IDEX 2017:NIMR Automotive To Get UAE Armed Forces Contract For 1750 Armoured Vehicles

NIMR Automotive, part of Emirates Defense Industries Company (EDIC) will receive three contracts from UAE armed Forces to deliver 1,750 armoured vehicles.

NIMR will deliver 1,500 JAIS 4x4 and 6x6 infantry fighting vehicles, as well as more than 150 HAFEET 630A artillery support vehicles in both Observation and Command and Control configurations and 115 AJBAN 440A vehicles equipped with anti-tank guided missile systems to the UAE Armed Forces from 2018.

The announcement occurred during the final day of the International Defense Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi.

During the show, NIMR unveiled its advanced vehicle platforms – the JAIS 6x6 and the Rapid Intervention Vehicle. Further, the company also signed a new Strategic Cooperation Agreement with Czech manufacturer VOP CZ for the marketing, distribution, production and after-sale support of the complete range of NIMR armoured vehicles to the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary.

Formerly the N35, the JAIS - named after the UAE’s Jebel Jais mountain in Ras Al Khaimah - is a mine-protected, multi-purpose fighting vehicle, which features 60% greater protected space and payload capacity over traditional designs. The vehicle is also capable to support troops deployed on multi-day missions with a full suite of weapons, ammunition and rations. Crew survivability is centred around the combat-proven “crew citadel”, protecting against a full range of threats.

The evolving nature of asymmetric warfare and prolific use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) and Explosively Formed Projectiles (EFP) has driven the evolution of the MRAP vehicle; specifically, the need for increased ballistic protection whilst maintaining mobility. The vehicles represent this evolution and places NIMR at the forefront of modern MRAP design.

An additional feature that sets JAIS apart from the competition is its modularity, as it supports multiple mission variants on the same platform, including: an infantry fighting vehicle, APC, ambulance, command and control, engineering and recovery.

The vehicles will be produced at NIMR’s new 37,500sq/m facility, the largest military vehicle manufacturing facility in the Middle East and North Africa. The vehicles were selected for their high-mobility and advanced protection elements which enhance crew survivability against attacks from roadside IEDs, anti-tank mines and ballistic threats.