Armored Cars: Bruiser Tech Bruiser 112

South Africa’s military-industrial sector may be stuck in its doldrums but innovation is very much alive and well among smaller companies who aren’t weighed down by crippling debt or poor exports. The Bruiser 112 is a new mine-resistant truck from a little known startup that wanted to fill a gap in the market. That being a need for newer mine-resistant armored transports that were very easy to maintain. The Bruiser 112 continues to undergo testing in various geographical conditions and it has been fitted with a rooftop armament.

At a mere 13 tons fully loaded and with dimensions that fit inside a shipping container (this was tested too) the Bruiser 112 looks like it will be turning heads sooner rather than later.

A curious feature of this MRAP is the arrangement of its cab and bonnet that resembles automobiles from the 1940s. This was a practical choice, however, as it helps trim the vehicle’s dimensions and afford a suitable field of vision for the driver. Bruiser Tech like to emphasize they assembled a vehicle that requires “no nonsense maintenance” and doesn’t “require specialized servicing and repairs.” When it comes to mobility the Bruiser 112 runs on a 150 horsepower turbo diesel engine that allows a top speed of 115 kilometers per hour on smooth roads. The Bruiser 112 travels 1,000 km on a full tank and its protection level is described as “upgradeable.”

Rather than departing from its common heritage the Bruiser 112 is a monocoque build of high strength steel with the expected v-hull. The flanks of the vehicle are reinforced with blast panels that double as storage bins. To enter the vehicle the crew members step up to armored swing doors with bulletproof windows. Passengers enter and exit from the back and have individual seating. There are circular firing ports underneath the bulletproof windows in case they must fight from inside the vehicle. The interior of the Bruiser 112 is fully air conditioned and multiple subsystems are available for end users to choose from.

The interior of the vehicle seats eight passengers aside from the driver and the navigator in the cab. A circular roof hatch offers modular armament and protective options, be it an enclosed cupola or a remote weapon station. Current advances in automation and manufacturing allows MRAPs to support ever larger weaponry such as 30mm cannon and even self-propelled mortars. If an end user required it there’s no doubt the Bruiser 112 is adaptable for combat optimization. The manufacturer also emphasizes each Bruiser 112 is able to perform roles such as medical evacuation or simply a logistics transport. A variant for law enforcement is available too.

With border protection and internal security as vital as ever, governments and militaries will keep acquiring MRAPs throughout the 2020s no matter the limitations these vehicles possess. Models such as the Bruiser 112 are attractive for their simplicity and the usual convenience of importing South African military products compared to the EU and North America. The older generation of mine-resistant wheeled transports aren’t aging well either and need replacement. Hence a very enticing niche for armored cars that scale below the usual 15 tons.