IAV 2023: Nurol Makina 4×4 vehicles touted for high-intensity operations

Ejder Yalçın Block 4 is operated by NATO country Hungary under the name Gidrán. (Hungarian MoD)

Nurol Makina presented its 4×4vehicles at Defence iQ's International Armoured Vehicles (IAV) 2023 conference being held in London from 23 to 26 January. The Turkish company's 18 tonne Ejder Yalçın and 14 tonne NMS vehicles, the latter under development, are considered suitable for high-intensity operations because of the employment of 4×4vehicles by private military companies like the Wagner Group and by special forces in Ukraine.

Another lesson learned from the war in Ukraine is theunits' need for organic fire support. The combat version of the Ejder Yalçın is armed with a 12.7 mm machine gun and a 30 mm automatic cannon, and combat support versions are equipped with anti-tank weapons, 120 mm mortars, or loitering munitions. Video of the mortar version of the Ejder Yalçın shows minimum vibration when a 120 mm weapon is fired from the vehicle and its hatches being opened while it is moving to prepare for firing when it stops.

The combat-proven Ejder Yalçın can carry up to nine personnelandis designed to be operated in all-weather and all-terrain, including urban areas. Itfeatures NATO Standardization Agreement (STANAG) 4569 ballistic and blast protection against artillery, kinetic energy, and improvised explosive devices, and can be repaired in the field.

Nurol Makina claims the Ejder Yalçın has a payload capacity almost as high as a 6×6at half the price.