The new amphibious vehicle VBA (Veicolo Blindato Anfibio) is currently undergoing qualification tests in Italy
The mission in Afghanistan is coming to an end and therefore the demand for Mrap class vehicles is steadily declining. Where the Western troops will be called next can only be speculated, but no doubt the next scenario will again be asymmetrical in nature. In this case, a certain part of the experience gained in Afghanistan could well be useful, although the terrain, which often determines the tactics and means of warfare, may turn out to be completely different
The First Gulf War opened our eyes to the requirements for the deployment of military contingent, so air transport, apparently, remains the main criterion in the design of combat vehicles (with a few exceptions). At the same time, protection will definitely remain among the top priorities, as Western public opinion is not ready to accept their soldiers returning home in coffins. Apparently, without major breakthroughs in technology that would allow for any significant change in the mass-defense paradigm (although active defense systems could ultimately come to the rescue here), there are not many revolutionary in nature. machines will be able to reach mass production.
However, some lessons were learned. This is especially true for the general situational awareness and the driver's view, because this alone can change the appearance of future cars. But even so, approaches to the design of promising machines are very different in different countries. For example, Israel with its Rakiya is trying to reduce mass compared to the current family of vehicles based on the Merkava tank, while future US military vehicles are likely to weigh more than the current M1A2 Abrams tank.
Compared to a few years earlier, when wheels were very popular, 2013 is marked by a return to tracks, despite the higher cost of ownership. Undoubtedly, one program can change the future of tracked infantry fighting vehicles: after the closure of the Combat Systems of the Future program, the American army still has no replacement for the Bradley family, whose birth dates back to the 70s of the last century. Therefore, after forty years, given the urgent need for such a replacement, the Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) project must be expected to survive the current sequestration. Another significant American program is the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) program, which is to replace all support vehicles based on the M113 chassis. However, in this case, a dramatic choice between tracks and wheels is yet to come.
Turkey is undoubtedly the most active country in the development of new machines. In anticipation of new applications, which may be submitted soon by the Turkish Defense Industry Secretariat (SSM), at IDEF 2013 at least one new product was presented from each of the main players in this country. On the other hand, few new cars appear on the European scene, where the industry is still waiting for how the post-crisis steps will change the market. Although it must be said that the number of companies capable of producing armored vehicles, especially wheeled types, is still growing, especially in the Middle and Far East.
Patria's new "Next Generation Armored Wheeled Vehicle" was shown at DSEI 2013 (below). It weighs 30 tons, of which 13 tons is a net payload. The prototype was equipped with a Saab Trackfire combat module with a 25-mm cannon
Based on the tank chassis, Uralvagonzavod has developed the Terminator, a tank support vehicle with impressive firepower.
Artistic representation of the machine presented by BAE Systems under the GCV program. It is possible that, despite its resemblance to the Bradley BMP, the new vehicle will weigh over 60 tons!
Back to the caterpillars
As mentioned above, the caterpillar appears to be returning. But it will attract the attention that it attracted in the recent past, one can only guess, because the constant progress in suspension and wheel technologies cannot be discounted. Based on a purely subjective impression, the caterpillar always seems to be more aggressive, which contradicts the concept of peacekeeping
Several types of BAE Systems GCV project: the company decided to adopt a hybrid electric scheme based on its Traction Drive System power plant and QinetiQ E-X-Drive transmission
Ground combat vehicles on steroids?
If this article is to start with heavier and more complex tracked vehicles, then it must inevitably start with the GCV project.
