The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will procure Rabdan 8×8 wheeled infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) from Al-Jasoor Heavy Vehicles Industries, a joint company owned by the Turkish vehicle manufacturer Otokar and Tawazun Holdings in the UAE. <br /> <br />Specifics vary. The Daily Sabah reports that the contract is worth U.S. $661 million for 700 vehicles, which are to be built by Al-Jasoor in the UAE under license. IHS Jane’s cites the sale of 400 IFVs, but the pricing could be $656 million or $540 million. <br /> <br />Although the Rabdan is essentially a licensed variant of the Otokar Arma, it is different in some respects. The Rabdan IFV is slightly heavier at 28 tons (in contrast to the 24-ton Arma) and overall length and width at 15 cm and 55 cm, respectively. <br /> <br />The Rabdan provides small-arms fire protection of up to STANAG 4569 Level 4 and mine blast protection of up to STANAG Level 4a and Level 4b. <br /> <br />The Rabdan is also configurable with the BMP-3’s turret, which is equipped with a 100-mm 2A70 semi-automatic rifled gun, 30 mm 2A72 cannon, and 7.62 mm machine gun. <br /> <br />Powered by a Caterpillar 12.5 litre diesel engine, which offers an output of 600 hp. The Rabdan can reach a top speed of 105 km/h and a range of 700 km. It can also travel up to 10 km/h in water. <br />UAE had been seeking a new 8×8 IFV since at least 2008, when it had evaluated FNSS (i.e. another Turkish defence supplier) Pars. During the 2015 International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX), Emirates Defence Technology and Ireland-based Timoney Technology presented the jointly developed Enigma 8×8. The Finnish Patria Armored Modular Vehicle (AMV) was even slotted as the winner of the UAE bid in 2016. <br /> <br />While it is unclear if the UAE will depend solely on Otokar, the Rabdan is a certain factor in the UAE’s modernization plans, especially since the vehicle will be manufactured domestically under license. This sale also paves the way for deeper Emirati-Turkish defence collaboration, and, in particular, a relationship between the Emirati Army and Otokar. Otokar also developed the Altay main battle tank. <br />Source:http://quwa.org/2017/02/26/emirati-turkish-companies-pair-uae-8x8-ifv/
