Israel receives new armored ambulances amid Gaza war

Dozens of ambulances that were built and armored in the US were purchased in an emergency procurement for the war.

 2008 Toyota LandCruiser 78 series Troopcarrier Workmate ambulance. Operated by the Ambulance Service of New South Wales. (Illustrative) (photo credit: sv1ambo/Wikimedia Commons)
2008 Toyota LandCruiser 78 series Troopcarrier Workmate ambulance. Operated by the Ambulance Service of New South Wales. (Illustrative)
(photo credit: sv1ambo/Wikimedia Commons)

Israel received its first shipment of new armored ambulances at Ben-Gurion Airport on Sunday, according to Walla.

The ambulances were purchased in an emergency procurement conducted by the Defense Ministry's Mission to the US due to the war with Hamas in Gaza.

The shipment included dozens of ambulances that were built and armored in the US on the basis of the Toyota Landcruiser 78, which isn't sold in Europe anymore since it doesn't meet the Euro 6 emission standards.

How are the ambulances armored?

The ambulances were assembled by Alpine Armoring Inc. and are equipped with a 198 hp V8 diesel engine with a torque of 42.9 kg-m. The vehicles have a 5-speed manual transmission and four-wheel drive.

 Wounded Israeli soldiers from the south arrive to the Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem, October 7, 2023 (credit: NOAM REVKIN FENTON/FLASH90)
Wounded Israeli soldiers from the south arrive to the Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem, October 7, 2023 (credit: NOAM REVKIN FENTON/FLASH90)

According to Alpine Armoring's website, the ambulances are bulletproof and protected against 7.62mm lead core, 5.56x45 and M80 ball rounds, and 2 DM51 hand grenades. The windows are made from multi-layered ballistic glass and the vehicle also has anti-mine protection.

The ambulances were flown to Israel by the Interdel Logistics company from the Allalouf Group. Last month, Interdel facilitated a shipment of 17 new ambulances for Magen David Adom (MDA).