Polish Ministry of Defence (Ministerstwo Obrony Narodowej) announced that 6th Airborne Brigade has received the first batch of 15 vehicles designed for the airborne operations. The Agreement concerning the vehicles for the air-mobile units was signed in December 2018 by and between the Armament Inspectorate and the consortium led by the KAFAR Bartłomiej Sztukiert business based in Zielonka, working with Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski-based HIBNERYT company, Siedlce-based Auto Podlasie company, Warsaw-based Auto Special company, Sobiesław Zasada branch.
The vehicles are an original design offered by the consortium with Toyota Land Cruiser used as the base platform. The Agreement concerns delivery of 55 vehicles (option defined as acquisition of another 25 vehicles) and 105 special trailer for the air-mobile units that can be dropped with the use of a parachute along with 105 special-purpose trailers and logistics/training package. The vehicles will be put to use during the Defender 2020 exercise and expected to come to an end by 2022. The all-terrain vehicles for the air-mobile units and the special purpose trailers are to be used for transporting equipment within the dropzone after the drop, and as a part of infantry patrol elements.
The vehicle can be transported as an underslung load by a helicopter, and it may also be dropped with the use of the PDS “V” 108” 12 ft platform from the C-130 or C295M aircraft. Considering the weight of the vehicle and of the platform, two parachutes with surface of 700 sq. meters each need to be used for the drops. The vehicle itself can also be used as a weapons platform. It may also be used in CASEVAC role. They are also destined to be utilized in a towing role with regards to artillery systems weighing more than 1 tonne.
Polish 6th Airborne Brigade Gets Special Purpose Vehicles
