The Burkina Faso military is now the latest country in Africa to acquire the Nurol Ejder Yalçın 4×4 armoured vehicle from Turkey.
A number of the Nurol Ejder Yalçın 4×4 were fielded by the Army of Burkina Faso (L’Armée de Terre or LAT – Ground Forces) during the recent coup in the country.
At least two of the vehicle were seen in from of the Nationa television in Ouagadougou, the capital city on 24 January.
A January 24 military coup that overthrew Burkina Faso’s President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré comes amid a deepening security crisis in the country.
Orchestrated by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who was recently promoted to head the country’s third military region.
Made by Turkish Nurol Makina, the Nurol Ejder Yalçin is a tactical armored vehicle that offers ballistic, mine, and improvised explosive device (IED) protection.Advertisements
The Nurol Ejder Yalçin tactical armored vehicle provides protection levels of STANAG 4569 from Level 1 to 4.
It can carry up to 9 combat-equipped soldiers while offering fully manual or Remote Weapon Station system integration.
The acquisition of this vehicle once again highlights the growing dependence on Turkish-built armor by African armies.
The type has enjoyed significant export in Africa, with Chad acquiring more than twenty units, and according to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms sales, Turkey sold 20 wheeled armored units to Chad in 2018. Although, the register did not specify the type.
Other users in Africa include Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia.
Burkina Faso has been a regular recipient of military equipment from various countries. For instance, in May 2019, Burkina Faso received 24 Storm 4×4 APC from Qatar.
The new vehicles will be used in the fight against terrorism, as well as in the protection of Burkinabe troops on the frontline. The United States and the Burkinabe Army will also collaborate on training to improve troops response to Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) attacks now prevalent in the country.
While in June 2019 Ukraine’s AutoKrAZ in a contract valued at $1.2 million delivered three Shrek-M armoured vehicles to Burkina Faso. The Shrek-M vehicles delivered to Burkina Faso have been outfitted with mine disposal equipment.
Meanwhile, Burkina Faso also independently acquired several Cobra armoured vehicles from Turkey’s Otokar which were deployed to the Eastern Region, where counter-terrorist operations are ongoing.