6 - member troop – commander and section of five pioneers ) . Space is also provided for sets of engineer equipment , for mounting of commander ’ s and gunner ’ s cupola and associated equipment . Space needed to accommodate personnel and sets of special equipment was obtained by removing tank turret , cutting away section of hull roof plate and by refitting of superstructure consisting of armour plates and sheet metal that provides adequate ballistic protection of on - board crew and equipment . Armour plates are up to 25 mm thick and mounted so as to provide ballistic protection from 12 . 7 mm ( . 5in ) bullets . Horizontal roof plate of superstructure is made of several sections to provide necessary hatches . Openings are provided for fitting of commander ’ s and gunner ’ s cupolas , two access and evacuation hatches for engineer section , holes for radio set antenna , rotating periscope , driver ’ s cover , refueling port and two lookout ports ( for observation and for firing personal weapons ) . To perform engineering tasks , a tankgrade blade it fitted at the front , equipped with electric motor , pump and hydraulics . Blade assembly is an autonomous unit that can be quickly and easily attached to the hull . Vehicle firepower consists of one 30 mm automatic grenade launcher and one machine gun ( M84 , . 3in / 7 . 62 mm calibre ) . Vehicle concept permits fitting of weapons group station consisting of a 30 mm gun , 7 . 62 mm machine gun , antitank wire guided rockets and 30 mm automatic grenade launcher with appropriate optoelectronic fire control system . To protect the crew from nuclear and chemical agents a modified nuclear - chemical protection unit is built - in , consisting of anti radiation fan . This is automatically activated in case of nuclear shock wave . Protection from shaped charges consists of very effective skirts . For masking protection , Munja was designed for protection in all ranges of electromagnetic spectrum ( visual , close IR , radar and thermal parts of the spectrum ) . For masking and jamming of guided projectiles , the vehicle is equipped with smoke canisters ' launcher and control panel identical to those mounted on M - 84 tanks . Smoke charge launchers are mounted in front section of tracks covering plates . Munja integrates all equipment needed for specific engineering combat missions ( crossing of artificial obstacles , making of barriers , road making and fortifying ) . Owing to modern positioning system , Munja can be tracked on virtual map while newly developed software enables the use of advanced computer technologies in the execution of engineering works . In parallel with development of Munja , engineer units were supplied with combat sets of specialist pioneer equipment which also ranks among the best in that category . To prevent fuel explosions and resulting fires in the event of penetration of ballistic protection , a fuel explosion and fire prevention system has been fitted . It is autonomous , provided with UV and IR sensors with detection and activation time measured as thousands of a second . Mobility of Munja engineer vehicle is at the level of T - 55 tank but it could be further improved by retrofit of higher power engine and modern transmission , in particular of the MPG - 780 modular power pack featuring the engine developing 580 kW ( 780 HP ) . Power pack is replaceable in field conditions . General purpose engineer vehicle Munja can be well used in peacekeeping and humanitarian missions . The existing model represents the base for development of a family of tracked armoured combat vehicles ; in particular of armoured personnel carrier possessing considerably higher level of all - round ballistic protection compared to current conventional APC - s and IFV - s .