Ukrainian Armed Forces armored vehicles with Turkish SARP DUAL combat module appear at the front (video)
The combat module has two mounts for mounting weapons, which can be a 7.62 mm machine gun, a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun or a Mk19 grenade launcher.
In the first months of 2023, the Armed Forces of Ukraine used MT-LB armored personnel carriers equipped with various combat modules. And recently, after receiving spare parts from NATO countries, the MT-LB armored personnel carrier was equipped with a Turkish SARP DUAL combat module from Aselsan. Army Recognition reviewers have provided details in their article.
The authors of the publication write that the installation of the Turkish module on the MT-LB was an original solution that enhanced the capabilities of the armored vehicle. Developed by the Turkish company Aselsan, the SARP DUAL has a modular design that allows it to be equipped with various weapons, including machine guns, cannons and grenade launchers. The module can be equipped with a 7.62 mm FN MAG58 machine gun, a 12.7 mm M2 heavy machine gun or a 40 mm Mk19 automatic grenade launcher.
The SARP DUAL combat module is widely used on Turkish armored vehicles and other platforms. Its installation on the MT-LB essentially turns the vehicle into a small infantry fighting vehicle (IFV). However, the vehicle does not have sufficient armor to fully fulfill this role, withstanding only small arms fire and shell fragments, observers noted.
“The war in Ukraine continues to be a great laboratory for the most inventive minds in terms of weapons. However, the effectiveness of such machines has yet to be proven,” the experts summarized.
