The Netherlands has announced a new donation of YPR armored infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) to Ukraine at the request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Fitted with a remote-controlled weapon station, the YPR-765s will be used for transport, reconnaissance, and attack and defense missions alongside the country’s current IFV fleet.
The aid was announced during an online meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a 50-nation coalition tasked with securing humanitarian and military aid for Kyiv. Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren stated that these types of armored vehicles are very important for Ukraine, as they are agile, can move troops quickly, and can be deployed in exploratory, offensive, and defensive roles.
It is yet to be revealed how many YPR-765s will be delivered to Ukraine and when they will arrive. The Netherlands has delivered a total of 207 YPRs to Kyiv so far.
Introduced in 1977 as a replacement for the Royal Netherlands Army’s AMX-VCI light tank, the YPR-765 is equipped with a 416-liter tank that allows it to travel up to 305 miles (491 kilometers). It can reach a maximum speed of 38 miles (61 kilometers) per hour and can defend its crew and passengers with a 25 mm autocannon and a 7.62 mm machine gun. Different variants allow it to take on specialized roles such as a command post, utilizing surveillance radar, and medical evacuation. The vehicle’s operators include Bahrain, Egypt, and Jordan, which purchased 53 YPR-765s from the Netherlands in January.