PREMIUM: Indian Air Force receives protected vehicles
The Indian Air Force will be better equipped to defend air bases after delivery of its first armoured vehicles from Ashok Leyland.
Land Warfare
Nigeria takes delivery of first batch of Chinese VT4s
The Nigerian Army on 8 April received the first batch of 17 armoured vehicles from china. These included examples of the VT4 (MBT-3000) main battle tank, ST1 8x8 wheeled tank destroyer and SH5 105mm wheeled self-propelled howitzers from the China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO).
Nigeria’s Army Chief of Policy and Plans, Lt Gen Lamidi Adeosun, said the process of acquiring the new vehicles ‘has been on for some time’.
He added: ‘From this, you can see how serious the Federal Government of Nigeria is in making sure that the Nigerian Army is not only equipped but contains the problem of insecurity.’
The new equipment is to be used in the country’s far north where government forces continue to carry out counterinsurgency operations against Boko Haram.
Shephard Defence Insight reports that a VT4 has a unit cost of $5.25 million. Until now the only export customer outside China was Thailand, with 48 units from a total order of 52 having been delivered.
More from Land Warfare
-
-
PREMIUM: Jaguar prowls into action
The newest robotic ground vehicle for the IDF is designed for integration with tactical forces in mobile, dismounted operations.
-
PREMIUM: UK MIV hull production set to begin
The manufacturing of the first Boxer 8x8 hull in the UK represents the first time a new armoured vehicle will be built in the UK for a decade. It re-establishes an industrial sovereign capability that was abandoned in 2009-2010 but requires considerable investment in facilities, technology and skills to develop.
-
PREMIUM: Taiwan’s army to boost its counter-invasion arsenal
More capable self-propelled howitzers and TOW antitank missiles are on their way to beleaguered Taiwan.
-
PREMIUM: Sumitomo withdraws from Japanese machine gun tender
Japanese small-arms production could take a hit as one major domestic manufacturer relinquishes its lead role.
-
PREMIUM: Russia promotes Uran — but to what purpose?
Russia wants to expand its fleet of robotic ground vehicles and is setting up a unit equipped with combat UGVs – but doctrine and CONOPS require more work.