Military light utility vehicles have changed markedly over the past decade. Consider the pros and cons of traditional military and serial civilian models.
A military light utility vehicle or, in a military context, simply a light utility vehicle (LUA) is the term used for the category of vehicles of the lightest class. As a rule, these are 4x4 platforms, unarmored, with short front and rear overhangs, most often with a passenger capacity of 4 people, which were traditionally intended only for daily use and general support tasks. However, over the past decade, the LUA segment has undergone significant evolutionary changes and continues to develop.
The reasons for this evolutionary spurt are determined by the increasing trend towards asymmetric warfare. In an asymmetric space, the LUA tasks cannot be directly compared with their tasks in more traditional military scenarios, but still there are many similarities, there are many tasks for a class of cars that can accommodate 2-9 passengers or have sufficient volume to accommodate the main operational control equipment or other systems.
But the major change in the unarmored LUA segment is that unprotected platforms are rarely suitable for asymmetric space. As a consequence, the unsuitability of unarmored vehicles for asymmetric missions changed the views on their use in more traditional warfare. As a result, in both scenarios, MPVs now require a higher level of protection for most tasks. As a result, most of the models that previously could have been classified as LUA are excluded.
Fleets of traditional unarmored LUA are now complemented by lightly protected platforms, which sometimes act as a necessary tool for current operations, and sometimes as a partial replacement. The more expeditionary the doctrine of any given operator, the more should be the proportion of protected machines and less unprotected.
The purchase price of an unarmored LUA - at least those commonly seen in the first or second echelon armed forces - averages about $ 70,000. An armored counterpart with a minimum acceptable level of protection (STANAG Level 2) will cost from 350 thousand to a million dollars. For armored platforms, lifetime costs will also increase. Thus, at best, an armored LUA costs five times more than an unarmored one, and therefore, from a financial point of view, replacing parks becomes a costly undertaking.
However, one of the solutions could be the purchase of ready-made civilian off-road vehicles and light duty trucks (pickups) with the subsequent acceptance for supply to perform universal tasks. This can fragment the fleet and lead to higher operating costs, but in some cases wholesale prices can be below $ 30,000 and therefore attractive if short-term savings are the focus.
Traditional LUA
For many years, as a supplement to the LUA, many armies have been successfully operating - often in the form of short-term leases - a relatively small number of civilian pickup / SUVs, mainly to meet the needs of home garrisons, the tasks of paramilitary and peacekeeping structures. Some of the less equipped militaries and many irregulars around the world, for cost and procurement reasons, operate these types of vehicles for tasks that more powerful armies might consider tactical.
For the first and second echelon armed SIPs, military LUA are traditionally divided into two general categories: specialized military platforms and commercial platforms adapted for military tasks.
Interestingly, the list of military LUA is short. It includes Dong Feng's EQ2050 and modifications. Sherpa Light from Renault, Ajban from NIMR, VAMTAC from URO and HMMWV from AM General (the platform that created the category). Also worth noting is the lightweight car Marrua of the Brazilian company Agrale weighing 3500 kg, which can be compared to Jeep.
All platforms armored in accordance with at least the second level of protection of the NATO standard STANAG 4569 are of interest to the armed forces developed in tactical terms. The trend of their development can be clearly seen on the example of the NIMR car. When production began about 10 years ago, orders were initially divided roughly equally between armored and unarmored configurations, but at the moment 90 percent of all vehicles produced are armored. It is noteworthy that in this category, the maximum gross weight currently stands at around 11,000 kg (in the case of the Sherpa Light).
The list of commercial solutions adapted by the military for LUA is much longer, although it is getting shorter in Europe and North America. The utilitarian elements that have traditionally made some commercial projects attractive to military users are quickly “eroded” for several reasons: changes in legislation, cheaper production processes, and shifts in consumer preferences. Typical commercial platforms in this category are Jeep Wrangler, Land Rover Defender and Mercedes-Benz G-Class.
The original Willys Jeep was a military product, but civilian versions of Jeep (model CJ) became available from 1945. The Jeep CJ variant was produced for the next 40 years and subsequent platform variants became the basis of numerous military jeeps, including the M38 / M38A1, M606, M701, Kia KM410 / 420, Mahindra CL / MM and Mitsubishi J-series.