The decision to issue an approximately 450 million contract for the prototype development phase to BAE Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) dates back to August 2011. "Faster, lighter, more economical alternatives" by Bradley are what Army Chief of Staff General Eric Shinseki announced in 1999 as requirements for new vehicles. After almost 15 years, his wishes for a light infantry fighting vehicle have not become reality, the current projected mass of the Ground Combat Vehicle is more than twice the mass of the Bradley BMP in its original version. In addition, due to recent cuts in the defense budget, a decision on the production of GCVs may not be made even 20 years after General Shinseki's speech. By then, the first Bradley vehicles will be in service for over 35 years, but if all goes well, the army hopes to get their first production GCVs in 2017. The decision to delay (at least six months) the development phase of the technological prototype due to budgetary pressure was announced at the end of January 2013. As a result, the request for proposals for the final development and production phase, originally scheduled for fall 2013, was postponed to spring 2014. Another decision, which runs counter to the wishes of the army on a competitive bid, concerns the reduction of the number of contractors at the same stage to one. However, according to some estimates, this solution will save about $ 4 billion over the next five years. What remains unchanged today is the requirements for a vehicle that must accommodate three crew members plus a squad of nine soldiers, be well protected and fully networked, and also have a power plant with significantly lower fuel consumption.
BAE Systems has teamed up with Northrop Grumman under this GCV program and this team is effectively the only applicant to disclose some details of their proposal. It is worth starting, probably, with the problem of mass, because the first M2 Bradley had a combat weight of 22.6 tons and accommodated three crew members and seven paratroopers, and its proposed successor (according to the company's prospectus) will have a mass of 63.5 tons and will be transported to two more paratroopers.
It must be admitted that the Bradley BMP was criticized for its relatively weak protection, which led to several upgrades, as a result of which the combat weight of the latest version of the Bradley A3 was 34.3 tons. The new power plant should provide good mobility and a small increase in the maximum speed of 70 km / h (the M2A3 variant develops 61 km / h). BAE Systems has decided to host its new hybrid electric powertrain for the GCV project. It received the designation Traction Drive System (TDS) and was developed in conjunction with QinetiQ, which provided a key component for the TDS - the E-X-Drive transmission. The TDS can be installed on vehicles weighing 20-40 tons and is based on two symmetrical powertrains, which increases reliability and provides a mode of reduced functionality, which is not available in configurations with a single engine.
The TDS is considered to be at technological readiness level 6-7 (prototype revision), and BAE Systems has published presentation materials with some of the characteristics of the new installation. Its power is 1500 hp. corresponds to the parameters of modern battle tanks (but the mass of the new vehicle will also correspond to the mass of the tank). However, a hybrid drive, in which the final stage is driven by electric motors, offers a number of advantages. In addition to less penetration into the architecture of the car, it claims fuel savings of 10% to 20%, which means a range of 300 km with a full fuel tank of 965 liters (compare with the M2A3, which covers more than 402 km at 662 liters, but weighs half). Take a modern 70-ton tank as a criterion, it will burn about 55,600 liters of fuel in a 180-day campaign. A new type of machine with the same mass, but working on a mechanical power train, can use 39,700 liters, but the same machine with a BAE Systems TDS power unit will use 33,235 liters, in other words, almost 6500 liters less. This means three vehicles will save the equivalent of two M948 HEMTT fuel tanks. The high torque of the electric motors increases maneuverability at low speeds, and during dismounted operations, the hybrid configuration allows the machine to move quietly. As noted above, the increase in maximum speed with the new hybrid setup is not very large (not a major issue from an operational point of view), but the acceleration increases by 25% due to the large torque of the electric motors; the car accelerates from 0 to 32 km / h in 7.8 seconds versus 10.5 seconds for a conventional 70-ton car.
The QinetiQ E-X-Drive transmission also provides seamless switching between all driving modes. In addition to quiet operation, another key advantage of the TDS is the presence of an electric generator with a capacity of 1100 kW, which is enough to provide all future subsystems with a margin. The GCV from BAE Systems-Northrop Grumman will have 7 track rollers with hydropneumatic suspension and 635 mm tracks.
