Pakistan regularly tries to develop advanced models of weapons and military equipment, including those intended for the international market. Most of its own Pakistani projects cannot be called fully successful, since they do not advance beyond testing or small-scale production. A striking example of such a result of work can be considered the family of armored vehicles HAMZA MCV. In recent years, the development company has already presented two cars of this line, as well as a number of their modifications, but none of the new samples has yet become the subject of a real contract.
New projects of armored vehicles were created by Blitzkrieg Defense Solution, a member of the Cavalier Group Pvt. Ltd. Both the company and its parent organization operate in Islamabad. The development of a promising model began several years ago, and later led to some desired results. In mid-November 2016, the development company removed the very first prototype of the new type from the assembly shop and sent it for preliminary tests.
A prototype of the HAMZA MCV 8x8 armored car in 2016. Photo Defense.pk
A few days after this, the HAMZA MCV 8x8 armored car became one of the exhibits of the IDEAS-2016 military-technical exhibition in Karachi. At that time, it was argued that in the near future the tire will have to undergo tests and debugging, after which it will be able to offer it to potential buyers. In October last year, at the BIDEC-2017 exhibition in Bahrain, the HAMZA MCV 6x6 prototype was shown for the first time. It was based on the design of an existing sample, but featured a redesigned chassis.
HAMZA MCV 8x8
To date, the designers of the Cavalier Group have created a whole line of projects for different purposes, based on common ideas and a unified chassis. Its basis is the HAMZA MCV 8x8 armored vehicle, presented two years ago. This armored car is positioned as a Multirole Combat Vehicle, capable of transporting people and cargo, weapons, special equipment, etc.
The HAMZA MCV 8x8 project is based on the curious idea of combining the functions and capabilities of MRAP-class vehicles with a multi-axle wheeled chassis similar to an armored personnel carrier. Due to this combination of solutions, the armored vehicle receives good maneuverability in combination with a high level of protection. In recent years, such approaches have been gaining popularity, and the Pakistani project is another result of their application.
Four-axle chassis HAMZA MCV. Photo by Cavalier Group Pvt. Ltd. / hamza8x8.com
The HAMZA MCV 8x8 armored car is built on the basis of a four-axle chassis and is equipped with an armored body with a bonnet configuration. The project uses a modular approach, so that the composition of the power plant or weapons can be selected by the customer in accordance with his requirements. In addition, various options are provided for equipping the internal volume of the hull, due to which the armored car can be both a protected vehicle and a carrier of weapons.
The base chassis is built around a rectangular frame with seats for all the required components. In its front part, it is proposed to mount the engine of the required model. According to information in 2016, the experienced armored car was equipped with a six-cylinder diesel engine with a capacity of 600 hp. Current advertising materials indicate the possibility of using a 450-horsepower engine. The car receives an automatic transmission based on a six-speed gearbox. Provides power delivery to all four bridges. In this case, the two front ones can be turned off.
The chassis includes four axles with independent wheel suspension. A spring is used as an elastic element, installed vertically above the semiaxis. Also, each wheel has its own hydraulic shock absorber. The chassis is equipped with wheels with 395/85 R20 tires. The wheels are equipped with rigid inserts that ensure movement when the tires are punctured. Centralized wheel inflation is also used.
The HAMZA MCV 8x8 armored car received a recognizable body with relatively high protection characteristics. The hull is divided into engine and manned compartments, separated from each other. A combined protection based on metal sheets is used, capable of providing protection against bullets, shrapnel and mines. The vehicle's protection corresponds to level 4b of the STANAG 4569 standard. This means that the armor can withstand a hit of 14.5 mm bullets or 10 kg of TNT under the bottom.
Chassis bridge. Photo by Cavalier Group Pvt. Ltd. / hamza8x8.com
The body of the armored car is assembled from a large number of relatively large flat panels installed at different angles to each other, which gives it a recognizable angular look. Also, the hood layout of the car affects the exterior. The engine compartment is covered with a casing with a polygonal front wall and an inclined cover. The latter has grilles for supplying air to the engine. The sides of the engine compartment consist of two parts placed at angles to the vertical.
