Protected car "Lynx" (IVECO 65E19WM).
The vehicle is designed to be used as a means of supporting rolling stock and performing tasks of service and combat activities of various types of troops and power structures, as well as as a transport base for a carrier of light weapons, communications and military equipment.
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In 2008, an agreement was reached between the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, KAMAZ OJSC and IVECO (Italy) on joint work to determine the possibility of using military vehicles produced by IVECO in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
In the period from 2009 to 2011, in order to assess the compliance of the main tactical and technical characteristics of prototypes of all-wheel drive armored vehicles IVECO 65E19WM (LMV) with the requirements of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, two vehicles received from Italy were tested.
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In the process of testing, a complex of laboratory, laboratory and road works and run tests was carried out in accordance with the program approved in the prescribed manner.
The tests were carried out on the basis of the scientific and technical center of OJSC KAMAZ and the Federal State Institution “21 Scientific Research Institute of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation” in Bronnitsy. At the request of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the IVECO 65E19WM (LMV) car was named "Lynx".
The sensational video, where IVECO lags behind Russian armored vehicles in a race on virgin snow, can be easily explained. Initially, cars were purchased that were not adapted for operation in the Russian Federation, with a wide front bumper, which did not include snow protection and chains for wheels, which are available on similar vehicles of the armies of Norway and Austria. When driving in deep snow, a wide bumper created the effect of a blade pushing a snowdrift in front of IVECO, which led to a significant slowdown. The car did not get stuck, but it went hard, in jerks.
Today for snowy areas, incl. and for Russia, the cars are equipped with a special protection for the engine pallet, which simultaneously performs the functions of a snow splitter, the bumper design has been changed.
Based on the results of the tests, conclusions were made with the issuance of recommendations on additional special tests to determine the protective properties when exposed to the damaging factors of modern weapons.
Also, at the request of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the Italian side made the following improvements:
- 1 AC generator at 240A at 28V is used instead of 2 AC generators at 110A at 28V;
- installed 24-volt electrical equipment with DC / DC (direct current) converters for 12 V;
- installed protection of batteries from stones;
- an additional combined heater is installed for heating the engine in the cold season with a rated thermal power of ≥8 kW, which is also applicable for heating the cabin;
- to improve the climatic conditions in the cab, an additional diesel heater with a nominal thermal power of ≥2 kW has been added, intended for heating the cab and installed in the rear of the body;
- two additional antenna brackets are installed on the hood;
- installed a shortened bumper with fog lights in the upper part and a triangular towing device as a front bumper;
- installed protection against snow in the front lower part;
- used a towing device in the rear with an increased towing angle;
- an additional socket is installed for connecting electrical equipment when towing a car;
- the width of the footrests is increased to 180mm;
- the maximum load on the ring support in the hatch (on the roof) has been increased to 200 kg;
- increased maximum maximum roof load up to 300kg;
- the design of the seats has been changed in terms of replacing the casing material;
- installed a power distribution unit in the cab with branched connectors (12/24 V) for connecting consumers;
- installed plafonds for lighting the steps and lighting lamps for the commander for work in blackout mode;
- a bracket for a multi-element antenna (in the form of a spoiler) is installed in the rear of the cargo compartment;
- the vehicle includes elements (air intake and exhaust pipe element) to overcome the ford;
- the exterior paint of the car is green according to RAL 6014;
In addition, the following parts are included in the car:
- carbon dioxide fire extinguisher
- triangular towing device
- winches with electric drive
- spare wheel
- anti-skid chains
- a set of tools and pullers
- manual
- service book
- manual for maintenance and repair.
Russian IVECO testers note a very convenient automatic tire pressure control device that can be changed by simply pressing buttons in accordance with road conditions without leaving the cab. The seats of the car are very comfortable for the crew, for example, they have special recesses for body armor, which take the weight of the armor and relieve the shoulders of the soldiers. Protection of the head from shaking while driving and the impact of a shock impulse during an explosion is reliably provided by a special headrest. The installed seats are equipped with five-point safety belts with quick release locks. In addition, the design of the seats suspended from the inner frame, as well as special pallets under the crew's feet, significantly reduce the effect of dynamic loads during mine detonation.
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IVECO company regularly confirms the high protection class of its car. Over 10 years of operation, 28 demonstration detonations were carried out at training ranges and about 10 vehicles were blown up by the enemy in combat conditions. The only case in which people died was recorded on June 26, 2011, when an armored car of the Spanish army was blown up by militants in Afghanistan. Despite the fact that the power of the side explosion was measured at 120 kg in TNT equivalent (which is tens of times higher than the declared durability during detonation), only two people from the crew were killed, and three more were injured, but survived.
The car is specially designed so that, when blown up, the car does not roll over or overturn under any circumstances, which is achieved by a special shape of the bottom.
IVECO wheels have special anti-mine inserts and a substance that tightens holes, which allows the vehicle to remain mobile when detonated on light anti-personnel mines and firing from small arms.
