Serbia signs contract to acquire more Yugoimport Lazar 3 8x8 armored vehicles.

On March 20, 2021, the Serbian Ministry of Defense has announced the signature of a contract with the Serbian defense company Yugoimport for the acquisition of Lazar 3 8x8 armored IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle).
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Lazar 3 8x8 armored vehicle at Partner defense exhibition that was held in Serbia. (Picture source Army Recognition)

The “Lazar 3” procurement contract was signed by Colonel Aleksandar Cakić from the Procurement and Sales Department (Material Resources Sector, Ministry of Defense) and the Associate Director of the Public Enterprise "Yugoimport-SDPR", Aleksandar Lijaković.

Serbia continues to modernize its armed forces and wants to develop new military equipment for local use but also for the international military market. Recently, the Serbian army has acquired Milosh 4x4 armored vehicles and T-72B1MS from Russia also nicknamed “White Eagle”.

In January 2019, the Serbian Ministry of Defense has announced the delivery of the first Lazar 3 8x8 armored vehicle to the Serbian Army. The vehicle was unveiled during the land defense exhibition IDEX in February 2017.

The design of the Lazar 3 is configured in three main parts with the driver and commander at the front left side with the engine at the right. The vehicle has a crew of three including a driver, commander, and gunner and 9 soldiers can be carried at the rear of the vehicle. The troops can enter or leave the vehicle via a hydraulic-operated ramp located at the rear of the hull which has two integral doors.

The Lazar 3 offer ballistic and mine protection up to Level 3 STANAG 45698 against the firing of small arms 7.62×51mm caliber AP (Amor-Piercing) at 30 meters and anti-mine protection levels 3a and 3b STANAG 4569, mine explosion pressure-activated under any wheel or track location (Level 3a), mine explosion under center (Level 3b).

The command post version of the Lazar 3 is fitted with one remote-controlled weapon station M15 armed with one 12.7 mm NSV machine gun. The turret is fitted with an electro-optical system, day camera, thermal night camera, and laser range finder.

The IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) version is fitted with a one-man turret armed with one 30mm cannon M86 with double-feed mechanism and one 7.62mm coaxial machine gun mounted to the right side of the turret. In addition, the turret can be equipped with anti-tank guided missile launchers

The Lazar is motorized with a Cummins ISM 500 developing 500 hp. The vehicle can run at a maximum speed of 110 km.