fatman17
PDF THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2007
- Messages
- 32,563
- Reaction score
- 98
- Country
- Location
Driving Force: Wheeled armoured fighting vehicles
Christopher F Foss Jane's Land Consultant - London
Wheeled armoured fighting vehicles are taking over many roles traditionally carried out by tracked vehicles. Christopher F Foss reports on this expanding market.
Wheeled armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) of various types have been around for many years but the market for this type of vehicle has dramatically changed of late.
While some countries in NATO have used wheeled armoured personnel carriers (APCs) in the past, most countries have traditionally chosen fully tracked vehicles for the APC role.
The Warsaw Pact used a mix of tracked and wheeled vehicles with most of these being designed and manufactured by the Soviet Union. The exception to this rule was the Czechoslovakian OT-64 8 x 8 series of APC and variants, of which about 10,000 examples were built for the home and export markets.
With the threat of full-scale high-intensity operations in central Europe now gone, an increasing number of countries have now moved away from fully tracked infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and APCs to wheeled vehicles. These offer the user a number of significant advantages, including greater strategic mobility and lower operating and support costs.
A number of countries are now providing their land forces with equipment more suited to peacekeeping than high-intensity military operations. This has led to many making considerable cuts to their fleets of tanks, tracked IFVs and tracked APCs.
Belgium, for example, has decided to replace its tanks and tracked IFVs and wheeled APCs with a comprehensive fleet of Mowag Piranha III-series 8 x 8 APCs, which will include a direct-fire variant armed with a 90 mm gun.
Greater protection
Traditionally, wheeled APCs only had protection against small-arms fire, shell splinters and some types of mine. Operational experience has shown that much higher levels of protection are now required and this has meant that the overall weight of wheeled vehicles has started to climb upwards.
Some wheeled vehicles have been designed with a growth potential built in to take account of the increased gross vehicle weight (GVW) caused by additional armour protection and heavier weapon systems.
In addition to an increasing number of users opting for wheeled APCs, and in some cases IFVs as well, as a result of operations in Iraq and more recently Afghanistan, there has been a massive increase in the requirement for protected vehicles of all types.
The British Army has rapidly fielded the Pinzgauer Vector 6 x 6 light Protected Patrol Vehicle (PPV) and the much larger Mastiff heavy PPV.
The US has fielded a large number of Armor Holdings (recently taken over by BAE Systems) uparmoured M1114 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (Humvees). It has also carried out an uparmouring programme for almost all of its AFVs as well as many support vehicles that until now were considered not to require any protection at all.
RPG threat
Operational experience has clearly shown that, while many of these vehicles provide protection against small-arms fire, splinters and some mines, they do not provide protection against the RPG-7 rocket-propelled grenade launcher and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
In Iraq, and to a lesser extent Afghanistan, the IED is now the most deadly weapon to be encountered by coalition forces. This has led not only to new tactics, but also to the procurement of electronic equipment to help neutralise some of these devices as well as to the provision of additional armour protection.
To meet the urgent requirements of the US Marine Corps, large quantities of vehicles are being rapidly procured from a number of contractors to meet the requirements for a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle. Some of these MRAP vehicles are being provided by contractors with no background in the design, development or production of AFVs.
The US Army Stryker infantry carrier vehicle (ICV), built by General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada, was originally deployed with appliqué passive armour, but to this has been added slat armour to provide increased protection against rocket-propelled grenades.
Outside the US, German company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann has increased production of its Dingo 2 All Protected Vehicle (APV) in 4 x 4 configuration to meet increased demands from the home and export markets. About 750 Dingo-series vehicles are now on order.
In South Africa, BAE Systems Land Systems OMC is currently in quantity production of its RG-31M and RG-32 4 x 4 mine-protected vehicles for the export market and has considerably expanded capacity to meet these requirements.
Light vehicles
Light unarmoured cross-country vehicles such as the P3 (France), Mercedes-Benz G-wagen (Germany), Land Rover (UK) and AM General Humvee (US) are used by a variety of armies in large numbers. These typically have seats for four or five people and are used for a wide range of roles, often with specialist bodies. Operational experience has shown that in many parts of the world these vehicles are highly vulnerable to attack from a wide range of threat weapons.
Uparmour packages have been rapidly developed and fielded to provide vehicles with at least some protection at the lower end of the threat level spectrum, including small-arms fire, splinters and some types of mine.
However, fitting additional armour can often have an adverse effect on the vehicle in the areas of payload and performance and the additional weight can overload the suspension and driveline.
Vehicles are now being fitted with an increasing amount of equipment that requires additional power, including communications systems, battle-management systems, air conditioning and devices to counter the threat of IEDs.
A number of 4 x 4 vehicles are now being developed and fielded that have armour protection incorporated at the design stage rather than being added at a later date to provide enhanced crew protection.
The Panhard General Defense Petit Véhicule Protégé (PVP) has recently entered quantity production for the French Army, with a total of 933 to be built; the PVP is also being marketed in Germany by Rheinmetall Landsysteme as the Gavial.
The Italian Iveco Defence Vehicle Division Light Multirole Vehicle (LMV) is now in quantity production for the home and export markets and features a built-in armour-protected floor, while the body has been designed to accept appliqué armour from the start.
More than 1,600 LMVs have now been ordered, including 401 for the British Army (known as the Panther) to meet its requirement for a command and liaison vehicle. The prime contractor for the Panther is BAE Systems Land Systems.
South Africa has more experience in the design, development and production of mine-protected vehicles (MPVs) than any other country and BAE Systems Land Systems OMC is currently producing a complete range of vehicles.
At the lower end of the scale is the RG-32M 4 x 4, which is currently in quantity production for Sweden (200 units), with small quantities also being sold to Finland and the UN.
At the higher end of the scale is the RG-31 4 x 4, which has been purchased in large numbers by Canada and the US. Through General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada, the US Marine Corps has recently ordered another 600 RG-31s to meet the MRAP Category II element. Under earlier contracts, 492 RG-31s have already been ordered, with deliveries still under way.
Mowag of Switzerland has developed the Eagle I, II and III series of reconnaissance vehicles based on a much modified AM General Humvee chassis and 485 of these have been supplied to Denmark and Switzerland.
Further development by Mowag has resulted in the more capable Eagle IV 4 x 4 vehicle, which is based on its own Duro chassis. This is currently in production for Denmark, which has ordered 90 vehicles, with the first being completed late last year.
In the US, production of the M1114 based on the AM General Humvee chassis continues for the home and export markets, with more than 20,000 built so far by Armor Holdings, Aerospace & Defense Group (now part of BAE Systems).
In the past, a number of vehicles in this class adopted the citadel' approach, in which only the crew compartment had a high level of protection. In some cases, the engine compartment and the cargo area in the rear were not provided with any protection at all.
There is now a trend to protect not only the crew but also the engine and load-carrying parts of the vehicle, meaning that the overall weight of the vehicle and its associated cost are increased. This is seen as a small price to pay if it improves crew survivability.
An increasing number of these vehicles are also being fitted with remote-control weapon stations (RCWSs), which are typically armed with a 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm machine gun or a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher (AGL).
As many of the current production RCWSs are heavy and expensive, there is a trend to develop much lighter units that can be installed not only on 4 x 4 vehicles such as the Eagle IV and M1114 but also on some support vehicles.