Looking at the drawings provided by the company, the top view clearly shows two power units aft and a central passage that allows infantry to drop through the aft ramp. In the case of armored steel, the driver is located in front of the left, and the commander is located to the right of him, where the power unit was usually installed. The levels of protection will be very high, BAE Systems says that they will exceed the protection of RG-33 Mrap vehicles from mines and charges such as impact core (not without the help of half a meter of ground clearance). The pictures clearly show additional armor installed on the sides, which increases the width of the vehicle to 5 meters. This is definitely not an advantage when driving on city streets, considering also the length of this behemoth is 9 meters (the Bradley M2A3 has a width of 3.2 meters and a length of 6.5 meters).
Firepower is determined by BAE System Dynamics' TRT (Tactical Remote Turret), which can accept a dual feed cannon with a caliber of up to 30 mm. And for the American army, apparently, the TRT25 tower is offered. Although the TRT is remotely operated, it features a sunroof providing direct visibility to the crew. A remotely controlled combat module is installed at the top of the tower, it is controlled by the squad leader, who can not only shoot, but also conduct observation through an optical sight in order to increase situational awareness. The vehicle has an open vetronics architecture and is ready for the installation of replaceable sensors and systems that will form its automated operational control, communications and intelligence system.
GDLS, for its part, does not release information on its offer under the new car program.
According to some estimates, the mass of the GCV can reach 84 tons, although some believe that the issue is still open and it is necessary to wait at least until next year in order to have a clear idea of how the BMP of the American army in 2020 will look like.
For the AMPV program, BAE Systems offers a vehicle based on the Bradley chassis, many of which are in military warehouses.
A mobile test rig of the Specialist Vehicle project from General Dynamics UK was presented at DSEI 2013 in a reconnaissance configuration with an installed Kongsberg Protector combat module armed with a 12, 7-mm machine gun
AMPV project
Another program that could add a new tracked vehicle to the US Army roster is the AMPV (Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle) multipurpose armored vehicle. The goal of this program, based on existing and proven technologies, is to replace the support vehicles based on the M113 with the following five options: command (MCmd), ambulance (MTV), casualty evacuation (MEV), general purpose (GP) and mortar transporter (MCV). Current vehicles are not capable of maneuvering at the same speeds as first-line vehicles such as the MBT Abrams and BMP Bradley. AMPV should become a relatively inexpensive program, the average factory cost was determined at 1.8 million dollars, which is six times less than the cost of the already mentioned GCV machine.
The priority in the new project is on soldier protection, networking, mobility and growth potential. The requirements for the new vehicle for underbody protection define mobility comparable to the mobility of Abrams tanks and Bradley BMPs and protection comparable to the level of protection of combat vehicles against most probable fire threats from direct and indirect fire and undermining under the bottom.
Today the armored brigade of the American army has 114 vehicles based on the M113, performing support and support functions, which is 32% of the total number of vehicles. To describe the composition in more detail, these are 41 commander M1068A3 MCmd, 19 general purpose M113A3 GP, 31 medical M113A3 MEV, 8 medical evacuation M577 MTV and 15 mortar transporters M1064 MCV. The new AMTV vehicle will be distributed in a slightly different proportion, or rather, each armored brigade will receive 39 MCmd, 18 GP, 30 MEV, 8 MTV and 14 MCV, for a total of 109 vehicles. To these you need to add five reserve vehicles, that is, a total of also 114 AMPV vehicles per brigade.
The army wants to have at least 57% consistency of parts and components for the entire AMPV fleet. It is planned to receive the vehicles in brigade kits, 2 - 3 brigades per year in serial production. The draft RFP was published on March 21, 2013, Industry Day was organized a month later, and the RFP itself was issued on June 28. A cost-plus-incentive contract for the final design and implementation phase is to be issued on May 28, 2014 to one contractor (not two as announced at the beginning) for a period of 42 months with the following distribution over the years: $ 65 million for 2014 year, 145, 5 for 2015, 109, 9 for 2016 and 67, 4 for 2017. Thereafter, a three-year contract will be awarded for the initial production of three options with annual funding of approximately $ 350 million. The distribution of cars in these three options is as follows: 1st - 52 AMPV cars, 2nd - 105 and 3rd - 130, total 287 cars, which is about 10% of the total projected number of 2897 AMPV cars. See the table for details.
