Ezugwu MRAP

Ezugwu MRAP
TypeMine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle
Place of originNigeria
Service history
In service2019-Present
Used byNigerian Armed Forces
WarsBoko Haram insurgency
Production history
DesignerCommand Engineering Depot
ManufacturerDefence Industries Corporation of Nigeria
Produced2019-Present
References[1][2]

The Ezugwu MRAP is a Nigerian-made mine resistance and ambush protected vehicle (MRAP), designed by the Nigerian Defence Industry of Nigeria (DICON) and the Command Engineering Depot (CED).[3][4][5]

Named after Major General Victor Ezugwu,[3] the Ezugwu MRAP is designed to replace obsolete combat vehicles in the Nigerian Army's inventory.

History

First unveiled in September 2019, earlier versions feature a double enclosed turret that can traverse 360 degrees, allowing for versatile weapon deployment, including a 12.7 mm machine gun.[6][7]

The first batch of 28 Ezugwus was ordered in November 2019,[8] and a follow up purchase of 52 units was made by the Nigerian Army in January 2021.[9]

In 2021, DICON presented photographs of a new version of the Ezugwu. This was a 6x6 vehicle with one turret and a normal windscreen.[10]

Design

The Ezugwu MRAP is specifically engineered to withstand improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and mine blasts up to 12 kg under the vehicle.[11] It uses a Tatra 4x4 chassis for the vehicle.[10]

The MRAP can carry up to 12 people, consisting of a commander, driver, two gunners and eight soldiers.[10]

It has undergone several iterations to reflect a more modern and practical MRAP design. The new design was unveiled at a Science and Technology EXPO in 2020 organized by the Federal Ministry of science and technology in Abuja.[11]

References

  1. ↑ https://www.overtdefense.com/2019/11/18/nigerian-armed-forces-purchased-28-local-ezugwu-armored-vehicles/
  2. ↑ https://www.africanmilitaryblog.com/2019/09/defence-industries-corporation-of-nigeria-dicon-unveils-ezugwu-mrap
  3. 1 2 Lionel, Ekene (25 September 2019). "Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) unveils Ezugwu MRAP". Military Africa. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  4. ↑ admin (13 November 2019). "Nigerian Army, DICON Sign Agreement For Production Of Ezugwu MRAP Vehicles". The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON). Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  5. ↑ Nwafor (25 October 2019). "Breaking: Nigerian Army to launch Armoured vehicle named 'EZUGWU MRAP'". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  6. ↑ "Major General Victor Ezugwu: Building Nigeria's First Indigenous Mine Resistant, Ambush Protected Armoured Carrier". This Day. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  7. ↑ "Buhari tear rubber comot made-in-Nigeria armour vehicles for Kaduna". BBC News Pidgin. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  8. ↑ Lionel, Ekene (13 November 2019). "Nigerian Army orders twenty-eight Ezugwu MRAP". Military Africa. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  9. ↑ Lionel, Ekene (8 January 2021). "Nigerian Army orders 52 additional Ezugwu MRAP". Military Africa. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/nigerian-army-orders-another-52-ezugwu-armoured-vehicles/
  11. 1 2 "DICON, CED develops new Ezugwu MRAP variant". Military Africa. 20 March 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
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