Move towards 8 x 8s
In recent years, there has also been a clear trend towards the development and fielding of 8 x 8 rather than 6 x 6 AFVs, especially for use in the APC role.
These 8 x 8 vehicles have greater cross-country mobility, more internal volume and increased payload, which enables them to carry out a wider range of battlefield roles.
In an increasing number of countries, these 8 x 8 APCs are replacing the widely deployed BAE Systems, Ground Systems Division, M113 series of fully tracked APCs and many variants.
Austrian company Steyr-Daimler-Puch (now part of General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems) has built about 300 of its Pandur 6 x 6 APCs and variants, with sales being made to six countries. This version of the Pandur can be fitted with a wide range of weapon systems up to a CMI Defence two-person turret armed with a 90 mm gun.
The US Army Special Operations Command uses a small batch of Pandur 6 x 6 vehicles procured under its Armored Ground Mobility System (AGMS) programme; these were built in the US by AV Technology, which also supplied 70 vehicles to the Kuwait National Guard in six versions.
Further development by Steyr-Daimler-Puch as a private venture resulted in the Pandur II family, marketed in 6 x 6 and 8 x 8 versions, with these vehicles having some 90 per cent common automotive components.
The Pandur II 8 x 8 is currently in production for two customers: the Czech Republic has ordered 199 with an option on a further 35, while Portugal has ordered 260 (240 for the army and 20 for the marines) plus an option on another 33 in the 105 mm Mobile Gun System configuration. The Pandur II versions for the Portuguese marines will have fully amphibious capabilities.
For both of these Pandur II export customers, the first vehicles are being supplied from the Austrian production line but production is being progressively transferred to the users' own facilities.
Mowag is also part of General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems. In the past, Mowag and Steyr-Daimler-Puch have competed on the export market, but today it is company policy that only one of these two contractors bids for any particular export contract.
China has used the WZ 551 6 x 6 in the APC role for many years and its chassis, often in a modified form, has been used for a range of missions. The Assaulter 105 mm tank destroyer is based on a modified WZ 551-series chassis and is now in service with the People's Liberation Army for the direct fire mission.
Currently undergoing trials in China is a new family of 8 x 8 AFVs that is believed to have the industrial designation PF2006. In addition to an IFV armed with a 30 mm cannon, other versions include an ambulance, engineer vehicle, 122 mm self-propelled artillery system and a 105 mm direct fire weapon.
Patria Vehicles of Finland built large numbers of its XA series of 6 x 6 APCs for the home and export markets, with production being finally completed last year.
Patria now concentrates its marketing on the Armoured Modular Vehicle (AMV) 8 x 8, which it has developed in close association with the Finnish Defence Forces (FDF), with the first prototype being completed in 2001.
The AMV has been selected by five countries: Croatia (84), Finland (24 120 mm mortars plus 62 APCs), Poland (690), Slovenia (135) and South Africa (264).
For major export customers, Patria Vehicles normally supplies the first batch of vehicles from its Finnish production line, followed by a technology transfer overseas with some major subsystems being provided from Finland. In most export contracts there has been a separate competition for the turret and/or overhead weapon station.
For South Africa, for example, Denel Land Systems is the overall prime contractor, with the much modified AMV chassis to be manufactured by BAE Systems Land Systems OMC. Denel Land Systems will integrate its latest Light Compact Turret 30 (LCT 30), armed with Denel's new 30 mm GI 30 linkless feed cannon, with the chassis, test the complete system and then deliver it to the customer.
The South African version of the AMV is called the Badger and is expected to enter service with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in about 2012.
Three versions of the Finnish AMV are marketed: baseline APC, system platform and module carrier.
More recently, another version of the baseline APC has been developed called the AMV 8 x 8L. This has a longer chassis and was shown in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) earlier this year fitted with the complete turret from the Russian tracked BMP-3 IFV, which is used in large numbers by the UAE. Although fitted with this large turret, the vehicle still retained its full amphibious capabilities.
The French Army operates a fleet of Nexter Systems AMX-10P tracked IFVs and Renault Trucks Defense Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé (VAB) 4 x 4 APCs, both of which have been in service for 30 years.
Now in quantity production is the Nexter Systems VBCI (Véhicule Blindé de Combat d'Infanterie) 8 x 8 family of vehicles, which is scheduled to replace the tracked AMX-10P and part of the army's VAB fleet.
The VBCI has a combat weight of about 28 tonnes and a total of 700 are expected to be procured by the French Army in two versions: 550 IFVs and 150 in the command-post role. The former will be fitted with a Nexter Systems Dragar turret armed with a 25 mm cannon and 7.62 mm co-axial machine gun.
Production of the VBCI is now under way and the first batch of 20 production vehicles will be delivered to the French Army on schedule in mid-2008. While Nexter Systems is the overall prime contractor, Renault Trucks Defense is the major subcontractor and responsible for the automotive aspects such as the powerpack and suspension.
In addition to the IFV and command-post versions, other vehicles are expected to be deployed. For some markets, a larger weapon system is expected to be installed on the VBCI, including perhaps a two-person turret armed with a 40 mm cannon.
The VBCI is one of the three contenders for the British Army's Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) Utility Vehicle 8 x 8 requirement. The other contenders for this are the Armoured Technology (Artec) Boxer and General Dynamics UK/Mowag Piranha Evolution; trials are currently under way.
The German Army still operates a large fleet of Rheinmetall Landsysteme Fuchs 6 x 6 vehicles in a range of roles and the company has recently upgraded a total of 124 with a number of automotive enhancements as well as additional mine protection. The Fuchs 2 is now in quantity production for the UAE in the nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) reconnaissance role, with a total of 32 units being delivered in three configurations.
Boxer development
The Boxer Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle (MRAV) has had a protracted development period and was at one time in serious danger of being cancelled.
Late last year a production order was placed with Artec covering the supply of 272 Boxers for the German Army, with delivery from 2009, and 200 for the Royal Netherlands Army (RNLA) for delivery from 2011.
So far, a total of 12 prototypes of the Boxer have been built and these are being put through an intensive Reliability Growth Trials programme. The UK was a member of the original Boxer MRAV team but pulled out in 2003. However, the vehicle is currently one of the three contenders for the FRES Utility Vehicle requirement.
The Boxer has a high level of protection and the chassis has a dedicated rear mission module, which can be replaced under fielded conditions. The baseline APC version typically has seats for eight infantry and is fitted with an overhead weapon station armed with a .50-cal (12.7 mm) machine gun or a 40 mm AGL.
The German Army is expected to deploy three Boxer versions: heavy APC (135), command-post vehicle (65) and heavy armoured ambulance (72). The RNLA will have five versions including command post (55), ambulance (58), cargo (27), cargo/command-and-control (41) and engineer group (41) variants. The ambulance version will have a rear mission module with a raised roof for greater internal volume for its specialised role.
The Italian Army was the first in Europe to start working on wheeled AFVs to supplement its existing tracked AFV fleet. Two families of wheeled AFV have been developed and placed in production by Consorzio Iveco Oto, which has been jointly formed by the Iveco Defence Vehicles Division and Oto Melara.
Iveco is responsible for the wheeled vehicles and powerpacks while Oto Melara is responsible for the turrets and weapon systems. The first vehicle to enter service was the Centauro 8 x 8 105 mm armoured car/tank destroyer; 400 have been delivered to the Italian Army and Spain has also taken two batches, with a total of 84 now delivered.
