According to Military Africa, Senegal has recently enhanced its defense capabilities with the acquisition of new light armored vehicles. These vehicles, known as Light Patrol Vehicles (LPV), are produced by the International Armored Group (IAG), a company specializing in the design and manufacture of armored vehicles based in the United Arab Emirates.
These acquisitions are part of the Emerging Senegal Plan, initiated by President Macky Sall, aimed at modernizing and strengthening the country’s armed forces. This plan is crucial given the security challenges Senegal faces, including the threat from Islamist terror groups in the Sahel and the separatist conflict in the Casamance region.
IAG’s LPVs are fast and agile platforms, designed to operate in extreme conditions and on varied terrains. They can transport up to eight equipped personnel, with storage space for ammunition, rations, and other equipment. These vehicles offer high ballistic protection and are equipped with features such as run-flat tires, a central tire inflation system, night vision cameras, GPS, intercom, and radio systems. They also have mounts for five weapons and can be equipped with a high-caliber rotating turret.