Unibuffel

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title: "Unibuffel" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["wheeled-armoured-personnel-carriers", "post–cold-war-military-equipment-of-sri-lanka", "military-vehicles-introduced-in-the-2000s", "vehicles-of-sri-lanka", "armoured-personnel-carriers-of-the-post–cold-war-period"] topic_path: "history/military" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unibuffel" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox weapon"]

FieldValue
is_vehicleyes
nameUnibuffel
imageSri Lanka Military 0200.jpg
image_size300
captionUnibuffel Mk II of the Sri Lankan Army
typeInfantry mobility vehicle
originSri Lanka
crew2 + 10 passengers
length5.1 m (16.73 ft)
width2.05 m (6.73 ft)
height2.95 m (9.68 ft)
weight6.14 t
armourClassified
primary_armamentTwin 7.62mm MG (front)
secondary_armamentTwin 7.62mm MG (rear)
engineTATA Diesel Engine

| | engine_power | 180 hp (MKII Improved Version) | | unit_cost | 3 million rupee ($) | | service | 2000 - Present | | used_by | See Operators | | designer | Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers | | production_date | 2000 - Present | | manufacturer | Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers | | variants | Mark I to Mark II | | suspension | 4×4 wheeled | | speed | 96km/h (59.61 mph) on road 30km/h (18.64 mph) off-road | | vehicle_range | 1000 km (621.37 mi) | ::

| is_vehicle = yes | name = Unibuffel | image = Sri Lanka Military 0200.jpg | image_size = 300 | caption = Unibuffel Mk II of the Sri Lankan Army | type = Infantry mobility vehicle | origin = Sri Lanka
| crew = 2 + 10 passengers | length = 5.1 m (16.73 ft) | width = 2.05 m (6.73 ft) | height = 2.95 m (9.68 ft) | weight = 6.14 t | armour = Classified | primary_armament = Twin 7.62mm MG (front) | secondary_armament = Twin 7.62mm MG (rear) | engine = TATA Diesel Engine

Hino V6 Turbo-charged Diesel Engine (MKII Improved Version) | engine_power = 180 hp (MKII Improved Version) | unit_cost = 3 million rupee ($) | service = 2000 - Present | used_by = See Operators | designer = Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers |design_date= | production_date = 2000 - Present | manufacturer = Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers | variants = Mark I to Mark II | suspension = 4×4 wheeled | speed = 96km/h (59.61 mph) on road 30km/h (18.64 mph) off-road | pw_ratio = | vehicle_range = 1000 km (621.37 mi)

The Unibuffel is a mine-protected wheeled MRAP Infantry mobility vehicle used by the Sri Lankan military, which is an improved version of the Unicorn, made by the Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

More than 53 Unibuffels had been manufactured as of 2006.

Production history

Although similar to the South African Buffel, it is built entirely by the Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (SLEME). Initial research and development started in 1997 in an effort to field modernized MRAPs in Sri Lankan military service. First production started in 2000.

In 2019, SLEME began to upgrade Unibuffels with blast shock absorption seats and better protection. In 2020, air onditioning was added to those being sent for UN peacekeeping operations in Mali.

Combat Usage

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/SLA_UniBuffel.JPG" caption="Unibuffel MK II"] ::

The Unibuffel proved quite successful in the Sri Lankan civil war, it could transport troops through rough terrain with ease, and had good protection, it participated in all Sri Lankan Army operations 2005 onwards.

When Sri Lankan troops joined United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti, 16 Unibuffels was deployed to serve as their APC.

In June, 2020 nine Unibuffels were deployed to Mali under urgent operational requirements for peacekeeping operations.

Design

The Unibuffel has an enclosed troop compartment and has gun mounts on the front and back to equip it with machine guns. The Typhoon 25mm cannon can also be equipped as a port defense weapon on a flatbed version.

Vehicles were powered by a TATA engine which can deal easily with rough terrain. Bulletproof glass was initially imported from China on a needed basis but later versions use glass manufactured by local suppliers. For the Unibuffels used in Mali, they were equipped with air conditioning.

Variants

The variants of the Unibuffel consist of following categories,

  • Mark I
  • Mark II
  • Mark II Improvised Version (Designed and Manufactured for UN Peacekeeping Missions)

Operators

References

References

  1. (2007-09-30). "The evolution of the indigenous armoured vehicle: From Unicorn to Unibuffel".
  2. "Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers".
  3. Camp & Heitman, p. 238-239
  4. "New locally made MPV better at withstanding mines: SLEME".
  5. "Sri Lanka Army-Manufactured Air-conditioned Mali-bound Unibuffels Ready for Shipment {{!}} Sri Lanka Army".
  6. "Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers".
  7. "'Mali needs us'".
  8. Camp & Heitman, p. 239
  9. "ප්‍රථම වරට රණවිරු නිෂ්පාදන ලෝවටා - Unibuffel Truck {{!}} Auto Vision {{!}} Sirasa TV - YouTube".
  10. https://v3.news.lk/news/political-current-affairs/item/30335-sri-lanka-army-manufactured-air-conditioned-mali-bound-unibuffels-ready-for-shipment
  11. "Sri Lanka Sri lankan army land ground forces military equipment armoured vehicle pictures | Sri Lanka Army Military UK | Asia UK".
  12. "Sri Lanka Navy - Amphibious".

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wheeled-armoured-personnel-carrierspost–cold-war-military-equipment-of-sri-lankamilitary-vehicles-introduced-in-the-2000svehicles-of-sri-lankaarmoured-personnel-carriers-of-the-post–cold-war-period