At the recent exhibition of weapons and military equipment DSEI-2013, held in London, several new armored vehicles for various purposes were shown. Thus, the French company NEXTER Systems brought its new development titled TITUS to the exhibition. In the design of this machine, several interesting solutions were applied and, as expected, it will be able to interest a foreign customer. The developer pays special attention to possible orders from third countries. This is due to the fact that the TITUS machine was originally created for export supplies.
The name of the new armored vehicle continues a kind of tradition begun by the "name" of the CAESAR project, and is a backronym. TITUS stands for Tactical Infantry Transport and Utility System. The technical appearance of the TITUS vehicle is such that you can find features of two classes of armored vehicles at once. Seeing the peculiarities of recent local conflicts, French engineers applied in the new project some of the solutions inherent in machines of the MRAP class. In doing so, they took into account the shortcomings of equipment that are resistant to mines and protected from ambushes. To ensure sufficient mobility and maneuverability, the TITUS has some of the characteristics of a "classic" wheeled armored personnel carrier.
As the basis for the MRAP TITUS armored personnel carrier, the designers of NEXTER Systems chose a three-axle all-wheel drive chassis developed by the Czech company Tatra. The main feature of this chassis is the special design of the frame on which all the units are assembled, and the interesting arrangement of the wheels, which is extremely rare on today's armored vehicles, but characteristic of armored personnel carriers. The center axle is located in the middle of the machine, not offset to the rear. This allows the weight of the structure to be evenly distributed over all six wheels without focusing on the rear axles. This weight distribution of the vehicle has a beneficial effect on its cross-country ability.
The correct placement of the wheels relative to the centers of gravity of various vehicle units in the case of the TITUS armored car is a very important thing, since it has a fairly large weight. In the basic configuration, the empty vehicle weighs up to 17 tons. Payload - up to 4 tons. When installing additional booking modules, the mass of an empty armored car increases by six tons relative to the basic version. Thus, the maximum combat weight of the TITUS vehicle can reach 27 tons. With such weight parameters, the car turned out to be quite compact: length 7, 55 meters, width 2, 55 m and height on the roof 2, 73 m.
In the basic version, the MRAP TITUS armored personnel carrier is equipped with a six-cylinder Cummins diesel engine with a capacity of 440 horsepower. As stated in the official information about the project, at the request of the customer, the machine can be equipped with a more powerful engine. An alternative 550-horsepower diesel engine is able to significantly improve the driving performance of the armored car. In both cases, the engine is mated to an Allison automatic transmission. Such a power plant allows the armored vehicle to accelerate on the highway to a speed of 110 km / h. One filling is enough to cover 700 kilometers.
As can be seen from the relatively high hull, the TITUS is equipped with a V-shaped "mine-action" bottom. The mine protection of the armored car is made in accordance with the requirements of levels 4a and 4b of the NATO STANAG 4569 standard. This means that TITUS can protect the crew and troops from an explosive device with a charge of 10 kg of TNT detonated under the wheel or bottom. The basic protection of the armored hull corresponds to level 2 of the NATO standard, which allows the crew and the soldiers being transported not to be afraid of armor-piercing bullets of cartridges 7, 62x39 mm. With additional armor modules installed, the TITUS vehicle is protected from bullets of 14.5 mm caliber.
Other additional security systems are of particular interest. At the request of the customer, the MRAP TITUS armored personnel carrier can be equipped with a PG Guard system designed to protect against rocket-propelled anti-tank grenades. Also, a certain set of tools has been developed called SAFEPRO. According to advertising materials issued by NEXTER Systems, the installation of this kit allows the armored vehicle to withstand an explosion of a charge weighing up to 150 kg. At what distance from the car the explosion should take place and how exactly such a high level of protection is provided, it was not announced.
The inhabited compartments of the TITUS vehicle (cockpit and troop compartment) have a total volume of more than 14 cubic meters. meters. The own crew of the armored car consists of three people. Ten soldiers with equipment can be accommodated in the troop compartment. The crew and the troopers are seated in seats that absorb part of the mine's explosion energy.
The rear of the armored hull of the vehicle is made according to a modular system. This means that instead of a cockpit for the landing, TITUS can carry a cargo platform, the necessary equipment, etc. In the basic version of armored transport for soldiers, the armored car is equipped with additional volumes to accommodate small-sized cargo (ammunition, etc.). Special boxes on the sides of the case have a total volume of 4 cubic meters. meters.
The first prototype of the TITUS vehicle, featured in promotional materials, carries the NEXTER ARX20 remotely controlled weapon station. The armament of this module consists of a 20-mm automatic cannon and a 7.62 mm machine gun paired with it. In addition, there are four smoke grenade launchers on the module. The combat module is located on the roof of the armored car, above the cockpit. If necessary, any suitable combat module with weapons and electronic systems that meet the customer's requirements can be installed on the existing shoulder strap. Thanks to this, the TITUS vehicle can carry machine guns, including large-caliber, automatic cannons and automatic grenade launchers of various models.
In the rear of the armored hull, at the upper corners of the troop transport module, there are two turrets for installing machine guns. These turrets, as in the case of the main combat modules, are controlled from inside the armored corps.
An armored personnel carrier with MRAP features of the TITUS model still exists in only one copy. The only armored vehicle is used to test various systems and is shown at exhibitions. NEXTER Systems has created TITUS primarily for the sale to third countries. In the line of its products offered for export, this armored car occupies an intermediate position between the "full-fledged" MRAP Aravis class vehicle and the "classic" VBCI armored personnel carrier. The developer company is not yet engaged in the deployment of serial production of the new vehicle, but, as it is stated, in the event of orders being received, the construction of the first armored cars will begin in 2015.
The contracts for the supply of TITUS armored vehicles have not yet been signed and at the present time, most likely, they are not even planned yet. In view of the recent demonstration of a promising French armored car, potential customers have probably not yet had time to get the desired amount of information and consider the need to purchase this technology. Thus, if someone is interested in the TITUS car, then the signing of the contract will take place only in a few months. Taking into account the promises of NEXTER Systems regarding the timing of the start of mass production, it can be assumed that the first buyers from third countries will receive their armored vehicles only in a few years.
