Abu Dhabi-based NIMR Automotive, of the Emirates Defence Industries Company, has unveiled a mine- and IED-resistant combat vehicle that will help the firm expand into the heavy armour market.
The N35 ‘Multi-Role Protected Vehicle’ comes in both 4×4 and 6×6 versions, and boasts a steel-armoured hull that can then be augmented with “scalable levels of ballistic, mine blast and IED protection”.
“The 4×4 and 6×6 variants complement our existing range, allowing NIMR to expand beyond our traditional light-medium weight vehicle category into the more highly protected, higher payload categories,” explained Fahad Harhara, CEO of NIMR.
“Initial production and trials have already begun with series production scheduled from Q4 2016.”
Featuring a “crew citadel” to protect passengers from explosive threats, the N35 is also suitable for a range of applications, including patrols and medical evacuations, on top of direct combat.
In February, NIMR won a $350m deal with the UAE Armed Forces for 1,000 of its vehicles, and in March, the company also launched a light-medium weight open-top 4×4 reconnaissance vehicle, the Ajban SOV.
Defence spending in the Middle East and North Africa is expected to hit $150bn this year, up from $148bn last year and $136bn in 2013, according to defence consultancy IHS Jane’s.