In the period from 07 to 12 March 2011, together with the specialists of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and OJSC KAMAZ, special tests were carried out to determine the protective properties when exposed to damaging factors at the German proving grounds in Ulm (ballistic tests) and Schrobenhausen (explosive tests) modern weapons.
The tests were attended by the head of the Main Armored Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Russia, the General Director of OJSC KAMAZ, the chief designer of OJSC KAMAZ and other representatives of the defense department and the military industry.
For two days, Russian specialists carried out specialized attacks on IVECO with B-32 armor-piercing incendiary bullets using a 7, 62x54 ballistic barrel. It is from such ammunition that the manufacturer guaranteed full protection according to the third level of STANAG 4569 (it corresponds to the Russian 6a class of ballistic protection according to GOST R 50963-96). The shelling was conducted from different distances to all possible places of the car: the joints of the armored panels, the edges of the glass, in order to find vulnerabilities. On the first day, 150 shots were fired, on the second - about 60. Not a single penetration was achieved.
Then two explosions of the IVECO car were made: under the front left wheel and under the bottom.
On the first day, 6.4 kg of TNT was used as an explosive device. The detonation process was filmed from different angles with several video cameras, which were installed, including inside the car. On the driver's seat was a special mannequin that completely imitates the human body.
I was shown several videos, one of which was allowed to be posted on the Internet.
The explosion destroys the front chassis, severely damages the engine, but the armored capsule is intact. The hatch is deliberately made so as to swing open during an explosion and thereby protect the crew from excessive pressure. Inside the car, damage is limited to the offset steering column (there was no contact with the driver) and plastic chips from the front panel.
The examination showed that the dummy driver, who was closest to the point of the explosion, was not injured, only a piece of panel that had flown off slightly tore his trousers and cut his leg below the knee. The sensors record that the overload limit for the human body has not been exceeded.
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On the second day, two shell explosive devices were detonated under the passenger seat to the right of the driver's seat and under the rear right seat. The explosion destroyed the V-shaped steel mine protection suspended from the silent blocks, but the bottom of the armored capsule was only slightly swollen. No penetration occurred.
How did the Italian manufacturer achieve such a result? The protection technology implies the creation of a separate armored capsule for the manned compartment, which is equipped with ceramic ballistic protection attached to a metal frame, standard armor panels and bulletproof glass. A special tubular frame serves as stiffeners.
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• Red - ballistic protection
• Gray - armored glass
• Green - standard panels
• Blue - metal frame
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The energy of the explosion is gradually extinguished by a ceramic shield, a two-layer bottom, frame struts, a roof, and a suspension system. A significantly weakened acceleration impulse arrives at the seats of the vehicle's crew members through the suspension system, which does not exceed the medical standards for overloads for a person.
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The tests carried out confirmed the compliance of IVECO 65E19WM (LMV) vehicles with the requirements established by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation for protective properties when exposed to damaging factors of modern weapons.
After eliminating the shortcomings and conducting a special examination, the Ministry of Defense made a decision to prepare an order of the RF Ministry of Defense "On the acceptance of the IVECO 65E19WM (LMV) vehicle for the supply of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation" and the purchase of an experimental-industrial batch of vehicles for military trials in units of the RF Ministry of Defense.
In April 2011, the first batch of 10 IVECO cars in the form of assembly kits (rear compartment, footboards, heater, hood, winch, spare wheel, fording kit - separate from the car) arrived from the manufacturer (Bolzano, Italy) to Nauchno -technical center of OJSC KAMAZ, where they were assembled. The equipment was as follows:
- four cars with a winch, with an installed spare wheel and a set of anti-slip chains installed on the wheels when driving on virgin snow.
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- six vehicles without a winch, without anti-slip chains and with a technological spare wheel installation
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Currently, a batch of Lynx vehicles (IVECO 65E19WM (LMV)) is undergoing operational (military) tests in the units of the Russian Ground Forces.
At the request of the GABTU of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, OJSC KAMAZ developed a collapsible design of the gunner's protection in the form of a rotary rotating turret, which is installed on the roof and can be supplied both with Lynx vehicles and other products.
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In addition to the five-seater version of the car, there is also a six-seater. There are seven people in a standard motorized rifle squad (commander, turret gunner, machine gunner, shooter, grenade launcher, grenade launcher assistant gunner, driver), but given that the Lynx does not need a turret armament gunner (the machine gunner will perform his functions), the staff branches on this armored car will fully correspond to the number of seats in the car.
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The further continuation of cooperation between the Russian Ministry of Defense and IVECO will depend on the results of military tests and on the responses of the units operating the vehicles.
In the future, at the stage of government negotiations, the issue of production of Lynx cars in the territory of the Russian Federation with partial localization of the production of components is being considered. OJSC KAMAZ will provide assistance to the structure that will produce the Lynx vehicle in Russia, but the enterprise itself is not interested in the production of this vehicle. The final decision on the assembly plant will be made by the Russian Technologies State Corporation.
