The Norwegian Ministry of Defense announced on 29 July that it has donated 14 IVECO LMV Lynx (Lince) light armored patrol vehicles to Ukraine. These vehicles are of the same type that Norwegian forces used in Afghanistan.
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Norwegian IVECO Lynx LMVleading a convoy in Afghanistan. (Picture source: Wikimedia Commons/PRT Meymaneh)
The vehicles are in demand by the Ukrainian authorities and come in addition to other military equipment such as artillery, portable anti-aircraft defense and armored personnel carriers that Norway has already donated to Ukraine. ‘’Norway continues to contribute to the Ukrainians' fight for freedom. The government is constantly assessing how Norway can provide further support to Ukraine in the country's defense against Russia's invasion’’, said Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram.
Iveco LMV (Light Multirole Vehicle) is a 4WD tactical vehicle designed in the 1990s and the first LMVs were produced in 2001. It is in service with several countries. After its adoption by the Italian Army as the Veicolo-Tattico-Leggero-Multiruolo (VTLM) Lince ("Light tactical multirole vehicle Lynx"), it won the Future Command and Liaison Vehicle (FCLV) competition of the British Army as the Panther which was produced between 2006 and 2009. The fleet was put up for sale in 2018. It has been adopted by the armies of Albania, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Norway, Russia and Spain. The Italian Army took vehicles to both Afghanistan and Lebanon. In Afghanistan, Lince vehicles have saved passengers' lives in several attacks with IEDs.
The LMV uses modular armor packs to adjust its level of protection to its mission requirements. In regards to mine protection, the vehicle's ground clearance has been increased to 493 mm without increasing the overall height (less than 2 meters); it also uses suspended seats of aeronautical derivation, a V-hull underbody, and a collapsible sandwich structure in the floor to deflect and absorb mine blasts. Its exhaust is piped through its C-pillars, and its turbocharger is located underneath the engine to reduce its thermal signature. Mobility is helped by a run-flat system, allowing the vehicle to move even with completely deflated tires. It is related to the Fiat Oltre concept car unveiled in 2005.
