Kenya’s Department of Defense has cleared the procurement of 118 Hizir armored personnel carriers from Turkey at a price of nearly $70 million. Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) is focused on ensuring the survivability of its troops deployed in the fight against al-Shabaab terrorist militants from Somalia, hence the need to procure 118 new armored personnel carriers (APCs). The Kenya Defence Forces made a critical assessment and established that the contemporary operating environment has evolved significantly with major threats to IEDs (improvised explosive devices) reinforced with complex ambushes. The Katmerciler met all the necessary requirements with its Hizir, beating two other contenders from South Africa and North America.
The Katmerciler HIZIR is a 4×4 Tactical Wheeled Armoured Vehicle which has been designed and optimised for high performance under extreme operational conditions in rural and urban areas for 9 personnel. Vehicle has high level of ballistic and mine protection. It is agile, dynamic, versatile, low maintenance and easy care platform. The Katmerciler HIZIR, 4×4 Tactical Wheeled Armoured Vehicle can be used in various configurations such as combat vehicle, command control vehicle, CBRN vehicle, weapon carrier (easy integration of various weapon systems), ambulance vehicle, border security vehicle, reconnaissance vehicle.
The Katmerciler HIZIR can carry a total of 9 personnel with the driver and commander at the front and 7 people at the rear on individual seats. There are 4 side doors (2 on each side) and one rear door. The engine is located at the front of the vehicle. The HIZIR has a gross weight of 16,000 kg, a length of 5.57 m, a width of 2.49 m, a height of 2.61 m and a wheelbase of 3.08 m. The HIZIR is designed on a V-hull monocoque chassis to increase vehicle and crew survivability by deflecting an upward directed blast from a landmine or IEDs (Improvised Explosive Device) away from the vehicle. All the windows of the vehicle are built to withstand the firing of small arms 7.62mm machine gun and hand grenades fragments.
The Hizir has 9 gun ports 4 on each side and 1 on the rear door. The vehicle is also equipped with smoke grenade launcher on the top of the vehicle. The Katmerciler HIZIR, 4×4 Tactical Wheeled Armoured Vehicle can be used in various configurations such as combat vehicle, command control vehicle, CBRN vehicle, weapon carrier (easy integration of various weapon systems), ambulance vehicle, border security vehicle, reconnaissance vehicle. The Katmerciler HIZIR is powered by a Cummins ISL turbocharged 6 cylinders intercooled diesel engine which has a displacement of 8.9 liters and develops 400 hp (298 KW) at 2100 rpm. It has a maximum speed of 110 km/h and a range of 700 km.