Jeep became part of Chrysler (now Fiat Chrysler LLC) in 1987, the same year the Wrangler brand was introduced with the YJ model. Chrysler, with the exception of an Egyptian joint venture established in 1977 and a small-knot assembly in Israel, has shown minimal interest in the military side of the business. Small quantities of commercial Wrangler were purchased for some military and related tasks, but until the Jeep J8 became available in 2008, which generated genuine interest from the military.
Based on the commercial Wrangler JK, but with increased power and military specs, the J8 takes a middle ground where civilian design forms the basis of military design / refinement. To market the J8, Chrysler has identified two main dealerships: UK's Jankel and Gibraltar's Africa Automotive Distribution Services. Production of the Wrangler JK is ending this year, but it has been confirmed that a paramilitary JL model will be on the way too.
From 1960 to 1970, Land Rover manufactured two paramilitary platforms: Lightweight and Forward Control 101. However, the civilian Land Rover model became a real military bestseller. For 67 years of production, which began in 1948, it has been modernized more than once, reaching the peak of its popularity in the Land Rover Defender version. The production of this brand was stopped in January 2016.
Production of the Defender has officially ended in anticipation of changes to EU emissions regulations, but an industry source cited other reasons, including the labor-intensive and expensive manufacturing process of the Defender as the main one. The new Defender was promised by the owner of the Land Rover brand, the Indian company Tata Motors, but it may be a less attractive vehicle for the military, since according to some sources, it will have a monocoque body (not a frame chassis), which is more suitable for daily civilian use.
Mercedes-Benz has decided to continue marketing its 39-year-old G-Class even though the manufacturing process is even more labor intensive than the Defender.
The military's preferred utility vehicle, the 461 G-Class, remains in production. The visually similar civilian model 463 G-Class is being replaced by what Mercedes-Benz calls "a model with an updated look," although the new 463 retains only five common parts with the previous 463. However, Mercedes-Benz believes that one of the strong The sides of the G-Class products - the old 461, the new 463 and even the G-Class-based Light Armored Patrol Vehicle 5.4 - is that they will all be assembled on one production line.
The Jeep Wrangler has become, perhaps, more and more civilian in appearance and design over time, while the Defender and G-Class remain much closer to their utilitarian roots, both inside and out. It is relatively easy to implement more "military-oriented" modifications on such machines, for example, electrical compatibility of 24 volts, adaptability for radio communications, camouflage lighting, suitability for winter conditions and deep fords.
Other civilian platforms previously accepted for supply by the armed forces as LUA are no longer in production, including the Romanian ARO series, the Polish DZT Honker, the Indian Maruti Gypsy, Pinzgauer and the Spanish Santana PS-10.
It is also worth mentioning the Russian off-road utility vehicle UAZ 469 and its derivatives, for example, the Chinese BJ212 from Beijing Automobile Works and other models. The production of UAZ 469, intended for the armed forces of the Warsaw Pact, was started in 1972, 10 years after development. Deliveries of modernized variants to the Russian army continued until 2011. Production was stopped briefly in 2014-2015, but civilian options are available on the market again.
The Chinese car BJ212 and its subsequent variants were reportedly copied from the UAZ 469, although the latest Chinese platforms a la Jeep, the BJ2022 and BJ80, developed by the joint venture Daimler Chrysler and BJC, have been able to break away from their "Russian roots." For example, the BJ80 is based on the previous generation Jeep Cherokee platform, but its body resembles that of the G-Class.
The LUA segment also has a selection of military-grade platforms that are based on serial civilian platforms. Examples include the first generation ALTV light tactical vehicle from ASMAT, the Japanese Hummer-like vehicle Kohkidohsha, and the Light Tactical Vehicle (LTV) from the Korean company Kia.
