Procurement: Czechs Buy Protected Trucks

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September12, 2008:  The Czech Republic is buying fifteen Dingo 2 and fifteen MLV armored vehicles for its 500 troops in Afghanistan. The Dingo 2 is a four wheeled, 12 ton, armored version of the classic Mercedes-Benz UNIMOG truck series, and carries up to eight personnel. Top speed is 90 kilometers per hour, and the armor protection can handle mines, roadside bombs and small arms fire. The Dingo 2 is roughly similar in size and capability to an armored hummer, but much heavier. The German Dingo is armed with a remote control (from inside the vehicle) 7.62mm machine-gun. Israel, Austria and Germany have also ordered Dingo 2s, which cost about half a million dollars each.

 The Italian LMV is a 6.5 ton armored vehicle similar to the hummer, but with many anti-mine and bomb features (V shaped bottom, suspended seats and so on). It seats five and is designed to accommodate a remote control gun turret.

The Czechs bought four of each vehicle last year, to try out in Afghanistan, and were pleased with the results.