Locally made armoured vehicles en route to Peacekeepers in Mali

The Unibuffel MK6 by SLEME   

By Asiri Fernando

01/07/2020

Colombo

The Sri Lanka Army last week (26 June), handed over nine locally manufactured Mine Protected Vehicles (MPV's) and a Recovery Vehicle to be shipped to Mali, Africa. The vehicles will equip a company of Sri Lankan Peacekeepers who escort United Nations aid convoys in the war-torn nation. 

The vehicles, the latest version in the long line of combat proven "Unibuffel" family, have been fabricated by the Army's Electrical and Mechanical Engineer's Regiment (SLEME) in line with United Nation's requirements for they type of protected vehicle. 

The new Unibuffel MK6 variant, offers better mobility, mine and ballistic protection and crew comforts than previous models a senior SLEME officer told Defence Asia.

The vehicles are also equipped with a blast sock absorbing seating system which was developed by the army R&D wing. Combined with the vehicles design features, the seats offer the peacekeepers more protection and less likelihood of spinal injuries which result from explosions. 

The vehicles are also equipped with a robust air-conditioning, air filtering and communications package to provide better crew comfort needed for the long-range operations in the harsh Malian climate. The Vehicle is built on a rugged commercial truck chassi imported from India.

According to the SL Army, the MPV is in the 9.8 Ton class, powered by a 165bhp V6 turbo charged diesel engine manufactured by Hino. The 4x4 vehicle, seats a squad of 7 peacekeepers and one driver. It has a top speed of 85Kmph and is equipped with long range fuel tanks for convoy duties in Mali. It is built to withstand 10Kg mine blast under the hull and wheels and protect the occupants from 7.62mm NATO AP ammunition and Claymore type directional anti-personnel mines.  

The SLEME says that the vehicle can be equipped with additional commuication equipment and a C-IED RF Jammer if required. The MK6 comes equipped with two gun mounts (forward and rear) with gun shields for the gunner, which can be equipped with a GPMG or PKM type Machine Gun or 40mm AGL.       

The vehicles will be used by the Sri Lankan peacekeepers of the 1st Combat Convoy Company (1CCC) assigned the task of protecting UN aid convoys and vital supplies across the vast Malian countryside and over austere roads. 

The 1st CCC is made up of 243 Sri Lankan Peacekeepers, the Army said. Last year the UN mission in Mali known as United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali(MINUSMA) was termed one of the most dangerous peacekeeping missions up to date. 

In January last year two Sri Lankan Peacekeepers lost their lives and another was injured in Mali, when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated near the six-wheeled drive Chinese made Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) they were traveling in. The attack was claimed by Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), an-Qaeda affiliated group in Mali. There is several transnational terrorist organisations and their affiliates who operate in Mali, increasing the risk factor for peacekeepers. 

According to Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, the local production of the MPV's saves taxpayers money. "We are very happy to have been able to ship this consignment of 9 Unibuffels and one foreign-manufactured recovery vehicle for use of 243 Sri Lankan Combat Convoy troops serving UN Peace Keeping missions in Mali for the last two years. 

We have reached an understanding with the UN over the number of such vehicles that should be made available to those troops. Earlier, imported WMAZ vehicles, each costing about Rs 40 million was purchased for those UN troops" Silva said pointing out that the Unibuffel locally produced to UN specifications cost less than Rs 10 Million. 

Lt Gen Silva said that once the new vehicle enters service in Mali and is proven, the army is capable of supplying the vehicles for foreign clients. 

End

A Nissan Recovery vehicle which was refurbished by the SLEME will be one of the vehicles sent to Mali.

Unibuffel MK6 - ready of Peacekeeping duties

Nine locally made Unibuffel MK6 lined up for inspection with Chinese (Type-92) WMAZ 6x6 APC of the Army Mechanized Infantry, on both flanks