Russia receives UAE-made armored vehicles
Russia’s National Guard (Rosgvardiya) has been observed operating new armored vehicles manufactured by the UAE-based Streit Group, confirming deliveries of foreign-built platforms to Moscow despite ongoing sanctions and export restrictions.
During recent training exercises, Rosgvardiya units fielded multiple Spartan SUT armored vehicles, some of which were fitted with additional protection systems designed to counter drone attacks.
Footage also revealed a variant of the Spartan SUT equipped with a mortar system — the 82mm 2B24 “Dewa” — mounted in the rear compartment.
The appearance of these vehicles underscores a growing reliance on external suppliers to sustain Russia’s armored fleet during its war in Ukraine.
In October 2024, Defence Blog reported that more than 20 vehicles built on modified Toyota Land Cruiser and Ford F-550 platforms had been delivered to Russia.
The shipment included Spartan SUT, Cobra, and Cougar models from Streit Group, a company headquartered in the United Arab Emirates.
The latest sightings confirm that the flow of Streit vehicles to Russia has continued, and that the platforms are being adapted to meet battlefield demands, including counter-drone protection and indirect fire support roles.
Streit Group has a documented history of its armored vehicles appearing in Russian-linked operations. The company previously collaborated with Russia’s Military-Industrial Company (VPK) to design the Condor and VPK-Ural armored vehicles, which were used by Wagner Group operatives in multiple conflict zones.
The deployment of Spartan SUT vehicles within Rosgvardiya adds another layer to the pattern of Russia sourcing specialized platforms abroad while its domestic defense industry struggles to replace losses in Ukraine.
While Moscow has sought to portray its defense sector as self-reliant, the continued appearance of Streit Group’s vehicles highlights the role of foreign manufacturers in sustaining Russian paramilitary and security forces.
For now, the evidence is clear: Rosgvardiya is deploying Streit Group vehicles in field training and potentially preparing them for combat use, marking a fresh expansion of Russia’s foreign-sourced arsenal.
