Ukraine starts testing new Mac Owl 4x4 armored personnel carrier under combat conditions.

The new Mac Owl armored personnel carrier had entered testing with units of the Ukrainian Army, shortly after its public unveiling on January 16, 2026. 

On February 1, 2026, Dimko Zhluktenko reported that the Mac Owl armored personnel carrier had entered testing with units of the Ukrainian Army following its public presentation on January 16, 2026. The vehicle, developed by the Ukrainian company Mac Hub, is being evaluated under operational conditions characterized by mine threats, improvised explosive devices, artillery fragments, and direct fire.
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The Mac Owl can ford water obstacles up to 1,200 mm deep without preparation, cross ditches up to 800 mm wide, climb gradients of 60 percent, and operate on lateral slopes of up to 21 percent. (Picture source: X/Dimko Zhluktenko)

The APC, produced by the Ukrainian company Mac Hub, will be tested under conditions relevant to ongoing high-intensity operations, where armored personnel carriers face frequent exposure to mines, improvised explosive devices, artillery fragments, and direct fire, often with limited freedom of maneuver. According to the manufacturer, development of the vehicle lasted more than one year and included consultations with representatives from Ukraine’s defense intelligence to align design choices with observed battlefield requirements. Mac Hub also stated that Mac Owl is Ukraine’s first armored vehicle certified to STANAG 4569 Levels 4a and 4b for ballistic and mine protection. 

The Mac Owl is built around a monocoque capsule hull intended to maximize protection against mines and explosive threats while preserving internal volume and ground clearance. Mine resistance is rated at STANAG 4a and 4b, corresponding to resistance against the detonation of 10 kg of TNT under any wheel and 10 kg beneath the hull, exceeding the level offered by many armored vehicles typically rated at STANAG 3a and 3b. The lower hull incorporates a V-shaped structure, while the hull's thickness is specified as 16 mm for the side and rear walls, 15 mm for the bottom, and 8 mm for the roof. Armored glass thickness is specified at 90 mm by 120 mm. The armor layout uses a two-layer structure consisting of an external armored steel layer intended to stop direct fire and an internal polymer layer designed to absorb fragments and resist prolonged thermal exposure.

Ballistic protection for both the crew and engine compartments is rated at STANAG 4569 Level 4a, and the vehicle is also rated to withstand a side explosion equivalent to 50 kg of TNT. Protection can be increased through the addition of external ceramic armor elements, which the manufacturer states can raise resistance to 14.5 mm caliber threats when required. Survivability measures extend beyond passive armor, as the Mac Owl integrates a 360-degree situational awareness system offering the automatic detection of obstacles and potential targets around the vehicle. An onboard electronic warfare suite is included to counter electronically triggered or guided threats.

Fire safety is addressed through an automatic fire detection and suppression system covering both the crew compartment and the engine bay. The vehicle also incorporates an independent liquid cooling system intended to maintain operational capability in high ambient temperatures. Crew seating uses lightweight military seats equipped with integrated four-point seat belts compliant with EEC UN standards, aimed at reducing injury from blast effects and sudden deceleration. Propulsion is provided by a 450 hp diesel engine coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission driving a 4x4 layout. Curb mass is specified at 15 tons, with a payload capacity of 2 tons. The manufacturer has not disclosed the external length, width, or height dimensions of the Mac Owl, but the wheelbase measures 3,300 mm, for a turning radius of less than 18 m.

Tires are specified as 16.00R20 all-terrain types, and differential locks are fitted at the front, rear, and central positions. Maximum speed is stated as up to 100 km/h, depending on terrain and armor configuration, for an operational range of 700 km in mixed conditions, or 700 km when cruising at 60 km/h. The Mac Owl can ford water obstacles up to 1,200 mm deep without preparation, cross ditches up to 800 mm wide, climb gradients of 60 percent, and operate on lateral slopes of up to 21 percent. Acceleration from 0 to 60 km/h is specified as under 15 seconds, and acceleration from 0 to 80 km/h as under 30 seconds. Braking performance from 60 to 0 km/h is specified as 3 seconds within a distance of less than 30 m, with compliance to ECE-R13 requirements.

Suspension is hydropneumatic and independent, offering 300 mm of wheel travel through compact A-shaped control arms and reinforced components. Steering uses hydraulic power assistance, and constant-speed external front drive shafts on the steering axis are intended to maintain smooth wheel movement without feedback, even at full steering lock. The braking system is supplied by Knorr-Bremse and consists of pneumatic disc brakes with an integrated anti-lock braking system, with a rear parking brake, and pneumatic couplings for towing. Maintenance considerations are central to the Mac Owl’s design, with the monocoque hull acting as a single integrated capsule to which major systems are directly mounted. The engine and gearbox form one replaceable module, while the running gear and other subsystems are organized as separate modules.

In case of failure or damage, individual modules can be removed and replaced in field conditions rather than repaired in place, reducing downtime and limiting the need for specialized tools or advanced technical training. Crew configuration is specified as two crew members plus six or eight passengers, depending on internal arrangement. The Mac Owl supports both left-hand and right-hand drive layouts, with adjustable driver and co-driver seats. Rear seating can be arranged facing inward or outward. Access points include a hydraulically operated rear door with an exit hatch and explosive locks, two roof hatches, and two side doors for the driver and co-driver. Internal systems are configured to support sustained operations. The electrical system operates at 24 V and includes a 260 A alternator, main and auxiliary batteries, and internal power outlets providing 24 V, 12 V, and 5 V, including multiple cigarette lighter and USB sockets.

External power outlets and NATO-standard 24 V sockets are fitted at the front and rear. Lighting equipment includes high beams, low beams, daytime running lights, side marker lights, fog lights, and rear LED white lights for crew use. A roof-mounted rear-view camera provides low-light rear visibility to the driver via the instrument panel. Climate control includes heating and air conditioning rated at 12 kV cooling and heating capacity, alongside insulation and noise suppression. The current armored fighting configuration supports a user-defined turret option, with the baseline configuration designed for a Browning machine gun. Operational flexibility includes the ability to convert the Mac Owl into a medical evacuation configuration within a few hours.

This involves removing the turret, installing a roof cover, replacing troop seats with stretchers, and adding a central medic seat. Gas-filled shock absorbers are intended to improve ride smoothness during casualty evacuation. Standard equipment includes a NATO-standard towing device, two external 20-liter water containers, onboard tools, firing ports, run-flat inserts, centralized tire inflation, anti-lock braking, HVAC, and fire suppression systems. Optional equipment includes window heating with anti-icing elements, infrared lighting, additional liquid storage via two 20-liter canisters, and an 8-ton winch mountable on either bumper, as well as additional surveillance and notification systems. Mac Hub stated that the Mac Owl program was implemented in cooperation with Paramount Group Europe, which can explain its resemblance to the Mbombe 4, without being able to confirm whether it is a licensed production or a revised and improved version to better meet Ukraine's needs.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.