Over 4,000 Iveco DV’s Light Multirole
Vehicles have been sold in the world in
different configurations; here an Italian
Army Lince equipped with Oto Melara
Hitrole Light RCWS. (RC-West)
“Lights” on a Turning Point
With the mission in Afghanistan wrapping up and total uncertainty on what allied ground
forces will find in their next mission (or missions), investments in the vehicle field are
being carried out very carefully by the services. It is however probable that light armoured
vehicles will continue to play a significant role in the future: their low aggressiveness,
inherent mobility and immense advantage when faced with bridge capacities and road
widths should ensure light armoured vehicles a good short - and medium-term future.
Paolo Valpolini
T
he rising threat posed by insurgents
in asymmetric conflicts, however,
require them to carry improved
protection which, at least with
currently available technologies (and
budgets), means more weight, to the extent
that some readers may not readily
understand how the thus far “light” category
has managed to turn into patrol vehicles on
steroids or “mini-MRAPS”. Yet, in many
cases this seems to be the current trend.
Numerous nations are still looking for
“light” solutions like, for example, Brazil,
whose Army is expected to deploy a
battalion-size contingent in Lebanon in mid2014. The service indeed issued an RfP in late
November 2013 with the aim of acquiring a
batch of 32 light multirole armoured vehicles
with a gross weight of eight tonnes.
Requirements include a one-tonne payload
capacity and the seating for up to five.
Vehicles for trials should be delivered by
early April 2014. The test phase should be
relatively short, as the new vehicle, known as
Viatura Blindada Multitarefa, Leve de Rodas
(VBMT-LR) will have to be delivered for
some training prior the deployment forecast
in Q3 2014. The acquisition plan includes a
further potential order that should bring the
total to 218 vehicles. A demonstration that
“light” is still trendy.
I JLTV VS. HUMVEE
By the time Armada International readers
read these pages, the 66 JLTVs and 18
trailers, 22 vehicles and six trailers each
delivered in August 2013 by AM General,
Lockheed Martin and Oshkosh will have
undergone over half a year of tests in the
Compendium Light Armoured Vehicles 2014
03
A prototype of AM General’s JLTV pictured during trials. The company stresses the commonalities between this vehicle and the
HMMWV that might bring reduced operating costs. (AM General)
hands of Army and Marines personnel.
Amidst pessimistic notes on most US Army
programmes, the AUSA 2013 press
conference on JLTV sounded different as all
three speakers insisted on describing this
new vehicle as one of the top priorities for
the new force structure. Kevin Fahey,
Program Executive Office for Combat
Support and Combat Service Support,
underlined that the October 2013
governmental shutdown had some
detrimental effects on the testing
programme, as some proving ground were
closed; “we are behind the current ideal
plan,” he said, “but not behind schedule.”
Force reduction should not affect the
number of JLTVs. Although a 25%
divestiture is foreseen in the light tactical
fleet, “we will thus reduce the numbers of
our Humvee fleet,” US Army Col. John
Cavedo, manager of the Joint Program
Office for the JLTV said, echoed by his
deputy, USMC Lt. Col. Mike Burks who
confirmed the 5,500 vehicles need for the
Corps. With field tests underway, late 2013
will see the JPG involved in the manufacture
readiness assessment, production readiness
review being planned for early 2014. Success
is however not yet solidly wrapped up as
tough decisions on DoD programmes will
be taken in Q3 of FY14, with the selection
of the winning bidder awaited for 2015.
With the requirements now settled and
trials well underway the three competing
teams cannot say much. AM General
considers it an advantage to have an inhouse state-of-the-art engine like the
Optimizer 3200, the General Engine
Products 3.2-litre developed from the Steyr
M16 following the licence agreement signed
in 2009 with Steyr Motors of Austria and
currently in production at the company
facility in Franklin, Ohio. This engine yields
300 hp at 4,300 rpm, with a torque rating of
69 kgm at 2,200 rpm and, although at
AM General’s JLTV propulsion is based on the
Optimizer 3200 turbodiesel engine that is
produced in-house, another “plus” according
to the company. (Armada/P. Valpolini)
04
Compendium Light Armoured Vehicles 2014
different ratings, also equips the AM
General HMMW M998 the Alvis Scorpion
CVR(T), the KMW-Rheinmetall AMPV
and the BAE Systems BVS10. At only 250 kg,
the Optimizer 3200 has a 1.2 hp/kg powerto-weight ratio and a 94 hp/l power density.
AM General also stresses the 40% design
commonality of its JLTV and Humvee,
which has a positive impact on costs, as well
as the fact that it has a dedicated assembly
line for light tactical vehicles.
In mid-October 2013 the Lockheed
Martin – BAE Systems team announced a
shift in the JLTV production strategy, should
the team win the bid. While prototypes were
produced at BAE Systems’ Sealy facility in
Texas, actual production will be moved to
Lockheed Martin’s Camden plant in
Arkansas. “This will allow us to be more costeffective, reducing the overheads and shifting
to a single Material Requirements Planning
and Quality system,” Scott Greene, VP
Ground Vehicles for Lockheed Martin
Missiles and Fire Control said at AUSA.
Lockheed Martin used the venue to
exhibit the first of 23 vehicles rolled out
The Lockheed Martin-BAE Systems team
decided to move all the production to the
Camden plant, and successfully passed the
Manufacturing Readiness Assessment.
(Armada/P. Valpolini)
from Sealy Engineering and Manufacturing
Development assembly line. According to
the team heads, Green and Mark Signorelli
respectively VP and General Manager
Combat Vehicles at BAE Systems Land and
Armaments, underlined that the move will
also allow to shorten the supply line,
Camden being within 600 miles from the
principal subcontractors, which means less
than one day travel. The Lockheed Martin –
BAE Systems team considers the move very
low risk, and believes that there will be no
problem meeting the 2016 deadline for an
initial low-rate production run. In early
December 2013 the company announced
that its JLTV team successfully completed
the government’s Manufacturing Readiness
Assessment at its Camden facility.
Oshkosh, for its part, relies heavily on the
experience acquired with its M-ATV. “We
are confident that the six years of
preparation and the six generations of
prototypes that led us to the EMD phase
together with the lessons learned from the
M-ATV allowed us to provide a vehicle
which features high survivability, off-road
capacity and fuel economy,” John Urias,
President Oshkosh Defence told the author.
While supporting the JLTV testing,
Oshkosh is marketing its L-ATV, the export
version of the US Army/US Marine Corps
vehicle first exhibited internationally at
DSEI 2013. “Differences are very small,
commonalities having a positive impact on
life cycle costs,” Urias says, underlining
A view of one of the 22 EMD
prototypes delivered by Lockheed
Martin to the programme
management in August 2013.
(Lockheed Martin)
Compendium Light Armoured Vehicles 2014
05
however, that “the L-ATV has an open
architecture to increase flexibility in
answering foreign customers requirements
in additional equipment.”
As seen in Col. Cavedo’s statement,
the Humvee recapitalisation programme
might suffer from cuts in the light tactical
vehicles fleet. The MECV (Modernized
Expanded Capacity Vehicle) did not
appear in the Pentagon’s FYT13 budget, thus
there is currently no money for a wide
Hummer recap.
Nonetheless numbers will remain
interesting, and companies continue to
make proposals, being sure that sooner or
later some form of serious revamping will
be needed as JLTVs on their own will not be
sufficient, while the current HMMWV fleet
needs a boost in terms of reliability and
availability. Outside America, that
recapitalisation may well be extended to
countries that adopted the AM General
vehicle in the past, as over 300,000
Hummers have been sold and of which the
original manufacturer estimates that some
180,000 are still in service.
AM General thus proposes its Reliability
Enhanced HMMWV which is in full
production for the M1151, M1152 and
M1165 models. AM General’s modernized
chassis has been upgraded after ten years of
R&D investment to support heavier
operating weights, thereby increasing
payload capacity at the same time as
providing full crew protection with modular
and scaleable kitted armour. The new rolling
chassis includes other specific improvements
such as 400-amp alternator, enhanced airlift
brackets, front mounted condenser, heavy
duty shock absorbers, high capacity disc
The L-ATV is the export version of the vehicle
proposed by Oshkosh Defense for the JLTV
programme, of which 22 prototypes are
currently being tested. (Oshkosh Defense)
brakes, improved cooling with gear fan drive,
reduced effort steering, increased load 24bolt wheels, robust three-piece frame rails,
dedicated parking brake and improved rear
differential cooling. These upgrades have
proved their value downrange and AM
General is proposing the new chassis as a
“recap” option for those vehicles that will
continue to be in the home and international
military fleets for the next 30 years or more.
