Military and Strategic Journal
Issued by the Directorate of Morale Guidance at the General Command of the Armed Forces
United Arab Emirates
Founded in August 1971

2019-09-12

MUNGO: Tailored to the Needs of Modern Armies

As the German army’s multirole armoured vehicle, MUNGOs are air-transportable, protected, highly mobile, universally applicable and logistically easy to handle, specifically tailored to the needs of modern rescue teams. While MUNGOs meet requirements for mobility and protection of the reconnaissance system to support Rapid Forces Division soldiers in national crisis preparedness and airborne operations, it also gives the Bundeswehr the ability to investigate atomic and chemical contamination on a large scale. 
 
Produced by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and operated by the Airmobile Operations and Special Operations Divisions, the MUNGO has a total weight of only 5.3 tonnes being ideally suited for crisis response in airborne forces. In just five minutes, the vehicle can be disarmed or upgraded for transportation in a CH53 or CH47 Chinook transport helicopter. Up to three MUNGOs can be carried along with crew in a C130, C160 and A400M transport aircraft and transported as an internal/external load by CH-47 and CH-53G helicopters.
 
Multifaceted Deployment Spectrum
Based on the Multicar M30/FUMO 4×4 chassis, the MUNGO’s standard layout has a forward engine, crew cab in the centre and troop compartment at the rear. With a gross weight of 5.3t, the base vehicle has a length of 4.47m, a width of 1.94m and a height of 2.44m. The armoured driver cab accommodates two-man crew, while the troop section is covered by a soft or hard-top depending on the mission variant. 
In its basic version, the MUNGO can be quickly converted from a combined personnel or material carrier to a full personnel carrier. With its high-performance hydraulics and flexible lift and transport system, it has multipurpose usage for engineering or for supply purposes, such as munitions transport or maintenance. 
 
The large cabin variant features 360° protection against artillery fragments and ballistic hazards. Featuring an air conditioning and NBC protection system, as well as an 8 m³ uninterrupted interior, it is suitable as a CH53 air loadable equipment carrier for command, operations, reconnaissance, NBC detection and medical vehicles.


High Multicar Mobility
The Multicar chassis gives the MUNGO outstanding mobility with four-wheel drive, differential locks, creeper, electronic traction control, anti-lock braking system and run-flat tires for difficult terrain.
 
5-Cylinder Engine Power
The MUNGO is powered by TDI 270, a 2.8L five-cylinder diesel engine delivering a maximum power output of 107kW at 3,500rpm. The engine is coupled either to a five-speed gearbox and reverse, or to a two-speed hydrostatic transmission.
 
Able to ford a depth of 1m safely, the MUNGO has a maximum speed of 90km/h and a cruising range of over 500km. In negotiating a gradient of 60 per cent and a side slope of 30 per cent, it can cross a vertical step of 0.4m and a trench of 0.5m.
 
Multipurpose Military Development  
In December 2003, the Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB) placed a contract with KMW for the delivery of 388 MUNGO vehicles for its special operations division (DSO). Referred to as Mungo ESK (Einsatzfahrzeug Spezialisierte Kräfte), in May 2009 KMW was commissioned to deliver an N/C Reconnaissance version of the MUNGO, before the army signed a contract with KMW in September 2011 for the delivery of 31 multipurpose vehicles.  
 
With its universal hydraulics and transport system, this multi-purpose version is particularly suitable for the mission-specific transport of munitions, fuel, maintenance and NBC- decontamination equipment. With a payload of up to 1.5 tonnes, the MUNGO 2 Multi-purpose can also transport supply or armament in trailer operations. 
 
Until now, KMW has delivered more than 400 MUNGO in the three different versions to the German Army, but in July 2019, the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) commissioned Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) to supply a total of nine MUNGO N/C Recce reconnaissance systems. In addition to supplying the vehicles, the contract encompasses spare parts packages and the training of crew and maintenance personnel. 
 
The N/C Recce variant of the MUNGO vehicle can detect and identify nuclear and chemical threats, giving the three-man crew a mass spectrometer, weather sensors and a radiation detection device, while enabling them to remain inside the secure vehicle throughout the entire detection and analysis process, even marking ground from inside the vehicle in the event of contamination. The lightweight MUNGO N/C Recce can also be transported in a CH53 helicopter and all nine vehicles will be delivered by the end of 2022.
 
MUNGO Family
The MUNGO family of vehicles includes the Group Vehicle, Multipurpose Vehicle, Large Capacity Vehicle and N/C Reconnaissance Vehicle. 
MUNGO Multipurpose Vehicle: Providing mission-specific transport of munitions and equipment for tanks, repair shops or NBC decontamination, this 1.5 tonne payload pioneer vehicle offers a quick-change system for front-mounted equipment and can transport further supply goods or mission kits by trailer. With an armoured undercarriage detached from the chassis, the armoured driver cab ensures the two-man crew has maximum protection against ballistic threats and mines.
 
