According to information published on the "Visegrád 24" Twitter account on March 18, 2023, Poland donated to Ukraine 30 Oncilla 4x4 wheeled armored personnel carriers that will be used by the Ukrainian Special Forces to fight Russian forces deployed in the country.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Polish-made Oncilla 4x4 APC wheeled armored personnel carrier. (Picture source Army Recognition)
According to a recent BBC analysis, Poland stands as the third-largest donor of military aid to Ukraine, following the United States and the United Kingdom. Poland has pledged to provide USD 1.81 billion in security assistance to Ukraine.
Germany occupies the next position on the list of countries that have pledged aid to Ukraine, committing USD 1.48 billion, followed by Canada with USD 0.8 billion, Norway with USD 0.48 billion, and the Czech Republic with USD 0.27 billion.
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the Polish government has already donated to Ukraine more than 230 T-72M and T-72M1R to Ukraine as well as 14 German-made Leopard 2A4 tanks and 30 PT-91 Twardy coming from its military inventory.
The Oncilla is the Polish version of the Ukrainian-made Dozor-B, a 4x4 armored vehicle designed by the company KhMDB (Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau). The vehicle was developed by Lacenaire Limited Co in collaboration with Polish company MISTA as its manufacturer.
The design of the Oncilla is conventional for a modern light tactical armored vehicle with the engine at the front, crew in the middle, and troops compartment at the rear. The Oncilla hull is made of high-strength armored steel, providing protection against standard armor-piercing ammunition such as 7.62 x 51 mm rounds. Additional armor can be used to increase protection levels, capable of safeguarding against 12.7 mm bullets of NATO standard (STANAG-4269). The vehicle's interior is lined with ballistic protection to enhance overall defense. The crew is shielded by bulletproof glass panes that provide a level of protection similar to that of basic armor. The vehicle's bottom has a cylindrical shape designed to provide better defense against mines.
The roof of the Oncilla can be fitted with an open-top turret or a remotely operated weapon station armed with one 12.7 mm heavy machine gun. The weapon station can be fitted with a fire control system (FCS), which is equipped with a laser rangefinder, thermal imager, and color television cameras. The FCS and weapons can be adjusted in two planes, and firing is carried out remotely using a joystick and a 12-inch monitor.