The Department of Defense is proposing an option for an agreement to replace existing Bradley, M113, M1064, M1068 and / or M577 vehicles with new AMPV systems.
Five companies attending Industry Day at the end of April are the most likely candidates for the AMPV application: BAE Systems, General Dynamics Land Systems, AECOM, Lockheed Martin and Mack Defense.
BAE Systems is expected to leave its proposal based on the Bradley BMP. The first prototype with a raised roof behind the driver's seat, designated RHB (Reconfigurable Height Bradley - Variable Height Bradley), was ready in fall 2011. The roof of this machine can be removed in less than a day in order to adapt it to functional requirements (the sanitary version, for example, requires a roof height higher than the standard).
The power unit is the same as that of the Bradley M2A3, that is, a 600 hp Cummins engine. coupled to the L-3 CPS HMPT-500 transmission, while the suspension has been upgraded. The fuel tanks have been moved outward on each side of the aft ramp, which not only increases safety, but also increases interior space. Installed air conditioning and protection systems against weapons of mass destruction, with the exception of the mortar installation, which will have an opening roof. The newest reactive armor units adopted for the Bradley BMP as well as the floating floor developed by BAE Systems will increase the survivability of the crew, especially when detonated by mines and roadside bombs.
BAE Systems, which is currently upgrading more than 1,500 Bradley machines to A3 standard, is fighting against the possible closure of the Bradley production line in mid-2014 and extending its operation for at least three more years. The AMPV contract can be the solution that will allow you not to close it.
Stryker + Tr tracked vehicle concept At AUSA 2012
At AUSA 2012, General Dynamics Land Systems presented a new proposal for the AMPV program based on the Stryker vehicle, designated Stryker + Tr. This tracked vehicle concept is a deep redesign of the double-V wheeled Stryker. The Stryker tracked prototype is 203mm wider and weighs about 30 tonnes with the potential to increase the mass to 38 tonnes. The second prototype should be ready in early 2014, although its size and weight may increase along with the width of the tracks in order to reduce the specific ground pressure. GDLS offers a 625 hp engine. While the current RFP favors a tracked solution, GDLS does not rule out that it will offer a wheeled version based on its latest Stryker variants if it better suits the final RFP requirements.
In addition to the two companies mentioned, others also appeared on Industry Day. If Lockheed Martin has confirmed that it is not going to participate in the AMPV program, then little is known about the intentions of Mack Defense and AECOM.
US Army Bradley BMP equipped with Urban Survivability Kit III. The Army is considering the Ground Combat Vehicle as a replacement for this vehicle, which entered service in the early 80s.
At the IDEF 2013 exhibition, the Tulpar vehicle was shown, claiming the role of a tracked infantry fighting vehicle of the Turkish army. In armored units, it will operate in conjunction with the Altay tank
Caterpillars from Turkey
Turkey is currently one of the most active countries in the field of tracked vehicles. At the IDEF exhibition in May 2013 in Istanbul, at least three tracked vehicles were shown.
The winged horse Tulpar (Pegasus) gave its name to the tracked infantry fighting vehicle of the Otokar company. The Turkish army is the operator of the M113 armored personnel carrier of various modifications, the driving performance of which, however, is worse than the mobility of the new tank. Given that the army will soon need a new vehicle with better mobility, protection and firepower, Otokar decided to invest in this new vehicle. Last year's prototype will be followed by an unnamed number of other prototypes (testing of the current vehicle began immediately after IDEF 2013).
