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Nurol Makina UK Exhibits First British-Made Ejder Yalcin 4x4 Tactical Wheeled Armored Vehicle at DVD2024.
The Turkish manufacturer Nurol Makina is currently showcasing its armored vehicle, the Ejder Yalcin, to British Army officers at the Millbrook Proving Ground 2024 in the United Kingdom, as part of their evaluation for future tactical vehicle projects under the Protected Mobility Fleet program. Interestingly, this vehicle was fully assembled in England and named Dragon.
Nurol Makina UK Ejder Yalcin 4x4 Tactical Wheeled Armored Vehicle (Picture source: Army Recognition)
As a reminder, as early as 2023, Nurol Makina expanded its operations by establishing Nurol Makina UK in Birmingham, at the heart of the British automotive industry. Nearby, in Coventry, is NP Aerospace, a partner of Nurol Makina since July 2023, working to adapt the Ejder Yalcin for the British market. NP Aerospace, appointed in 2019 as the engineering authority for the British Army's Protected Mobility Fleet program, collaborated in assembling a fully British Ejder Yalcin that is now being presented at DVD 2024.
The Ejder Yalcin, weighing 18 tons and capable of carrying a crew of two plus seven soldiers, is equipped to withstand mines and IEDs according to NATO STANAG 4a/2b standards. It features a V-shaped hull and seats with shock protection. The vehicle also stands out for its high mobility, with a maximum road speed of 120 km/h and superior capabilities in fording, trench crossing, obstacle climbing, and navigating steep slopes.
Powered by a Cummins 8.9-liter diesel engine producing 375 horsepower and a torque of 1,550 Nm, the Ejder Yalcin uses an Allison automatic transmission with six forward gears and one reverse, including a two-speed transfer case that offers continuous all-wheel drive and a lockable central differential.
Designed to adapt to both high-intensity conflicts and lower-scale operations, the Ejder Yalcin can be equipped with manual or remote weapon stations for 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns, and has also been tested with 25 mm and 30 mm autocannons. Since its initial development in 2012, the vehicle has been adopted by the armed forces of 11 countries and has accumulated over 15 million kilometers, proving its combat effectiveness in areas such as the Turkey-Syria border and in Mali.
The Protected Mobility Fleet program aims to modernize military land transport with better-armed and more versatile vehicles, incorporating advanced technologies for improved protection and increased operational efficiency. Vehicles like the Ejder Yalcin, offering various configurations for diverse missions — including command, surveillance, anti-tank, air defense, and more — exemplify this modernization, providing an adaptable and effective platform to meet the contemporary challenges of warfare and security.