Textron Marine & Land Systems teamed
with Granite Tactical Vehicles are proposing
the SCTV (Survivable Combat Tactical
Vehicle), an armoured monocoque V-hull
crew capsule that ensures a protection level
similar to that of the lesser protected
MRAPs. Textron proposes to take goodcondition frame Humvees, strip them of
their old cabins, upgrade the engines,
upgrade or replace suspensions depending
The new chassis proposed by AM General for the Humvee recapitalisation programme includes numerous improvements in the
mobility elements and in the structure to allow a higher gross weight. (AM General - Armada/P. Valpolini)
06
Compendium Light Armoured Vehicles 2014
The Survivable Combat Tactical Vehicle - SCTV
in short – is the proposal for the Humvee
recap made by Textron Marine & Land
Systems in co-operation with Granite Tactical
Vehicles. (Textron M&LS)
on the model, fit improved tyres and install
a crew cell. Automotive upgrades are
relatively limited as the new capsule does
not bring a dramatic weight increase thanks
to the integral armour concept adopted.
Mine protection is obtained through the Vshaped bottom, the material used as well as a
higher ground clearance. A fifth egress
point has also been fitted in the back of the
capsule. The capsule sides, including doors,
are slanted, creating sloped surfaces that
increase protection against ballistic and
RPG threats. According to Textron the
SCTV solution should have a price that
compares with that type of utility vehicle.
Meritor Defense is proposing its own
Humvee enhancement package in the form
of a rolling chassis that includes upgrades to
the drivetrain and suspensions. The chassis
adopts Meritor MXL drivelines (Meritor
Xtended Lube) in which advanced sealingslip sections prevent water ingress and
Photo Carl Schulze
Saving soldiers’ lives:
Protection systems by RUAG.
RUAG Schweiz AG | RUAG Defence | Allmendstrasse 86 | 3602 Thun | Switzerland
Tel. +41 33 228 22 65 | [email protected] | www.ruag.com
Based on a Dodge RAM 5500 chassis, the
Tiger, developed by Textron M&LS and MDT
Armor is a cost-effective protected vehicle with
two to seven seats. (Textron M&LS)
ensure that lubrication is protected from
contaminants. This allows to extend
lubrication intervals for both universal
joints and slip section to 160,000 km, thus
considerably reducing maintenance costs.
Mobility increase is mostly due to the
adoption of the ProTec High Mobility
Independent Suspension (HMIS) Series 30.
The lighter of the series, the ProTec 30 has
an 8,150 kg gross axle weight rating and up to
533 mm of independent wheel travel.
However, at AUSA 2013 Meritor Defence
unveiled two new add-on solutions to further
improve the mobility of not only the
Humvee, but also of the JLTV mobility – the
company being part of the Lockheed Martin
team. The first one is the SmartFlow, a system
that periodically checks the single tyre
pressure and adjusts it according to the
mobility mode chosen, which can be
highway, cross country, mud/sand/snow or
emergency. The system is based on a
pneumatic control unit that integrates
electronics and pneumatics, and is linked to
the pneumatic control unit via controlled
area network, one channel per wheel being
available. Complementary to the SmartFlow
comes the DriveCommand, a pneumatic
drivetrain control system that actively
monitors and controls differentials and
transfer case status, that are locked and
engaged when necessary through adequate
sequencing. Electrical and pneumatic
connections link the drivetrain control unit
to the front and rear axles and to the transfer
08
Compendium Light Armoured Vehicles 2014
Two views of Textron M&LS SCTV recapped Humvee exhibited at AUSA 2013;
it is based on an armoured monocoque V-hull crew capsule installed over an upgraded
Humvee chassis. (Armada/P. Valpolini)
The HMMWV recap solution proposed by Meritor allows to increase the vehicle’s
gross axle weight to 8.15 tonnes. (Meritor Defense)
April 2009, followed by a further order for 89
in September 2010. The British Army’s gross
at 8.6 tonnes with a payload of around 1.6
tonnes, the vehicle carrying four military.
The patrol version is equipped with a
protected weapon station armed with a 12.7
mm machine gun or 40 mm automatic
grenade launcher, while the support version
has a weapon station armed with a 7.62 mm
machine gun.
I TURKEY
Meritor’s DriveCommand drivetrain control (DTC) on the left and SmartFlow central tire inflation
system in the middle, are proposed for HMMWV recap together with Meritor MXL drivelines and
ProTec High Mobility Independent Suspension. (Meritor Defense – Armada/P. Valpolini)
case, connection with the HMI being again
via controlled area network. Working modes
being the same as the SmartFlow, a single
HMI can be used when both systems are
installed. Each one of the systems weighs only
1.9 kg, and both are linked to the compressed
air supply tank. Meritor Defense is preparing
to launch the production of both the
SmartFlow and the DriveCommand, which
have been thoroughly tested with the US
Marine Corps within a Humvee upgrade
programme experiment.
Navistar is still actively marketing its
International MXT. The MVA armoured
version remains under the 10-tonne gross
weight mark, but gets close to 15 tonnes in
the Armoured (ISS) and APC versions. The
main user of this vehicle remains the British
Army, with an order for 262 MXT-MVA
(known as the Husky in British service) in
Turkey is steadily increasing its presence in
the light armoured vehicles world: at IDEF
2013, in addition to Otokar, at least three
other companies unveiled their proposals in
this market slice.
Since the late 1990s when it launched its
Cobra 4x4 tactical armoured vehicle, which
used some AM General Humvee
components, Otokar has been continually
developing this as well as other models to
meet both home and export requirements.
Gradually, and beyond Turkey, its Cobra has
also been adopted by Algeria, Bahrain,
Georgia, the Maldives, Nigeria, Pakistan,
Slovenia and the United Arab Emirates, as
well as by other undisclosed countries. The
last order placed by Turkey in September
2013 shows that the size-performanceprotection-price equation of that vehicle is
still very much appreciated.
The ensuing tighter links established with
customers through the years led Otokar to
fathom the need for a vehicle that featured
the same agility as the existing Cobra but with
a greater internal volume and higher
protection. Hence the Cobra II unveiled in
May 2013 at IDEF. Although the new vehicle
leverages experience acquired with the
original Cobra, the ‘II is a new vehicle in its
own right. Longer, wider and higher, it is
Navistar MXT is available in unarmoured and armoured configurations as well as with live axles or independent suspensions,
its heavier versions being close to 15 tonnes. (Navistar Defense)
Compendium Light Armoured Vehicles 2014
09
The Armoured Protected Vehicle, APV in short, has been for years a best seller vehicle for Otokar
which sold over 4,500 pieces for military and paramilitary purposes. (Otokar)
powered by a Cummins 6.7 litres 6-cylinder
turbocharged common rail diesel engine
producing 281 horses (the Cobra “only”had a
190) linked to an Allison automatic gearbox
with six forward and one reverse speed. At
maximum gross of 12 tonnes, its power to
weight ratio is of 23.4 hp/t, lower than the 30
hp/t of the original vehicle. However, due to
the desire of some potential customers to
maintain the same mobility as the original
Cobra, the vehicle can be equipped with the
same engine, but somewhat tweaked to
churn out some 360 hp (this solution being
currently in the qualification phase).
Equipped with fully independent
suspensions, this new vehicle has a higher
internal volume compared to its predecessor,
the main reason for the weight increase being
however the higher mine and ballistic
protection level; according to Otokar 30% of
the weight increase is due to the larger
available volume while 70% is to be blamed
on protection. The Cobra II maintains the
monocoque approach of the Cobra, with a
body made of armoured steel. Add-on
armour to increase ballistic protection comes
in two options, one with ballistic steel and the
other with composites, though while both
bear the same weight penalty, protection
levels differ (and so probably do their price).
Axles are a new design developed and
produced by Otokar, while the independent
suspensions are similar to those of the Cobra
but obviously adapted to cope with the
heavier weight. The Cobra II standard
equipment includes front thermal camera,
rear view camera, CTIS and ABS.
Turning to accessibility – the Cobra II
accommodates the same number of
passengers as the Cobra, which is nine – this is
better, courtesy of two lateral doors instead
of one previously, though the rear door has
survived. The rear infantry compartment has
two vision blocks per side to allow direct
vision and troops can use their assault
weapons through firing ports. All variants
currently available in the Cobra family will
be developed in Cobra II guise. Currently the
Cobra II amphibious version, which features
a propulsion similar to that of the Cobra with
two rear propellers, is undergoing final
qualification trials, since Otokar is aiming at
having it ready for production in Q1 2014.
