Defence Redefined

Published on 28/06/2020 at 18:59

Τhe company INKAS Vehicles LLC, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), presented its new “Hornet” Pickup 4×4 APC (Armored Personnel Carrier). 

The Hornet is a new generation of pickup armored personnel carrier (APC) designed and manufactured by Inkas Vehicles LLC. It keeps the original design of the commercial pickup vehicle that can be configured to be used as a personnel carrier for military units as well as a surveillance and security vehicle for police forces. One of the key features of the Inkas Hornet is that it can be operated under conditions and in environments not suitable for heavy armored vehicles and other oversized combat vehicles.

The Inkas Hornet 4×4 can be fitted with a one-man open-top turret mounted on the roof of the vehicle. It can be armed with a 7.62mm or a 12.7mm machine gun. The turret is fitted with armor plates and bulletproof windows offering protection against small-caliber ammunition at 360°. The gunner position has a retractable step. As an option, it can be equipped with a remotely operated weapon station.

Its design is divided into three main compartments with driver’s and commander’s seats at the front, troops’ compartment in the middle, and cargo compartment at the rear. There are four individual seats at the main crew compartments. Four additional seats can be fitted in the rear cargo compartment. There are two doors on each side of the vehicle, fitted with bulletproof windows protected by a metal mesh guard. Each window is fitted with a round-type gun-port allowing the crew to use individual weapons from inside the vehicle. The rear of the crew compartment is fitted with a single door with access to the cargo compartment. There are two large bulletproof flat windshields at the front of the crew compartment that can be protected by metal mesh guards, hinged at the top in a normal situation. The cargo body is covered by canvas and its rear panel is closed by one half-door opening laterally. The hull of the vehicle provides Level CEN B6or STANAG Level 2 protection against 7.62x51mm ammunition. The bottom part of the chassis is protected against a simultaneous explosion blast from two DM-51 hand grenades. The filling of DM-51 consists of 60 grams of Nitropenta.

The Inkas Hornet is powered by a 4.5L V8 turbo diesel engine developing 195 hp. at 3,300 rpm, coupled with a 5-speed manual transmission. The vehicle is fitted with an upgraded transmission produced specifically for armored vehicles for this specific body type and vehicle weight, upgraded HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning) system that comes along with thermal insulation fitted in the main crew compartments. It has two 90-liter fuel tanks. The vehicle can reach a maximum road speed of 110 km/h and 60 km/h in off-road conditions with a maximum cruising range of 750 km. Its dimensions are 5.28 meters long, 1.89 meters wide and 2.29 meters high without the turret.

The original OEM interior dashboard panels have been modified and reinstalled to maintain the original appearance of the vehicle. All around the hull are mounted CCTV (Closed-Circuit Television) cameras linked to the main DVR (Digital Video Recorder). In option, the INKAS Hornet can be equipped with a wide range of additional equipment including roof-mounted police light bar, additional High Bright LED Fog Light, 2 remotely operated roof mounted searchlights, PA (public address) system with control panel fitted on the dashboard in the driver’s compartment, onboard GPS (Global Positioning System), fire extinguisher powder system and an extra toolbox.

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