Russian Armored Vehicles for DR Congo

The Congolese police force will soon be using Russian armored cars in its fight against the rebel group M23. An announcement made earlier this month stated that several consignments of Tigr (Tiger) armored cars have been ordered by The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo); though the exact delivery volume has not been released under a confidentiality agreement. Violence Ensues The initial contract has been confirmed and signed. It is expected that the first consignment of the contract is being readied for shipment and the complete number should reach the African continent before year end. Currently with the Interior Ministry, the second contract is expected to be signed very soon. Specs DR Congo is the second country in Africa after Guinea to order Russian Tigrs. Manufactured by the Russian Military-Industrial Company (MIC), the Tigr SPM-2 GAZ-22333036 is a 4x4 multi-role, high-mobility military light-armored vehicle made in the Arzamas plant of MIC. It can carry cargo of 1.2 tons or nine personnel at a top speed of 150 kph. Similar vehicles are deployed by special forces and rapid-action teams for anti-terrorist operations and escort patrols by the Russian Ministry of Interior forces and the Defense Ministry. The first prototypes were released in 2002 with production commencing in 2004. In Russia, the vehicle is used primarily for defense and police customers. In 2008, China ordered 100 Tigr vehicles. Many Middle Eastern countries and Brazil are considering making some purchases of these vehicles as well. Two months ago in October, an agreement was signed with Nicaragua to supply an undisclosed number of Tigr vehicles. The vehicle is produces in a number of variants for different applications. An unarmored version has been developed for civilian use. The SPM-2, ordered by DR Congo was designed for law enforcement agencies and the police. The GAZ Tigr is designed in a conventional layout with a forward engine, a center crew cab, and the troop section at the rear. It has a marked similarity with the American HMMWV. Its modular design lends itself for conversion of the base vehicle into a cargo, passenger, and armored platform. It is configured to meet customized mission requirements of various buyers. Armament and Self-protection The standard vehicle can be fitted with a 12.7/7.62 mm machine gun or an automatic grenade launcher mounted on the roof top. Protective armament consists of bullet-resistant glass windows, spall liners, and armor plating. It provides protection form artillery shell splinters, small arms fire, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). But it does not have a sloped bottom like the newer military vehicles built for the American military; its bottom is still flat which cannot be that good if struck by an IED since IEDs are mainly triggered when the vehicle is right on top of it. The transmission on the Tigr is through a constant all-wheel drive. Its tires have an in-built tire inflation system which operates automatically. Tire pressure can be adjusted by the driver to suit the type of terrain on which the vehicle is operating. The Tigr can ford water to a depth of 1.2 meters. Ultra Armoring is a U.S. manufacturer of armored vehicles for all applications. The company's manufacturing plant is in Kings Mountain, NC. Ultra Armoring and MIC are not direct competitors, but they both sell their products on an international scale.

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