An air-defence variant is under development
and will be exhibited at the Bahrain Air Show
in January 2014. It will be equipped with the
Aselsan Missile-Igla system that can carry up
to four short-range Igla missile launchers.
Five different prototypes have been
produced and in mid-2013 the new vehicle,
in its basic version, was considered ready for
production. Otokar is marketing the Cobra
II alongside the Cobra, since effectively the
two vehicles belong to two different classes.
Otokar follows the same approach as that
used with the Cobra APV, the Armoured
Protected Vehicle, of which the company sold
4,500 units to paramilitary and military units.
Here too protection levels and internal
volume needed to be increased to overcome
The new Cobra II is much more protected and
heavier than the original Cobra and is
available with two different power packs. The
side view with the doors open taken at the
Otokar stand during IDEF 2013 reveals the
internal layout. (Otokar - Armada/P. Valpolini)
10
Compendium Light Armoured Vehicles 2014
Otokar is qualifying the amphibious version of its new Cobra II; here the prototype characterised by the two pushing propellers,
one of them being visible at the back of the vehicle. The Turkish Army relies very much on amphibious capabilities, that are a key
requirement for most of its vehicles. (Otokar)
the APV shortcomings, which gave birth to
the Ural, which too, was unveiled at IDEF
2013. Much lighter at 6.1 tonnes, it can carry
up to ten soldiers protected by the all-welded
steel cabin bolted onto a chassis that was
purposely designed and produced by Otokar.
Two configurations are available, with three or
five doors in addition to both right- or lefthand drive configurations (all markets are
worth considering nowadays, knowing that
53 countries drive on the left hand-side of the
road, which is considered as the only right
driving side in Britain).
The Ural is powered by a 185 hp
turbocharged intercooler diesel engine and
has front independent suspensions and a live
rear axle. As paramilitary units often have to
cope with emission regulations, the Ural is
currently available both with Euro 3 and Euro
5 engines, but within two years Otokar plans
to also have a Euro 6. Currently the company
has received a first order for a batch of
11 vehicles for evaluation by the Turkish
Police by the time these lines are printed.
In addition two foreign customers were
evaluating the Ural in late 2013.
Nurol, engaged in the infantry fighting
vehicles through FNSS (a joint venture
between Nurol Holding and BAE Systems
Land & Armaments L.P.) entered the light
armoured vehicle market with the Ejder 4x4
unveiled in May 2013. The company
The Ural is the new proposal from Otokar to
replace the APV as light patrol military vehicle
and for paramilitary use. (Otokar)
01 41 37 96 70
Recognizing threats
is our instinct
Photo credits: Aspheri, A. Bannister/Getty Images, Y. Debay, Stat -
Shielding your mission
is our speciality
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constantly innovating to make sure you stay away from the danger. Like with ARAVIS® , a complete family
of high-performance, multipurpose vehicles. Backed by our renowned SAFEPRO® armour technology,
these vehicles give you exceptional off-road mobility and extreme protection against the most lethal
threats, including level-4 ballistic, mine and artillery attacks, and even the most powerful IEDs. And like
all Nexter solutions, we go beyond physical safety to ensure well-being at every stage of your mission.
ARAVIS® offers a large, ultra-comfortable interior, surprisingly low noise and vibration levels, and an
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www.nexter-group.fr
develops and produces 100% of the new
vehicle, which was designed following a
thorough marketing research that led to fine
tuning the technical specifications. In only
two months the company went from the
screens to the prototype of this 12 tonner,
which Nurol considers not to belong to the
Mrap league category, but proposes in the
personnel carrier, reconnaissance, command
and control, CBRN, combat, weapon carrier
and ambulance configurations.
The APC can carry a two-man crew, an
optional machine gunner, and six dismounts,
the front cabin being accessible via two side
doors while the rear compartment features
two side and one rear door. A hatch allows
the machine gunner to operate his weapon,
although at IDEF 2013 the vehicle was
equipped with a remote-control weapon
station cradling a 12.7 mm machine gun.
That prototype also featured metal bars
protecting glass surfaces against low velocity
projectiles such as stones. The Ejder 4x4
features a large windscreen and ample lateral
glass surfaces throughout its length to
provide optimal outside view to the crew, the
rear being the only side without any glass.
The Nurol 4x4 has all-round independent
suspensions with double wishbone, helical
coil and shock absorbers, and its 25 hp/t
power-to-weight ratio allows it to accelerate
from 0 to 40 km/h in six seconds. The Ejder
4x4 has a growth capability of two tonnes;
however Nurol is ready to develop a longer
chassis with improved suspensions should a
customer require a 10 seater.
Hema Defense Industry is a new entry
into the armoured vehicles community as an
OEM, the company having provided for
years components to numerous other
manufacturers. The Turkish company had
established a co-operation with the Streit
Group on both a 6x6 and a 4x4 weapon
carrier, the latter known as the Şimşek
(lighting), but this co-operation has now
come to an end. Hema is thus now
developing its own vehicles, again a 4x4 and a
6x6. Although a tad “heavy” to belong to this
Compendium, but for sake of clarification,
the 4x4 vehicle known as HHD-1 to be
unveiled in 2014 will gross at 14 tonnes with a
3.5-4 tonnes payload capacity, accommodate
up to 11, including driver and gunner. Its
powerpack will be based on a Deutz or MTU
engine developing 280-340 hp and coupled
to an Allison 2000XP transmission. The Vshaped hull monocoque carries independent
suspensions,
with
hydro-pneumatic
damping on option. Protection will be Level
12
Compendium Light Armoured Vehicles 2014
The prototype of the Ural 4x4 was unveiled at IDEF in May 2013; at that event Otokar unveiled
three new vehicles and a number of new weapon stations and turrets. (Armada/P. Valpolini)
3a/b against mines and Level 3 against
ballistic threats, add-on armour allowing to
reach Level 4. According to the artist
impression available the vehicle sides will also
have some V-shaped contribution to
increased protection, personnel being able to
ingress and egress through four lateral doors
and a rear door. The vehicle is shown armed
with a 12.7 mm remote-control weapon
station with full optronic suite.
Katmerciler, a Turkish company active in
special trucks, is shifting its interest towards
defence, its Pit-Bull VX 4x4 armoured
personnel carrier being its first step in this
direction. Based on a Ford-550 chassis
powered by a 300hp Ford 6.7 V8 turbodiesel,
it has a combat weight of 8.8 tonnes with a
payload of 1.3 tonnes. The vehicle has a Level
1-equivalent protection against mines while
its steel hull is protected at CEN B6+.
Katmerciler is proposing its Pitt-Bull VX to
numerous countries, the most promising
contacts being with Azerbaijan.
I FRANCE
Upon closing the previous Compendium on
light armoured vehicles came the news of
Panhard’s acquisition by Renault Trucks
Defense. Although it hardly was a surprise,
that move changed the French scenario in this
market putting three brands under a single
roof, namely Renault, Acmat and Panhard,
which are all involved in one way or another in
the lighter segment of the vehicle market.
After over one year with that
organisation, the removal of Gérard Amiel
from the helm of Renault Trucks Defense,
the post of chief executive being taken by
Stefano Chiemlewski, president of Volvo
government sales, looks very much like the
removal not only of a top man but of a whole
intermediate level, bringing RTD under a
At IDEF 2013 Nurol Makina unveiled the Ejder 4x4 version
which is now offered in 6x6 guise. A longer wheelbase
version might soon appear. (Nurol Makina)
more strict control of the Volvo industrial
group. Although some new products are
expected in the APC/IFV sector, no major
new product is expected to emerge in the
light one in any near future.
The Panhard VBL is definitely the RTD
portfolio best-seller with over 2,300 vehicles in
service in 16 countries and in over 10
versions. Panhard is continuing to develop the
upgrade package for the French Armée de
Terre that will include a new rear suspension,
to allow a 900 kg payload capacity increase, a
new engine and an improved protection. This
version should reach a gross weight of around
5.2 tonnes, and is attracting some interest
from the export market.
The PVP, for Petit Véhicule Protégé, was
used in Mali by French forces deployed
during “Opération Serval” in January 2013.
It was mostly used for gathering tactical
intelligence in the northern regions of Mali,
the two versions involved in such missions
being the Drac drone support vehicle and
the Electronic Warfare vehicle, the latter
helping to locate rebel commander radios,
and direct on them either artillery fire or
combat helicopters. The Armée de Terre
fields some 1,180 such vehicles, some of
A new entry in the Turkish lightweight armoured vehicles contest, Katmerciler is proposing its
Pit Bull VX 4x4 to numerous export customers. (Katmerciler)
which will soon receive the Sagem-Panhard
Wasp RCWS. Some 80 more PVPs were
produced and delivered to Togo, Chile and
Romania, the latest customer being Mali.
