Armored Vehicles

CS/VP3 MRAP

The CS/VP3, also known as Bigfoot, is a Chinese 4x4 MRAP built for protected troop movement under mine, IED, and small-arms threats. Nigerian Army CS/VP3 vehicles are documented in counter-insurgency service against Boko Haram and ISWAP, where protected mobility is important for moving troops through ambush- and IED-prone terrain.

Boko Haram InsurgencyNigerian government and allied forces

Conflict side: Nigerian government and allied forces
Built by: Poly TechnologiesChangan Automobile
Built in: China

CS/VP3 MRAP, 4x4 mine-resistant ambush-protected armored personnel carrier, Armored Vehicles

Image source: More CS/VP3 Bigfoot MRAPs arrives Nigeria

Profile

Type: 4x4 mine-resistant ambush-protected armored personnel carrier
Conflict side: Nigerian government and allied forces
Origin: China
Service note: Introduced in the early 2010s; documented in Nigerian service during the post-2015 Boko Haram Insurgency

MRAP wheeled protected mobility

Service History

In service: In Nigerian service since at least 2014
Used by: Nigerian Army
Wars: Boko Haram Insurgency

Production History

Designer: Poly Technologies
Designed: Late 2000s to early 2010s
Built by: Poly TechnologiesChangan Automobile
Built in: China
Produced: 2012-present
Variants: CS/VP3 Bigfoot

Specifications

Crew and passengers: 2 crew plus 10 troops
Drive: 4x4 wheeled chassis
Weight: About 14-15 tonnes, depending on configuration and source
Mobility: Up to about 100-110 km/h road speed and about 800 km road range
Protection: V-shaped hull with all-welded steel armor; reported mine protection up to 8 kg TNT under the hull and 16 kg under a wheel
Armament: Roof positions can mount 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm machine guns

Conflict Usage

Boko Haram Insurgency: Side: Nigerian government and allied forcesRole: Protected troop mobility for counter-insurgency operationsprotected mobility
Fielded by the Nigerian Army as a mine-resistant troop carrier for counter-insurgency mobility against Boko Haram and ISWAP threats, with additional vehicles arriving in 2021 and reported IED losses in Nigeria since 2015.

CS/VP3 MRAP Images

CS/VP3 MRAP, 4x4 mine-resistant ambush-protected armored personnel carrier, Armored Vehicles - view 1 — Source: More CS/VP3 Bigfoot MRAPs arrives Nigeria

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Sources

More CS/VP3 Bigfoot MRAPs arrives NigeriaPublisher: Military Africa | Note: Supports Boko Haram Insurgency direct-use context: CS/VP3 MRAPs were delivered to and fielded by the Nigerian Army to meet Boko Haram and Islamic State threats, with reported IED losses in Nigeria since 2015. Also supports Nigerian image provenance for the selected gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 CS/VP3 and Mengshi APCs delivered to NigeriaPublisher: DefenceWeb | Note: Supports Nigerian Army operator history, Poly Technologies supply context, troop capacity, mobility, armament, and protection specifications. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 CS/VP3 BigfootPublisher: Army Guide | Note: Supports manufacturer background and technical specifications including dimensions, weight, payload, crew, troop capacity, speed, range, and engine output. | Accessed: 2026-06-21