BMC Vuran is a Turkish made Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle built by BMC. Vuran is designed and manufactured by the Turkish armored vehicle manufacturer BMC to meet the requirements of the Turkish Land Forces.[2][3] Vuran means Striker in Turkish.
| Vuran | |
|---|---|
 Aselsan Alkar Mortar integrated on BMC Vuran. | |
| Type | Infantry mobility vehicle |
| Place of origin | Turkey |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2019-Present[1] |
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Designer | BMC (Turkey) |
| Manufacturer | BMC (Turkey) |
| Variants | 4x4 |
| Specifications | |
| Height | 3.2 m |
| Armor | STANAG 4569 Level 3 (MRAP) a |
Main armament | 7.62 or 12.7 mm machine guns |
| Ground clearance | 345 mm |
| Fuel capacity | 310 liter |
Operational range | 1000 km at 60 km/h |
Variants
- BMC Vuran (4X4) – Multi Purpose Armored Vehicle / without Gun Turret[4]
- BMC Vuran (4X4) – Aselsan SARP dual Remote Controlled Weapon System (UKSS)[5] / with Gun Turret[6]
- BMC Vuran (4X4) – Aselsan Alkar 120 mm integrated Mortar carrier[7][8]
- BMC Vuran SUNGUR Low Altitude Air Defense System[9] with two PORSAV (MANPAD) missile launcher pods.
Operators
El Salvador: 11 In use with Salvadoran Army and 5 National Civil Police.[10]
Georgia: Purchase of 46 Vuran was announced through a 2023 report mentioning a Georgian-Turkish procurement agreement from 2022.[11] First batches were delivered and accepted into service with Georgian Land Forces in February 2024.[12] Final batch was delivered on 12 June 2024.[13]
Kosovo: A deal to purchase Vuran has been signed in 2021.[14][15] First vehicles, 2 120 mm mortar variants, were delivered and accepted into service with Kosovo Security Force in late 2022. In 10 May 2024, 6 more Vuran were delivered with 120 mm mortars, Ministry of Defense purchased in total 12 BMC Vuran with the variants of 120 mm and 81 mm mortars. Total number might be 15 to 30 BMC Vuran for Kosovo Security Force.[16]
Libya: Donated from the Turkish Armed Forces.[17]
Tunisia: Bought for evaluation.[18] Known to be officially exported to Tunisia as of December 2020.[19]
Turkey:- Turkish Land Forces: 230+ vehicles delivered out of 512 ordered in total.[20][21]
- Gendarmerie General Command: 200 vehicles on order.[22] Deliveries are currently ongoing as of 2023 and include ALKAR 120 mm mortar carriers and variants equipped with MARS (Mobile Adjustable Ramp System).[23][24]
- General Directorate of Security: in use with Police Special Operations Department.[25]
- Coast Guard Command: 1 vehicle purchased for evaluation, seen in active use in the aftermath of 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake.[26][27]
Turkmenistan: While Vuran sales to Turkmenistan have never been officially announced, a variant equipped with Turkish-made Aselsan SARP DUAL remote controlled weapon station was spotted in use with State Border Service of Turkmenistan, first seen during a televised visit of Turkmenistan’s then-president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow to the country’s border outpost in 2018.[28]
