IDEX 2021: NIMR Ajban Mk 2 new generation of UAE-made 4x4 wheeled armored vehicle.

The UAE-based company NIMR, a subdivision of EDGE, a cluster of Defense and Security industries from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), unveils the second generation of its UAE-made Ajban 4x4 protected patrol vehicle under the name of Ajban Mk 2.

UAE-based company NIMR unveils its new Ajban Mk 2 4x4 armored vehicle at IDEX 2021, the International Land Defense Exhibition in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The Ajban class is a family of 4x4 military and security vehicles fully developed, designed, and manufactured by the Company NIMR Automotive in the United Arab Emirates. The new Ajban Mk2 is not a simple upgrade of the previous version, but a completely new vehicle featuring new technical specifications.

The new Ajban Mk2 was developed based on the user experience of the first generation of Ajban-class vehicles. With this new vehicle, NIMR offers now a combat armored vehicle able to face the new threats of the battlefield. With its new Ajban, NIMR has upgraded all the specifications of the vehicle from the first generation with more payload, increased ballistic and mine protection, and a completely modified electric architecture.

Recently, NIMR successfully conducted landmine blast tests, in line with international standards, in the UAE desert in collaboration with its sister company LAHAB. The tests were made to demonstrate the effectiveness of the protection levels offered by the Ajban Mark 2 (MK2) armored tactical vehicle. Owing to the superior underbelly protection of the new monocoque design, the vehicle remained intact during both powerful blasts under the front and belly areas of the hull. The high levels of protection provide an added advantage rarely available in other leading armored vehicles in this class.

The Mark 2 version provides new capabilities in terms of protection. It's now a monocoque V-hull design vehicle with a body shell built up from armor plates, rather than attaching them to a frame. This reduces the weight of the vehicle with more armor protection. The vehicle is also fitted with a floating floor to suspend the floor above the belly of the vehicle rather than directly attach it to the belly armor. The floating floor reduces the amount of energy that is transferred to the crew compartment and reduces the risk that any deformation of the belly armor from the explosion will cascade to the floating floor, causing the floor to buckle or fragment into secondary shrapnels.

The NIMR Ajban Mk 2 can carry a total of 5 military personnel. (Picture source: Army Recognition) 

The Ajban Mk2 has a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of 11,500 kg with a length of 5.62 m, a width of 2.35 m, and a height of 2.39. It has now a payload of 2.9 tones, twice the first version's one.

With the Ajban Mk 2, NIMR offers a new design of the vehicle with more internal space and a protected cargo area. The previous version had a crew of 4 soldiers, the Mk 2 can accommodate 5 military personnel, and in the future, the vehicle will be able to carry up to 7 people. NIMR has paid great attention to the interior ergonomics of the vehicle offering more space and comfort to the crew. There are two doors on each side of the hull with individual small bulletproof windows and the front of the crew compartment is fitted with a windshield divided into two parts offering a high level of visual awareness at the front and the side of the vehicle.

The Ajban Mk 2 is powered by a Diesel engine developing 296 hp coupled to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The vehicle can reach a top speed of 110 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 700 km. The Mk2 versions boast enhanced maintainability with a significantly reduced timeframe required to remove a vehicle's powerpack – down from 10 hours to just 20 minutes. The vehicle is equipped with an independent suspension improving the ride and handling qualities in road and off-road conditions. A central tire inflation system (CTIS) is also available to provide control over the air pressure in each of a vehicle's tires as a way to improve performance on different surfaces.

The roof of the Ajban Mk2 can be fitted with manual or remotely operated weapon systems that can be armed with a machine gun up to 12.7mm machine gun, a Gatling gun-type or a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher.

The Ajban Mk 2 can be fitted in option with a wide range of military equipment including a high-power 360 hp engine, an additional 100-liter fuel tank, ballistic protection for the engine compartment, a CBRN protection system, obstacles awareness cameras mounted at the front and the rear of the vehicle, a gun ring mount and a self-recovery winch mounted at the front of the hull.