US donates 37 MRAP vehicles to Albania

SManalysis

Apr 8, 2019  in Army, News


37 Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected (MRAP) vehicles, donated by the US government, were handed-off for the Albanian Armed Forces on 4 April.

The ceremony was attended by Albanian Defense Minister Olta Xhacka, charge d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Tirana Leyla Moses-Ones and Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces Brigadier General Bardhyl Kollcaku.

Albanian Defense Minister Olta Xhacka thanked the U.S. government for its continued support to Albania and expressed gratitude for the donation of 37 Navistar MaxxPro armored vehicles, which will increase the capabilities and performance of the country’s Armed Forces.

On her part, Moses-Ones underlined that the new armored capability will enhance Albanian’s internal defense, strengthen NATO’s southern flank, and provide critical combat power to NATO that can be deployed in support of global operations.

These vehicles were transferred under the US program for the implementation of excess military property Excess Defense Articles (EDA) in accordance with the 2015 US-Albanian agreement. Under this agreement, the United States pledged to donate 250 units of wheeled combat vehicles from the presence of EDA via EDA in order of assistance. In 2017, Albania received 77 HMMWV M1114 armored vehicles and the first three MaxxPro armored vehicles as the first step under this agreement.

In 2015-2018, the Albanian Ministry of Defense also received in order of assistance from the presence of the Italian armed forces seven Iveco LMV light armored vehicles.