Georgia Receives 46 BMC-Produced VURAN 4X4 Armored Personnel Carriers From Turkey
Georgian Defense Forces received 46 VURAN 4X4 armored personnel carriers produced by BMC, in accordance with the agreement signed with the “ASFAT” company affiliated with the Turkish Ministry of Defense in 2022. This delivery strengthens Georgia’s defense capabilities and deepens Turkish-Georgian cooperation. The hand over was celebrated with a ceremony on June 12, at the Georgian Armed Forces 4th Infantry Brigade military base in Vaziani, near the capital Tbilisi. Georgian Deputy Defense Minister Sergo Janelidze, Georgian Defense Forces Deputy Commander Brigadier General Irakli Chichinadze, Turkey’s Ambassador to Tbilisi Ali Kaan Orbay, and ASFAT General Manager Behçet Karataş all attended the ceremony.
Speaking to an Anadolu Agency (AA) correspondent after the ceremony, Turkey’s Tbilisi Ambassador Ali Kaan Orbay stated that the delivery of Vuran armored vehicles to the Georgian Armed Forces was just one example of Turkey’s support for Georgia, adding, “These vehicles are also a concrete indicator of Turkey’s strong support for Georgia’s security, independence and territorial integrity. We believe that these vehicles will play an important role in developing Georgia’s deterrence and defense capabilities. Turkey is in a position to meet Georgia’s needs in the most cost-effective way with the shortest supply line here. We want our cooperation to continue to increase in the military and defense fields, as in every field. Hopefully, there will be no need to use these vehicles other than for training and exercises.”
Georgian Deputy Defense Minister Sergo Janelidze stated that Turkey and Georgia have had a long history of successful defense cooperation and commented that “Today, the Georgian Defense Forces are receiving NATO-standard armored vehicles from Turkey. Such events are very important for Georgia because our country’s defense capability will be strengthened, and the defense forces will be aligned with NATO standards.”
Vuran is a multi-purpose armored vehicle produced by BMC within the scope of the Turkish Defense Industry Agency Tactical Wheeled Armored Vehicles (TTZA) Project. According to BMC, these armored vehicles, which comply with the STANAG 4569 standard determined by NATO standards, provide high protection for the crew inside against mines and ballistic threats due to their monocoque body structure, armored cabin and windows, shock absorbing seats, weapon station and emergency exit hatch. In addition, the vehicle shows high performance in all kinds of climates, regions and terrains, including residential and rural areas, with its special vision systems, automatic fire extinguishing system and central tire inflation features.
These vehicles are available in three different configurations. These are referred to as the “Armored Personnel Carrier,” “Armored CİRİT Launcher,” and “Armored 120mm Mortar Launcher.” The Armored Personnel Carrier configuration includes ASELSAN’s SARP Remote Controlled Weapon System. Armored CİRİT Launcher vehicles are equipped with Roketsan’s 8-kilometer CİRİT Laser Guided Missile, while the Armored 120mm Mortar Launcher vehicles are outfitted with ASELSAN’s ALKAR 120mm Automatic Mortar Weapon System.
The platform measures 6.22 meters long, 3.5 meters high, and 2.6 meters wide. The vehicle, which has a maximum weight of 19.100 kg, can accommodate nine personnel. Vuran’s engine is a Cummins ISL9E3 375 model that meets Euro-3 standards. This turbocharged 6-cylinder diesel engine has a capacity of 8.9 L, a maximum power of 375 PS / 2100 rpm and a maximum torque of 1500 Nm / 1200 rpm. This allows the vehicle to reach a maximum range of 600 km and a maximum speed of 110 kilometers per hour. Furthermore, the vehicle’s front and rear Independent Type Suspension systems enable it to navigate steep slopes of up to 60%, side slopes of up to 30%, and drive through 80 cm of water.