The Crab concept vehicle unveiled a
couple of years ago is still exhibited at
numerous shows, as exemplified by its
presence at DSEI 2013 in Abu Dhabi,
although it is not clear how much this type of
vehicle will attract a customer in the current
or in a modified form.
With the APC-XL introduced at DSEI
2013 Renault increased the flexibility of its
Sherpa Light, which is now available in five
different armoured and non-armoured
versions. The latest version grosses at 10.9
tonnes and can carry a crew of two plus eight
dismounts and a 2.6-tonne payload.
Available in three- and five-door
configurations, its roof is raised to 2.53
metres to give an 11 m3 protected volume,
that is one extra cubic metre compared to the
A Panhard Petit Véhicule Protégé in the Drac drone
detachment configuration, which saw action in the Mali
French forces engagement. (RTD/Yves Debay)
standard APC version. The latter has been
sold to Qatar, the Far East and in some
European countries, the Carrier version
having been acquired by Nato and France.
The tougher member of the family is the
Sherpa Light HI (for High Intensity) which
has a gross weight of 10.5 tonnes, a payload
capacity of 1.5 tonnes, and seats for six
soldiers. Protection levels are not announced,
but being a short wheelbase vehicle with a
weight similar to that of the long wheelbase
ones it is clear that protection has been
increased. Nearly 300 Sherpa Lights have
been sold, including the logistic carrier
version to the Egyptian Police, and according
to RTD the company is involved in numerous
offers regarding the latest variants.
Turning to the Acmat range, Renault has
sold over 350 Bastion APCs, mostly in
Africa but also to some European special
forces units, the latest 11 having been
delivered in early December 2013 to Chad.
At 10.5 tonnes gross this vehicle has a
payload capacity of two tonnes at Level 1
ballistic protection, that drops by half a
tonne with Level 2 armour, and again by
another half tonne at Level 3, though antimine protection is limited.
I ITALY
With over 4,000 vehicles on order from 10
countries (Italy, United Kingdom, Spain,
Norway, Belgium, Croatia, Austria, Czech
Republic, Slovakia and Russia), Iveco DV is
14
Compendium Light Armoured Vehicles 2014
nearly ready to launch the production of an
improved version of its successful 4x4.
In 2014 the Bolzano-based company will
complete the production of the VTLM Lince,
currently on order by the Italian Army, with
over 1,600 delivered so far. The last batches
are in Lince 1A configuration with the
integral roof able to carry both the new
protected gun ring and the Oto Melara
Hitrole Light turret. The new roof ensures
full safety in case of roll-over and replaces the
original roll protection bar, increasing the
available space inside the vehicle and
reducing the weight. Italy is reducing its
contingent in Afghanistan, and following
over five years of deployment downrange
statistics show that, apart from initial
teething problems, the vehicle performed
according to expectations. Around 30
Casevac Lince were also delivered. Currently
Iveco DV is talking to the Italian Army to
finalise the VTLM-2 configuration, the
acronym standing light tactical multirole
vehicle. The next-generation Lince will be
slightly longer to increase available space, 95
percentile data constantly increasing the
Dutch requirement which now calls for 2.02
metres. The new vehicle will have better
mobility, higher payload and protection, and
will feature a consistent payload capacity
increase. Gross weight is kept below the
nine-tonnes mark, Iveco’s intention being not
to transform the LMV into a mini-Mrap.
This weight goal should be achieved by
working on the structure and materials of the
safety cell. The vehicle is conceived to fully
integrate all the net-centric systems as the
new Lince will be part of the digitised Army
known in Italy as the Forza NEC.
According to Iveco DV managers,
customers are pointing to the importance of
electronic systems integration following
problems that surfaced in most vehicle types
used downrange when a number of radio,
jammers and suchlike were installed. In this
respect the Lince has evolved along the years,
with a series of improvements in terms of
available power and cabling, and a series of
contracts is being filed by the Italian MoD to
repair and update batches of vehicles on their
way back from Afghanistan. However the
standard required for new vehicles will be
much higher. The Digital LMV shown at
DSEI 2013 is a first step towards the Lince 2
solution, incorporating improved protection
and enhanced mobility through the
provision of automatic drive management.
The vehicle on display grossed at 7.75 tonnes.
The Bolzano company is also expanding the
versions available, and unveiled a CBRN
reconnaissance and survey variant in team
with Cristanini, the Italian CBRN specialist, at
that same exhibition.
Turning to exports, the Iveco DV plants
are currently producing the last vehicles for
Austria, some 50 vehicles having been
delivered in 2013 with 50 more to go to
complete the 150 vehicles contract, as well
The Sherpa Light in Scout configuration moving into African
scenarios; Renault Trucks Defense is developing the vehicle, the
latest iteration being the APX-XL shown at DSEI. (RTD)
as the last units of the batch of 358 vehicles
ordered by Russia where it is known as the
Rys. Final assembly is taking place in
Voronezh with some local content. The joint
venture between Iveco and Kamaz is frozen
following the Moscow decision to cancel the
original contract for 1.775 vehicles.
By the end of 2014 Iveco DV will
complete the deliveries of the 62 fourthgeneration LMVs ordered by Norway in
January 2013, the configuration adopted
being already an evolution towards the
aforementioned Lince 2. The vehicle features
a new survival cell with protection
improvements, new seats and improved
ergonomics, the new driveline offering
higher performances allowing for an
increased gross weight. Electro-magnetic
compatibility is greatly increased, Norway
having required the capacity to
accommodate numerous GFEs such as
radios, BMS, intercom and ECMs, as well as a
Kongsberg Protector Nordic weapon station.
I GERMANY
Following the Bundeswehr’s choice for the
GDELS Eagle V to top up the GFF2
requirement, the KMW/Rheinmetall
consortium that developed the 4x4 AMPV
(Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle) is
looking at the export market as well as at a
wider range of battlefield missions. Powered
by a 274 hp Steyr 3.2-litre 6-cylinder
turbodiesel, the AMPV in Type 2a
configuration (the only developed up to
prototype level so far) reached a 10-tonne
gross weight with a 2.2-tonne payload at
minimum protection level, part of it being
tradable for further ballistic protection. With
mine protection among the design priorities,
the German vehicle has a Level 3a/2b that
puts it among the top protected vehicles in its
class; an intermediate floor-structure
decoupled from the safety cell reduces loads
on the lower extremities of the occupants in
case of mine explosion. The independent
suspension system, based on double
wishbones with two spring-damper per
wheel and hydraulic end stop dampers
ensure high ground clearance in every terrain
adding to protection and high mobility. The
vehicle is now equipped as standard issue
with a rear-view camera feeding images to
the driver on the 6.5-inch display that is also
used as vehicle information (status system
reports and log book). The AMPV is ready to
host mission kits such as C4I systems,
jamming equipment, remote-control
weapon station or NBC system.
So far only the patrol and command
vehicle, aimed at the GFF2 bid, has been
produced. However the KMW-Rheinmetall
team is working on at least three more
configurations, a reconnaissance, a logistic
and a large compartment vehicle. All of
them maintain the 10-tonne gross weight
though payload varies (2.2, 2.0, 2.4 and 1.6
tonnes) according to the different empty
weights. Both the patrol and the recce
versions are fully armoured and feature a
Three views of the Acmat Bastion in the command post and ambulance configurations. Based on the VLRA chassis this vehicle
has been sold in numbers to African countries. (RTD)
Compendium Light Armoured Vehicles 2014
15
The Italian Army is by large the bigger user of Iveco’s
LMV; currently the Army is in the final stage of
writing the requirements for the Lince 2.0 that will
succeed the current version. (RC-West)
RCWS, the reconnaissance variant being
also equipped with a rear-mounted
telescopic mast with optronic sensors and
carrying an extra seat. The logistic version
has a front armoured cab and a rear pick-up
configuration, while the large compartment
features a raised roof and a protected
compartment extended along the whole
length of the vehicle which considerably
increases the internal protected volume.
No major news from Mercedes Benz,
whose catalogue still features the LAPV 5.4
and the LAPV 6.1. Known as Enok in the
German Bundeswehr, which fields 121 such
vehicles acquired within the GFF1
programme, it is available in four- and fivedoor versions both rated at 5.4 tonnes gross.
