Armored Vehicles

Al-Shibl 2 armored vehicle

Also known as
  • Al Shibl 2
  • Al-Shibl 2
  • Shibl-2
  • Shibl 2
  • Shibil-2
  • Al-Shibl
  • Al Shibl II
  • Al-Shibl II
  • Cub 2
  • Lion Cub 2

The Al-Shibl 2 is a Saudi-built 4x4 light armored personnel carrier developed by Armored Vehicles & Heavy Equipment Factory on a Toyota Land Cruiser chassis. Its longer wheelbase distinguishes it from the Al-Shibl 1 by adding a two-person crew and troop compartment, while steel armor, run-flat tires, firing ports, and roof weapon-mount options make it a compact protected-mobility vehicle for personnel transport, scouting, border patrol, and convoy support roles.

Al-Shibl 2 armored vehicle, 4x4 light armored personnel carrier, Armored Vehicles
Image source: Al Shibl 2

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Saudi Arabia
Type
4x4 light armored personnel carrier
Service note
2000s-present
Designer
Armored Vehicles & Heavy Equipment Factory (AVF)
Produced
Quantity production by the 2000s

Specifications

Configuration
4x4 wheeled armored vehicle on an upgraded commercial chassis
Crew and passengers
Crew of 2 plus up to 7 troops
Combat weight
About 4,600 kg gross vehicle weight
Payload
About 1,000 kg
Engine
221-228 hp petrol engine, depending on source
Maximum road speed
Up to 120 km/h
Dimensions
5.009 m long, 1.76 m wide, 2.575 m high
Wheelbase
3.18 m
Ground clearance
328 mm
Protection
All-welded/high-hardness steel hull with small-arms protection reported as STANAG 4569 Level 1 by Army Guide and FB6/CEN1063 by AVF and Joint Forces; higher protection levels reported as optional
Armament options
Ring mount or remote weapon station for 7.62 mm, 12.7 mm, or 40 mm grenade launcher weapons
Design And Vehicle Family

AVF presents Shibl-2 as a light armored utility vehicle designed for low operating cost, crew protection, speed, and maneuverability. In family terms, Army Guide separates the shorter Al-Shibl 1 reconnaissance vehicle from the longer Al-Shibl 2 personnel carrier, while AVF describes the Shibl-2 as a 2+7 troop carrier suited to personnel transport, scouting, and border-patrol tasks.

Family split

Al-Shibl 1 is the shorter reconnaissance/light utility model; Al-Shibl 2 stretches the family into a troop carrier.

Protection concept

High-hardness steel armor, bulletproof glass, run-flat tires, and firing ports support protected patrol and border-security tasks rather than heavy assault roles.

Weapon architecture

The Shibl-2 can use ring-mounted weapons, grenade launchers, RCWS equipment, or an ATGM-oriented configuration.

Variants

The Al-Shibl family uses short- and long-wheelbase 4x4 layouts; Al-Shibl 2 is the longer troop-carrying model, with AVF describing machine-gun, grenade-launcher, remote-weapon-station, and anti-tank guided-missile fit options.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Al-Shibl 1Short-wheelbase reconnaissance/tactical vehicle

Army Guide describes Al-Shibl 1 as the shorter 3.6-tonne family member, typically crewed by three and used in a reconnaissance role.

Sources: Al Shibl 1, Al Shibl 2

Shibl-2 multi-gun / RCWS configurationPersonnel-carrier weapon fit

AVF says the Shibl-2 can integrate machine guns, a grenade launcher, or a remote controlled weapon station; Army Guide also documents ring-mount and remote-weapon-station options.

Sources: Shibl-2 Light Armored Utility Vehicle (4x4), Al Shibl 2

Shibl-2 ATGM configurationAnti-armor configuration

AVF describes a Shibl-2 version equipped with anti-tank guided missiles for use against armored targets.

Sources: Shibl-2 Light Armored Utility Vehicle (4x4)

Mounted Weapons

Army Guide identifies a 12.7 mm machine gun fit on an Al-Shibl 2 example at IDEX.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
12.7 mm heavy machine gun, Belt-fed, crew-served heavy machine gun class, Infantry Weapons12.7 mm heavy machine gunHeavy machine gun

Army Guide explicitly says the Al-Shibl 2 example at IDEX is fitted with a remote overhead weapon station armed with a .50 (12.7 mm) machine gun.

Sources: Al Shibl 2

Launcher Mount Compatibility

Army Guide lists the Al-Shibl 2's multi-weapon ring mount as compatible with a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
40 mm automatic grenade launcher, 40 mm automatic grenade launcher, Infantry Weapons40 mm automatic grenade launcherAutomatic grenade launcher

Army Guide explicitly lists a multi-weapon ring mount on the Al-Shibl 2 that accepts a 40 mm grenade launcher.

