Former Georgian Ejder 6×6 APCs Found in Syria

Former Georgian Ejder 6×6 armored personnel carriers (APCs), purchased from Turkey in 2009, have been spotted in service with Syria’s new army.

B-AREV published the photo on his page on the social media platform X.

The vehicles have been repainted in a sand-colored camouflage, replacing the distinctive Georgian tricolor scheme.

In the summer of 2025, APCs were recorded being transported in their original Georgian colors, though at the time, there was no clear confirmation that they were destined for Syria.

Confirmation came in December 2025, when the vehicles were publicly displayed during a parade in Damascus. The number of APCs transferred to Syria has not been disclosed.

Unlike other members of the Ejder family, the Ejder 6×6 did not achieve broad export success. Georgia was the only foreign customer, purchasing a total of 72 vehicles.

It is possible that Turkey repurchased some of the APCs as a relatively quick and low-cost way to equip Syria’s new army. It is also possible that Tbilisi received preferential terms or priority access to modern Turkish weapons in return.

During service in Georgia, the APCs were reported to suffer from limited engine power.

For the Georgian military, this was a significant drawback, as the vehicles’ performance declined in mountainous terrain and their cross-country mobility was limited under difficult conditions.

The relatively high ground clearance also resulted in a higher center of gravity, which affected stability. In some cases, vehicles overturned while cornering at speed or operating on rough terrain.

Ejder 6×6

The Ejder 6×6 TTZA (Taktik Tekerlekli Zırhlı Araç — tactical wheeled armored vehicle) has a combat weight of about 18 tonnes, a maximum road speed of up to 110 km/h, and a range of approximately 800 km. Only the first and second axles are steerable.

The hull is made of hardened steel, providing all-round protection against small-arms fire and artillery fragments. Additional armor can be fitted to increase ballistic protection, although this option was not implemented on the Georgian vehicles.

A V-shaped hull bottom is designed to improve crew survivability, accommodating a crew of two and up to 10 troops, with protection against mines and improvised explosive devices.

The vehicle is also equipped with two rear-mounted water jets, allowing it to cross water obstacles at speeds of up to 9 km/h.

The Ejder 6×6 can be fitted with a remotely operated weapon station armed with either a 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm machine gun, as well as a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher. The Georgian Armed Forces operated the version equipped with the grenade launcher.

The platform can also accommodate other remotely operated turret systems with weapons of up to 90 mm caliber, expanding its potential combat roles.