The first generation ALTV is based on the Nissan D40 platform, which is also the basis for the second generation Nissan Navara / Frontier models. Nissan's one- or two-row cab plus a hardened chassis with a reinforced chassis have been retained and a specially designed flat bonnet and cargo area have been added. The Japanese Kohkidohsha and the Korean Kia LTV differ in military-style hulls, but are apparently based on the chassis and chassis of the Toyota Mega Cruiser and Kia Mohave SUVs.
The IVECO 40.15, based on the first generation IVECO Daily van, entered production in the mid-1980s under the designation 40.10. Despite the modest payload of 1,500 kg and gross weight of 4,300 kg, the 40.10 was originally classified as a light truck and placed between the light vehicles of the Land Rover class and then the standard four- or five-ton 4x4 multi-purpose trucks.
Production of the 40.15 continues, but IVECO intends to find a replacement. In 2016, she began production of the M70.20 WM model, using the cab and some of the chassis elements from the sixth generation Daily van, but installing it all on a specially designed ladder frame. With a payload of up to 4000 kg, the M70.20 WM is more of a light truck than an LUA.
SUVs and pickups
There is a wide variety of off-road vehicles and 4x4 pickup trucks that are suitable for military use. However, some of the high-end luxury models or the new class of crossovers, which often lack all-wheel drive, are unlikely to meet the needs of the military.
All typical pickup trucks usually have a frame chassis, while most SUVs have a monocoque body. The monocoque body has less strength and durability, and therefore most SUVs are only suitable for basic or less demanding tasks.
In general, American SUVs and pickup trucks are larger than their European counterparts, although in most cases the actual interior space or payload is not proportional to the overall weight and dimensions. North American cars of all three major brands, Fiat Chrysler, Ford and General Motors, can often be seen in the military service of the armed forces of many countries of the world, but in most cases these machines did not replace the tasks of the LUA and do not perform them directly.
Toyota's Land Cruisers and Hilux vehicles are outside the US sphere of influence; these two models are usually used for military, paramilitary or similar tasks. But recent military purchases of vehicles from this class have shown that the most popular platform is the Ford Ranger.
Price is a key factor in purchasing SUVs and pickups for light, versatile tasks. Even without taking into account the discount for the quantity, the cost of a civilian Mitsubishi L200 / Triton or Toyota Hilux car when leaving the assembly line can be an attractive $ 30 thousand. They can perform various routine tasks, replacing the much more efficient types of LUA, the capabilities of which are sometimes redundant.
When needs begin to define the range of tasks that a car must perform, then the issues of compliance for SUVs or pickup trucks come to the fore. The exact fit to the needs is solved with the help of upgrades and modifications. But they are too detrimental to any automated line, so all modifications should not be carried out by the head manufacturer of the final product, but, as a rule, by a dealer or agent. It is also rare to see a manufacturer claiming a commercial platform for military requirements, as the potential revenue from a military item will be small compared to simpler and more voluminous sales of civilian items.
Basic tweaks like camouflage paintwork, weapon racks and grilles are relatively easy to do. But then you will have to invest and pay a lot of money (starting from 20 thousand dollars) for strengthening the structure and increasing the total weight to the desired 3500 kg or more, installing fasteners and towing hooks of the military standard, revising the electrical system for 24 volts and a large generation of electricity, adding camouflage lighting and possibly for installing a kit for overcoming water obstacles of greater depth or replacing plastic bumpers with something more durable.
The minimal changes to Mercedes-Benz G-Glass and Land Rover in the past few decades have been largely driven by legislation, while Toyota, Mitsubishi and all comparable platforms (with the notable exception of the Land Cruiser 70 Series) have largely changed in favor of looks. simplification of production and customer needs. The passenger compartment, for example, was relatively boxy and cramped in early SUVs and pickups and could make it difficult for soldiers in full uniform to get on and off, but later became more streamlined.
When it comes to durability and durability, automakers are increasingly designing their products for the desired lifespan, essentially creating one-off vehicles. Recent data suggest that the average age of vehicles in the "advanced" military is estimated to be around 11 years. Where SUVs and pick-ups have been adopted by armed forces comparable in equipment to NATO armies, the service life is usually 5-10 years, which is slightly less than previously expected for more versatile platforms.