To work alongside the Centauro, an APC version has been developed. This is fitted with a two-person turret armed with the same Oerlikon Contraves 25 mm KBA cannon as installed in the tracked Dardo IFV, of which 200 have been delivered to the Italian Army.
It is expected that a total of 249 of these will be supplied in four versions - APC, mortar, anti-tank and command post - with the vehicle now being called the Arrow.
Iveco Defence Vehicles Division will soon deliver the last of 560 Puma light APCs, with 380 in the 6 x 6 configuration (having a GVW of about 8.4 tonnes) and 180 in the 4 x 4 configuration (GVW of about 7 tonnes). So far, no export orders have been placed with Iveco for this range of vehicles.
The Republic of Korea Army has traditionally operated only tracked APCs and IFVs but has a requirement for a new fleet of 8 x 8/6 x 6 APCs and variants. To meet this requirement, prototype vehicles have been built and tested by a number of domestic contractors including Doosan, Rotem and Samsung Techwin.
For some years Japan has been working on a new 8 x 8 IFV that is expected to be armed with a medium-calibre cannon. Japan has operated the Type 96 120 mm SPM system on an 8 x 8 chassis but, as with all Japanese-developed military equipment, this has been produced only in small numbers and has not been offered on the export market.
For many years the Romanian defence industry has produced its own series of 8 x 8 amphibious APCs and variants for the home market with some sold overseas.
The first ROMARM TAB-77 8 x 8 APC was a Romanian copy of the Russian BTR-60PB and was followed by the TAB-77, which is a copy of the Russian BTR-70. The B33, meanwhile, is the Russian BTR-80 modified to meet Romanian requirements.
The latest Romanian vehicle is the Saur (previously called Zimbru 2006), which is a brand new Romanian 8 x 8 design, more along traditional Western lines with the driver and powerpack at the front and the troop compartment at the rear. This has a GVW of about 25 tonnes and the design allows it to undertake a much wider range of roles.
This has yet to enter quantity production and to meet an urgent operational requirement Romania has placed a contract with Swiss company Mowag for a batch of 31 Piranha III 8 x 8 vehicles; first deliveries are due this year.
Balanced force
For many years the Russian Army has had a balanced force consisting of fully tracked vehicles such as the BMP-1, BMP-2 and BMP-3 as well as the wheeled BTR-60/BTR-70/BTR-80 series of 8 x 8 amphibious APCs.
The BTR-80 is manufactured by the Arzamas Machinery Plant and the baseline vehicle is fitted with a turret armed with a 14.5 mm and 7.62 mm machine gun. The more recent BTR-80A has a new turret armed with a 30 mm cannon and 7.62 mm machine gun. Production of these is undertaken on an as-required basis for the home and export markets.
Further development has resulted in the larger BTR-90 8 x 8, which can be fitted with a range of better-armed turrets. The first of these is a modified version of that fitted to the tracked BMP-2 IFV, armed with a 30 mm cannon, 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun and roof-mounted anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW). It has also been fitted with a new two-person turret armed with a 100 mm gun and 30 mm coaxial cannon and machine gun.
Singapore Technologies Kinetics (STK) has extensive experience in the design, development and production of fully tracked AFVs such as the Bionix IFV and Bronco All Terrain Tracked Carrier (ATTC). It has now turned its attention to the wheeled AFV market and in 2001 showed its Terrex AV81 8 x 8 APC for the first time. Since then, the vehicle has undergone considerable development.
To meet the potential requirements of the Turkish Land Forces Command (TLFC), STK has teamed with the Turkish company Otokar, which has built large numbers of 4 x 4 light AFVs for the home and export market. This team has developed a third-generation Terrex AV81 with many improvements, including an enhanced armour package.
For many years, the Spanish Army operated a large fleet of General Dynamics Santa Barbara Sistemas BMR-600 6 x 6 APCs and VEC 6 x 6 cavalry scout vehicles, which have recently been upgraded with a new Scania diesel engine and enhanced armour protection.
General Dynamics Santa Barbara Sistemas is also part of General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems and is now developing a new 8 x 8 AFV as a potential follow-on to these 6 x 6 vehicles. This programme will draw on experience from Mowag of Switzerland and Steyr-Daimler-Puch of Austria.
The most commercially successful wheeled armoured vehicle produced in recent years has been the Swiss Mowag Piranha, of which more than 9,000 have been ordered or delivered with sales made to some 21 countries.
Production is also undertaken in a number of other countries including Canada (General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada), Chile, the UK (now BAE Systems Land Systems) and the US (General Dynamics Land Systems).
All recent Piranha sales have been in the 8 x 8 version, the current production model being the Piranha III (Light Armoured Vehicle III, or LAV III), which is the baseline for 651 vehicles being built in Canada and for the US Army Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV).
While new customers procure the Piranha III, some existing customers are still buying the older Piranha II (or LAV II). New Zealand, for example, has taken delivery of 105 LAV IIIs, while Australia has stayed with the older LAV II for reasons of fleet commonality.
The latest vehicle is the Piranha Evolution, which is a further development of the Piranha IV that was unveiled for the first time in 2001. Since then, the vehicle has been continuously developed and now features a complete life support system, 8 x 8 drive with fourth-axle steering, hydropneumatic suspension, height control, central tyre-inflation system and active braking.
Currently under development is the Pirhana V, which is due to be rolled out next year and is regarded by Mowag as the 'point of departure', or starting point, for the FRES Utility Vehicle.
The Piranha V will have a higher GVW, increased protection levels and additional electrical power capacity.
Mowag is currently producing the Piranha III 8 x 8 for the home and export markets with recent customers including Botswana, Denmark, Ireland, Romania, Spain and Switzerland.
Taiwan is another country that has traditionally only operated fully tracked vehicles but now has a complete family of 8 x 8 vehicles in production, the most powerful version being armed with a turret-mounted gun of 105 mm calibre.
Turkish company FNSS Savunma Sistemleri, meanwhile, is known mainly for its tracked Armoured Combat Vehicle (ACV) series of vehicles, which have been produced in large quantities for the home (as the Turkish IFV) and export markets.
The company has recently developed the Pars (Leopard) family of wheeled AFVs, which are currently marketed in 4 x 4, 6 x 6, 8 x 8 and 10 x 10 configurations, with examples of the first three variants already completed.
These all share many common automotive components as well as having all-wheel drive, all-wheel steering and full amphibious capability. Standard equipment includes independent suspension and central tyre-pressure regulation system. The commander and driver are both seated at the front and either can drive the vehicle.
Ukraine has been very active in the wheeled AFV market, building on its well established capability in the design, development and manufacture of tanks.
It is understood that the first 8 x 8 to enter production in Ukraine was the Kharkov Morozov Design Bureau BTR-94: essentially the Russian BTR-80 8 x 8 amphibious APC with a domestically designed diesel powerpack and a new weapon station. A batch of 51 units was sold to Jordan but most of these have now been passed on to Iraq.
Currently in quantity production in Ukraine is the BTR-3 series of 8 x 8 amphibious APCs, which at first glance are similar to Russian BTR-80s but have a new Western powerpack and can be fitted with a wide range of Ukrainian-developed weapon stations.
