Reliability is an absolute must when operating vehicles in active combat zones — and if that’s the name of the game, what better to have than a classic Toyota off-roader? Not much, we’d argue — and seeing as how the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has approved a militarized version of the Land Cruiser 70 for active duty in the fight against Russia’s invasion, we suspect soldiers there will soon agree.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine know the all-road capable vehicle internally as Dzhura, according to their announcement, but its chassis is nothing short of normal. The vehicle is based on a Land Cruiser 70 Series with an Australian-spec factory-style side tub by Praktyka, a Ukrainian defense contractor, and comes with extensive battle-ready modifications. A wall of armor wraps around the cabin from top to bottom, providing protection against automatic rifle rounds and grenades. (This armor doesn’t protect against landmines or improvised explosive devices, however.)
Ukrainian Ministry of Defense
The Ministry of Defense says its Dzhura series is meant for low-risk tactical missions, such as casualty evacuation or supply drops, and will primarily be used by police and special operations forces. That doesn’t mean it goes without firepower, however. A 7.62-caliber machine gun is mounted on an open turret, protected by armor plate. A report from Militarnyi states that the relatively small shroud of armor around the gun is due to weight restrictions associated with the Land Cruiser platform.
These restrictions are partially a result of its 4.5-liter turbodiesel V-8 powerplant, which puts down 200 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque. Customers can choose between an automatic, semi-automatic, or manual transmission when ordering the war-ready beast. While the 70 series isn’t a particularly heavy vehicle, starting at around 2.6 tons, the addition of the armor, machine gun, and cargo cab weighs it down significantly. The Ministry of Defense claims that the total weight of the militarized model is closer to five tons, requiring significant changes to its suspension and braking setup. The overall range is impressive, however, at around 400 miles per tank.
The Ministry of Defense says it will allow the purchase of these tactical cruisers directly from the state budget; once purchased, the models can be sent directly into active duty with the armed forces. It’ll have plenty of vehicular company: according to a report by the Kyiv Independent, over 110 different kinds of vehicles are currently in use with military forces in Ukraine, ranging from heavy-duty Soviet-era machinery to newer Western off-roaders.
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