French Army VBL vehicles in Mali during Operation Serval. The French army has significantly increased the armored component of its contingent compared to previous interventions
It may seem rather strange when you think about it, but despite the fact that humans are born on land and not in water or air, in terms of their mobility, the earth remains the most difficult environment. This is even more true for military mobility, where the ability to move from one point to another is influenced not only by the terrain, but also by the presence of the enemy. The widespread use of mines and roadside bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan, which greatly impaired mobility, contributed to the emergence of a new category of vehicles called Mrap (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected - with enhanced mine protection). Vehicles in this category provided their crews with both ballistic protection and protection against mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), while the level of the latter gradually increased as the enemy honed his skills in this deadly art
After the completed withdrawal from Iraq and the ongoing similar process in Afghanistan, the question arises, what will come next? Will future operations be conducted in the Iraqi desert or in the highlands a la Afghanistan?
The most recent military operation was Operation Serval by French forces in Mali in January 2013. Past military operations on this continent have involved unprotected vehicles, mostly off-road trucks, used as armored personnel carriers and weapons platforms. Operation Serval was a completely different story, as a significant portion of the French contingent was equipped with armored vehicles ranging from VBCI infantry fighting vehicles to VAB armored personnel carriers, VBL light armored vehicles and Xerax armored cabins, while logistics are still largely relied on unprotected machines.
Although most areas in Africa offer a choice of travel routes (mostly off-road), which reduces the chances of colliding with a buried bomb compared to some Afghan valleys with their uncontested routes, nevertheless, traveling in Africa in light vehicles has become dangerous. At the same time, according to French sources, the priorities in Mali were arranged in the following order: information gathering, firepower and protection.
In terms of mobility, the possibilities of African bridges (usually floating bridges) and the size of roads in villages impose serious restrictions on the mass and size of the vehicles used.
It is clear that restrictions on the mass and width of the vehicle are necessary, since they can have a strong impact on military operations. After all, mass and width directly affect deployability, and strategic transport aviation has its own limitations. But even more important is the availability of adequate infrastructure for the landing area; it is useless to have a fleet of large transports if the local landing strip is unable to receive and handle a sufficient number of aircraft at the same time. And the larger the car, the more shuttle flights are needed for their deployment, because the seaport and convenient harbor are not always available.
Thus, reducing the logistical burden remains a priority, especially for landing areas. Another challenging region is Southeast Asia, where many areas have soft soils. The best mobility on them, of course, will have light tracked vehicles. As for the new missions in the Middle East region (read Syria), the scenario with a high probability of enemy actions in urban conditions should remain dominant.
The extent to which the troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan in recent years could be involved in multinational missions in one of the above regions is a matter of politics. Although it is understandable that if governments call on the military to manage some contingents in these areas, then they will need maximum flexibility. While US military involvement in Africa is growing, it is currently limited mainly to military aid. European countries are in many ways very similar, although France is the only non-African country in this part of Africa. Other large countries operating on the African continent also avoid direct hostilities. On the other hand, African countries express their intention to independently deal with local contingents, although in many cases the military forces involved could not provide sufficient reliability.
The main military power in Africa is of course South Africa, which ultimately ordered 264 Badger 8x8 wheeled combat vehicles in various configurations. They will gradually replace the Ratel 6x6 currently in service, as well as other vehicles such as the Casspir and Mamba. The new vehicle is based on the Patria AMV chassis and is mainly armed with a 30mm Denel turret. In order to increase mine protection, it used the LMT Flat Floor Technology, which, thus, interrupted the line of machines with a V-shaped bottom, which had been in service with the South African army for many years. With a total weight of 27 tonnes, it is in stark contrast to the 19 ton Ratel machine.
Due to their weight and size, not all Mrap used in Iraq and Afghanistan are suitable for other types of terrain.
The VAB Mk III is equipped with a TRT turret from BAE Systems. Renault Trucks Defense offers this option to those armies looking for efficient and affordable APCs / IFVs.
The Rheinmetall Fuchs machine, although developed during the Cold War era, is well adapted to new scenarios and is actively promoted in the market around the world.
Oshkosh M-ATV in Afghanistan. This armored car appeared as a result of the analysis of the experience gained; in comparison with the previous "hippos" it has a reduced size and weight, as well as an independent suspension
A highly advanced, brand new and yet affordable Titus APC from Nexter combines the proven Tatra chassis with a modern armored hull and engine from Cummins.