In order to reduce costs and risks and optimize logistics, some of the Tulpar subsystems are directly borrowed from the Altay tank, although they may not necessarily be identical. The Tulpar engine compartment was designed from the outset to accommodate two different propulsion systems. The current power unit is a Scania DI 16 Turbo engine with 810 hp. with intercooled common rail, coupled to a 32-speed automatic transmission SG-850 manufactured by the Spanish company SAPA Placencia. This power unit will be left in case the vehicle weight increases from the current 32 tons to 35 tons. For heavy masses or for operators operating machines in hot climates, Otokar offers a power unit with 1100 hp MTU engine. and a Renk transmission that could handle the 42-ton Tulpar.
The new BMP is equipped with a remotely controlled Mizrak-30 turret, which was shown two years ago by Otokar and is already being installed on its Arma 8 × 8 armored personnel carrier. The turret with electric drives is equipped with a 30 mm ATK Mk44 cannon with a double feed with 210 ready shots and a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun with 500 rounds. The turret is also equipped with independently stabilized on two axes day / night sights of the gunner and commander with a thermal imager and a laser rangefinder. The combat module Mizrak-30 does not penetrate into the vehicle and allows to increase the useful volume of the aft compartment. Access for the landing party, commander and gunner is through the aft ramp. The need for turret protection has been reduced, which allows the vehicle's center of gravity to be lowered, so the Tulpar is able to overcome 40% side slopes. No information was provided on the protection level of the chassis. The modular armor kit, described as a "modern high standard kit", is being developed in collaboration with the German company IBD Deisenroth, although production is planned to remain in Turkey.
With regard to solutions for active protection, Turkey here counts on local developments with the assistance of foreign companies. These solutions, originally developed for the Altay MBT, can be configured for installation on other machines. If the vehicle is supposed to work next to the Altay MBT, then the Tulpar BMP is an obvious candidate for the installation of active protection systems. Soon, the Turkish defense procurement agency SSM should start a competition for these systems. The company believes that Tulpar can compete with such well-known models as Ascod, CV-90 and Puma, although the Turkish car also has the potential to grow by 10 tons. Mine protection in the design was put at the forefront, but practically nothing is known about the mine protection kit, except for a ground clearance of 450 mm and energy-absorbing seats.
The vehicle meets the requirements of the Turkish army for an internal volume of 13 m3, including the driver's compartment, which is not separated from the general aft compartment. The overall interior space of the vehicle is very "smooth" and continuous, which allows the crew and troops to have direct eye contact. The Tulpar BMP was specially designed to fit into the Airbus Military A400M transport aircraft, of which 10 units were ordered by Turkey. Among the options offered for the Tulpar is an auxiliary power unit, which can be very much in demand for some of the many vehicle variants offered by Otokar, such as the command post and the ambulance option.
For the first time at IDEF, FNSS presented two tracked vehicles. Although the ACV30 does not fit into the BMP category, it deserves a few words here, since this new tracked support vehicle is designed specifically for the 35-mm Korkut self-propelled anti-aircraft complex, which is purchased by the Turkish army from the main contractor Aselsan. FNSS has leveraged its expertise in the M113 APC to give life to this steroid-pumped vehicle - its impressive volume stems from the Korkut's buoyancy requirement. The machine weighing 30 tons is equipped with two water cannons, which allow a maximum floating speed of 6 km / h. Since a potential order for 13 anti-aircraft batteries is expected, each of which consists of an operational control vehicle and three anti-aircraft installations, a prototype of an operational control version with an installed radar was also made. The ACV30 should also be used as the chassis of the T-Malamids medium-range anti-aircraft missile system.
