Special vehicle

Plasan Yagu: An Armored Vehicle for Special Operations

July 17, 2018

One of the Yagu advantages is the use General Robotics Pitbull – an ultralight remotely operated weapon station,integrating hostile fire and anti-drone, ‘point and shoot’, and remote control functions (Photo: Plasan)

Plasan company manufactured Yagu – an ultralight armored vehicle for special operations. Yagu is an all-new, lightweight, protected vehicle. It was first unveiled at the Expo Seguridad event in Mexico City in 2018. Israeli-owned Plasan company upgraded and transformed the 767 kg commercial Arctic Cat Wildcat 4 1000 four-seat all-terrain vehicle into a 1.48-ton (dry weight) fully-protected assault vehicle ideal for special operations.

Plasan Yagu was designed to meet the asymmetric warfare requirements of special operations forces and armed forces worldwide.

Introduction

The vehicle is designed to behave like an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV). Still, it offers its crew of three persons the all-around 360 ballistic protection at a level of B6+ (similar to STANAG 4569 Level II) effective against 5.56X45 mm, 7.62X39 mm, and 7.62×51 mm caliber threats. With front and side windows and all-round cameras, the protected capsule provides excellent situational awareness and response, using an overhead ultra-light remotely operated weapon that mounts a 5.56 or 7.62 machine gun and EO sensors operated by the crew from within the air-conditioned, armored capsule.

Additional equipment

The vehicle can also be equipped with a drone launching system that can operate airborne for 27 minutes. With an automatic target, the track features of the drone provide enhanced situational awareness for the crew.

The air-transportable vehicle is positioned to meet the needs of special operations, border patrols, urban warfare, and special missions in crime-fighting, where light and agile platforms are required. According to the manufacturer, Yagu armored vehicle provides such high protection level at an exceptionally low weight.

All-terrain features

Yagu can move on rocky and muddy terrain, on dunes, and in forest environments, climbing extreme sloping roads as its outdoors sibling. Yagu’s compact size comes in handy in urban scenes, as it can move through narrow passages (its width is merely 162 cm), crossing jammed or blocked roads on sidewalks and stairs.

One of the Plasan Yagu advantages is the use of General Robotics Pitbull — One of the Yagu advantages of using General Robotics Pitbull is an ultralight remotely operated weapon station, integrating hostile fire and anti-drone, ‘point and shoot,’ and remote control functions. (Photo: Plasan)

Protection

With full armor, three fully-equipped troops, and a 350 kg payload (a gross vehicle weight of more than five tons!), Yagu maintains a power/weight ratio over 53 HP/Ton, thus maintaining much of the agility and mobility of the Wildcat. The platform retains the original 1000 H2 V- Twin, S0HC 4 – stroke, 4 – valve w/EFI 951cc engine with electronic fuel injection, coupled to an automatic transmission with HI/LO gear, 2 or 4 wheel drive, and the long-travel front and rear suspension used in the original Wildcat.

To support the added weight and improve mobility, Yagu uses bigger tires (28 X 10r14 instead of the civilian version’s 26x9R14 and 26x11R14).