Mohafiz (vehicle)

Mohafiz
Type	Internal security vehicle
Place of origin	Pakistan
Service history
Used by	Iraq, Pakistan
Production history
Designer	Heavy Industries Taxila
Designed	1990s
Manufacturer	Heavy Industries Taxila
Produced	~2003[1]
Specifications
Weight	3657 kg
Length	4877 mm
Width	1575 mm
Height	2023 mm
Crew	8
Main armament	7.62mm

The Mohafiz is an internal security vehicle designed and manufactured at Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) in Pakistan based on the chassis of commercial vehicle. It has a welded aluminium armour hull with ricochet angles all round. The hull is protected against 7.62 mm bullets at point blank range. The vehicle has a rotating turret at the top, thus facilitating all round control by the commander. The vehicle has bulletproof wind screens and run-flat tyres. Seating capacity is 8 persons with 1 0 firing ports on sides.^[2]

Mohafiz is being offered for export by HIT and was displayed at the IDEAS 2002 defence exhibition in Karachi, Pakistan, to promote the vehicle.^[3]

Development

Early in 2000, HIT started design work on a new 4 × 4 Internal Security (IS) vehicle called the Mohafiz. This was first shown in mid-November 2000 and in December 2000 started extensive trials.

Engine

It is powered by a 4.2 litre diesel engine coupled to a manual transmission with five forward and one reverse gears and a two speed transfer case. If required, a more powerful 4.5 litre diesel engine could be installed to provide a higher power-to-weight ratio.

Although the first example of the Mohafiz is based on a Toyota Land Cruiser chassis, it could also be built on other 4 × 4 chassis. This includes the Land Rover Defender 110 (4 × 4), which is already in service with the Pakistani Army in large numbers.

Vehicles supplied to Iraq were based on a Land Rover 110 (4 × 4) chassis.

Design

The Mohafiz APC has an all-welded aluminium armour body that provides the occupants with protection from small arms fire up to 7.62 mm in calibre and shell splinters. The fully enclosed engine compartment is at the front with the crew compartment extending to the rear.

The commander and driver are seated at the front and provided with bulletproof windows to their front and a forward opening door with a bulletproof window in the upper part of either side. These bulletproof windows are covered by wire mesh screens. The bulletproof windows provide the same level of protection as the armoured hull.

The troop compartment is at the rear with the troops seated on either side on bench seats and enter the vehicle via a large door in the rear opening to the right.

Bulletproof windows are provided in the sides and rear of the troop compartment. A total of ten firing ports are provided to allow rifles and other small arms to be used from within the vehicle. The upper parts of the hull slope slightly inwards as does the hull rear.

Mounted on the forward part of the roof is a manually operated one person turret armed with a 7.62 mm machine gun and/or a tear gas grenade launcher and a two part roof hatch which opens left and right. Vehicles delivered to Iraq are fitted with a one-person turret armed with a 7.62 mm PK machine gun.

To the immediate rear of the turret are two forward opening roof hatches although the design of the vehicle is flexible so that various types of roof hatch arrangement are possible.

The Vehicle also have the following features:

• Run-Flat tyres
• A public address system
• Powerful siren
• Powered steering
• A searchlight operated from within the vehicle
• Lifting and towing hooks
• Fire extinguisher
• Air conditioning system

Customers

Possible customers for this vehicle are the Pakistani Rangers and Police. Some interest has already been shown by banks, which would use the Mohafiz to transport bullion and cash.

The first export customer for the Mohafiz is Iraq who took delivery of 60 vehicles in 2006. These are based on a Land Rover 110 (4 × 4) chassis.

Operators

•  Pakistan
•  Iraq 60

References

1. ^ Saudi Crown Prince witnesses exhibition of Pak Defense Production.^{[dead link]}
2. ^ IDEAS 2006 Defence Exhibition.^{[dead link]}
3. ^ IDEAS 2002 - Defence Exhibition.^{[dead link]}