These include the BTR-3E1 with Shakval unified combat module, armed with a 30 mm cannon, 30 mm AGL, 7.62 mm machine gun and long-range ATGW. For greater interval volume, the BTR-3E1 also has a higher roofline to the rear of the commander's and driver's position at the front of the vehicle.
Export sales of the BTR-3E1 series are known to have been made to Burma (10), Kazakhstan (at least four), Thailand (a recently announced order for 96 units) and the UAE (24 units for amphibious forces).
The main drawback of the BTR-3E1, as with all the Russian BTR series of 8 x 8 amphibious APCs, is the overall arrangement of the vehicle with the powerpack at the rear, which limits the roles that the vehicle can undertake.
These problems have been resolved with the development in Ukraine of the BTR-4, which in appearance is similar to a stretched version of the German Fuchs 6 x 6 APC.
The BTR-4 has the commander's and driver's positions at the front and the powerpack immediately behind them, leaving the remainder of the chassis clear for the troop compartment, with entry via two doors at the rear of the hull. The first example was shown several years ago but it has yet to enter quantity production.
US developments
One of the more recent US AFV contractors is General Purpose Vehicles, which has designed a complete family of 4 x 4, 6 x 6, 8 x 8 and 10 x 10 vehicles sharing many common components. These form the basis for the Turkish Pars (Leopard) family of vehicles.
Until recently, the US Army only used tracked AFVs but, following an international competition for a new vehicle to equip its Brigade Combat Teams, a Stryker vehicle based on the new General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada LAV-III (a further development of the Swiss Mowag Piranha III) was selected.
In March 2002, less than 18 months after the contract award, the first production Strykers were handed over and under current plans 2,740 are being procured and are being issued to seven Stryker Brigade Combat Teams.
In the future, additional Stryker vehicles are expected to be procured to fulfil some of the roles currently carried out by the M93A1 Fox 6 x 6 NBC reconnaissance vehicle and some variants of the still widely deployed M113-series APC.
All versions of the Stryker have now been fielded, with the family currently comprising the baseline M1126 ICV, M1127 reconnaissance vehicle, M1128 105 mm Mobile Gun System, M1129 120 mm self-propelled mortar, M1130 command post, M1131 fire-support vehicle, M1132 engineer squad vehicle, M1133 medical evacuation vehicle, M1134 anti-tank variant and M1135 NBC reconnaissance vehicle. Most vehicles are fitted with a Norwegian Kongsberg Overhead Weapon Station, which is normally armed with a .50-cal (12.7 mm) M2 heavy-barrel machine gun.
While there is a move towards the development and procurement of protected light vehicles and 8 x 8 APCs, there is still a considerable market for APCs in 4 x 4 configuration and these are well suited to certain types of operations.
A good example of this is the Thales Australia Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicle (IMV), which was originally developed to meet the requirements of the Australian Army.
This has been designed to transport a section of infantry, their equipment and supplies over a long distance so that they arrive in a ready-to-fight condition.
At the same time, the Bushmaster is required to provide a high level of protection against small-arms fire, fragments and anti-tank mines.
The first contract covered the supply of 300 Bushmasters (288 for the army and 12 for the air force), followed by a second order for 100 units, with all vehicles due to be delivered by the end of 2008. More recently, an additional order has been placed for a further 250 units.
Action in Iraq
The Bushmaster has seen action in Iraq and the Royal Netherlands Army has taken delivery of 25 units to meet an urgent operational requirement.
In addition to the baseline APC, more specialised versions of the Bushmaster developed include ambulance, assault pioneer, command, direct fire weapons and mortar vehicles.
There are, however, many other 4 x 4 APCs on the world market today, including the Belgian Sabiex International Iguana, which has been developed by the company to undertake a wide range of roles. It uses proven subsystems wherever possible and its design is such that it can be made under licence overseas.
In recent years the German Army has become increasingly involved in out-of-area operations, especially in the Balkans and more recently Afghanistan.
This has shown that many of the vehicles used by the German Army have not been optimised for current operations and against this background the army has launched the GFF programme.
The programme aims to field a complete family of well protected wheeled AFVs, with the GFF 1 at the lower end and GFF 4 at the top end. The GFF family would operate with other vehicles already under development or ordered by Germany, such as the Boxer MRAV.
Trials with most of the GFF vehicles have been under way for some time but firm production orders have yet to be placed. In the case of the GFF 3 requirement, two vehicles are being tested: the German Krauss-Maffei Wegmann Dingo 2 4 x 4 and the Rheinmetall Landsysteme Yak 6 x 6, both of which are already in service with the German Army, having been procured under earlier contracts.
The German Army took delivery of a total of 147 of the original Dingo vehicles based on a Unimog U1500L 4 x 4 chassis. This was followed in production by the larger Dingo 2 based on the latest Unimog U-5000 4 x 4 chassis.
The Dingo 2 is being marketed in two versions: one with a wheelbase of 3.25 m and the other with a wheelbase of 3.85 m. The Dingo 2 has a larger payload and in a troop-carrying role can carry up to eight fully equipped troops.
As well as being ordered by the German Army (52 + 149 units), Dingo 2 has also been ordered by Austria (20) and Belgium (220 plus option on another 132) and has already seen active service in southern Lebanon and Afghanistan.
Traditionally, Russia has always deployed APCs of 8 x 8 configuration but in recent years it has also started developing a number of 4 x 4 vehicles, including the Arzamas Machinery Plant GAZ-3937 Vodnik light armoured vehicle.
This uses proven automotive components wherever possible and can be fitted with various types of mission module to meet different requirements. The first known export customer is Uruguay, which is taking delivery of a total of 28 units.
The South African BAE Systems Land Systems OMC-developed RG-31 and RG-32M mine protected vehicles are being adopted by an increasing number of users.
The South African National Defence Force still uses a large number of Casspir MPVs in various configurations; these are being overhauled and upgraded by BAE Systems Land Systems OMC.
Casspir MPVs have also been sold on the export market, with India being the largest customer.
As a result of operations in the Middle East and Asia, there has been a rapid increase in companies supplying appliqué armour packages for installation not only on AFVs of all types but also on logistic support vehicles, which in the past generally had no armour at all.
The US Marine Corps, for example, has fitted its Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) series of 6 x 6 trucks with an appliqué armour package developed by the Israeli company Plasan Sasa; this package can be rapidly fitted in the field. The company has also developed kits for installation on many other types of vehicle, including the widely deployed AM General Humvee.
Apart from Armor Holdings (now part of BAE Systems), many other contractors in the US have responded to the country's requirements for enhanced vehicle protection systems. Other contractors include American Defense Systems and ArmorWorks, with the former rapidly developing and fielding a variety of passive armour solutions for combat support equipment such as dozers and graders that today all too often have to operate in high-threat areas. Many of these vehicles are standard commercial equipment with a few modifications to meet the more demanding military requirements.
Looking forward
While the majority of manufacturers of wheeled AFVs have good order books for the next few years, some, especially in the US, are currently being kept afloat by the huge number of contracts being placed by the US military, especially for MRAP-type vehicles.
Because of the current situation, these vehicles have to be produced extremely rapidly and there is not sufficient time to put them through the normal extended research and development and demanding test programmes that are normal for military vehicles today.