Even if the base SUV or pickup truck has been heavily modified and modernized to meet operational requirements, its usefulness may be questionable and something like a Jeep J8, Mercedes-Benz G-Class 461 or even AM General HMMWV potentially becomes a more cost-effective option (many of these vehicles in many military forces are often older than their driver.)
For the G-Class, the selling price of the military version of the W461 may be close to $ 85,000, but the utilitarian, essentially hand-built G-Class with manual windows and a minimalist interior leaves the factory as standard with steel bumpers, NATO-standard fasteners, tow hooks,camouflage light, 24 volt electrical system, NATO standard winter and ford kits. Gross weight is 3560 kg, but can be increased to 5400 kg; there are three wheelbases and even a 6x6 configuration (upon request).
Selection process
Military roles for LUA and pickup trucks must be carefully selected. The US Army's Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle (CUCV) program is a cautionary tale in this sense. The army was looking for a commercial vehicle to operate in favorable conditions, where more expensive tactical vehicles, such as the HMMWV, would likely be redundant. The General Motors K model was chosen and nearly 71,000 vehicles (including overseas sales) were eventually delivered.
However, taken, in fact, without modifications, the serial CUCV platform could not withstand the harsh conditions of military service. As a result, it was replaced by the HMMWV armored car, which was originally supposed to be supplemented.
The armed forces of many countries, including France, India, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Singapore, making purchases of ready-made commercial SUVs and pickups in recent years, hope not to repeat the mistakes of the CUCV.
The Netherlands is in the process of replacing its LUA fleet, which consists mainly of the G-Class model. In December 2013, the Ministry of Defense signed a contract with Pon Holdings BV for 1,667 Volkswagen Amarok pickups, deliveries of which were completed in 2016. The vehicles were purchased primarily for domestic use and any global deployment will be limited to humanitarian operations, so there is no need for protection or an engine capable of running on military grade "dirty" high-sulfur or kerosene fuels.
Military modifications were minimal and were limited to matte green paint, steel hubs with off-road tires, camouflage lighting, mounts for military radios and weapon racks, and mounting rings for air and sea transport.
The machines have an expected service life of 10 years; the contract provides for a significant amount of service (Pon is responsible for all service) and technical support. Service and support will be provided throughout the country at designated Volkswagen dealerships. The projected mileage of new cars for the entire service life is estimated at 200,000 km, and those that will run more than 20,000 km per year will be replaced by cars with lower mileage.
Each car has a guaranteed maximum downtime per year (excluding accidental damage), for exceeding which fines will be imposed (in what form it is not clear). Over time, the Amarok fleet will be supplemented with customized vehicles as needed. For example, in 2016-2017, the Dutch Ministry of Defense received another 350 Amaroks as part of a design change proposal; the suspension has been reinforced to slightly increase payload.
In order to replace the remaining G-Class vehicles, the Netherlands recently began negotiations for a 12 kN requirement in the light vehicle segment. More than 900 vehicles are needed and, while a single platform is desirable, a separate platform may be allocated for a less stringent military police / airfield security vehicle requirement.
An important feature of the 12 kN requirement, which may limit the number of proposals, is the need for 220 attachment armor sets with protection level 2 for hard and soft top variants and pickups; in this case, the total mass can be about 8000 kg. A separate contract will be concluded for the maintenance of the machines. It has a minimum initial service life of 10 years and two five-year options, which gives a projected service life of at least 20 years.
The French Directorate of Defense Property has taken a slightly different approach to replacing the LUA fleet, which currently consists mainly of Peugeot P4 models. In 2002-2012, this fleet was renewed by purchasing about 2,100 Land Rover Defenders. The P4 is essentially a French-made G-Class with a French engine and gearbox. Deliveries of these machines began in 1983.
The replacement of the P4 fleet is carried out mainly within the framework of the VLTP (Vehicule Leger de Transport Polyvalent) program, which began in 2012. In 2015, under the VLTT (Vehicules Legers Tactique Tout-Terrain) program, in order to partially replace the P4 cars, an order was placed for 1000 Ford Ranger pickups for operation in the country.
