Special Operations: Custom Ukrainian MRAP From France

Archives

October 18, 2022: France is providing Ukrainian special operations forces twenty Bastion APC (armored personnel carrier). This version is customized to Ukrainian specifications. Bastion is a 4x4 vehicle based on the French VLRA military truck. Bastion was introduced a decade ago and hundreds have been manufactured for special forces, police and peacekeeping organizations. The Ukrainian version is a ten-ton vehicle with a V-shaped hull to provide enhanced protections against mines and other explosives. It carries ten personnel, including the driver and vehicle commander plus eight personnel in the back. Everyone has seats protected from concussion hitting the bottom of the vehicle during an explosion.

The Ukrainian Bastion has many MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicle characteristics but is not as heavy or as well protected against mines and roadside bombs. There are six small bulletproof windows for the passengers plus bulletproof front windows for the driver and commander. A manned turret on top for one or more machine-guns. Bastion has excellent cross-country mobility and was designed mainly as a reconnaissance vehicle that can also serve as convoy escort, for peacekeeping operations or use by special operations forces. Top speed on roads is 110 kilometers an hour and max range on internal fuel is over a thousand kilometers. Bastion is also used by the French military as well as twenty export customers.

 

Article Archive

Special Operations: Current 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contribute. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   contribute   Close