With a ceremony held at the Material and Armament Service, the Uruguayan Army officially incorporated the Mamba MK7 armored vehicles donated by the Office of Defense Cooperation of the United States Embassy to use for Peacekeeping Missions.
The reception was conducted through an event led by the U.S. ambassador to Uruguay, Heide Fulton, the Minister of Defense, Armando Castaingdebat, and the Army Chief, General José Martínez. The donation, made under the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI) and amounting to $13,900,000, aims to support the Army General Command in meeting the standards required by the United Nations (UN), enabling Uruguay to continue its deployment in Peacekeeping Missions.
Regarding this, the Army Commander-in-Chief, Mario Stevenazzi, stated that “these are last-generation vehicles, very versatile and well-suited for peacekeeping missions.” He also added that “they have several advantages, such as anti-mine protection, which is essential for new deployments and required by the United Nations.”
The 4×4 Mamba MK7 armored vehicles come with multiband communication equipment, complete maintenance packages for the vehicles and systems, and six training courses on operational, maintenance, and repair aspects. On this occasion, thirteen (13) vehicles were received, with one more to arrive in September.
The vehicle is powered by a 6-cylinder in-line Deutz BF6L9l4C Turbo diesel engine, with a displacement of 6,128 cc, delivering a maximum power of 203 HP DIN at 2,500 rpm. It is paired with an Allison 2500SP 6-speed automatic transmission (six forward gears and one reverse). Its drivetrain is a permanent 4×4 type associated with parabolic leaf spring suspension.
The vehicle measures 6,327 mm in length, 2,668 mm in width, and 2,595 mm in height. It can reach a top speed of 105 km/h, with a cruising speed of 94 km/h (58 mph) on the highway. Among its main features, the Mamba MK7 can carry up to 11 personnel (2 crew members + 9 soldiers) and can ford watercourses up to 1,200 mm deep without additional preparation.
*Image credits: Ministry of Defense of Uruguay
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