The Al-Thalab is a 4×4, high-mobility long-range patrol vehicle (LRPV) developed based on the rugged chassis of a Toyota LandCruiser 79 series to provide a capable and reliable patrolling platform.
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Al-Thalab was developed by Jordan Light Vehicle Manufacturing, which was formed in 2003 as a collaborative joint venture between King Abdullah II Design & Development Bureau (KADDB) of Jordan and Jankel Armouring of the UK. Jordan Light Vehicle Manufacturing operates as an independent commercial company and offers volume production of soft-skinned, protected and UK-engineered vehicles. The Al-Thalab LRPV was first produced in June 2005.
The vehicle can accommodate four crew members and comes with an option for two stretchers in the rear for medical evacuation. It is designed for surveillance, reconnaissance, internal security and border patrol forces. The Al-Thalab is also available in medium range and commando variants.
Al-Thalab patrol vehicle orders and deliveries
The Jordanian Army ordered Al-Thalab vehicles in 2004 and took delivery of the same in 2006. It currently has over 200 Al-Thalab vehicles in service. Mauritania has also been operating the Al-Thalab LRP vehicles since 2006. Other countries, which deploy specialised units of the LRPV, include two NATO countries, one Middle East country and one Asian country.
Al-Thalab LRPV features
Al-Thalab is economically built with Toyota parts, enabling easy maintenance and uncomplicated logistics. The mechanical and automotive components of Al-Thalab carry the basic design of a standard Toyota, which makes the LPRV’s operations and maintenance easier in field conditions.
The vehicle can carry four crew members. The seating of the LRPV is designed for comfort and safety of the driver, commander and two crew members in the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle also has an option to encapsulate all the seating in a complete roll over protection system (ROPS).
The LRPV can carry ammunition, weapons, fuel, equipment lockers, supplies and water sufficient for a patrol period of ten days. The vehicle can carry a payload of 1,550kg can be added with storage, weapons, seating and engine configurations for specific tasks.
The vehicle has a tubular superstructure mounted on the chassis made of flexible interface joints. The superstructure, onto which the modular equipments are fitted, enables the frame to flex with the chassis over rough terrains.
The front-wing protection bars with winches will consist of wings and bonnet with storage areas and tie-downs. The vehicle has light protection grills, additional driving lamps, and shatter proof, folding and removable mirrors. A tool and battle-field repair kit is provided as standard equipment to assist in field repairs by the crew.
Vehicle operations
The main roles of Al-Thalab include surveillance and reconnaissance (SR), force projection and offensive action (OA), urban operations and casualty evacuation. In SR tasks, the LRPV is used as a patrolling vehicle to observe the targets in an operations area. In OA operations, it provides a mobile weapons platform for the mounted support weapons.
Troops in urban operations employ Al-Thalab as a transfer vehicle into higher levels of buildings to deliver assault using a ladder kit and urban combat access systems (UCAS). The LRPV in secondary roles can be used for an emergency casualty evacuation by mounting two stretchers on its rear.
Al-Thalab LRPV survivability
The LRPV’s chassis cab is robustly designed to withstand extreme physical and climatic conditions (-15°c to +55°c). The LRPV can operate without the refuelling or support for a prolonged time in the remote rugged areas. It has endurance over a range of 1,500km without re-supply.
LRPV armament
The Al-Thalab is equipped with two gun mounts in the front and rear to support weapons and recovery equipments. The front weapon mount is designed as a swing-arm and can carry a 7.62mm machine gun. The rear weapon geared traversing ring is for carrying main armament. It can carry a 30mm automatic grenade launcher or a 12.7mm machine gun. In the static position, the vehicle acts as a stable and effective platform for the weapons during their engagement.
Al-Thalab mobility
The Al-Thalab LRPV has high road mobility with power-assisted steering. It can efficiently operate in rugged terrain, desert road conditions and at high altitudes. It has a five-speed manual, full-time four-wheel drive (4WD) fitted with a Toyota rear and front differential locking system. The vehicle has disc brakes in the front and drum in the rear; coil suspension in the front and leaf suspension in the rear. Al-Thalab is fully air transportable.
LRPV communications
The LRPV is equipped with a complete range of military communications and radio equipment. It has power take-off points and two antenna mounting bases for the radio equipment.
