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11 Apr 17. Saudi Border Guards now using Caprivi MRAPs. The Saudi Border Guard is now operating the Mobile Land Systems (MSL) Caprivi Mk3 mine-resistance ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicle, a photograph released by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on 10 April confirmed. The photograph showed a single Caprivi Mk3 during an event to raise awareness about security in the southern Saudi city of Jizan. The Caprivi is the first MRAP-type vehicle known to be used by the border guard, which is playing a significant role in trying to secure the kingdom’s southern border during the current conflict with Yemeni rebels. It generally uses soft-skinned vehicles, but has also been seen operating Terradyne Gurkha armoured patrol vehicles, which are built on Ford F-450 or F-550 chassis. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
11 Apr 17. Renault Trucks Defense lifts veil on VLFS. Renault Trucks Defense (RTD) displayed the first prototype of its VLFS (Véhicule Léger Forces Spéciales – Special Forces Light Vehicle) during the SOFINS exhibition, which took place in Camp de Souges, near Bordeaux, France, on 28-30 March.This instrumented prototype has been heavily committed to road and off-road testing since December 2016. RTD intends to assemble two more prototypes and four pre-production vehicles that will be handed to the French procurement agency Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA) for qualification trials. RTD aims to complete the development of the VLFS by the end of this year. The VLFS weighs 2.9 tonnes empty and has a maximum weight of 4 tonnes. The three-seat vehicle (plus a jumpseat) boasts a 900kg payload with a 200kg weight reserve for future evolutions. Its Mercedes gearbox is similar to the one installed in the retrofitted VBL Ultima, while the Sofim (Iveco) diesel engine delivers 200hp. RTD also indicates that the chassis is a brand-new concept using a tubular structure with an add-on body. A C-130H-30 Hercules transport aircraft can accommodate three VLFSs and the vehicle can also be airdropped. (Source: IHS Jane’s)
11 Apr 17. Senegal parades new BM-21s and armoured vehicles. The Senegalese Army publicly displayed for the first time its recently delivered Ukrainian-made BM-21 ‘Grad’ multiple rocket launchers (MRL) and Oncilla armoured vehicles during a military parade in Dakar on 4 April.
Six BM-21s and two Oncillas featured in the parade to mark the 57th anniversary of the country’s independence.
A Senegalese Army source told Jane’s that both types were delivered earlier this year to the Dakar-based Artillery Battalion and that the Oncillas, which are armed with FN M2 .50 calibre heavy machine guns, were acquired to serve in the forward artillery control role.
Senegal is the first confirmed foreign user of the Oncilla, which is a variant of the Ukrainian Dozor-B 4×4 light armoured vehicle that is made by the Polish company Mista.
It has a combat weight of 8,800 kg, can carry three crew and eight dismounts, and is powered by an IVECO NEF 4 ENTC diesel engine. The vehicle has STANAG Level 2 armour, which can be increased to Level 3.
The Senegalese BM-21s launchers are mounted on Ukrainian-produced KrAZ-6322PA Bastion-01 6×6 truck chassis instead of the more usual Russian-made Ural 4320-3 chassis. First unveiled by the Ukrainian defence industry in 2011, the KrAZ-mounted version offers better cross-country mobility and fuel efficiency than the Ural-mounted BM-21.
The Artillery Battalion also paraded a number of KrAZ trucks outfitted as shelter vehicles.
The cabs on the Senegalese KrAZ trucks do not appear to have the armour plating that can be fitted to protect their crews from small-arms fire.
The Artillery Battalion also fields eight Nexter 155 mm TRF1 towed howitzers that were delivered in 2011 and eight legacy 105 mm M101 towed howitzers of Second World War vintage. The TR