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The Israeli Vehicles That Protect Soldiers from Mines

Jun 3, 2018

This post is also available in: עברית (Hebrew)

Two families of armored vehicles manufactured by an Israeli company supply protection to mounted soldiers at the battlefield and are designed for diverse defense, HLS & law enforcement applications. The vehicles, developed by the Gaia Automotive Industries, include the THUNDER and AMIR families.

THUNDER is a multi-purpose 4×4 armored vehicle that can carry up to 12 people and a payload of up to 1.8 tons. It is built on commercial Chassis such as F-550 Ford and its crew compartment offers Level II/III, stanag 4569 protection.

Optional add-ons include fire-fighting systems in the engine and crew compartment; a night vision system; NBC filtration system, Remote Control Weapon Station (RCWS), gunner turret etc. As a personnel carrier, the various applications for THUNDER vehicles include police; logistics; peacekeeping; ambulances and more.

AMIR is a multi-purpose 4×4 or 6×6 mine-protected vehicle, that can carry up to 12 people and a payload of up to 3 tons. It has independent suspension for tactical mobility.

Optional add-ons include manual one-man turret, 12.7/20/25/40mm caliber remote control weapon station; 81/120mm mortar carrier; missile launcher/ anti-tank missile launcher/anti-aircraft turret and more. Applications for AMIR include reconnaissance; rapid intervention; personnel carrier for peacekeeping, ambulances, logistics and more.

The AMIR can be bullet protected up to Stanag 4569 level 4 and up to 10 Kg TNT mine.

According to the company’s statement, they are currently engaged in a number of vehicle assembly knowledge-transfer projects to customers in their own countries, working to establish assembly plants there, allowing the client independence in managing the project, and reducing project costs by up to 25%.

Gaia develops automotive defense products for complicated applications, including Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) projects, light armored vehicles, heavy duty tank trailers and aircraft re-fullers.