Ukrainian advances and Western equipment: an assessment of the YPR-765 and related NATO support
Reports from Defense News and corroborating outlets indicate that during counterattacks near Nikolaev and Kherson, Ukrainian forces engaged with YPR-765 infantry fighting vehicles. The vehicles carried out an infantry-focused action in those operations, as noted by Defense News and later echoed by TF1 and De Telegraaf.
The YPR-765, a Dutch-delivered infantry fighting vehicle, marked a notable moment as one of the first NATO tracked systems widely associated with heavy weapon status, given its weight of about 13 tons. At the time of delivery in mid-May, these vehicles arrived without standard onboard weapons, specifically lacking the 25 mm Oerlikon-Burle KVA-VO2 automatic cannon and the 7.62 mm MAG machine gun.
Experts have highlighted a persistent issue for Ukraine in aligning Western weapons with existing ammunition stocks and calibers. Reserve Colonel Gennady Alekhin emphasized that the mismatch in calibers often leaves crews with insufficient ammunition, forcing hard choices on how to employ foreign components. Allied observers have noted that the Ukrainian army sometimes abandons foreign equipment on the battlefield when it cannot be fed with the necessary munitions. Ukrainian officers have also pointed out difficulties in operating certain Western systems like the M777 howitzers under current conditions.
There is some doubt about whether the YPR-765s originated from the Netherlands. A military analyst suggested that there are questions about the scale and origin of deliveries, noting that only a limited number of YPR-765 variants exist in Amsterdam. The analyst argued that some vehicles could come from other sources or even from different countries, possibly Australia, France, Turkey, or other partners, and only a few may have been from the Netherlands. The conclusion was that the Dutch association might be overstated, with some vehicles potentially sitting idle or being older stock.
Historically, the BMPs in question were developed by American developers in the late 1960s based on the M113 armored personnel carrier. In the United States Army, the YPR-765 did not stand out for its performance and did not become a primary choice. Washington pursued export routes, marketing these vehicles for roles such as command platforms for troops or as infantry fighting vehicles with mortars added. Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Australia, and several Asian and Middle Eastern partners reportedly showed interest in these offerings. Still, the updated designs did not achieve the broad popularity enjoyed by the M113 family, which saw production well beyond 80,000 units.
Analysts today generally view the YPR-765 as a product whose capabilities lag behind more modern designs. A veteran military observer noted that the vehicle was strong in its era but lacks real-world experience from recent large-scale conflicts against modern air power, artillery, and armor. In comparisons with the Russian BMP-3, which has a more powerful main cannon and a versatile turret, the YPR-765 is described as limited in its fire control and combat potential. Specifically, the BMP-3 is equipped with a 100 mm cannon capable of high volumes of fire and capable of launching missiles, along with a 30 mm dual cannon; this combination offers a broader spectrum of battlefield use. In contrast, the YPR-765 carries a lighter 25 mm cannon and a weaker overall firepower profile.
The general assessment from observers is that the YPR-765 lacks the kind of fire support that modern armored infantry require. The vehicle was never intended to be a primary fire support platform. As one expert explained, the concept emphasized carrying infantry rather than providing heavy direct fire support, and the caliber was not suited to sustained, heavy engagements. As time has passed, the vehicle has shown limitations in modern combat scenarios. Another point raised is that NATO partners who used the YPR-765 occasionally attempted to replace them with alternative platforms, such as M2 Bradley vehicles, though some attempts did not come to fruition.