More relevant to this review is the second tracked vehicle first unveiled by FNSS. At first glance, the Kaplan tracked reconnaissance vehicle (Tiger) has a well-iconic appearance, since, due to its five-wheel chassis, it is very similar to the M113 modification. However, the first impression is quite misleading, since the reconnaissance version of what is known as LAWC-T (Light Armored Weapon Carrier concept - Tracked, the concept of a light armored personnel carrier of weapons - tracked) has a completely different architecture. This is indicated by the front of the vehicle, which has a periscope system for almost the entire width of the hull, which suggests that the driver and commander are sitting next to each other. This layout is inherited from the layout of the FNSS Pars 6 × 6 and 8 × 8 wheeled vehicles; it provides optimal situational awareness, allowing you to drive with the hatch closed, even in high traffic situations, as can be observed during political stabilization operations.
The field of view in the forward cockpit exceeds 180 ° and is thus also a key factor in keeping the crew aware of the combat situation. The transmission of the machine is installed in the front of the chassis, and the engine has been moved back and to the right, which made it possible to obtain a small passage to the aft wing doors of the Tiger. In this small aisle, folding seats are installed for five soldiers, two more are installed immediately behind the driver and commander. The vehicle can be equipped with various types of weapons systems, the LAWC-T can accept manned and uninhabited towers with armament ranging from 25 to 40 mm, as well as towers with anti-tank missiles or towers with reconnaissance equipment weighing up to 1.8 tons. At IDEF, the Kaplan (Tiger) vehicle was shown with a still unnamed, remotely controlled turret developed in collaboration with Roketsan, armed with a 12, 7 mm machine gun and four Omtas medium-range missiles (a spin-off of the Umtas long-range missile with a similar infrared sensor) … Inside the vehicle there are 4 to 6 additional missiles. The sight includes a daytime TV camera, a thermal imager and a laser rangefinder. The Kaplan car is equipped with a Cambus-based vetronics (which is a modified version of the FNSS Pars armored personnel carrier), which allows the installation of plug & play electronic systems. The prototype shown at IDEF had front, side and rear day / night cameras; the front ones are used to assist the driver, while the rest provide circular situational awareness. Crew access to the vehicle is via two side doors. Protection against kinetic (armor-piercing) threats - Level 4, that is, 14.5 mm armor-piercing bullet from 200 meters, and mine protection is equal to Level 3a, that is, 8 kg under the track. The ground clearance of the machine is 400 - 450 mm, the bottom is V-shaped. The current total weight of the vehicle is 9 tons, although the chassis can take 14 - 15 tons; thus, a significant margin of weight allows in the future to enhance protection. No engine data, but FNSS says the power density should be greater than 25 hp / t, which means a 250 hp engine for a ten ton car. The prototype presented at the exhibition will be followed by a second prototype, which will be floating - an urgent need for a reconnaissance vehicle and twice a necessary parameter given that the Turkish army requires amphibious capabilities in all its new projects. According to the FNSS designers, the location of the engine in the stern and the center of gravity close to the center of buoyancy significantly improves the characteristics of the floating. In addition, the low center of gravity also allows side slopes to be overcome by 40%. FNSS plans to begin testing LAWC-T / Kaplan in mid-2014. In June 2013, the Turkish agency SSM announced a competitive bid for 184 tracked weapons transporters - a role that is undoubtedly suitable for Kaplan. In addition to the national market, the company is confidently looking at the markets of Southeast Asia, where low ground pressure (6 tons / m2 with a mass of 10 tons) will allow Kaplan to move on soft soils, mud and rice fields and follow the path of its predecessor, the CVR-series machines. T. It is not yet clear to what extent the LAWC-T Kaplan will be used as a base for the development of a new family of machines for Indonesia as part of the agreement between the two countries signed at IDEF 2013 with the participation of PT Pindad and FNSS. The characteristics of the Kaplan machine are well suited to Indonesian operational scenarios.
The ACV30 was developed by FNSS in response to the demands of the Turkish army for a floating anti-aircraft complex. With a mass of 30 tons, the machine inevitably has huge dimensions in order to maintain the necessary buoyancy.
The Kaplan light tracked reconnaissance vehicle was developed by the Turkish company FNSS with the borrowing of some elements of the PARS wheel family, for example, this wide-view windshield