A similar side design is used on the manned compartment, however, in this case, the upper elements are distinguished by an increased height. The frontal projection of the habitable volume is covered by the engine casing and a small inclined glazed frontal sheet. To reduce the negative impact of the shock wave of the explosion, the body received a bottom with a V-shaped cross-section. Above, the crew and troops are covered with a horizontal roof, at the back - with an inclined stern part with a large opening under the door.
A prototype of a promising armored vehicle, built two years ago, received a turret-mounted combat module with machine-gun armament. The shoulder strap for installing the weapon module is placed in the central part of the roof and allows you to use different systems. Thus, in the configuration of an armored personnel carrier, the vehicle can carry a machine gun of normal or large caliber or a module with an automatic cannon.
The body is at the painting stage. Photo by Cavalier Group Pvt. Ltd. / hamza8x8.com
The own crew of the HAMZA MCV 8x8 armored car, depending on its configuration and purpose, may consist of two or more people. They are located at the front of the body, in places equipped with the necessary devices. In particular, the driver has at his disposal a set of video cameras that provide all-round visibility and simplify driving. The equipment at the commander's place depends on the purpose and configuration of the vehicle. For example, it can be a combat module control panel.
In the modification of the armored personnel carrier, the vehicle has a full-fledged troop compartment, under which the rear part of the crew compartment is given. At the sides of the hull, there are five "mine" seats. The landing party has the ability to fire from personal weapons. For this, a dozen embrasures with dampers are provided in the sides. These devices are placed under small rectangular windows with bulletproof glass.
Access to the interior of the armored car is provided by several doors and hatches. There is a large door on the port side, directly behind the driver's seat. Due to the high height of the car, there is a ladder under the door. The landing party is invited to use the aft ramp with a hydraulic drive. Several hatches are provided in the roof of the hull: above the commander and driver, as well as above the paratroopers.
The HAMZA MCV 8x8 armored car is not compact. The length of the car reaches 7.5 m, width and height - 2.6 m each. Combat weight is determined at 21 tons. If necessary, it can take on board up to 15 tons of cargo. The maximum permissible weight, taking into account the load and attachments, reaches 50 tons. Under normal weight indicators, the armored car is capable of reaching a speed of 105 km / h on the highway. The power reserve is up to 600 km. Overcoming various obstacles is provided. Water obstacles are crossed by fords.
Experienced armored car on trial. Photo Defense.pk
In its basic configuration, the HAMZA MCV 8x8 is a protected vehicle for personnel. At the same time, the Cavalier Group offers several other specialized vehicles based on the existing chassis and body. Without significant restructuring of the body, the armored personnel carrier turns into an ambulance. A more serious alteration of the aft compartment makes it possible to place a mortar of an existing and promising type in it. In this case, shooting must be done through a large sunroof.
A combat module with a cannon or machine gun can be replaced with another specialized system. In particular, a modification is proposed with a launcher for anti-tank missiles. Also in the advertising materials appears an armored car with a multi-barreled cannon for air defense of the near zone. It is possible that in the future the development company will offer other options for using the armored car. In addition, further modifications may appear at the request of potential customers.
HAMZA MCV 6x6
Last year, at the BIDEC-2017 exhibition, Pakistani designers for the first time presented a new version of an armored car, created on the basis of an existing project. A promising sample called HAMZA MCV 6x6 has a high degree of unification with the previous machine, but it differs significantly from it. In the new project, as its name implies, the undercarriage lost one of the axles, which led to a change in other characteristics. The resulting armored car is able to occupy another niche and is not a direct competitor to the older HAMZA MCV 8x8.
