Zibar

Last updated
Zibar
Overview
ManufacturerIAI Land Systems Division, Ido OffRoad Center Ltd. (IORC)
Production1989–present
Assembly Pardes Hanna-Karkur, Haifa District, Israel Beer Sheva, Negev,Israel
Body and chassis
Class Off-road vehicle
Layout F4
Related Humvee

The ZIBAR is a family of high-mobility, 4x4, all-terrain vehicles designed and manufactured in Israel. Originally developed in 1998 by Ido Cohen of Ido Off Road Center Ltd. (IORC) [1] , the ZIBAR family is now produced by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) at the Land Systems Division of IAI's subsidiary ELTA Systems. Designed to handle challenging terrains and harsh environments, the ZIBAR is utilized by military and security forces for a variety of roles, including troop transport, reconnaissance, and logistics support.

Contents

Development

Cohen designed and manufactured the vehicle's chassis and frame while utilizing commercial off-the shelf parts such as General Motors crate LS3 383 cid/6.2L 400 hp V8 engines (current engine is the LQ4 GM 6L 430 hp (320 kW) @ 5900 rpm V8, [2] ) General Motors 4L80E transmission, Atlas II transfer cases and General Motors Dynatrac 60 axles [3] with ARB air lockers which give the vehicle enhanced stability in off-road conditions.

The vehicle features a monocoque design that provides improved safety, stability, and load handing while travelling at high speeds. [4] It is manufactured in accordance with the Generic Vehicle Architecture (GVA), a design standard followed by the UK Ministry of Defence for military vehicles. The vehicle’s architecture ensures all the parts of the driveline are safely housed in the hull to provide higher ground clearance. The approach also eliminates the need for incorporating additional shields to guard the driveline parts, reducing the overall curb weight of the vehicle. The ‘One platform multiple layout’ characteristic of the vehicle family allows the variants to be configured in multiple layouts to meet the mission requirements of the customers. The vehicle’s sturdiness enables increased survivability and reliability.

The ZMAG is a Tactical Utility Vehicle configurable with a closed or open cabin. It can transport soldiers (up to 14 seating capacity) and large payloads at considerable speed and stability over sand dunes, rocky trails, swamps and streams, making it an extremely reliable platform for maneuvering forces. ZMAG can carry a payload of 2,500kg, it has foldable safety roll bars and adjustable cargo and seating arrangements. It is air transportable by C-130 and CH-53 aircraft. It provides an option to be fitted with an armour package as per the mission requirements. ZMAG can be fitted with either a V8 gasoline engine that produces 500 Nm torque or a diesel engine.

Specifications:

Z-Family SpecificationsZibarZmagZD
Length (mm):500050004000
Height (mm):195014001400
Width (mm):220020001900
ground clearance (cm)330330280
Curb Weight (kg):2,8502,8501,600
Powerplant:V8 L96V8 L962.4 L Ecotec
Power (hp):380380182
Max road speed (km/h):120120110
Operational range (km):500500500
Approach angle909090
Departure angle484864
Longitudinal slope100100100
Side slope angle656565
Vertical step (m)0.40.40.3
Trench crossing (m)0.50.50.4
Water Fording (m)0.80.80.6

Variants

Operational History

In 2013, about 30 Zibar vehicles were delivered to the Mexican energy company Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) to serve as patrol vehicles, and a year later were transferred to the Mexican Army [10] . In 2020 IAI acquired the manufacturing operations of the Zibar and ZMAG offroad tactical vehicles and ZED – the armored off-road vehicle, from IORC. IAI ELTA began producing the vehicles at its manufacturing site in Beer Sheva, where a, where RAM vehicles are currently built. [11] In 2022 IAI has won a $30 million order from the Israel MOD for the delivery of 30 ZMag vehicles for special operations units and combat mobility applications [12] . IAI adapted and configured the vehicles for military and homeland defense applications, and position as the vehicle's design authority. The US based Armored Group (TAG), an international vehicle manufacturer based in the USA, is also part of the program, TAG, providing some of the components. [12]

Users

By 2025 there were over 70 made-in-Israel Zibars, five of them to the Israeli military and the others to customers in Africa, Russia, [13] Latin America [14] and Abu Dhabi. [1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Leichman, Abigail Klein. "Ido Cohen's off-road empire". Israel21c.
  2. ↑ "Zibar MK2".
  3. 1 2 "Israel light reconnaissance vehicle zibar". www.jeepolog.com.
  4. ↑ "Z-Family of All-Terrain Vehicles, Israel". Army Technology. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  5. ↑ "Z-COM".
  6. ↑ "Israel's Extreme Strike Vehicle: ZIBAR Mk2". May 17, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Z-MAG".
  8. ↑ "Zibar Trooper".
  9. ↑ "Zibar Zedd".
  10. ↑ "Mexico Sentinel". 19 December 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  11. ↑ "IAI To Produce, Market Zibar Offroad Vehicles". Defense-Update. 7 May 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  12. 1 2 "Israeli Special Forces to get IAI Elta ZMAG 4x4 vehicles". Army Recognition. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  13. ↑ "Skorpion LPA Test drajv Avto spaces ru". November 12, 2012 – via YouTube.
  14. ↑ "Vehículo 4X4 "Zibar" del Ejercito Mexicano 2017 | HD". July 14, 2017 – via YouTube.
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