What changes is the payload, that decreases
from 1,070 to 850 kg in the five-door
version. Protection is at Level 2 ballistic and
Level 1a/b anti-mine, although an add-on
kit can increase the latter to Level 2a. The
LAPV 6.1 has remained so far the only
development of the 6.X line, the number
indicating its GVW in tonnes. The weight
increase results from a toughened chassis,
while the engine output remains unchanged
at 181 hp. The ballistic protection remains
the same as the 5.4’s, while the 6.1 features a
standard Level 2a floor; this can be however
traded for a Level 1a/b floor, to increase the
1.3-tonne standard payload. Until now no
LAPV 6.1 seems to have been ordered.
16
Compendium Light Armoured Vehicles 2014
I SWITZERLAND
Unveiled in 2010, the General Dynamics
European Land Systems Eagle V was selected
by the Zurich Airport Police and by the Swiss
Army, which received their first vehicles in
2011 and 2012, and most recently by
Germany to complete its GFF2 (Geschützte
Führungs und Funktionsfahrzeuge or
Armoured Command-and-Control Vehicles)
programme. A contract was filed by the
German BAAINBw for 100 such vehicles in
June 2013, the document containing an
option for further 76 vehicles.
The latest evolution of the Eagle, the Eagle
V maintains numerous commonalities with
Eagle IV, already in service with the
Bundeswehr, which will help in reducing lifecycle costs. Recent upgrades were made, and
with now a 10-tonne gross weight, the Eagle V
has a payload capacity of three tonnes, part of
which can be used to further improve
protection, and can transport two to six
military depending on the configuration. Like
its predecessor, the Eagle V is based on the
Duro IIIP chassis. Mobility is now entrusted to
a 250 hp Cummins ISBe 6.7-litre 6-cylinder
turbocharged diesel coupled to an Allison 5speed automatic transmission, while
suspension relies on a De Dion axle system
with patented roll stabilizer.
Manufacturing is being carried out both at
Kreuzlingen (Switzerland) and Kaiserslautern
(Germany), the order keeping the two
assembly lines busy until 2014, or until 2015
should the option be exercised. The first Eagle
V will be delivered to the Bundeswehr in early
2014. The Eagle 6x6 is obviously based on the
6x6 version of the Duro, but is powered by a
285 hp engine, and offers a payload capacity 6
tonnes. According to released information no
customer has yet ordered this version.
I BRITAIN
With the Light Protected Patrol Vehicle
(LLPV) programme well underway it is
unclear which will be the target for the
incoming Multi Role Vehicle - Protected
(MRV-P), the follow-on to the Operational
Utility Vehicle System cancelled by the
Ministry of Defence a few years ago. How
much the programme will aim at a five
tonnes vehicle or at something with three
times that gross weight is still to be
determined, the MRV-P being currently in
the hands of the Defence Science and
Technology Laboratory, although following
the Afghan experience it is highly probable
that it will have sufficient ballistic and mine
protection levels.
Well proven in Afghanistan with the
British Army that renamed it the Foxhound,
the Force Protection Europe Ocelot 4x4 that
won the LPPV bid back in September 2010
has now totalled 400 orders. Following the
first order for 200 vehicles in late 2011 the
British Mionistry of Defence ordered a
further batch of 100 Foxhounds in mid
2012, three further orders respectively for
25, 51 and 24 vehicles having been filed
between late 2012 and fall 2013. Over 350
have already been delivered by what is now
GDLS/Force Protection.
The Foxhound crew cell has a deep-V
shape that deflects blast reducing the slamdown effect when vehicle lands back after an
explosion and this, coupled to the technology
adopted in the floor, provides a Level 2B
mine protection. The cell is made of
composite armour providing Level 3 ballistic
protection, and can host two crew members
and four dismounts with access via the front
left door or the rear door. A reconnaissance
variant with only two rear seats and a logistic
variant, with a shortened cabin hosting the
crew and a pick-up architecture, are also
available. The crew cell can be easily replaced
as it is fixed to the chassis with four
connectors. This allows to adopt other
solutions, such as the all-steel cell introduced
at DSEI 2013 that gives birth to the so-called
Ocelot-S, for “steel”, a lower cost solution that
might improve its export chances,
GDLS/Force Protection being involved in a
tough marketing campaign in various
regions such as South America, Northern
Africa as well as in the Far and Middle East.
On the other hand the higher weight
generates a payload capacity reduction.
On the SPV400 theme, Supacat has
developed three different crew cells for the
patrol, utility and WMIK (Weapons Mount
Installation Kit) versions, the latter with an
open cabin. As for the Zephyr, this has now
The AMPV family was developed by the KMW-Rheinmetall Defence team but for the time being
the only version developed was the 2a for the GFF2 programme, which however got the favours
of a competing vehicle (Armada/Eric H. Biass)
become a Penman product following the
acquisition of Creation by the southernScottish group, Creation remaining the
engineering and development company. The
agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Eraf Industries
has led to the development of the Metras 4x4,
an 8-tonne GVW derivative of the Zephyr
with a two-tonne payload capacity, capable
of carrying a two-man crew and six
dismounts. It is powered by an MAN 198 hp
commonrail diesel engine and reaches a
speed of 120 km/h. The 500-kilo gross weight
increase over the Zephyr compensates for the
higher weight of the all-steel hull that ensures
Level 3 ballistic and Level 3a/2b blast
protection. The co-operation between
Penman/Creation and Eraf should increase
the chances of penetration into Middle East
and other markets.
The LAPV 6.1 developed by Mercedes Benz is still looking for a launch customer while the
lighter and less protected LAPV 5.4 is in service with the Bundeswehr. (Mercedes Benz)
I MIDDLE EAST
Mentioning Eraf just above provides a
smooth transition to some of the other
Middle Eastern products.
The Streit Group, a multinational group,
with production facilities in Canada, the
United Arab Emirates, the United States,
Russia, India, Jordan, Pakistan and Turkey,
but headquartered in Dubai, is more and
more active in the military vehicle field, its
armoured proposals ranging from heavily
protected patrol vehicles up to 6x6
armoured personnel carriers. The one that
can be considered part of light armoured
vehicles, considering that the word “light”
is becoming less and less appropriate even
for small patrol vehicles, is the Scorpion, an
11-tonne 4x4 that seats a two-man crew and
four dismounts. The vehicle is based on a Vshaped monocoque hull with independent
suspensions providing optimal mobility.
Powered by a 300 hp turbocharged
Cummins 6 Cylinders ISBE 6.7L, it yields a
power-to-weight ratio of over 27 hp/tonne
and a maximum road speed of over 110
km/h. The 200-litre fuel tank allegedly
ensures a cruise range of 800 km.
The Spartan can carry a two-man crew
and up to four dismounts, providing them
with ballistic protection at Level 3 and antimine protection at Level 2a/b. Personnel
access and egress the vehicle via two front and
two rear doors, an escape hatch being also
available on the roof, while a cargo area in the
back is available for storing equipment.
Unveiled at Eurosatory 2012, the Scorpion is
actively marketed worldwide, efforts being
apparently concentrated in the Middle East
and Latin America.
Nimr Automotive recently bagged
another success when the United Arab
Compendium Light Armoured Vehicles 2014
17
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Compendium Light Armoured Vehicles 2014
The new Eagle family which is marketed
by GDELS-Mowag has scored a new
success with the adoption of the Eagle by
the Bundeswehr. (GDELS)
Emirates Armed Forces signed an US$820
million contract for a further batch of Nimr
4x4 multipurpose combat vehicles and 6x6
armoured personnel carriers. While the latter
can be hardly considered part of this work at
15 tonnes GVW, the 4x4 armoured version
of the Nimr with its nine-tonne permissible
weight can easily be considered light. Such an
intention was announced at IDEX in
February 2013 and follows another contract
for 800 vehicles, while 500 4x4s were
delivered earlier to the Presidential Guard.
Nimr Automotive is certainly not relying
only on the national customer; in fact the first
customer for the Nimr was Libya, which
received over 100 vehicles prior to the 2011
Arab Spring and got some more donated in
2013 by the Emirates to the new Libyan
government. Libyan vehicles were built in
Jordan by Advanced Industries of Arabia,
before production moved to the new Nimr
Automotive UAE plant. The new country
rulers and their armed forces seem willing to
go ahead with the contract signed by Gaddafi,
the vehicles being of use both for military
and paramilitary forces. Another major
breakthrough in export was the establishment
of Nimr-Algerie Joint Stock Company, a joint
venture between the Algerian Defence
Mechanical Industry Promotion Group and
Tawazun Holdings that has started producing
the Nimr at the Khenchela plant. Designed
and developed by Emirates Defence
Technology in the early 2000, the Nimr has
now evolved in a mature product available
in 4x4 and 6x6 configurations and at least
22
Compendium Light Armoured Vehicles 2014
seven different configurations within each
of them. The Nimr 4x4 is also in service in
Lebanon and Jordan.
