Qatar reveals itself as Nurol Makina NMS 4×4 user

In rehearsals for its National Day military parade, the Qatar Armed Forces have revealed themselves as the launch overseas user of Nurol Makina’s new NMS 4×4 light armoured vehicle.

Nurol Makina revealed the NMS 4×4 at the 2017 International Defence Industry Fair, which took place in May in Istanbul. The NMS 4×4 has a v-shaped monocoque frame built on an indigenous chassis which can sustain a TNT explosion of up to 6 kg (i.e. STANAG 4569 Level 2A/B).

Photos show Qatari NMS 4×4 equipped with Igla pedestal-based short-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems and anti-tank guided missiles. The NMS has a gross-weight of 10,000 kg with a top speed of 140 km/h and maximum range of 700 km. It can carry up to nine personnel.

Besides the NMS 4×4, Qatar is also a user of Nurol Makina’s Ejder Yalçın 4×4 armoured combat vehicle. The Ejder Yalçın has a gross-weight of 14,000 kg, payload capacity of 4,000 kg, top speed of 120 km/h and range of 700 km. Its chassis can provide mine-protection of up to STANAG 4569 Level 3B or Level 4A.

Qatar has armed its Ejder Yalçın vehicles with the Aselsan Stabilized Advanced Remote Weapon Platform, which can be configured with a 12.7 mm or 7.62 mm machine gun or 40 mm automatic grenade launcher.

Turkish news outlets (e.g. TGRT Haber) report that Qatar is procuring 100 NMS 4×4 and 400 Ejder Yalçın.

Interestingly, Qatar is also a partner in BMC Otomotiv ve Savunma Sanayi A.Ş. Qatar is also reportedly committed to a purchase of 1,500 BMC Amazon 4×4 light armoured vehicles. By virtue of this partnership, Qatar has also become a competitor in the armoured vehicles market.

Combined with its purchases from Nurol Makina, Qatar will field close to 2,000 (potentially more) 4×4 armoured vehicles for moving its infantry, providing logistics support and specialized roles, such as short-range air defence, anti-infantry and anti-armour combat.