Panzers Ho!

Actung Panzer!

A curious place no doubt - betwixt Atlas Mtns and Indus - for reasons that are many and all kinda interconnected.

Anywrought, the Middle East is fixing to jammed up tight with panzers!

The ending of the Afghan war and European budget cuts have led to a drop in armored vehicle demand in those markets, but the Middle East is expected an annual growth rate of 4.93 percent to boost vehicle procurement significantly over the next 10 years and offset anticipated reductions in the US and Europe.

The report bases the market figures on a projected compound annual growth rate of 4.93 percent.

One driver of the surge in demand is the peace initiative missions undertaken by most of the countries in the Middle East, such as participation in Afghanistan by Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, according to the report. Demand for mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles (MRAPs) will be sustained globally due to security concerns in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, it says.

Countries such as Saudi Arabia, Little Satan and UAE are expected to spend extensively on armored vehicle procurement.

Furthermore, the development of indigenous facilities in the UAE, Jordan and Algeria provide for expansion into new markets such as Yemen, Somalia and Libya.

Regionally, Turkey is expected to bolster the armored vehicle export market as its indigenous industry gains traction and matures over the next decade, developing into a world-class hub for armored vehicle capabilities.

In June, the Qatar Armed Forces Industry Committee reportedly applied to Turkey’s Competition Board to acquire 49 percent of commercial and military vehicle manufacturer BMC. The $357.5 million investment signifies the gulf state’s priority of maintaining a steady flow of armored vehicles in their cache.

In response, UAE weapons manufacturer Tawazun Holdings instituted indigenous armored vehicle manufacturer Nimr in 2005. The Nimr vehicles are designed to carry out Mideast military, police and peacekeeping missions thanks to a cooling system that allows the vehicle to withstand the harsh desert climate, which can reach as high as 55 degrees Celsius.

This month, an integrated production facility was initiated for the vehicles at the Tawazun Industrial Park in Abu Dhabi. The facility is expected to be fully operational by October 2015.

Saudi Arabia, with a limited indigenous defense industry, relies heavily on imports. Most armored vehicles are imported, although the Al-Fahd IFV and the Al-Faris 8-400 APC were manufactured by the Abdallah Al Faris Company for Heavy Industries. Saudi is negotiating a deal for 655 humvees with a further batch of 724 eight-wheel light armored vehicles being delivered and 84 more requested.

Pic - "Panzer Bazaar!"