The Defense Forces took delivery of their first Gidrán vehicles in the spring of 2021, and they continue to arrive.Continue reading
“The dreaded dragons of the battlefield are coming! 56 new Gidráns will strengthen the Hungarian Defense Forces,” the Minister of Defense announced on his social media page on Sunday.
“These vehicles provide excellent mobility and firepower – for the safety of Hungarian soldiers and to further strengthen our country’s defense capabilities,” reads Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky’s post.
They will take their final form after the installation of Hungarian information and communication and weapon systems,”
he added.
Since the spring of 2021, the multi-purpose, armored combat vehicles with good off-road capabilities, primarily intended for support roles, have been continuously arriving. The combat vehicle, named Gidrán in Hungary, is part of the army modernization program at the Hungarian Defense Forces.
The Hungarian vehicle is based on the Turkish-made Ejder Yalçın, which means dragon in English.
The Defense Forces named it after the gidrán, a Hungarian horse breed with a significant historical background.
In December 2020, the government announced that it would purchase 300 Gidráns as part of the Defense and Military Development Program. The 4×4 armored multi-purpose combat vehicles, developed and manufactured by the Turkish company Nurol Makina, were modified by the manufacturer to meet Hungarian requirements, and the first ten Gidráns arrived at the Tata barracks (northwestern Hungary) the following year. The vehicles have been equipped with the communications systems necessary for deployment in Hungary.
Photo: Facebook/MH Klapka György 1. Páncélosdandár
The Gidrán is a versatile vehicle equipped with a remote-controlled gun turret, night vision camera, and heavy machine gun, ensuring its survivability thanks to its blast-resistant system and special armor. Each Gidrán weighs 14 tons, measures 5.8 meters in length, 2.5 meters in width and height, and is powered by an 8,900 cc engine. It can reach speeds of up to 120 km/h and travel 700 kilometers on a single fill-up.
Via Honvedelem.hu, Featured image: Honvedelem.hu