Lebanon obtains more Land Rovers

15th February 2021 - 11:15 GMT | by The Shephard News Team

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UK donates 100 Revised Weapons Mounted Installation Kit Land Rovers to aid Lebanese border security.

The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has received more armoured patrol vehicles from the UK to assist in border security and counter-terrorism operations in the Middle Eastern country.

The vehicles arrived in Lebanon on 31 January, the UK MoD announced on 12 February.

A total of 100 Revised Weapons Mounted Installation Kit (RWMIK) Land Rovers worth about £1.5 million ($2.09 million) were donated following a request from Gen Joseph Aoun, Commander-in-Chief of the LAF, to help bolster border security.

The UK government also provided £300,000 from its Conflict Security and Stability fund for vehicle spare parts.

In 2019, Lebanon received £7.7 million in funding for the LAF National Security Assistance Programme. This is a joint effort between the MoD and Foreign Office to address security threats originating from Syria ‘by equipping, training and mentoring the LAF Border Regiments’, the MoD noted at the time.

The Border Regiments already operate Land Rovers provided by the UK.

Lightly armed and highly mobile RWMIK Land Rovers carry a range of weapons such as the General Purpose Machine Gun, the Heavy Machine Gun and Grenade Machine Gun. It is manned by a crew of three: commander, driver and gunner.

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