UAE Al Jasoor Rabdan IFV deployed in Native Fury 2020 exercise.

The joint military exercise "Native Fury 20" between the UAE and the United States has concluded, as UAE Armed Forces officers highlighted their ability to handle the most advanced technologies and weapons. UAE’s new Rabdan IFV manufactured by Al Jasoor participated in the exercise.

The Rabdan IFV is fitted with a Russian-made BMP-3 turret. The vehicle was unveiled at the live demonstration of IDEX 2019 in Abu Dhabi, on February 17, 2019 (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The 8x8 IFV Infantry Fighting Vehicle produced by Al Jasoor is in service with the United Arab Emirates armed forces. During the live demonstration for the opening ceremony of IDEX 2019 in Abu Dhabi, the Rabdan was shown for the first time to the public fitted with a Russian-made BMP-3 turret.

In 2016, Otokar Land Systems’ joint venture company Al Jasoor signed a contract to equip the UAE Armed Forces with the Abadan IFV. Years before, the UAE armed forces had launched a request for a new combat vehicle to replace the BMP-3 with a more mobile 8x8 armored vehicle. Let’s notice that the UAE is the largest international operator of BMP-3s: between 1992 and 2000, around 600 BMP-3s were delivered to UAE.

According to first specifications released by Al Jasoor Heavy Vehicles Industries, the Rabdan has the capacity to carry a total 12 military personnel, including driver and commander. It has gross vehicle weight varying from 28,000 kg to 30,000 kg. The vehicle is motorized with a Caterpillar 12.5 liter diesel engine developing 600 hp. coupled to an Allison 4500 automatic transmission with 6 forward and 1 reverse gears. The vehicle can reach 105 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 700 km.

The Rabdan offers ballistic protection up to STANAG Level 4 and mine protection up to STANAG Level 4a/b. The vehicle is fully amphibious; it can reach 10 km/h on water thanks to two propellers mounted under the hull rear.

The BMP-3’s two-man turret is armed with a 100mm 2A70 semi-automatic rifled gun/missile launcher, which is stabilized in two axes and can fire either 3UOF HE-FRAG rounds or 3UBK10 anti-tank guided missiles. The second armament includes a 30mm 2A72 coaxial cannon and a 7.62mm PKT coaxial machine gun.