Winter creates new challenges for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Blurred roads, precipitation and sub-zero temperatures – all drivers know how difficult a snowy road can be. And what to do when there are simply no roads?

Previously, we already considered Ukrainian armored cars, but now we offer to learn more about those models that are supplied as part of military aid from Western partners.

German Dingo

This fall, German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht announced that Ukraine will receive 50 Dingo armored personnel carriers from the Krauss-Maffei Wegmann company. This battle-proven armored vehicle will be a useful reinforcement for the winter campaign, because together with high cross-country ability, it provides reliable protection for the crew.

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Dingo combines steel and composite armor that meets the third level of protection of STANAG 4569. The vehicle is not afraid of small arms, anti-personnel and anti-tank mines, as well as projectile fragments.

Based on the Unimog U5000 (for Dingo 2) and Unimog U-100-L (for Dingo 1) wheeled chassis. With a 222 hp Mercedes-Benz diesel engine. Dingo 2 develops a maximum highway speed of up to 100 km/h, with a range of 700 km without refueling.

The main purpose of Dingo 2 is called reconnaissance and patrolling, but there are modifications of command and staff cars, medical and police cars with additional equipment for surveillance. Modifications differ not only in equipment, but also in the length of the wheelbase of 3250 mm or 3850 mm.

In addition to powerful armor, the Dingo has advanced weapon support. Depending on the modification of the armored personnel carrier, FLW-100/FLW-200 modules are installed. They are equipped with 7.62mm or 5.56mm Heckler&Koch MG4 machine guns, and in the reinforced version either a 12.7mm Browning M2 machine gun or a 40mm Heckler&Koch GMG automatic grenade launcher. The modules are controlled remotely, in the enhanced version, image output cameras are provided. There is a Dingo with a composition of two modules.

Dingo operators: Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, Czech Republic, Norway, Kurdistan, Saudi Arabia. Combat experience of armored personnel carriers was gained in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq.

You can see Dingo 2 in motion on the video:

Turkish Kirpi

One of the most protected military vehicles of Turkish production, Kirpi, also works at the front. On the Internet, users found confirmation of their use – a video featuring these armored vehicles was posted on the official page of the Operational Group of the Kakhovka troops.

Kirpi are designed to transport personnel and have a high class of protection against mines and small arms. The armored car belongs to the MRAP class and has several modifications – with a 4×4 or 6×6 suspension and a medical Kirpi Ambulance.

Kirpi translates as “hedgehog”, which says a lot about its purpose. The car is protected from all sides, from armor that can withstand the impact of fragments of artillery shells to anti-mine and explosion-proof seats. NATO STANAG 4569 level 3 compliance ensures that the vehicle protects the crew from armor-piercing projectiles, mine threats, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and other ballistic threats.

However, the armored car can not only protect, but also meet the enemy with a volley of fire – the roof of the car serves as a platform for a 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm machine gun, which supports integration with remote control. There are also places for firing small arms.

One Kirpi is capable of transporting 13 people – three crew members and 10 landing personnel. The car is equipped with an 8.9-liter turbodiesel with 375 hp. and develops a speed of up to 105 km per hour on the highway.

Video with this armored car:

Comparison of Dingo 2 and Kirpi characteristics:

British Husky and Mastiff

Great Britain, which has been a reliable partner of Ukraine since the first days of the full-scale invasion, also joined in replenishing the fleet of armored vehicles. The British transfer several car models, namely Husky and Mastiff.

The first vehicle represents a protected vehicle based on the International XT truck. Manufactured by Navistar Defense. It is a mobile solution available in several versions with and without protection. Accommodates four people, including driver and crew chief.

Husky can be used to transport cargo, personnel, convoy and patrol missions, communication and use as a command and staff vehicle. The armament of the car consists of a 12.7 mm machine gun, the maximum highway speed is 113 km/h.

The Husky itself competed to become the main unit for the US Armed Forces, but lost to the Oshkosh M-ATV model. Since 2009, Husky has been actively used by the British and has demonstrated its effectiveness in combat operations.

Video of Husky in motion:

The Mastiff is the British version of the Cougar, adapted to the needs of the British army. The media reports that Ukraine will receive a version of the PPV (protected patrol vehicle) designed specifically for patrolling. This is one of the newest vehicles that has combat experience in Libya, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan.

The Mastiff PPV is a machine reliably protected against small arms and mine threats with the option of being armed with a 7.62 or 12.7 mm machine gun or a 40 mm grenade launcher. The car can reach a speed of up to 90 km/h, and the range is 1100-1200 km. Dyneema Unidirectional (UD) special material can be used in the armor, which improves the car’s protection against mines and small arms.

The presence of Western models of armored cars allows expanding the fleet and timely replacing cars that are called consumables at the front. The value of such vehicles is especially noticeable during the de-occupation of territories that the enemy is actively mining during the retreat.

In addition, in conditions of a stretched front line, the use of armored vehicles allows maintaining the mobility of units and resisting partisan tactics.