I SPAIN
The latest iteration of Uro Vehicules
Especiales (Uroves) Vehículo de Alta
Movilidad Táctico – Vamtac in short – is the
ST5, which does not vary much from the S3
although the front design is quite different as
well as the interior. Engine, transmission and
most of the main components remain the
same with minor update. The ST5 is available
in different versions, namely the base version
at 5.3 tonnes with an 188 hp engine, the ST5
HD at 6.6 tonnes with a 218 hp engine on
option, the 8-tonne 2HD with a 218 hp
engine, and finally the 3HD which at 9.5
tonnes is offered on option with 272 hp.
In spite of variable outputs, the 3.2-litre
turbocharged diesel engine remains the
same, but the turbochargers change.
Suspensions, hubs and wheels are reinforced
as the weight increases. All vehicles feature
the same basic Allison transmission,
although those under 6.3 tonnes this is a
The first military customer for the Eagle V or New Eagle, the latest version of the
Kreuzlingen-produced vehicle, was the Swiss Army. (GDELS)
five-speed system while for those above that
mark an extra speed is added. The ST5 3HD
BN3 is the armoured version of the heavier
weight ST5 that maintains a 1.5-tonne
payload capacity in the 4PC version, which
can be considered the base version, hosting
four to five soldiers. Protection is at Level 3
ballistic, while customers can chose between
Level 2a and 2b for anti-mine protection,
IED protection level remaining classified.
Considering the increase in on-board
power requirements Urovesa proposes a
standard 28 V/180 A alternator with a 240
A as option. Providing adequate grip is
available, the ST5 3HD BN3 can climb a
100% slope and can travel along on a 50%
side gradiant. The 140-liter fuel tank
ensures an operating range of 600 km, while
maximum speed is 110 km/h.
While standard vehicles have a 3.55-metre
wheelbase, the mortar carrier version sees
this stretched to 3.85 metres and features an
extended cabin hosting four soldiers. The
EOD version has a four- seat cabin, its rear
compartment being specially designed for
carrying the robot, two disrupters, ordnance
disposal suits, shields, power generator and
other equipment. All models feature the
The 6x6 version of the Eagle in the ambulance configuration; although derived from a patrol
vehicle, it hardly fits in the “light” category given its weight. (GDELS)
same protection and, depending on models,
two, three or four firing ports are available
allowing soldiers to use their individual
weapons for self defence.
In May 2013 the Spanish Ministry of
Defence announced a four-year contract that
might eventually lead to a total acquisition of
772 vehicles, split between Army (519), Navy
(99), UME joint reaction force (78) and Air
Force (76), the value of the contract if fully
exercised being of €149 million. In 2013
Spain ordered 115 vehicles in eight different
configurations, armoured weapon carrier,
S-788 shelter carrier, armoured Tow-Spike
launcher, command post, communications
vehicle, ambulance, Mistral missile launcher
reconnaissance. These vehicles will be split
between Army and Air Force, the first Navy
orders being awaited for 2014. As for export,
in 2012 Urovesa delivered the 85 Vamtacs
ordered by the Malaysian Army through the
national company Master-Defence, which
To lower the cost of its Ocelot, General Dynamics-Force Protection developed a
new version that uses the same chassis topped by a new crew cell made of welded steel
instead of composites. (Armada/P. Valpolini)
add to the 18 units delivered in the past as 105
mm gun tractor. Among other recent export
successes is the half-million Euro contract
with Romania for two EOD versions of the
S3 (there are thus over 100 Vamtacs in service
with the Romanian Army.
The Urovesa vehicle is in service in
different versions and configurations also in
the Dominican Republic with all three
services, in Saudi Arabia, in the Moroccan
Army, in the Ghana Army and in the
Angola police.
I AUSTRIA
Radfeld-based Achleitner is proposing two
4x4s that fall into the light armoured
vehicles category, being mostly aimed at
patrol and utility missions.
The lighter one is the Survivor I RCV
(Reconnaissance and Command Vehicle),
with a GVW of 7.5 tonnes depending on
configuration, with a 1.5-tonne payload
capacity for the basic version. The vehicle is
based on an armoured steel monocoque cell
with composite add-ons that provide its
occupants (two crew members plus a
maximum of five dismounts) with Level 2
ballistic and Level 2a/b mine protection. It
also has a deflecting floor and floating seats
though IED protection level remains
undisclosed. The Survivor I RCV is powered
by a 250 hp VM diesel engine, that provides a
power-to-weight ratio of over 33 hp/tonne. It
is coupled to an Allison automatic
transmission with three 100% differential
locks and a permanent four-wheel drive
traction. The vehicle is fitted with live axles
front and rear and with 335/80 R20 run-flat
tyres. Its maximum road speed is around 100
km/h while its cruise range is given as 800
24
Compendium Light Armoured Vehicles 2014
km. The vehicle, which is available in three- or
five-door configurations, is outfitted not only
for communication equipment and other
auxiliary systems, but also for a remotecontrol weapon station on the roof.
The Survivor I RCV is offered in
five configurations: communications,
reconnaissance, border patrol, command and
ambulance, the latter being able to carry two
crew members, one medical attendant, one
seated casualty and one stretcher. The
Survivor I RCV is in service with an
undisclosed customer.
The Survivor HMV (High Mobility
Vehicle) is a stretched and heavier version
grossing at 11 tonnes with a two-tonne
payload, depending on configuration. Slightly
longer (15 cm) wider and higher, its ballistic
protection level is Level 2 with some areas at
Level 3 in the basic configuration, while mine
Supacat is pursuing the marketing of its
SPV400, the protection system of which was
developed in co-operation with NP
Aerospace. (Supacat)
and IED protection remain similar. Also a
permanent 4x4 wheel drive, it is provided
with the same 335/80 R20 tyres while the
engine is replaced by a 250 hp Cummins
driving an Allison automatic transmission;
however the Cummins engine provides a
torque that nearly doubles the 550NM of the
RCV engine, thus ensuring optimal crosscountry agility. Its power-to-weight ratio is
around 22.7 hp/tonne, while cruise range is
given as 700 km. Energy-absorbing folding
benches installed on the side of the rear
compartment allow to transport up to six
soldiers plus crew. The RCV and the HMV are
in service with an undisclosed customer.
Achleitner further developed its Survivor
concept into the Survivor II, with much
higher mine protection levels, but due to its
dimensions and weight this cannot be
included in the light category, being more
An artist’s impression showing the three versions of the Supacat
SPV400: the patrol vehicle in the centre, the utility in the background
and the WMIK in the foreground. (Supacat)
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Nimr Automotive has scored numerous
victories on the market. The the 6x6 version
seen here is now also in production in
Algeria. (Armada/P. Valpolini)
an Mrap-like vehicle. New designs currently
under development both in the light and
heavier vehicles segments should be
unveiled in 2014.
I RUSSIA
The 2014 acquisition plan for the Russian
Army includes, amongst others, the Tigr-M.
This is an updated version of the GAZ light
armoured vehicle that was submitted to
comparative trials in early 2013. This brings
back the Tigr into Russian plans following
the decision to cancel the contract with
Iveco that will limit the number of Italian
vehicles in Russian service to 358 instead of
the previously agreed 1,775. It is thus quite
probable that if the requirement does not
change some 1,500 such vehicles might be
acquired by Russia.
I ISRAEL
The need for armoured light vehicles in
Israel led a few companies to develop some
products in that category.
The Vamtac S3 developed by Urovesa has now
been succeeded by the S5, a very similar vehicle
which, depending on protection, can reach a
gross weight of up to 9.5 tonnes (Urovesa)
The bigger producer of such vehicles in
Israel is certainly Hatehof, whose 8.5-tonne
Wolf is now a well proven item with over 250
vehicles in service with the Israeli Defense
Forces and other export customers. Based
on the Ford F550 chassis, the Wolf ensures
a ballistic Level 2 protection while mine
protection is a basic Level 1a. The Wolf is
Three versions of Urovesa’s Vamtac S3, the 81 mm mortar
carrier adopted by the Spanish Army, the EOD version
adopted among others by Romania, and the version with
a 12.7 mm RCWS, developed for Spain. (Urovesa)
26
Compendium Light Armoured Vehicles 2014
available in different configurations, such as
logistic, patrol, medical evacuation, rapid
intervention, NBC reconnaissance variants
and so on. The Wolf made headlines in
Israel when it was used to return Gilad Shalit
(the soldier kidnapped in June 2006 by a
Hamas commando) home from captivity.