In a few years' time there is expected to be a major overcapacity in the AFV market, which could well mean that many of the more recent entrants to this market could disappear.
Christopher F Foss Jane's Land Consultant - London
Wheeled armoured fighting vehicles are taking over many roles traditionally carried out by tracked vehicles. Christopher F Foss reports on this expanding market.
Wheeled armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) of various types have been around for many years but the market for this type of vehicle has dramatically changed of late.
While some countries in NATO have used wheeled armoured personnel carriers (APCs) in the past, most countries have traditionally chosen fully tracked vehicles for the APC role.
The Warsaw Pact used a mix of tracked and wheeled vehicles with most of these being designed and manufactured by the Soviet Union. The exception to this rule was the Czechoslovakian OT-64 8 x 8 series of APC and variants, of which about 10,000 examples were built for the home and export markets.
With the threat of full-scale high-intensity operations in central Europe now gone, an increasing number of countries have now moved away from fully tracked infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and APCs to wheeled vehicles. These offer the user a number of significant advantages, including greater strategic mobility and lower operating and support costs.
A number of countries are now providing their land forces with equipment more suited to peacekeeping than high-intensity military operations. This has led to many making considerable cuts to their fleets of tanks, tracked IFVs and tracked APCs.
Belgium, for example, has decided to replace its tanks and tracked IFVs and wheeled APCs with a comprehensive fleet of Mowag Piranha III-series 8 x 8 APCs, which will include a direct-fire variant armed with a 90 mm gun.
Greater protection
Traditionally, wheeled APCs only had protection against small-arms fire, shell splinters and some types of mine. Operational experience has shown that much higher levels of protection are now required and this has meant that the overall weight of wheeled vehicles has started to climb upwards.
Some wheeled vehicles have been designed with a growth potential built in to take account of the increased gross vehicle weight (GVW) caused by additional armour protection and heavier weapon systems.
In addition to an increasing number of users opting for wheeled APCs, and in some cases IFVs as well, as a result of operations in Iraq and more recently Afghanistan, there has been a massive increase in the requirement for protected vehicles of all types.
The British Army has rapidly fielded the Pinzgauer Vector 6 x 6 light Protected Patrol Vehicle (PPV) and the much larger Mastiff heavy PPV.
The US has fielded a large number of Armor Holdings (recently taken over by BAE Systems) uparmoured M1114 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (Humvees). It has also carried out an uparmouring programme for almost all of its AFVs as well as many support vehicles that until now were considered not to require any protection at all.
RPG threat
Operational experience has clearly shown that, while many of these vehicles provide protection against small-arms fire, splinters and some mines, they do not provide protection against the RPG-7 rocket-propelled grenade launcher and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
In Iraq, and to a lesser extent Afghanistan, the IED is now the most deadly weapon to be encountered by coalition forces. This has led not only to new tactics, but also to the procurement of electronic equipment to help neutralise some of these devices as well as to the provision of additional armour protection.
To meet the urgent requirements of the US Marine Corps, large quantities of vehicles are being rapidly procured from a number of contractors to meet the requirements for a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle. Some of these MRAP vehicles are being provided by contractors with no background in the design, development or production of AFVs.
The US Army Stryker infantry carrier vehicle (ICV), built by General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada, was originally deployed with appliqué passive armour, but to this has been added slat armour to provide increased protection against rocket-propelled grenades.
Outside the US, German company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann has increased production of its Dingo 2 All Protected Vehicle (APV) in 4 x 4 configuration to meet increased demands from the home and export markets. About 750 Dingo-series vehicles are now on order.
In South Africa, BAE Systems Land Systems OMC is currently in quantity production of its RG-31M and RG-32 4 x 4 mine-protected vehicles for the export market and has considerably expanded capacity to meet these requirements.
Light vehicles
Light unarmoured cross-country vehicles such as the P3 (France), Mercedes-Benz G-wagen (Germany), Land Rover (UK) and AM General Humvee (US) are used by a variety of armies in large numbers. These typically have seats for four or five people and are used for a wide range of roles, often with specialist bodies. Operational experience has shown that in many parts of the world these vehicles are highly vulnerable to attack from a wide range of threat weapons.
Uparmour packages have been rapidly developed and fielded to provide vehicles with at least some protection at the lower end of the threat level spectrum, including small-arms fire, splinters and some types of mine.
However, fitting additional armour can often have an adverse effect on the vehicle in the areas of payload and performance and the additional weight can overload the suspension and driveline.
Vehicles are now being fitted with an increasing amount of equipment that requires additional power, including communications systems, battle-management systems, air conditioning and devices to counter the threat of IEDs.
A number of 4 x 4 vehicles are now being developed and fielded that have armour protection incorporated at the design stage rather than being added at a later date to provide enhanced crew protection.
The Panhard General Defense Petit Véhicule Protégé (PVP) has recently entered quantity production for the French Army, with a total of 933 to be built; the PVP is also being marketed in Germany by Rheinmetall Landsysteme as the Gavial.
The Italian Iveco Defence Vehicle Division Light Multirole Vehicle (LMV) is now in quantity production for the home and export markets and features a built-in armour-protected floor, while the body has been designed to accept appliqué armour from the start.
More than 1,600 LMVs have now been ordered, including 401 for the British Army (known as the Panther) to meet its requirement for a command and liaison vehicle. The prime contractor for the Panther is BAE Systems Land Systems.
South Africa has more experience in the design, development and production of mine-protected vehicles (MPVs) than any other country and BAE Systems Land Systems OMC is currently producing a complete range of vehicles.
At the lower end of the scale is the RG-32M 4 x 4, which is currently in quantity production for Sweden (200 units), with small quantities also being sold to Finland and the UN.
At the higher end of the scale is the RG-31 4 x 4, which has been purchased in large numbers by Canada and the US. Through General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada, the US Marine Corps has recently ordered another 600 RG-31s to meet the MRAP Category II element. Under earlier contracts, 492 RG-31s have already been ordered, with deliveries still under way.
Mowag of Switzerland has developed the Eagle I, II and III series of reconnaissance vehicles based on a much modified AM General Humvee chassis and 485 of these have been supplied to Denmark and Switzerland.
Further development by Mowag has resulted in the more capable Eagle IV 4 x 4 vehicle, which is based on its own Duro chassis. This is currently in production for Denmark, which has ordered 90 vehicles, with the first being completed late last year.
In the US, production of the M1114 based on the AM General Humvee chassis continues for the home and export markets, with more than 20,000 built so far by Armor Holdings, Aerospace & Defense Group (now part of BAE Systems).
In the past, a number of vehicles in this class adopted the citadel' approach, in which only the crew compartment had a high level of protection. In some cases, the engine compartment and the cargo area in the rear were not provided with any protection at all.
There is now a trend to protect not only the crew but also the engine and load-carrying parts of the vehicle, meaning that the overall weight of the vehicle and its associated cost are increased. This is seen as a small price to pay if it improves crew survivability.
An increasing number of these vehicles are also being fitted with remote-control weapon stations (RCWSs), which are typically armed with a 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm machine gun or a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher (AGL).
As many of the current production RCWSs are heavy and expensive, there is a trend to develop much lighter units that can be installed not only on 4 x 4 vehicles such as the Eagle IV and M1114 but also on some support vehicles.
