Calidus Company based in United Arab Emirates launches the WAHASH, an 8x8 amphibious armored vehicle at IDEX 2019, the International Defence Exhibition in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Calidus is a Defence Technology Development and Manufacturing Company, founded in 2015 and based in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates.

The new Calidus WAHASH 8x8 armored vehicle at IDEX 2019, International Defence Exhibition in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Picture source Army Recognition)

The Company Calidus provides Aerospace and Land Technologies cutting-edge solutions and offer to their customers’ forefront products, software development and technologies from the design and engineering phase to development and manufacturing.

The WAHASH is a new generation, state-of-the-art multi-role 8×8 platform which was developed to push the boundaries of mobility and protection both for land operations and amphibious capability. The WAHASH vehicle system is designed to operate under extreme weather, terrain and climatic conditions to enable mounted forces to complete their missions.

The WAHASH design is very similar to modern 8x8 armored vehicles available to the current military market but offering more mobility, protection and able to be fitted with different types of weapon stations. At IDEX 2019, the WAHASH was fitted with a Ukrainian-made BM-3 "Shturm" remote-controlled weapon station armed with a ZTM-1 30 mm automatic gun which can be remotely operated to provide increased soldier protection in hostile environments.

Two anti-tank laser-guided missile launchers "Barrier" are mounted at the right side of the turret and a 30 mm automatic grenade launcher AGS-17 can be mounted on the left side.

The WAHASH has a crew of three including driver, commander and gunner and can accommodate 8 infantrymen in a troops compartment located at the rear of the hull. The vehicle can be fitted with modular armor offering ballistic protection up to Level 4 STANAG 4569 and mine protection up to Level 4 A/B.

The WAHASH is powered by a Scania DC 13 engine. It can run at a maximum speed of 130 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 700 km. The vehicle is fully amphibious and propelled in the water at a maximum speed of 10 km/h thanks to the use of two propellers mounted at the rear of the hull.

The WAHASH has a combat weight of 32,100 kg and a maximum payload of 7,500 kg.