Sources: Al Shibl 2

Timeline

Al-Shibl 2 armored vehicle Key Events

  1. AVF established in Dammam

    Saudipedia identifies Armored Vehicles and Heavy Equipment Factory as a Military Industries Corporation-supervised factory established in Dammam in 1996.

    Sources: Armored Vehicles and Heavy Equipment Factory

  2. Al-Shibl 2 documented in Saudi-Yemeni border fighting

    Open-source loss reporting identified a Royal Saudi Land Force Al-Shibl 2 armored vehicle knocked out or abandoned in Saudi Arabia's Jizan region during the Yemen war.

    Sources: Recent Saudi/UAE combat losses in the Yemen conflict

  3. Shibl-2 displayed at IDEX

    Joint Forces identified the Shibl-2 at IDEX17 as a stretched version of Shibl-1 with a full-length armored body and rear doors for up to seven dismounts.

    Sources: Armour Focus - AVF of Saudi Arabia

  4. Turkmenistan parade confirms export-service visibility

    Turkmen government and defense-media reporting placed Al-Shibl military vehicles in a national parade, with defense coverage identifying eight Al-Shibl 2 vehicles shown.

    Sources: Turkmenistan marks the Independence Day, Saudi Al Shibl 4x4 light armored vehicles in service in Turkmenistan

Media

Al-Shibl 2 armored vehicle Videos

Al-Shibl 2 armored vehicle Images

Al-Shibl 2 armored vehicle, 4x4 light armored personnel carrier, Armored Vehicles - view 1
Source: Saudi Al Shibl 4x4 light armored vehicles in service in Turkmenistan
Al-Shibl 2 armored vehicle, 4x4 light armored personnel carrier, Armored Vehicles - view 2
Source: Al Shibl 2
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Sources

Shibl-2 Light Armored Utility Vehicle (4x4)Publisher: Armored Vehicles & Heavy Equipment Factory (AVF) | Note: Official AVF product page supporting manufacturer background, mission set, 2+7 capacity, protection, 221 hp engine, run-flat system, and machine-gun, grenade-launcher, ATGM, and RCWS fit options. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Al Shibl 2Publisher: Army Guide | Note: Supports manufacturer, background, specifications, Saudi service, family/variant distinctions, Yemen quantity listing, the multi-weapon ring mount that accepts a 40 mm grenade launcher, and image provenance for the Army Guide gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Al Shibl 1Publisher: Army Guide | Note: Supports Al-Shibl 1 family background, shorter wheelbase/weight distinction, reconnaissance/tactical-vehicle role, and weapon-mount options. | Accessed: 2026-07-01More data on new Saudi vehiclesPublisher: EDR Magazine | Note: Supports background, specifications, armament options, armor level, and image provenance for the primary exhibition image. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Saudi Al Shibl 4x4 light armored vehicles in service in TurkmenistanPublisher: Army Recognition | Note: Supports background, specifications, export-service context, and image provenance for the Army Recognition gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Armour Focus - AVF of Saudi ArabiaPublisher: Joint Forces News | Note: Supports AVF background, Shibl-2's stretched relationship to Shibl-1, troop compartment layout, FB6 protection, remote-weapon-station option, engine power, length, and wheelbase. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Al Shibl to TurkmenistanPublisher: C4Defence | Note: Supports export-service background, Turkmenistan parade context, and specification cross-checks including weight, wheelbase, speed, engine power, and protection level. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Turkmenistan marks the Independence DayPublisher: State News Agency of Turkmenistan | Note: Supports background context that Al Shibl military vehicles appeared in Turkmenistan's 2018 Independence Day military parade. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Armored Vehicles and Heavy Equipment FactoryPublisher: Saudipedia | Note: Supports AVF establishment in 1996, Dammam location, Military Industries Corporation supervision, armored-vehicle manufacturing role, and Shibl 2 as one of its military-sector products. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Saudi Land ForcesPublisher: WarPower: Saudi Arabia | Note: Supports 2014 Yemen Civil War direct-use context: Al-Shibl 1/2 vehicles were delivered to Yemen to assist in the country's civil war. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Recent Saudi/UAE combat losses in the Yemen conflictPublisher: Uskowi on Iran | Note: Supports 2014 Yemen Civil War direct-use context: an Al-Shibl 2 was fielded by the Royal Saudi Land Force and reported knocked out or abandoned around Jizan during the Yemen conflict. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Conflict in Yemen and the Red SeaPublisher: Council on Foreign Relations | Note: Supports broad 2014 Yemen Civil War background and Saudi-led coalition context. | Accessed: 2026-07-01