Board and stern views. Photo Defense.pk
In terms of overall architecture, the three-axle armored car is similar to the previous vehicle. It is also built on the chassis of a frame structure and is equipped with an armored body of a similar type. It was reported that the new HAMZA MCV 6x6 is equipped with a Cummins ISM 500 diesel engine and an Allison automatic transmission. At the same time, as before, all six wheels are driven with the ability to turn off the front axle.
The design of the bridges remains the same. Large wheels are mounted on movable axle shafts with spring suspension and additional shock absorbers. The minimal amount of changes to the original design resulted in the fact that the bridges are not evenly spaced: there is a large gap between the first and the second. Retained wheels with a rigid insert and a centralized inflation system.
The HAMZA MCV 6x6 case still has a bonnet layout, but its appearance has changed slightly. In particular, the designers have reworked the engine compartment cover. Now its frontal parts are wedge-shaped, and the radiator grilles are transferred to them. The shape of the sides has changed a bit. The dimensions were also preserved, due to which the required internal volume is provided.
The prototype HAMZA MCV 6x6 featured overhead panels in addition to its own armor. On the forehead, sides and stern of the habitable volume, additional parts were installed to increase the level of protection. In the basic configuration, the armored car can withstand hitting a 14.5 mm bullet in the frontal parts. Once installed, new panels are likely to provide comprehensive protection against such threats. Also, the mine protection is preserved, which can withstand the detonation of 10 kg of TNT under the bottom.
Experienced armored car HAMZA MCV 6x6. Photo Defense.pk
Like its predecessor, the three-axle armored car is operated by a crew of two or three. In the aft troop compartment, 10 fighters with weapons are transported. The ability to fire from under the armor is no longer possible, as the overhead panels block the hull embrasures. All existing hatches, doors and ramp have been preserved.
Machines without a future
Blitzkrieg Defense Solution introduced its first HAMZA MCV armored car two years ago. It was expected that this development will interest the army or police of Pakistan, as well as be able to enter the international market and become the subject of an export contract. The same hopes were pinned on the second armored car with a three-axle undercarriage, presented about a year ago. However, as it is now clear, all these plans were not fulfilled. Two armored vehicles still remain exclusively exhibition samples and have not yet managed to go beyond the polygons.
The two prototypes that participated in the exhibitions attracted the attention of the military and specialists, but none of the expected events happened. Not a single army has yet wanted to buy promising HAMZA MCV armored cars. As a result, the real future of the two main projects and the proposed developments based on them is in question. It looks like a whole family of curious Pakistani developments will never make it to the series.
Three-axle armored car at the exhibition. Photo Defense-blog.com
It should be noted that HAMZA MCV armored cars are of certain interest, at least at the concept level. Judging by the available data, Pakistani designers have created equipment that, in general, meets modern requirements for its class. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the fact that these projects are not unique. There are a huge number of other armored personnel carriers with similar characteristics on the market. Thus, cars from Pakistan face the most serious competition.
Choosing a new model of armored vehicles for future purchase, the army of a country must take into account many factors, and not only the basic "tabular" characteristics. Among other things, the experience and reputation of the manufacturer is of great importance. Pakistani enterprises cannot yet claim to be the leader in the armored vehicles market, which reduces the commercial potential of their projects. In addition, the fate of machines is negatively affected by not the highest production culture.
As a result, armored vehicles of the HAMZA MCV line turn out to be typical representatives of their class, having no advantages over competitors. Moreover, the presence of serious shortcomings of one kind or another is possible. In such a situation, a potential customer is likely to prefer armored vehicles of a different type and from another country. This explains the fact that the equipment from the Cavalier Group for two years has not left the stage of testing and travel to exhibitions.
It cannot be ruled out that in the foreseeable future, the Pakistani company will still receive the first order for the serial production of promising armored vehicles. However, the likelihood of such a development of events is not very high and is constantly decreasing. There is reason to believe that the two HAMZA MCV armored cars will remain exclusively exhibition models. However, the development company should not be upset about this. When developing two well-known projects, she managed to gain some experience that can be used to create a completely new armored car.
