Haiti has received its first seven Senator Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) systems under a 17-vehicle procurement effort to reinforce its ground military fleet.
The platforms will be deployed to support operations against armed gangs and enhance troop safety in areas affected by criminal activity.
Specific tasks include patrols, convoy security, and humanitarian missions, providing protection for troops against small arms fire, improvised explosives, and ambushes.
Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, accompanied by Presidential Adviser Leslie Voltaire and Defense Minister Jean-Michel Moïse, led the ceremony in the presence of senior military and government officials.
In his speech, Voltaire described the fleet as a solution to “restore institutional capacity and expand government presence in areas where state control has weakened,” Defence Blog reported.
The Senator MRAP
Developed by Canadian defense company Roshel, the Senator vehicle is equipped with NATO-compliant armor built to withstand rifle bullets, 155-millimeter artillery, multi-directional mines, and charged TNT.
The 4×4 system’s MRAP capability is supported by its V-shaped under-chassis structure, redirecting shock waves and shrapnel to the sides and away in the event of ground-based explosions.
Based on the Ford F-550 truck, the vehicle has a length of 6 meters (20 feet), space for up to 10 people, and a payload capacity of up to 2 tons (4,409 pounds).
It runs with a 10-speed automatic transmission and a 330-horsepower V8 6.7-liter diesel engine for a drive of about 120 kilometers (75 miles) per hour and a range of 800 kilometers (497 miles).