MUNGO N/C Reconnaissance: With a three-man crew (commander, driver and “Spürer”) in a large and full-protection continuous-safety cell, the crew can detect and identify threats from nuclear or chemical warfare agents without leaving the vehicle using a light N/C reconnaissance kit. Compact vehicle dimensions and low gross weight make the N/C Reconnaissance air-transportable by CH53 transport helicopter or C130, C160 and A400M transport aircraft to transport three vehicles simultaneously. 
 
MUNGO Large-Capacity Vehicle: Equipped with a continuous armoured large-capacity cabin, this vehicle has a maximum useable volume of 8 cubic metres, while being air-transportable in CH53 and CH 47 helicopters despite its larger exterior dimensions and higher weight. Being particularly suitable for deployment with airborne forces, up to three vehicles are simultaneously transportable in a C130, C160 and A400M, offering protection against ballistic threats (Level 2), explosive devices and mines in Command and Communications, N/C-Reconnaissance or Field Ambulance versions.
 
MUNGO Group Vehicle: With a gross weight of only 5.3 tonnes, this vehicle can transport up to 10 fully-equipped soldiers and is the ideal solution for deploying air-transportable forces in crisis situations. The group vehicle can be disarmed for loading on a CH53 or CH47 transport helicopter and re-armed for deployment in only five minutes, while two or three MUNGO vehicles and their crew can be moved in C130 and A400M transport airplanes. This MUNGO is also air-transportable by helicopter as external cargo and has been battle proven in numerous Bundeswehr missions, such as in Afghanistan or the Congo.
 
Elevated Protection Level  
The MUNGO offers its crew an exceptionally high level of protection against rifling mines as well as standard NATO munitions, while ballistic protection can be further increased. The Greater variant also protects MUNGO crews against so-called Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). 
The MUNGO Large Capacity and Multipurpose variants are installed with a FLW 100 remote-controlled weapon station mounting 7.6mm machine gun, while the remote-controlled Light Weapon Station FLW 100 is constructed in a completely modular design with 5.56 and 7.62 calibre weapon that can be integrated quickly and safely via a standardised interface. 
 
Not only do the interface and operating software permit the weapon system to be changed within minutes, but thanks to the simple adaptation without roof opening and their low weight, the FLW 100 can be employed across almost all vehicle types and also autonomously, such as for camp protection. The same weapon station can, for instance, be moved from an MBT to a low-protection patrol vehicle. 
 
The MUNGO guarantees simple integration and operability via automatic vehicle detection, weapons, optoelectronic module, standardised operating and display concept, as well as cross-system standardised operating and display concept within an efficient safety and test system. The weapon safety system takes into account the vehicle contours alongside the vehicle specific array of hatches, doors and sectors entailing that the possibility of accidentally firing on its own vehicle is thereby eliminated.
 
Modular optoelectronic sensor systems also guarantee optimised field surveillance, target acquisition and combat by day, night or under poor visibility. The system is comprised of a high-resolution CCD colour camera with zoom, a powerful thermal imaging device (cooled or non-cooled), a unique image fusion function and a laser rangefinder for the modular surveillance, operating and display concept of the weapon stations. 
 
The high elevation aiming angle (from -15° to +70°) offers distinct advantages, including within urban mission scenarios. The efficient combination of weapon options, high grade optoelectronics and stabilisation guarantees a fast and precise reaction to threats, even when driving, while the gun can be aimed from inside the vehicle using day and night vision devices.
 
The MUNGO N/C Reconnaissance and MUNGO group vehicle are optionally equipped with a platform for mounting a light machine gun or anti-material sniper rifle. Troops can use their hand-held weapons optionally with weapon fixtures so MG4/G82 can be fired from within the vehicle. 
 
Fully armoured and separated from the chassis, both the floor and a safety cell provide maximum protection for the two-headed crew, while the vehicle can be hinged with add-on armour for protection against 7.62mm armour-piercing rounds. MUNGO hence offers Level 2 protection against ballistic threats and far better protection than other similar 4×4 light armoured vehicles.
 
Reference Text/Photo:www.kmweg.com

Add Comment

Your comment was successfully added!

Visitors Comments

No Comments

Related Topics

FENNEC’S PROUD SERVICE IN MIDDLE EAST

Read More

H225M, a Multi-Mission Marvel

Read More

505 JET RANGER X ADDS TO BELL LEGEND

Read More

EA-18G GROWLER

Read More

The RQ-21A Blackjack - First To See, First To Fight

Read More

HAMMERHEAD SET FOR ITALIAN AIR FORCE

Read More
Close

2024-02-26 Current issue
Pervious issues
2017-05-13
2014-03-16
2012-01-01
2014-01-01
2021-06-01
2021-02-21
2022-06-01
2021-09-15
.

Voting

?What about new design for our website

  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
Voting Number 1647