In April 2016, it was decided to move the VLTP program to 2019, and after filing applications in December 2016, an order for VLTP-NP (Non Protege) was issued to Renault Trucks Defense (RTD). Under the contract, ASMAT (part of RTD) will supply 3,700 VLTP-NP trucks over four years. An initial order for 1,000 vehicles will be completed by mid-2019. The first 96 vehicles were delivered in January this year. The contract also provides for “life-cycle service”. The technical support package guarantees a 95% availability for 14 years throughout France. Modification and technical support make up 60% of the contract value, which is about $ 966 million.
The VLTP-NP is a modification of the Station Wagon variant of the second generation ALTV light tactical vehicle, the base platform for which is the Ford Everest, a LUA with a frame chassis that evolved from the current Ford Ranger model. The second generation ATLV pickup variants are based on the Ford Ranger. The Everest civilian vehicle has a gross weight of 3100 kg and a maximum payload of about 750 kg.
Modifications by ASMAT to the Ford base platform include: weapon racks, underbody protection, steel hubs with off-road tires, reinforced suspension, which increased the gross weight to 3500 kg and payload up to 1000 kg, protective grilles for the head and rear lights, roof rack and Reinforced rear bumper with integrated fold-down spare wheel holder and canister holder. Additional modified versions of the VLTP-NP Standard 2 are delivered from October 2018. They differ in the following modifications: attachment points for air transport, installation sites for military radio stations, GPS system, camouflage lighting and an anti-vandal protection kit.
The Indian army of about 1.2 million people is the second largest regular army in the world. Although it does not belong to the most mechanized armies, it currently has about 45,000 LUA on supply, most of them are Maruti Gypsy or Mahindra MM models.
The Maruti Gypsy car makes up about 70% of the fleet and is based on the Suzuki SJ70 model. Serial production of the Gypsy was completed (although it could be resumed at a later date) in 2017. It is the most common civilian 4x4 configuration model operated by the Indian Armed Forces. The military Mahindra MM models make up the majority of the remainder of the fleet and trace their origins back to licensed Jeep CJ models.
In December 2011, the Indian army issued a long-awaited request for proposals for a new light vehicle of the 800 kg class 4x4 (Light Vehicle - GS Role) to replace the 500 kg Mahindra MM and Maruti Gypsy vehicles. In December 2016, it was announced that Tata had received a contract for this car, and an initial order for 3,192 vehicles was confirmed in April 2017. Here the Safari Storme model has bypassed the Mahindra Scorpio model (both LUA are of frame type). More than 500 Tata Xenon pickup trucks with two rows of seats were ordered in December 2016, most of which went to Border Patrol. The Xenon won in this case over the Mahindra Bolero Camper.
Singapore received 870 Ford Everest all-terrain vehicles to partially replace the Land Rover fleet delivered in the 1980s, although reports from the Singaporean army did not show the crossovers did not live up to expectations.
New Zealand operates the Mitsubishi L200 / Triton as light military support vehicles along with Pinzgauer vehicles (including protected configurations). Pinzgauer cars have been supplied since 2006 to replace the outdated Land Rover. The L200 / Triton vehicles were delivered under a five-year contract in base colors as a replacement for the legacy Nissan Navara fleet. Deliveries should be completed by the end of 2018.
Afghanistan has the largest fleet of crossovers and pickups. From 2005 to 2012, the country's army and police received from the United States about 40,000 Ford Rangers (known there as LTVs) in four main variants. The LTV vehicles were purchased through Global Fleet Sales LLC, which also reworked them. The upgrades include a reinforced suspension, rollover protection kit, cold weather kit, extra fuel tank and extreme terrain refinement.
The new dynamics, driven by unique asymmetric threats, booking costs and changes to off-the-shelf commercial platforms, have pushed the militaries of most countries around the world to develop their LUA fleets at a pace not seen since the legendary Willys Jeep entered service in 1941.
Traditional unarmored light vehicles are complemented by light protected platforms, but there are financial constraints on the deployment of full-fledged fleets of protected LUA, and in many cases protected light multi-purpose vehicles are simply not needed. For example, an officer heading to check recruits at a training ground does not need an expensive armored vehicle.
