UK will rearm with Turkish armored vehicles
23 September, 2024 NMS-L at the Defence Vehicle Dynamics exhibition, UK, September 18, 2024. Photo credits: European Defence Review The Turkish company Nurol Makina will launch the production of armored vehicles in the UK to supply weapons to the British Army.
This is reported by the European Defence Review. At the Defence Vehicle Dynamics 2024 defense exhibition, the company presented armored vehicles of its own production, which were adapted to the needs of the British Army. One of the models presented is the 12-tonne medium mine-resistant Dragon 4x4 (Turkish: Ejder Yalcin), which was selected as part of the Medium Protected Mobility Vehicle (MPV) rearmament program.
It is to replace the current fleet of Ridgback, Mastiff and Wolfhound mine-resistant armored vehicles that entered service during the country's deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is also expected that the Dragon will replace the FV432 Bulldog tracked armored personnel carrier and become the new platform for the Stormer air defense system. It is expected that the new tender for the purchase of equipment by the British Army will include 1600 Dragon vehicles.
Ejder Yalcin armored vehicles of Turkish production.
Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of Hungary
The second model presented at the exhibition was the newly developed 10-ton NMS-L 4x4 armored vehicle. The vehicle meets requirements of the British Light Protected Mobility (LPM) platform and is a new development of the company. The NMS-L can accommodate five crew members in an armored capsule and has an open cargo compartment.
The vehicle provides ballistic protection at STANAG Level 2 and mine protection at Level 3a/2b. The developers demonstrated the operation of the vehicle's independent suspension while driving around the Millbrook test site. It is capable of reaching a maximum speed of 150 km/h on an asphalt road with a range of 700 km at 70 km/h.
NMS-L at the Defence Vehicle Dynamics exhibition, UK, September 18, 2024. Photo credits: European Defence Review
Despite its relative novelty, "an order has already been secured for the new platform, which leverages commercial components like a Cummins engine" Emre Akin, the head of strategic planning at Nurol Makina stated.
Localization of production
To supply machines to the British army, Nurol Makina established a British division and acquired a plant in Leamington Spa to localize production in the country. According to managing director Devis Zevulun, the new production facility is equipped to produce several hundred vehicles a year.
At the initial stage, the plant will employ more than 100 people. Localization is a key point for land purchases in the UK. Accordingly, Nurol Makina UK has developed a phased approach to increase the percentage of British components to over 50%.
However, the timing of the first orders is currently unknown, as the new UK government has suspended procurement decisions pending the Strategic Defence Review.