
Vladimir Putin has introduced the newest weapon in his arsenal - the enormous Schit machine designed to take his country's crowd control to the next level.

The giant anti-riot vehicle is the work of Russia's largest arms manufacturer and the company behind the Kalashnikov rifle.

The exact specifications of the monster vehicle have yet to be released, but it looks similar to an 18-tonne police vehicle called The Bozena Riot, made in Slovakia, engineered to protect officers from football hooligans, violent mobs, and aggressive political protesters.

Slovakia's police version is equipped with water cannon and gas canisters, and is designed to stop rioters in their tracks.

It can shelter up to 38 riot officers behind its 24ft main shield, which is bullet and fire-proof, and can be expanded or retracted to fit down different sized streets.

Russia's model has been built by Kalashnikov Concern, which produces 95 percent of the weapons in the country and supplies arms to 27 nations around the world.

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The size of the huge shield is put into context as who men put some finishing touches to the front. The giant anti-riot vehicle is the work of Russia's largest arms manufacturer and the company behind the Kalashnikov rifle. The exact specifications of the monster vehicle have yet to be released, but it looks similar to an 18-tonne police vehicle called The Bozena Riot, made in Slovakia, engineered to protect officers from football hooligans, violent mobs, and aggressive political protesters

The size of the huge truck can be seen from this angle. It has a ladder going up to the main body of the Schit, meaning officers could climb aboard while still being far enough away from potential crowds to be safe

A contraption at the top of the shield could be a camera, as appears in the Slovakian version. This means the operators could not only see what is in front of them without having to peer into the danger personally but it could mean the vehicle has the potential of being operated remotely. This is the case with The Bozena Riot

Two workers assess the vehicle from ground level while one stands a platform presumably designed for police officers to stand on. At eye level, there appears to be bullet-proof glass to keep officers safe as they advance towards angry crowds

A spare tyre can be seen behind he main cabin of the truck and the hydraulic system shows how the shield could be manipulated to deal with its complex needs

The Kalashnikov concern, which is part of the Rostekh State Corporation, initiated the special vehicle Schit - which translates to 'shield' - designed for the needs of the police.

lexey Krivoruchko, CEO of the Kalashnikov Concern, said: 'Multifunctional protection systems and other police equipment are being developed today in many countries around the world.

'The search for relevant solutions and work in new segments allowed us to create this platform.

'In addition to the Shield complex, we are also working to introduce new design solutions for wheeled armored vehicles on the market both for the domestic market and for export supplies.'