Move towards 8 x 8s
In recent years, there has also been a clear trend towards the development and fielding of 8 x 8 rather than 6 x 6 AFVs, especially for use in the APC role.
These 8 x 8 vehicles have greater cross-country mobility, more internal volume and increased payload, which enables them to carry out a wider range of battlefield roles.
In an increasing number of countries, these 8 x 8 APCs are replacing the widely deployed BAE Systems, Ground Systems Division, M113 series of fully tracked APCs and many variants.
Austrian company Steyr-Daimler-Puch (now part of General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems) has built about 300 of its Pandur 6 x 6 APCs and variants, with sales being made to six countries. This version of the Pandur can be fitted with a wide range of weapon systems up to a CMI Defence two-person turret armed with a 90 mm gun.
The US Army Special Operations Command uses a small batch of Pandur 6 x 6 vehicles procured under its Armored Ground Mobility System (AGMS) programme; these were built in the US by AV Technology, which also supplied 70 vehicles to the Kuwait National Guard in six versions.
Further development by Steyr-Daimler-Puch as a private venture resulted in the Pandur II family, marketed in 6 x 6 and 8 x 8 versions, with these vehicles having some 90 per cent common automotive components.
The Pandur II 8 x 8 is currently in production for two customers: the Czech Republic has ordered 199 with an option on a further 35, while Portugal has ordered 260 (240 for the army and 20 for the marines) plus an option on another 33 in the 105 mm Mobile Gun System configuration. The Pandur II versions for the Portuguese marines will have fully amphibious capabilities.
For both of these Pandur II export customers, the first vehicles are being supplied from the Austrian production line but production is being progressively transferred to the users' own facilities.
Mowag is also part of General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems. In the past, Mowag and Steyr-Daimler-Puch have competed on the export market, but today it is company policy that only one of these two contractors bids for any particular export contract.
China has used the WZ 551 6 x 6 in the APC role for many years and its chassis, often in a modified form, has been used for a range of missions. The Assaulter 105 mm tank destroyer is based on a modified WZ 551-series chassis and is now in service with the People's Liberation Army for the direct fire mission.
Currently undergoing trials in China is a new family of 8 x 8 AFVs that is believed to have the industrial designation PF2006. In addition to an IFV armed with a 30 mm cannon, other versions include an ambulance, engineer vehicle, 122 mm self-propelled artillery system and a 105 mm direct fire weapon.
Patria Vehicles of Finland built large numbers of its XA series of 6 x 6 APCs for the home and export markets, with production being finally completed last year.
Patria now concentrates its marketing on the Armoured Modular Vehicle (AMV) 8 x 8, which it has developed in close association with the Finnish Defence Forces (FDF), with the first prototype being completed in 2001.
The AMV has been selected by five countries: Croatia (84), Finland (24 120 mm mortars plus 62 APCs), Poland (690), Slovenia (135) and South Africa (264).
For major export customers, Patria Vehicles normally supplies the first batch of vehicles from its Finnish production line, followed by a technology transfer overseas with some major subsystems being provided from Finland. In most export contracts there has been a separate competition for the turret and/or overhead weapon station.
For South Africa, for example, Denel Land Systems is the overall prime contractor, with the much modified AMV chassis to be manufactured by BAE Systems Land Systems OMC. Denel Land Systems will integrate its latest Light Compact Turret 30 (LCT 30), armed with Denel's new 30 mm GI 30 linkless feed cannon, with the chassis, test the complete system and then deliver it to the customer.
The South African version of the AMV is called the Badger and is expected to enter service with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in about 2012.
Three versions of the Finnish AMV are marketed: baseline APC, system platform and module carrier.
More recently, another version of the baseline APC has been developed called the AMV 8 x 8L. This has a longer chassis and was shown in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) earlier this year fitted with the complete turret from the Russian tracked BMP-3 IFV, which is used in large numbers by the UAE. Although fitted with this large turret, the vehicle still retained its full amphibious capabilities.
The French Army operates a fleet of Nexter Systems AMX-10P tracked IFVs and Renault Trucks Defense Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé (VAB) 4 x 4 APCs, both of which have been in service for 30 years.
Now in quantity production is the Nexter Systems VBCI (Véhicule Blindé de Combat d'Infanterie) 8 x 8 family of vehicles, which is scheduled to replace the tracked AMX-10P and part of the army's VAB fleet.
The VBCI has a combat weight of about 28 tonnes and a total of 700 are expected to be procured by the French Army in two versions: 550 IFVs and 150 in the command-post role. The former will be fitted with a Nexter Systems Dragar turret armed with a 25 mm cannon and 7.62 mm co-axial machine gun.
Production of the VBCI is now under way and the first batch of 20 production vehicles will be delivered to the French Army on schedule in mid-2008. While Nexter Systems is the overall prime contractor, Renault Trucks Defense is the major subcontractor and responsible for the automotive aspects such as the powerpack and suspension.
In addition to the IFV and command-post versions, other vehicles are expected to be deployed. For some markets, a larger weapon system is expected to be installed on the VBCI, including perhaps a two-person turret armed with a 40 mm cannon.
The VBCI is one of the three contenders for the British Army's Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) Utility Vehicle 8 x 8 requirement. The other contenders for this are the Armoured Technology (Artec) Boxer and General Dynamics UK/Mowag Piranha Evolution; trials are currently under way.
The German Army still operates a large fleet of Rheinmetall Landsysteme Fuchs 6 x 6 vehicles in a range of roles and the company has recently upgraded a total of 124 with a number of automotive enhancements as well as additional mine protection. The Fuchs 2 is now in quantity production for the UAE in the nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) reconnaissance role, with a total of 32 units being delivered in three configurations.
Boxer development
The Boxer Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle (MRAV) has had a protracted development period and was at one time in serious danger of being cancelled.
Late last year a production order was placed with Artec covering the supply of 272 Boxers for the German Army, with delivery from 2009, and 200 for the Royal Netherlands Army (RNLA) for delivery from 2011.
So far, a total of 12 prototypes of the Boxer have been built and these are being put through an intensive Reliability Growth Trials programme. The UK was a member of the original Boxer MRAV team but pulled out in 2003. However, the vehicle is currently one of the three contenders for the FRES Utility Vehicle requirement.
The Boxer has a high level of protection and the chassis has a dedicated rear mission module, which can be replaced under fielded conditions. The baseline APC version typically has seats for eight infantry and is fitted with an overhead weapon station armed with a .50-cal (12.7 mm) machine gun or a 40 mm AGL.
The German Army is expected to deploy three Boxer versions: heavy APC (135), command-post vehicle (65) and heavy armoured ambulance (72). The RNLA will have five versions including command post (55), ambulance (58), cargo (27), cargo/command-and-control (41) and engineer group (41) variants. The ambulance version will have a rear mission module with a raised roof for greater internal volume for its specialised role.
The Italian Army was the first in Europe to start working on wheeled AFVs to supplement its existing tracked AFV fleet. Two families of wheeled AFV have been developed and placed in production by Consorzio Iveco Oto, which has been jointly formed by the Iveco Defence Vehicles Division and Oto Melara.
Iveco is responsible for the wheeled vehicles and powerpacks while Oto Melara is responsible for the turrets and weapon systems. The first vehicle to enter service was the Centauro 8 x 8 105 mm armoured car/tank destroyer; 400 have been delivered to the Italian Army and Spain has also taken two batches, with a total of 84 now delivered.
