What is Lazar II?

Lazar II is a multi-role armoured vehicle manufactured by the Serbian state-run company, Yugoimport SDPR. The company has supplied vehicles to Kenya and Bangladesh.

The Lazar II is based on the modifications of the concept of the original Lazar vehicle. These modifications were made to improve the basic characteristics of the vehicle.

The concept of the first Lazar vehicle represented a combination of the characteristics of mine resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) and MRAV (multirole armoured vehicle) vehicles. The vehicle is a derivative of the MRAV concept, with an independent suspension that allows the platform to be customized for different roles. The concept provides for installation of different types of weapons of varying calibres on the turret depending on the purpose of the vehicle and the mission.

The vehicle is equipped with a rear ramp for easier entrance and exit, and has two doors embedded within that ramp for emergency situations. It also features a separate door for the driver and commander. It features five bullet-proof windows and firing ports on each side of the vehicle, as well as two on the rear of the vehicle. This allows the troops inside the vehicle to have a high awareness and to engage targets from inside the safety of the vehicle. The driver has five cameras, which provide him with a near 360 degree field of visibility. Two are located in front of the driver’s hatch, two are covering the sides of the vehicle while one is installed in the rear of the vehicle to aid reverse driving. It has the capacity of seating three crew members and nine troops.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 17^th, 2014.