# Zibar

The ZIBAR is a family of high-mobility, 4x4, all-terrain vehicles designed and manufactured in Israel. Originally developed in 1998 by Ido Cohen of Ido Off Road Center Ltd. (IORC), the ZIBAR family is now produced by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) at the Land Systems Division of IAI's subsidiary ELTA Systems. Designed to handle challenging terrains and harsh environments, the ZIBAR is utilized by military and security forces for a variety of roles, including troop transport, reconnaissance, and logistics support.

## Development

Cohen designed and manufactured the vehicle's chassis and frame while utilizing commercial off-the shelf parts such as General Motors crate LS3 383 cid/6.2L 400 hp V8 engines (current engine is the LQ4 GM 6L 430 hp (320 kW) @ 5900 rpm V8,) General Motors 4L80E transmission, Atlas II transfer cases and General Motors Dynatrac 60 axles with ARB air lockers which give the vehicle enhanced stability in off-road conditions.
The vehicle features a monocoque design that provides improved safety, stability, and load handing while travelling at high speeds. It is manufactured in accordance with the Generic Vehicle Architecture (GVA), a design standard followed by the UK Ministry of Defence for military vehicles. The vehicle’s architecture ensures all the parts of the driveline are safely housed in the hull to provide higher ground clearance. The approach also eliminates the need for incorporating additional shields to guard the driveline parts, reducing the overall curb weight of the vehicle. The ‘One platform multiple layout’ characteristic of the vehicle family allows the variants to be configured in multiple layouts to meet the mission requirements of the customers. The vehicle’s sturdiness enables increased survivability and reliability.
The ZMAG is a Tactical Utility Vehicle configurable with a closed or open cabin. It can transport soldiers (up to 14 seating capacity) and large payloads at considerable speed and stability over sand dunes, rocky trails, swamps and streams, making it an extremely reliable platform for maneuvering forces. ZMAG can carry a payload of 2,500kg, it has foldable safety roll bars and adjustable cargo and seating arrangements. It is air transportable by C-130 and CH-53 aircraft. It provides an option to be fitted with an armour package as per the mission requirements. ZMAG can be fitted with either a V8 gasoline engine that produces 500 Nm torque or a diesel engine.

## Specifications:

| Z-Family Specifications | Zibar | Zmag | ZD |
| Length (mm): | 5000 | 5000 | 4000 |
| Height (mm): | 1950 | 1400 | 1400 |
| Width (mm): | 2200 | 2000 | 1900 |
| ground clearance (cm) | 330 | 330 | 280 |
| Curb Weight (kg): | 2,850 | 2,850 | 1,600 |
| Powerplant: | V8 L96 | V8 L96 | 2.4 L Ecotec |
| Power (hp): | 380 | 380 | 182 |
| Max road speed (km/h): | 120 | 120 | 110 |
| Operational range (km): | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Approach angle | 90 | 90 | 90 |
| Departure angle | 48 | 48 | 64 |
| Longitudinal slope | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Side slope angle | 65 | 65 | 65 |
| Vertical step (m) | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 |
| Trench crossing (m) | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 |
| Water Fording (m) | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.6 |

## Variants

* Z-COM – a stripped down four seat side-by-side UTV
* Zibar Mk.1 – the initial variant, now out of production,
* Zibar Mk. 2 – the current civil version
* Zibar M – the military variant
* Z- Mag – lightened open prototype
* Zibar Trooper – Hardtop two or four door pickup truck
* Zibar Zed – armored variant

## Operational History

In 2013, about 30 Zibar vehicles were delivered to the Mexican energy company Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) to serve as patrol vehicles, and a year later were transferred to the Mexican Army. In 2020 IAI acquired the manufacturing operations of the Zibar and ZMAG offroad tactical vehicles and ZED – the armored off-road vehicle, from IORC. IAI ELTA began producing the vehicles at its manufacturing site in Beer Sheva, where a, where RAM vehicles are currently built. In 2022 IAI has won a $30 million order from the Israel MOD for the delivery of 30 ZMag vehicles for special operations units and combat mobility applications. IAI adapted and configured the vehicles for military and homeland defense applications, and position as the vehicle's design authority. The US based Armored Group (TAG), an international vehicle manufacturer based in the USA, is also part of the program, TAG, providing some of the components.

## Users

By 2025 there were over 70 made-in-Israel Zibars, five of them to the Israeli military and the others to customers in Africa, Russia, Latin America and Abu Dhabi.