To work alongside the Centauro, an APC version has been developed. This is fitted with a two-person turret armed with the same Oerlikon Contraves 25 mm KBA cannon as installed in the tracked Dardo IFV, of which 200 have been delivered to the Italian Army.
It is expected that a total of 249 of these will be supplied in four versions - APC, mortar, anti-tank and command post - with the vehicle now being called the Arrow.
Iveco Defence Vehicles Division will soon deliver the last of 560 Puma light APCs, with 380 in the 6 x 6 configuration (having a GVW of about 8.4 tonnes) and 180 in the 4 x 4 configuration (GVW of about 7 tonnes). So far, no export orders have been placed with Iveco for this range of vehicles.
The Republic of Korea Army has traditionally operated only tracked APCs and IFVs but has a requirement for a new fleet of 8 x 8/6 x 6 APCs and variants. To meet this requirement, prototype vehicles have been built and tested by a number of domestic contractors including Doosan, Rotem and Samsung Techwin.
For some years Japan has been working on a new 8 x 8 IFV that is expected to be armed with a medium-calibre cannon. Japan has operated the Type 96 120 mm SPM system on an 8 x 8 chassis but, as with all Japanese-developed military equipment, this has been produced only in small numbers and has not been offered on the export market.
For many years the Romanian defence industry has produced its own series of 8 x 8 amphibious APCs and variants for the home market with some sold overseas.
The first ROMARM TAB-77 8 x 8 APC was a Romanian copy of the Russian BTR-60PB and was followed by the TAB-77, which is a copy of the Russian BTR-70. The B33, meanwhile, is the Russian BTR-80 modified to meet Romanian requirements.
The latest Romanian vehicle is the Saur (previously called Zimbru 2006), which is a brand new Romanian 8 x 8 design, more along traditional Western lines with the driver and powerpack at the front and the troop compartment at the rear. This has a GVW of about 25 tonnes and the design allows it to undertake a much wider range of roles.
This has yet to enter quantity production and to meet an urgent operational requirement Romania has placed a contract with Swiss company Mowag for a batch of 31 Piranha III 8 x 8 vehicles; first deliveries are due this year.
Balanced force
For many years the Russian Army has had a balanced force consisting of fully tracked vehicles such as the BMP-1, BMP-2 and BMP-3 as well as the wheeled BTR-60/BTR-70/BTR-80 series of 8 x 8 amphibious APCs.
The BTR-80 is manufactured by the Arzamas Machinery Plant and the baseline vehicle is fitted with a turret armed with a 14.5 mm and 7.62 mm machine gun. The more recent BTR-80A has a new turret armed with a 30 mm cannon and 7.62 mm machine gun. Production of these is undertaken on an as-required basis for the home and export markets.
Further development has resulted in the larger BTR-90 8 x 8, which can be fitted with a range of better-armed turrets. The first of these is a modified version of that fitted to the tracked BMP-2 IFV, armed with a 30 mm cannon, 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun and roof-mounted anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW). It has also been fitted with a new two-person turret armed with a 100 mm gun and 30 mm coaxial cannon and machine gun.
Singapore Technologies Kinetics (STK) has extensive experience in the design, development and production of fully tracked AFVs such as the Bionix IFV and Bronco All Terrain Tracked Carrier (ATTC). It has now turned its attention to the wheeled AFV market and in 2001 showed its Terrex AV81 8 x 8 APC for the first time. Since then, the vehicle has undergone considerable development.
To meet the potential requirements of the Turkish Land Forces Command (TLFC), STK has teamed with the Turkish company Otokar, which has built large numbers of 4 x 4 light AFVs for the home and export market. This team has developed a third-generation Terrex AV81 with many improvements, including an enhanced armour package.
For many years, the Spanish Army operated a large fleet of General Dynamics Santa Barbara Sistemas BMR-600 6 x 6 APCs and VEC 6 x 6 cavalry scout vehicles, which have recently been upgraded with a new Scania diesel engine and enhanced armour protection.
General Dynamics Santa Barbara Sistemas is also part of General Dynamics European Land Combat Systems and is now developing a new 8 x 8 AFV as a potential follow-on to these 6 x 6 vehicles. This programme will draw on experience from Mowag of Switzerland and Steyr-Daimler-Puch of Austria.
The most commercially successful wheeled armoured vehicle produced in recent years has been the Swiss Mowag Piranha, of which more than 9,000 have been ordered or delivered with sales made to some 21 countries.
Production is also undertaken in a number of other countries including Canada (General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada), Chile, the UK (now BAE Systems Land Systems) and the US (General Dynamics Land Systems).
All recent Piranha sales have been in the 8 x 8 version, the current production model being the Piranha III (Light Armoured Vehicle III, or LAV III), which is the baseline for 651 vehicles being built in Canada and for the US Army Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV).
While new customers procure the Piranha III, some existing customers are still buying the older Piranha II (or LAV II). New Zealand, for example, has taken delivery of 105 LAV IIIs, while Australia has stayed with the older LAV II for reasons of fleet commonality.
The latest vehicle is the Piranha Evolution, which is a further development of the Piranha IV that was unveiled for the first time in 2001. Since then, the vehicle has been continuously developed and now features a complete life support system, 8 x 8 drive with fourth-axle steering, hydropneumatic suspension, height control, central tyre-inflation system and active braking.
Currently under development is the Pirhana V, which is due to be rolled out next year and is regarded by Mowag as the 'point of departure', or starting point, for the FRES Utility Vehicle.
The Piranha V will have a higher GVW, increased protection levels and additional electrical power capacity.
Mowag is currently producing the Piranha III 8 x 8 for the home and export markets with recent customers including Botswana, Denmark, Ireland, Romania, Spain and Switzerland.
Taiwan is another country that has traditionally only operated fully tracked vehicles but now has a complete family of 8 x 8 vehicles in production, the most powerful version being armed with a turret-mounted gun of 105 mm calibre.
Turkish company FNSS Savunma Sistemleri, meanwhile, is known mainly for its tracked Armoured Combat Vehicle (ACV) series of vehicles, which have been produced in large quantities for the home (as the Turkish IFV) and export markets.
The company has recently developed the Pars (Leopard) family of wheeled AFVs, which are currently marketed in 4 x 4, 6 x 6, 8 x 8 and 10 x 10 configurations, with examples of the first three variants already completed.
These all share many common automotive components as well as having all-wheel drive, all-wheel steering and full amphibious capability. Standard equipment includes independent suspension and central tyre-pressure regulation system. The commander and driver are both seated at the front and either can drive the vehicle.
Ukraine has been very active in the wheeled AFV market, building on its well established capability in the design, development and manufacture of tanks.
It is understood that the first 8 x 8 to enter production in Ukraine was the Kharkov Morozov Design Bureau BTR-94: essentially the Russian BTR-80 8 x 8 amphibious APC with a domestically designed diesel powerpack and a new weapon station. A batch of 51 units was sold to Jordan but most of these have now been passed on to Iraq.
Currently in quantity production in Ukraine is the BTR-3 series of 8 x 8 amphibious APCs, which at first glance are similar to Russian BTR-80s but have a new Western powerpack and can be fitted with a wide range of Ukrainian-developed weapon stations.
