BMC Kirpi

BMC Kirpi Story

Modern combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq revealed to the US Army (and the world concerned for it) the need for highly armored wheeled vehicles. While the use of "upper-armored" Humvee trucks partially solved this problem, there was room for improvement, which led to a new class of combat vehicles - "MRAP" (mine-resistant, ambush-resistant).

The vehicle was born out of South Africa's bush wars in the 1960s and 1970s, and South African engineers finally responded with a new car with excellent survivability.

The "Kirpi" (translated as "hedgehog") MRAP, designed, developed and produced by the Turkish BMC, now takes a page out of a Western textbook on armored warfare. The series was adopted by the Turkish army and used in the ongoing Syrian civil war (since 2011). Other operators are Tunisia and Turkmenistan. The Turkish Army currently (2017) has 420 Kirpi vehicles, of which about 530 are on order.

SWAT units are also equipped with this type, increasing the total by 200.

As an MRAP, Kirpi is designed to withstand normal and "above-normal" battlefield hazards - from small arms fire and artillery jets to hidden mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Additionally, the hull is designed with the signature V-shape to divert the blast away from the truck's core, while an absorption system is installed inside to protect the occupants from the blast - which can be more deadly than the blast itself.

The

Kirpi is powered by a 375 hp diesel engine mounted to the front of the truck as usual and mated to an automatic transmission system. Available in 4x4 and 6x6 wheel configurations, it offers high ground clearance and good balance. There is a hatch above the top of the fuselage where manual machine guns are usually mounted, but the Remote Weapons Station (RWS) can also be mounted and operated by the crew of the fighting compartment. The fuselage cabin can carry up to fifteen soldiers in combat gear.

The tires are run-flat, and the vehicle has features such as air conditioning, an automatic fire suppression system (AFSS) and leaf spring suspension. There are firing ports on the side of the vehicle for passengers. The window blocks are reinforced for small caliber bullets.

The total weight is 16 tons and the dimensions include 6 meters long (short boat version), 2.5 meters wide and 2.8 meters high.

Kirpi is powered by a Cummins ISBE 275 or 350 series diesel engine (horsepower is included in the name) with an Allison 3000 series model 3000SP drivetrain. Overall, the vehicle can reach speeds of 60 km/h above 1,000 km.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

Armor

Depends on weapon.

Changes