Cameroon’s army first known user of Israel Musketeer vehicle

Cameroon’s Presidential Guard is the first known operator of the Saymar Musketeer light armoured vehicle, IHS Jane’s can reveal.

One of the Musketeers was seen by IHS Jane’s on the streets of Yaoundé during the official state visit by Italian President Sergio Mattarella on 18 March. The vehicle was armed with a remotely operated weapon station fitted with a 7.62 mm FN MAG machine gun.

Unveiled in 2009, the Musketeer combines a Toyota Land Cruiser chassis with an armoured body offering Nato Stanag Level 1 protection. The company told IHS Jane’s in 2010 that it had delivered the first production vehicles to an export customer that it declined to identify.

Cameroon appears to have operated Musketeers since at least 2014.

It is unclear how many are in service, but IHS Jane’s has seen official Presidential Guard documentation showing the force’s Reconnaissance and Support Group includes a Musketeer platoon, as well as fire support, anti-aircraft, and anti-terrorist units.

The force also uses Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) RBY Mk.1 and RAM Mk.III armoured vehicles, a single example of which was seen deployed near the prime minister’s offices in Yaoundé by IHS Jane’s .

The Presidential Guard’s single Surface-to-Surface Artillery Battery (Batterie d’Artillerie Sol-Sol: BASS) is equipped with six Soltam CARDOM 120T self-propelled 120 mm mortars, while its Surface-to-Air Battery (Batterie d’Artillerie Sol-Air: BASA) uses RBY Mk.1 vehicles mounting TCM-20 twin 20 mm anti-aircraft guns and six NORINCO 14.5 mm Type 56 quad anti-aircraft guns (the Chinese version of the ZPU-4).