JMSS introduces the new Al-Mared 8×8
At his first public appearance in a defence exhibition, one of the few Al-Mared 8×8 armoured vehicles already delivered was already on guard duty at the King Abdullah I Airbase that hosts SOFEX. The operational vehicle was in green painting, while the two on exhibition, one in the open and one in the hall that hosted KADDB, were both painted in sand.
Based on an 8×8 Tatra chassis, it is powered by a Cummins diesel engine providing 420 hp that, considering the 25 tons GVW gives a power-to-weight ratio of 16.8 hp/t. The vehicle welded steel hull is produced by JMSS, a KADDB affiliate; the 60 mm thick armour provides a Level 3 protection level that can be upgraded at Level 4, mine protection being declared at Level 3a/b. Manned by a crew of two, with eight dismounts at the rear, all personnel sits on energy absorbing seats of US origin. Ingress and egress takes place thanks to a rear powered ramp.
The Al-Mared is 8 meters long, 2.96 meters wide and 2.875 meters high. According to JMSS engineers three vehicles were produced, all of them exhibited at the show. The one exhibited in the inside area was fitted with a Scimitar turret fitted with a 30 mm cannon, while the Al-Mared exhibited outside did not featured any turret. As for the one in service, it was equipped with a Snake Head cupola armed with a 12.7 mm machine gun; the Jordanian Army is preferring these one-man turrets with transparent elements fitted all round to provide direct view over 360°, the latter of those systems developed by Jordan AMCO, also part of KADDB, being armed with two such machine guns. Four vision blocks and four firing traps per side allow infantrymen to use their assault rifles for close defence.
JMSS representatives said that the 11th vehicle is currently on the production line, and that the company has acquired for the time being 50 chassis from Tatra. It is unclear how many of those are earmarked for the national army, as we were told that some will remain in stock for customers that want to buy MOTS with sort delays. According to JMMS the Al-Mared is currently the 8×8 armoured vehicle with the best cost-performance ratio.