Hatehof confirmed to Armada
International its intention to upgrade its
best-selling vehicle to Level 3, while mine
protection will remain basic, the vehicle not
having even a slight V-shaped belly.
Whether this be named Wolf 2 (a vehicle
bearing that name having been announced
some time ago) is not certain. Some tenders
for the Wolf are open, a considerable interest
coming especially from Latin America.
In the past years Hatehof developed the XTreme, a heavily protected vehicle aimed at a
specific undisclosed customer in a deal that
however failed to materialise and the vehicle
remained at prototype stage. Leveraging the
R&D work for that programme the Israeli
company developed the Hurricane, a 9.6tonne gross weight vehicle capable of
transporting up to seven soldiers. Fitted with
four side-doors plus a rear one, it ensures
Level 2 ballistic protection with the “A kit”
while its bottom provides Level 2a/b mine
protection. A “B kit” is available to increase
protection to Level 3, but this reduces
payload capacity to 2.1 tonnes. Powered by a
245 hp Cummins ISB245, it can cope with
60% gradients and 38% side slopes, while its
turning radius can be reduced from 8.2 to 6
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The Russian military decided to acquire a
considerable number of Tigr 4x4 vehicles
following a policy change decided by the new
Minister of Defence. (Gaz)
The Hurricane is the latest vehicle developed
by Hatehof, based on the work done by the Israeli
company on the X-Treme, and it is awaiting its
first customer. (Hatehof)
metres if the selectable rear steering is
engaged, an appreciated feature in urban
areas. Currently the Hurricane has
undergone full ballistic and mine protection
tests, as well as mobility trials and awaits a
launch customer for full industrialisation.
Israel Aerospace Industries involvement
in land programmes is often overlooked, yet
its Ramta division has been designing and
manufacturing successful light armoured
vehicles since the 1970s, the latest
configuration being the Ram Mk III.
Powered by a rear-mounted air-cooled 185
hp Deutz 6.5-litre turbocharged diesel, the
Mk III can reach a maximum speed of 96
km/h, but a cruising speed range of some 800
km is given on a fuel tank of 160 litres. A four-
speed automatic transmission with a twospeed transfer case provides good crosscountry capabilities, a 2x4 drive being
selectable to reduce wear and consumption
for raod driving. Cross-country mobility is
enhanced by the choice of 12.5 x 20 MPT
radial tyres mounted on run-flat wheels,
pneumatics being bigger than those adopted
on most vehicles of equivalent class. The Ram
has a steel monocoque hull with V-shaped
underbelly that provides Level 2a/b mine
protection, the crew being protected against
the ballistic threat at Level 2, which can be
increased to Level 3 using an add-on kit. A
ceramic kit has recently been adopted to
increase protection while remaining within
acceptable weights. With a curb weight of 5.3
tonnes, the MkIII has a 1.2-tonne payload,
which means that its power-to-weight ratio
reaches 27.6 hp/tonne. Available with long or
short wheelbase, the Ram seats its driver plus
up to seven soldiers who access the vehicle
via one or two back- or front-hinged doors
per side as per customer requirements. Air
transportable by C-130 and Antonov An-12,
the Ram in its various versions and
configuration is in service in over ten
countries with military and paramilitary
units in Asia, Latin America, Africa,
Vietnam, Chad, Botswana and Gabon. In the
mid-2000 Plasan Sasa developed a 4x4
offroad vehicle known as the Sand Cat, based
on a shortened Ford F-series chassis.
I SOUTH AFRICA
In 2013 the South African arm of BAE
Systems completed the delivery of 170 RG32
to Sweden, which were acquired under two
separate contracts, bringing to 370 the
number of vehicles in service in that
country. Another Scandinavian country,
Finland, received 25 more in 2013, bringing
A solid commercial success for Hatehof, the
Wolf is evolving into a more protected vehicle
that should appear within 2014. (Hatehof)
IAI Ramta Ram MkIII has a
uncommon architecture for a 4x4
vehicle as its engine is installed
in the boot. (IAI Ramta)
In late 2013 Hema discontinued its
co-operation with Streit and is now working on
new vehicles among which is the HHD-1 4x4,
which should be unveiled in mid 2014. (Hema)
its own total to 80. Some 27 RG32 LTV are
already in service with Ireland while
numerous RG32Ms are in service with the
United Nations.
The base vehicle, the RG32M, has a 2,90metre wheelbase and a curb weight of 7.5
tonnes in the basic configuration, with a
max weight of 9.5 tonnes. Powered by a
181hp Steyr M16TCA turbodiesel, it carries
a two-man crew plus four or six dismounts,
depending on options fitted. These are
protected at Level 1 ballistic, which can be
increased to Level 2 with add-on armour,
mine protection being against the DM31standard anti-personnel mine.
The LTV, for light tactical vehicle, has a
longer 3.34-metre wheelbase with a curb
weight increased by 1.2 tonnes due to the
extended cabin and increased mine
protection to Level 2a/b (ballistic protection
remaining unchanged). Propulsion is
courtesy of a beefier 268hp Steyr M16SCI
turbocharged diesel. Standard configuration
hosts two crew members and two dismounts.
BAE Systems also offers the RG34, a 4x4
protected at Level 2 ballistic and Level 2a/b
anti-mine with a curb weight of 7.5 tonnes
plus a two-tonne payload allowance. It
carries a two-man crew and seat for six
dismounts. For the time being no RG34 has
scored any sales.
The Integrated Convoy Protection (ICP)
range includes two families of mineprotected vehicle models, the Reva III and
Reva V, the former grossing at around 10
tonnes. Based on a monocoque V-shaped
hull the Reva III is available with three
different wheelbases – 2,27, 3,24, and 3,40
metres with respective gross weight ratings
of 9.1, 9.24 and 10.8 tonnes. The relative
small difference between the Reva SWB and
30
Compendium Light Armoured Vehicles 2014
the Reva III Standard LWB in terms of curb
weight, respectively 7.4 and 7.95 tonnes
although nearly one metre separates their
wheel bases, is due to different protection
levels; the Standard LWB is at Stanag Level 3b
mine protection and a 6 mm armour
protection plate against IEDs with level B5
ballistic protection (i.e. 5.56 and 5.45 mm
ball) while the SWB maintains the same mine
protection level, but sees IED protection
increased thanks to the addition of a 6mm
secondary armour skin to the original 6mm
armour protection plate, ballistic protection
being also increased at Level B6+. The Long
Wheel Base maintains the latter levels and
has a curb weight of 9.5 tonnes. All powered
by the same 170hp GBT 5.9 155 30
turbodiesel engine, the long wheelbase
accommodates a two-man crew and eight
dismounts, while the short wheelbase sees
the rear compartment seats halved. ICP Reva
vehicles in their different versions are in
service in South Africa and in numerous
other countries among which are Somalia,
Equatorial Guinea, Thailand, Yemen and
South Sudan, some vehicles having also been
used by US Special Forces in Iraq.
I AUSTRALIA
News is scarce on the Thales Australia front
as far as the Hawkei is concerned, the
company having delivered on schedule all
six test vehicles to the Australian Defence
Materiel Organisation in the frame of the
Land 121 Phase 4. The two last vehicles,
delivered in late May 2013, were in
reconnaissance guise and joined, together
with a trailer, the two Command and the
two Utility vehicles delivered earlier.
The command version has a four-door
cabin that can seat up to five soldiers and has a
10.2-tonne gross weight over seven-tonne
Nearly 400 RG-32 have been sold by BAE Systems South Africa in Scandinavia, Sweden being
the major customer for this 4x4 lightweight vehicle. (BAE Systems)
A prototype of the Thales Hawkei undergoes
trials in north Queensland in September 2013
as part of the Stage 2 development and testing
phase for Land 121 Phase 4 programme.
(Australian MoD)
kerb rating. The utility version retains the
protected cabin, capable of hosting up to
three soldiers and features a rear flatbed
allowing payload capacity increase to 3.4
tonnes (due to the reduction of the armoured
volume). If equipped with the B-kit armour
system, which can be installed by troops on
operations in less than 30 minutes without
the need for special tools, the decrease in
Underbelly Protection
O
ne of the most critical issues for
light armoured vehicles is the
protection against mines or
roadside bomb explosions,
whether these occur under the wheels or the
belly. The latter is of course the worst case
because it happens under the crew
compartment and penetration must be
avoided. However, penetration is not the only
cause of casualties: the acceleration generated
by the explosion, and the resultant sudden
upward acceleration and subsequent strong
deceleration once the vehicle heavily lands
back on earth can be lethal even if the vehicle
floor survived the blast. New solutions to
absorb energy and reduce as much as
possible the thrusting effects of the explosion
are thus being developed.
