UAE Orders 8x8 Armored Vehicles

GHQ Awards Al Jasoor A 2Bn Dirhams Contract for the Supply of 8x8 Armored Infantry Vehicles

The 8x8 armored infantry carriers ordered by the UAE are a variant of the Arma, developed Turkey’s Otokar, and will be built in the Emirates by Tawazun, the state-owned technology group. (Otokar photo)

The General Headquarters (GHQ) of the UAE Armed Forces has awarded Al Jasoor a contract for the supply of 8x8 amphibious infantry fighting vehicles, at an estimated value of over 2 Bn AED (the contract was signed for USD 661 million--Ed.)

The decision to purchase the vehicles was made following a thorough commercial/ technical evaluation by Tawazun, the vehicle underwent an array of successful extensive all-terrain tests in the UAE.

The development of the vehicle was done by Al Jasoor, which is a joint venture between Heavy Vehicles industries (HVI), a fully owned subsidiary of Tawazun, and Otokar Land systems UAE, a fully owned subsidiary of Otokar, Turkey.

Under a special arrangement, Al Jasoor will manufacture the vehicles in Abu Dhabi, using the existing facilities of Tawazun Industrial Park.

On behalf of Al Jasoor, Tawazun Chief Executive Officer H.E. Saif Mohamed Al Hajeri thanked the GHQ for selecting the 8X8 armored infantry vehicles.

He said Tawazun is proud to continuously contribute in meeting the requirements of the UAE Armed Forces, adding that all the partners will be working closely to ensure timely delivery of the vehicles.

Regarding the project, Otokar General Manager Serdar Görgüç said that "Otokar is very proud to be a partner in this important program, and it shall be a privilege for Otokar to be able to serve the UAE Army and to meet their high standards.

The existing most modern Automotive manufacturing facilities of Abu Dhabi is prepared to host the local production of the vehicle in Tawazun Industrial Park.

The 8X8 infantry vehicle comes with an amphibious kit and is capable of withstanding mines and ballistic threats.

(EDITOR’S NOTE/ The Turkish-language version of this release says the new vehicle, called Rabdan, will be ordered in about 700 units, and will be produced in different versions with a maximum weight of up to 30 tonnes.
The main version will be fitted with turret of the Russian BMP-3 infantry combat vehicle, combining a 90mm low-pressure gun and a 30mm coaxial automatic cannon.)

-ends-

Let's block ads! (Why?)

from Defense Aerospace - Press releases http://ift.tt/2mj0269
via Defense