23 February 2023

IDEX 2023: IGG to deliver Kirpi II MRAPs to Yemen

by Jeremy Binnie

The Kasser 2 MRAP displayed on IGG's outdoor stand at IDEX 2023. (Janes/Jeremy Binnie)

The Kasser 2 mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicle the Emirati company International Golden Group (IGG) displayed in the outdoor area at IDEX 2023, being held in Abu Dhabi from 20 to 24 February, is a Kirpi II made by the Turkish company BMC, Janes confirmed during the show.

While the Kasser 2 looks superficially different, it has BMC-branded components and a representative of the Turkish company said that an MRAP displayed by the IGG was essentially a Kirpi II.

Two sources independently confirmed that the vehicles will be delivered to the Yemeni military with remotely operated weapon stations (ROWS) for 14.5 mm heavy machine guns.

The Kasser 2 was unveiled during IDEX 2021 by the previously unknown Emirati company M4 Industries. At least nine were seen in media coverage of a visit to the IGG's plant in Tawazun Industrial Park by the United Arab Emirates' (UAE's) minister of industry and advanced technology, Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, in August 2022.

While the Kasser 2 displayed at IDEX 2023 was fitted with a ROWS made by the Turkish company Aselsan, the ones seen at Tawazun Industrial Park were fitted with the same weapon station that was displayed as the Raad-1 on IGG's main stand. In both cases, they were modified for a 14.5 mm KPV-type heavy machine gun, which requires the addition of a cradle under the barrel.

The Spanish company Escribano Mechanical & Engineering (EM&E) confirmed to Janes that the Raad-1 is its Guardian 1.5 ROWS, which is also promoted by Egypt's Arab International Optronics (AIO) as the Eagle 1.

The Kasser 2 mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicle the Emirati company International Golden...

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