The Kirpi is a 4x4 armored vehicle in the category of MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) that was designed and developed by the Turkish company BMC.
The armored vehicle is equipped with one small open roof dome with folding shield walls armed with a 7.62 mm machine gun. This vehicle can also be equipped with a remote-controlled weapon system.
The layout of the Kirpi MRAP is similar to a heavy truck with armor protection. The engine is located at the front, the crew member in the middle, and the troop's compartment at the rear. The vehicle can carry a total of 13 military personnel including a driver, commander, gunner, and 10 infantrymen.
It features an all-welded steel armored monocoque hull with a V-shaped lower half that provides a high level of protection against mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), small arms fire, and shell splinters. The hull of the Kirpi is made in steel armor, which gives protection up to STANAG 4569 Level 3. The bottom part is protected against grenades and land mines up to STANAG 4569 Level 3b. The Kirpi is a vehicle from the MRAP (Mine Protected Armored vehicle) category.
The Kirpi uses a V-shape chassis to increase vehicle and crew survivability by deflecting an upward directed blast from a landmine (or Improvised Explosive Device) away from the vehicle, while also presenting a sloped armor face. The Kirpi provides also powerful ballistic and blast protection.
The Kirpi is based on a BMC 4x4 truck chassis model 235-16P. It is motorized with a Turbo diesel intercooler Cummins ISLe+ 350 Euro-III, coupled to an Allison 3000 transmission with 5 forward gears and 1 reverse. The Kirpi can be run at a maximum speed of 100 km/h with a maximum range of 800 km.
Standard equipment of the Kirpi MRAP includes an air-conditioning system, NNB protection system, and mine blast seats with five-point safety belts. A self-recovery winch can be mounted at the front of the hull. A spare wheel is fitted on the left side of the rear hull.
The Kirpi features the latest technologies of shock absorber seats and interior accessories, such as a GPS system, rearview camera, and automatic fire suppression system. The soldiers enter and leave the vehicle through a large hydraulically operated ramp at the rear of the hull. The Kirpi has five firing ports and four bulletproof windows on either side of the troop compartment.
In August 2022, it was announced that Turkey was delivering Kirpi MRAP armored vehicles to Ukraine.
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