QinetiQ North America developed a blast
absorption system known as BlastPro to
reduce by three to five times the energy
transmitted to the vehicle. No details about
the type of technology used have obviously
been disclosed, apart from the fact that the
solution is applicable to both new vehicles
and refurbished vehicles, meaning that it can
be fitted as an add-on to flat and V-shaped
underbellies. Reducing up to five times the gforce means that the height reached by the
vehicle following an explosion will be 40 to
50% less. The weight issue is always a
concern, and according to QinetiQ its
solution is lighter than existing solutions at
equivalent cost. The BlastPro was submitted
to extensive analysis with state-of-the art
modelling environments from Level I to
Level IV+ and has then been tested on scaled
models and finally on full scale vehicles.
32
Compendium Light Armoured Vehicles 2014
Acquired by 3M in late November 2012,
Ceradyne developed an energy absorption
add-on bottom for the Humvee that adds only
300 kg while reducing by 30% the blast energy
mitigating the lift effect while also providing
fragment protection and impulse reduction.
The low-weight solution was obtained using
an aluminium based periodic cellular
material known as MicroTruss developed by
Cellular Materials International that boasts a
density of 58 kg/m2, which is nearly half that
of an equivalent monolithic metal solution
weighing 112 kg/m2.
Fractional information on a new active
system by TenCate has been around for some
time, however details were difficult to get.
Finally at AUSA 2013 the company unveiled
its ABDS System. The system does not so
much aim at improving the protection given
by the floor as to reducing the transfer of
deadly mine blast impulse energy to vehicle
occupants by managing acceleration forces.
This is effected by exploiting a physical
principle known as conservation of energy,
in other words by tossing in the air a
countermass. This is well known amongst
recoilless rocket launcher users as the “Davis
effect”. Reaction must, however, be nearly
instantaneous, as the time elapsed between
the moment the shockwave hits the vehicle’s
bottom and the moment the vehicle starts to
lift-off is very short – an estimated five
milliseconds. To eject the countermass at the
desired speed a minimal quantity of
insensitive explosive is needed. The concept
was proved at the Danish premises, trials
being conducted on an M113. It showed that
the system was able to react within the
3M-Ceradyne underbelly energy absorption
system is based on the MicroTruss cellular material
developed by Cellular Materials International,
which allows to considerably reduce blast effects.
(Armada/P. Valpolini)
required interval to hold the vehicle down
on the ground.
The development then shifted on the
other side of the Ocean, with trials carried out
with an undisclosed OEM. This carried out
autonomous test firings getting to the
conclusion that what used to be an
unsurvivable accident was becoming quite
survivable using the ABDS. To understand
the results a quick note about the DRI
(Dynamic Response Index), an index used in
crash evaluations that measures the likelihood
of spinal damage arising from a vertical shock
load such as a mine blast, a helicopter crash, or
an ejection on board a fighter aircraft. DRI is
proportional to the maximum spinal
compression suffered during an event, the life
threatening threshold being around 17.5. The
tests carried out by the OEM have shown
that with the ABDS off, the driver
payload compared to that of the command
version will certainly be lesser. However no
details were provided by Thales on the
configurations provided to the customer.
The Stage 2 development and testing
phase was announced in June 2012 and was
funded to the tune of $US37 million. This
followed a Stage 1 testing that took place
after the Hawkei was selected as the
Manufactured and Supported in Australia
(MSA) option in December 2011. The first
Stage 2 were delivered in December 2012. In
September 2013 the vehicles were submitted
to a first round of testing in north
Queensland, heading for a 100,000 km run,
anthropomorphic test dummy experienced a
23.6 DRI, while the right rear passenger DRI
reached 35.2, which respectively are 50% and
100% over the critical limit. The vehicle
jumped at over 2.4 metres with significant
damages, while the dummies indicated that
neither the driver nor the passenger would
have survived. The test was then repeated
switching the ABDS on: the vehicle jumped
one metre, a 58% decrease, while the two
dummies experienced respectively an 11.4
DRI and a 14.6 DRI, with a reduction of 52%
and 58% respectively, sensors showing that
injuries would be much less critical and that
the two occupants would have survived, while
the cab did not suffer any damage.
The ABDS is made of countermeasures,
sensors, a processor and a man-machine
interface, the latter used to switch on and off
the system. Each countermeasure is coupled to
a sensor, and comes in the form of a sort of
jerry can that is fixed on the outer side of the
vehicle; up to four such countermeasures can
be installed, depending on the vehicle. No
details were released about the sensors and the
type of countermass used, although it makes
sense to think about improved sensors used
in the automotive world for safety systems
such as airbags, the only information being
that the accelerators used are proprietary. A
redundant signal is sent to the computer by
the sensors, the initial impulse being
measured for energy intensity; if the impulse
signature is recognised as being generated by
an explosion then the computer sends an
impulse to the countermeasures switching
them to ready. A further data check is carried
out before the processor confirms the threat
and triggers a tuned recoil response to
optimise the effect, the insensitive explosive
thrusting the countermass upwards. The
although most of the testing will take place at
the Monegeetta Proving Ground in Victoria.
No decision is expected before 2015, the
Australian MoD also considering off-theshelf solutions including the US JLTV,
although the initial provision of prototypes
of JLTV contenders has been abandoned.
Overall Land 121 Phase 4, which will
represent the bulk of the Australian Defence
Forces deployable capability, will include
some 1,300 vehicles and respective trailers to
replace current 4x4 and 6x6 unprotected
Land Rovers. To win the contract Thales
Australia will need to demonstrate its capacity
to meet technical performance, cost and time
scheduling. Foreign options, such as the US
JLTV in which Australia invested some us$40
million in the technology development phase
(without entering the engineering and
manufacturing development phase) are
currently considered back-up solutions
should the Hawkei miss the target.
I JAPAN
The self-imposed ban on defence hardware
export by Japan might soon come to an end,
should the new security strategy that calls
for a more active role be voted by the
Parliament. This would mean a further
competitor on the defence market, in a
The impressive sequence shows the different behaviours of a standard vehicle and a Tencate
ABDS-equipped equivalent when exposed to the explosion of a buried explosive device. (Tencate)
system is tuneable and scalable, changing the
number of countermass or installing
countermass of different size. In terms of
weight, the ABDS for an Humvee has a mass
between 250 and 300 kg. Power consumption
is limited, which together with reduced
dimensions and weight allows to install it on
many types of vehicles. TenCate considers the
ABDS ready for production and is planning
to test it on as many types of vehicles as
possible. In October 2003 TenCate Advanced
Armor USA and the U.S. Army Research,
Development, and Engineering Command
signed a multi-year co-operative research and
development agreement to pursue full
evaluation of the company ABDS.
Compendium Light Armoured Vehicles 2014
33
ON THE COVER: Otokar has carved itself a fine
niche in the light armoured vehicle world, particularly
with the Cobra seen here, but the Turkish firm is now
turning up with new vehicles to meet the growing
competition described in this Compendium.
Compendium Light Armoured Vehicles
Supplement to
Issue 1/2014
Volume 38, Issue No. 1, February-March 2014
INTERNATIONAL
Three views of the Komatsu KU50W, pictured in southern Iraq in late 2004. If Japan alters its
legislation on defence equipment exports, a new competitor might soon enter the light
armoured vehicles scene. (Armada/P. Valpolini
moment where budgets are shrinking. As
Japanese vehicles do not appear at
international defence exhibitions, not much
is known about them. Moreover Japan Self
Defence Forces do not take part, for the time
being, in multinational deployments around
the world. This is however not entirely true:
in November 2004 exiting the main base at
the Nasiriyah airport in Iraq a group of light
armoured vehicles were adorned with large
Japanese flags. At first glance they looked
similar to Panhard VBLs, but upon closer
look they were a totally different vehicle.
These few belonged to the Japanese Iraq
Reconstruction and Support Group.
A 4.5-tonne curb weight vehicle, the
KU50W was designed and manufactured by
Komatsu Defense Systems Division to carry
four seated soldiers plus a machine gunner (a
7.62 or 12.7 mm machine gun mounted on
the roof with the hatches providing some
form of protection to the machine gunner).
An antitank missile can be installed in place of
the automatic weapon. Powered by a 160 hp
engine it can reach 100 km/h. No information
is available on its armour, but a Level 1-2
seems reasonable considering weight and
dimensions. Access is through two doors per
side and a rear door. Over 1,600 vehicles are
currently in service with the Japanese Ground
Self Defence Force. In perspective, experience
acquired with the KU50W might bring Japan
among the meaningful players in the light
armoured vehicle field.
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