Grant aid and more
Another African country that can afford to buy new armored vehicles is Algeria. He turned to Germany with an application for the purchase of the first batch of 52 Fuchs vehicles in the APC configuration with the intention to buy some more in the future. With a mass of 19 tons and a width of three meters, this 6x6 machine should provide good flotation on the soils of North Africa.
If smaller vehicles are needed, the Algerian army will buy Nimr vehicles designed and manufactured in the United Arab Emirates by a company of the same name and part of the Tawazun group. In an armored 4x4 configuration, the vehicle has a width of only 2.2 meters and a total weight of about 10 tons. This model is likely to gradually spread throughout North Africa, thanks to the plant in the city of Henchela, 400 km from the capital of Algeria.
In fact, Libya became the first buyer of a light Nimr car. More than 150 vehicles were delivered, most of them in an armored configuration with an increased level of protection 3. The last 49 units were delivered in early 2013 as a gift to the new Libyan government. Italy, for its part, donated 20 Puma 4x4 vehicles. The Libyan army is also armed with a light wheeled 4x4 BRDM vehicle inherited from the Cold War. Most of these machines will undergo modernization, a contract for which was concluded with the Serbian company Yugoimport.
Kenya has also started upgrading its armored vehicles by purchasing 8 BRDM-3s. Although the acronym means reconnaissance vehicle, it should not be confused with light vehicles BRDM and BRDM-2 4x4. It has an 8x8 wheeled configuration very similar to that of the BTR-80A; a car with a total weight of about 15 tons accommodates a crew of 3 people plus six paratroopers. The Kenyan army bought over 60 M26-15 Mrap-type vehicles manufactured by the South African OTT Technologies, which participated in the fight against the Somali rebels Al-Shabab.
The pictures show a Nimr 6x6 vehicle with different combat modules; the emirate company is actively promoting its family of vehicles and becomes a new player in the light armored vehicles market
The Protector family of vehicles from Mobile Armored Vehicles can provide protection in a wide variety of scenarios
Video presentation of Protector II from Mobile Armored Vehicles with my subtitles
BAE Systems is ready to manufacture its RG31 (pictured in the Mk5E configuration) with the level of protection required by the customer
Manufacturing in Africa
The production of cars in Africa is concentrated mainly in South Africa. BAE Systems is definitely a major manufacturer with its RG family. The company supplied the RG-32 to countries that used these vehicles in UN military operations on the continent. This is not surprising, since the RG-32 is the smallest member of the family with a width of almost 2.2 meters and a mass of no more than 10 tons. A large number of Casspir and Mamba machines are in service with many African countries. BAE Systems developed the 15-ton RG Protector, based on the RG-32 project, and offered it in 4x4 and 6x6 versions.
For the African market, BAE systems offers the RG-31 model in the Mk5 version, which weighs 18.6 tonnes, and the RG-32 model, which also comes in smaller versions with lower protection levels in order to cope with the weight restrictions imposed by poor the roads of this continent.
The South African company Mechem Vehicles (a division of Denel) currently produces the Casspir 2000. The Casspir MkII and MkIV models are also in its catalog. In 2013, Denel Mechem announced a contract for 10 Casspir 2000 vehicles for the Benin army, while 15 vehicles were manufactured for the UN.
Another South African company, ICP, produces armored vehicles; its Reva III, IV and V 4x4 models weighing from 9 to 13 tons, serve not only in South Africa, but also in Somalia, Equatorial Guinea and South Sudan. Paramount is also a major player, with the Mbombe 6x6 armored personnel carriers providing all-aspect situational awareness, while the Marauder and Matador 4x4 models are Mrap-type vehicles with a total weight of 18 tons.
Chad made the European choice by purchasing 22 Acmat Bastion Patsa vehicles from French Renault Trucks Defense, all delivered in 2013. Unarmored Acmat vehicles are not uncommon in Africa. Morocco is another major Renault customer in North Africa, with its army operating VAB 6x6s that will soon need to be upgraded or replaced.
These are just a few examples of machines currently in use on a continent with many potential hotspots. Few African countries can afford to purchase a large number of vehicles, but the provision of cheap or generally free military equipment always remains a lever of influence over any area. Consequently, the surplus of Mrap class machines, formed in connection with the withdrawal from Afghanistan, could be a solution in some markets, although not all such machines are suitable for operation in some areas.
