Barely a few days after Turkey delivered dozens of the BMC Kirpi armoured vehicle to forces allied with the U.N.-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), Jordan has delivered an unknown number of its indigenous KADDB Al-Mared 8×8 armoured vehicle to Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA).
The LNA, launched an offensive to control Tripoli in early April. As the fighting drags on, the United Nations estimated that more than 75,000 people have fled their homes and 126 civilians have been killed.
Since 2014, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt have provided the LNA with military equipment such as aircraft and helicopters, helping Haftar to gain the upper hand in Libya’s eight-year conflict, according to previous U.N. reports.
Turkey and Qatar are at loggerheads with the UAE, Egypt and Saudi Arabia over several regional issues including support for the Muslim Brotherhood.
KADDB Al-Mared 8×8 armoured vehicle
The KADDB Al-Mared 8×8 armoured vehicle is based on the TATRA’s 8×8 truck chassis, attached to a fully protected all-welded steel hull.
It can withstand ballistic fire against STANAG 4569 Level 3, small arms up-to small arms 7.62×51mm caliber AP (Armor-Piercing) at 30 meters with 930 m/s.
The KADDB al-Mared has a crew of two and can carry eight fully equipped infantrymen at the rear of the hull. There are firing ports on all sides for returning fire. There is also power-operated ramp at the rear of the hull which is used by the infantrymen to leave and enter in the vehicle.
Al-Wahsh armoured personnel carrier
A Jordanian manufactured Al-Wahsh armoured personnel carrier has been spotted in Libyan National Army Service.
The vehicle, equipped with a Snake Head turret, was seen in a video posted on 26 June by the Information Office of the General Command of the Libyan Armed Forces, which documented the fighting in the city of Derna.
The Al-Wahsh is a relatively new 4×4 armoured personnel carrier (APC) developed by Jordan’s King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB). It was launched in 2016 and is based on a Czech Republic Tatra (4×4) cross-country chassis, with STANAG 4569 Level 1-2 armour. Eight passengers can be carried. Weapons and turrets can be mounted on the roof.