These include the BTR-3E1 with Shakval unified combat module, armed with a 30 mm cannon, 30 mm AGL, 7.62 mm machine gun and long-range ATGW. For greater interval volume, the BTR-3E1 also has a higher roofline to the rear of the commander's and driver's position at the front of the vehicle.
Export sales of the BTR-3E1 series are known to have been made to Burma (10), Kazakhstan (at least four), Thailand (a recently announced order for 96 units) and the UAE (24 units for amphibious forces).
The main drawback of the BTR-3E1, as with all the Russian BTR series of 8 x 8 amphibious APCs, is the overall arrangement of the vehicle with the powerpack at the rear, which limits the roles that the vehicle can undertake.
These problems have been resolved with the development in Ukraine of the BTR-4, which in appearance is similar to a stretched version of the German Fuchs 6 x 6 APC.
The BTR-4 has the commander's and driver's positions at the front and the powerpack immediately behind them, leaving the remainder of the chassis clear for the troop compartment, with entry via two doors at the rear of the hull. The first example was shown several years ago but it has yet to enter quantity production.
US developments
One of the more recent US AFV contractors is General Purpose Vehicles, which has designed a complete family of 4 x 4, 6 x 6, 8 x 8 and 10 x 10 vehicles sharing many common components. These form the basis for the Turkish Pars (Leopard) family of vehicles.
Until recently, the US Army only used tracked AFVs but, following an international competition for a new vehicle to equip its Brigade Combat Teams, a Stryker vehicle based on the new General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada LAV-III (a further development of the Swiss Mowag Piranha III) was selected.
In March 2002, less than 18 months after the contract award, the first production Strykers were handed over and under current plans 2,740 are being procured and are being issued to seven Stryker Brigade Combat Teams.
In the future, additional Stryker vehicles are expected to be procured to fulfil some of the roles currently carried out by the M93A1 Fox 6 x 6 NBC reconnaissance vehicle and some variants of the still widely deployed M113-series APC.
All versions of the Stryker have now been fielded, with the family currently comprising the baseline M1126 ICV, M1127 reconnaissance vehicle, M1128 105 mm Mobile Gun System, M1129 120 mm self-propelled mortar, M1130 command post, M1131 fire-support vehicle, M1132 engineer squad vehicle, M1133 medical evacuation vehicle, M1134 anti-tank variant and M1135 NBC reconnaissance vehicle. Most vehicles are fitted with a Norwegian Kongsberg Overhead Weapon Station, which is normally armed with a .50-cal (12.7 mm) M2 heavy-barrel machine gun.
While there is a move towards the development and procurement of protected light vehicles and 8 x 8 APCs, there is still a considerable market for APCs in 4 x 4 configuration and these are well suited to certain types of operations.
A good example of this is the Thales Australia Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicle (IMV), which was originally developed to meet the requirements of the Australian Army.
This has been designed to transport a section of infantry, their equipment and supplies over a long distance so that they arrive in a ready-to-fight condition.
At the same time, the Bushmaster is required to provide a high level of protection against small-arms fire, fragments and anti-tank mines.
The first contract covered the supply of 300 Bushmasters (288 for the army and 12 for the air force), followed by a second order for 100 units, with all vehicles due to be delivered by the end of 2008. More recently, an additional order has been placed for a further 250 units.
Action in Iraq
The Bushmaster has seen action in Iraq and the Royal Netherlands Army has taken delivery of 25 units to meet an urgent operational requirement.
In addition to the baseline APC, more specialised versions of the Bushmaster developed include ambulance, assault pioneer, command, direct fire weapons and mortar vehicles.
There are, however, many other 4 x 4 APCs on the world market today, including the Belgian Sabiex International Iguana, which has been developed by the company to undertake a wide range of roles. It uses proven subsystems wherever possible and its design is such that it can be made under licence overseas.
In recent years the German Army has become increasingly involved in out-of-area operations, especially in the Balkans and more recently Afghanistan.
This has shown that many of the vehicles used by the German Army have not been optimised for current operations and against this background the army has launched the GFF programme.
The programme aims to field a complete family of well protected wheeled AFVs, with the GFF 1 at the lower end and GFF 4 at the top end. The GFF family would operate with other vehicles already under development or ordered by Germany, such as the Boxer MRAV.
Trials with most of the GFF vehicles have been under way for some time but firm production orders have yet to be placed. In the case of the GFF 3 requirement, two vehicles are being tested: the German Krauss-Maffei Wegmann Dingo 2 4 x 4 and the Rheinmetall Landsysteme Yak 6 x 6, both of which are already in service with the German Army, having been procured under earlier contracts.
The German Army took delivery of a total of 147 of the original Dingo vehicles based on a Unimog U1500L 4 x 4 chassis. This was followed in production by the larger Dingo 2 based on the latest Unimog U-5000 4 x 4 chassis.
The Dingo 2 is being marketed in two versions: one with a wheelbase of 3.25 m and the other with a wheelbase of 3.85 m. The Dingo 2 has a larger payload and in a troop-carrying role can carry up to eight fully equipped troops.
As well as being ordered by the German Army (52 + 149 units), Dingo 2 has also been ordered by Austria (20) and Belgium (220 plus option on another 132) and has already seen active service in southern Lebanon and Afghanistan.
Traditionally, Russia has always deployed APCs of 8 x 8 configuration but in recent years it has also started developing a number of 4 x 4 vehicles, including the Arzamas Machinery Plant GAZ-3937 Vodnik light armoured vehicle.
This uses proven automotive components wherever possible and can be fitted with various types of mission module to meet different requirements. The first known export customer is Uruguay, which is taking delivery of a total of 28 units.
The South African BAE Systems Land Systems OMC-developed RG-31 and RG-32M mine protected vehicles are being adopted by an increasing number of users.
The South African National Defence Force still uses a large number of Casspir MPVs in various configurations; these are being overhauled and upgraded by BAE Systems Land Systems OMC.
Casspir MPVs have also been sold on the export market, with India being the largest customer.
As a result of operations in the Middle East and Asia, there has been a rapid increase in companies supplying appliqué armour packages for installation not only on AFVs of all types but also on logistic support vehicles, which in the past generally had no armour at all.
The US Marine Corps, for example, has fitted its Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) series of 6 x 6 trucks with an appliqué armour package developed by the Israeli company Plasan Sasa; this package can be rapidly fitted in the field. The company has also developed kits for installation on many other types of vehicle, including the widely deployed AM General Humvee.
Apart from Armor Holdings (now part of BAE Systems), many other contractors in the US have responded to the country's requirements for enhanced vehicle protection systems. Other contractors include American Defense Systems and ArmorWorks, with the former rapidly developing and fielding a variety of passive armour solutions for combat support equipment such as dozers and graders that today all too often have to operate in high-threat areas. Many of these vehicles are standard commercial equipment with a few modifications to meet the more demanding military requirements.
Looking forward
While the majority of manufacturers of wheeled AFVs have good order books for the next few years, some, especially in the US, are currently being kept afloat by the huge number of contracts being placed by the US military, especially for MRAP-type vehicles.
Because of the current situation, these vehicles have to be produced extremely rapidly and there is not sufficient time to put them through the normal extended research and development and demanding test programmes that are normal for military vehicles today.
In a few years' time there is expected to be a major overcapacity in the AFV market, which could well mean that many of the more recent entrants to this market could disappear.