Recently, it was argued that the US Army could keep about 6,000 Mrap machines equally divided between the M-ATV and the MaxxPro, although specialized equipment such as the Mrap for clearing routes could well remain in service. It is not yet clear how many of these Mrap machines will be exported to their homeland. According to some sources, the US should not leave the most advanced (read better protected) options to the Afghan security forces. Given the possible course of events, it is quite clear that some of them may fall into the hands of the rebels. These vehicles can be used as real targets in order to improve the insurgents of their roadside bombs and IEDs. The consequences of this will be dire, as it could mean spreading knowledge throughout the terrorist community. The same sources also talk about returning home even those cars that cannot be repaired in order to give the opponent any useful information. However, it is clear that the Mrap surplus will have an impact on the armored vehicle market in the coming years, particularly in areas not overly concerned with road usability standards.
Paramount is one of the most innovative South African players. The pictures show her latest product - a car from the Matador family.
The Chadian Army has armed some units with Renault Trucks Defense Bastion Patsas. These "semi-protected" vehicles are mainly operated by special forces.
The US has purchased over 20,000 Mrap vehicles of various modifications and the US Army plans to keep only 6,000 of them. How many of the remaining cars will enter the market remains an open question.
The number of players in the armored vehicle market is growing in the Middle East. In addition to the aforementioned Nimr, the Streit Group is also developing new machines at its factories in the UAE, Canada, USA, India, Russia and Pakistan. The lineup ranges from the Varan 6x6 armored personnel carrier / BMP (the prototype is undergoing sea trials) to the Scorpion and Typhoon modular families (available in 4x4 and 6x6 configurations and with independent suspensions). Another company, Armored Group, has manufacturing facilities in the Emirates, Canada and the United States. Her Batt (Ballistic Armored Tactical Transport) vehicles have been sold to Angola, Chad, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Uganda, but also to other countries such as Saudi Arabia and Oman in the Middle East, and to Ecuador and Mexico in the Central America.
Typhoon 4x4 type Mrap with a mass of 12.5 tons is offered by Streit Group - a developing company in the field of armored vehicles
Streit Group has factories in the UAE, Canada, USA, India, Russia and Pakistan. It expands its product line and, in addition to MRAP machines, produces armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles.
South America and the Far East
South America and the Far East represent huge markets as many armies upgrade their weapons. In Latin America, the largest contract was signed between the Brazilian army and Iveco do Brasil for 2,044 VBTP-MR Guarani 6x6 armored personnel carriers. In addition to good protected mobility and firepower, this machine is considered optimal for the participation of the Brazilian contingent in UN missions. At the end of October, the Brazilian army completed its first operational tests in an urban setting, and it is not surprising that it deployed its car in Haiti ahead of elections scheduled for early 2014.
While few local manufacturers are active in the military armored vehicle business, and defense budgets appear to be on a downward trend, many international companies are looking to this region of the world to offset the procurement of military equipment in national and western markets. The same applies to other areas, such as India with its huge market, but China is still banned for many Western companies.
However, there are several competing companies in the Far East. Some may conduct independent development, while others are at a sufficiently advanced stage of "development" in order to take part in joint development programs. For example, in Malaysia, Deftech is currently producing its AV-8 8x8 armored personnel carriers / infantry fighting vehicles based on the Turkish FNSS PARS 8x8 chassis. Singapore-based STK has proactively developed the Terrex 8x8, and South Korean companies such as Doosan DST and Hyundai Rotem have been offering wheeled armored personnel carriers in 6x6 and 8x8 configurations for their national army for many years.
China, of course, remains a very large manufacturer, although at present its main, if not the only customer, is the Chinese army, at least in terms of vehicles.
Japan has always strictly complied with the ban on the export of arms imposed on itself. However, this may soon change, as Tokyo needs to play a more active role in peacekeeping operations, which will obviously lead to a partial lifting of the ban adopted at the end of World War II. America is now focusing on the Pacific, where terrain and topography can vary more than anywhere else. Soft soils cover large areas and determine the use of light tracked vehicles. In this regard, one of the latest developments of Kaplan, presented by the Turkish company FNSS, is close to Alvis CVR (T) in terms of ground pressure. A Kaplan tracked vehicle could win in similar terrain. It remains to be seen how many armies will deploy the "correct" vehicles in their next contingents.
Over 1,500 Komatsu light armored vehicles are in service with the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. Japan may reconsider its prohibition policy and become a new active player in the secure mobility market
The light tracked vehicle Kaplan was shown by FNSS in 2013. It creates low ground pressure for good flotation on soft terrain found in Southeast Asia
