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2019-02-01

UAE Welcomes Next-Gen Armoured Vehicles

Established in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in May 1981, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a political and economic alliance of six Middle Eastern countries. With the presidency rotating annually, the GCC seeks to achieve unity based on members’ common objectives and similar identities rooted in Arab-Islamic cultures. One major concern of recent UAE foreign policy has been to prevent the type of popular uprisings taking place elsewhere and threatening Gulf regional stability. Since the 2011 Arab Spring, it has taken a more active role in regional affairs by developing its military capabilities and projecting power in new ways.

In 2014, the UAE joined the U.S.-led air campaign against Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, also conducting limited air strikes in Libya, while a year later, the UAE joined a Saudi-led coalition against Houthi rebels in Yemen. Emirati commandos were also deployed to the southern coast of Yemen to battle Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula up until the coalition’s offensive to seize Yemen’s port city of Al-Hudaydah in June 2018, a key source of revenue for the Houthis and main point of entry for food and humanitarian aid.

Combat Innovations

The role, utility and importance of armoured vehicles (AVs) in winning the war is often speculative or negatively construed, but they remain unique contributors to the military’s combat power. In providing matchless firepower, mobility, protection and connectivity within an ever-changing strategic context to the modern soldier, the AV and related equipment market have seen a significant rise in the use of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), artificial intelligence, virtual training and survivability equipment.

In addition, Active Protection Systems (APS) now come in lighter, cheaper and more accurate forms as a popular solution for the future battlespace. However, despite growing demand for light-protected mobility, the deployment of MBTs (Main Battle Tanks) is seen as a necessity because tanks increase the odds of victory while reducing friendly casualties.

As armoured fighting vehicles (AFV), tanks are the ‘predator supreme’ of land forces, typically equipped with a turret featuring a large calibre cannon and machine guns firing at targets within eye sight (direct fire), while fitted with protective armour to survive all but the most significant battlefield threats. A propulsion system and tracked drive train also enable tanks to cross terrain at high speed to fight alongside infantry soldiers on broken ground.

Optimised APCs

Optimised to transport infantry and cargo around the battlespace, armoured personnel carriers (APC) are nonetheless compromised in firepower and protection, frequently equipped with self-protection weapons systems lacking the range and destructive effects of cannon. To optimise their mobility and carrying capacity, they may feature far less armour to shield them from direct fire, sacrificing some protection, limiting how and where they can transport and accompany infantry.

As tracked AFV designed to transport infantry into battle and fight with them in close combat, an evolution beyond the APC is the Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV). Like tanks, IFVs seek to close quickly with the enemy, but dismount their infantry virtually on top of an objective in order to maintain the tempo of the assault, so narrowing the window in which enemy weapons can be employed against unprotected infantry. With this mobility, they position the IFV to provide fire support, although this mobility must remain protected to ensure that IEDs and other such weapons do not kill unprotected soldiers.

UAE’s AFV Partnerships

Accounting for over 15 per cent of the world’s armoured vehicle fleet, the Middle East’s political situation calls for a strong army with highly advanced tools. Amongst the active procurement programmes in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, Otokar signed a major foreign partnership deal with the UAE in 2017, establishing a joint company with the state to produce RABDAN 8x8 tactical-wheeled armoured vehicles.

NIMR’s AV Range

A subsidiary of Emirates Defence Industries Company and the UAE’s leading AV producer, NIMR Automotive was awarded a contract in February 2017 to supply vehicles equipped with guided missiles.

NIMR procured the N35/JAIS from Denel Vehicle Systems in November 2015, resulting in the complete technology-transfer of the Denel RG-35 and its production to the UAE. Having already seen action in Yemen, the JAIS is a re-designation of NIMR’s N35 mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle series.

The JAIS benefits from STANAG-4569 Level 4-standard protection from ballistic fire, with mine and improvised explosive device (IED) blast protection of up to STANAG 4569 Level 4A and 4B. It can be armed with remote-controlled turrets and anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM).

HAFEET 630A artillery support vehicles are currently procured in two configurations: observation and command-and-control. The AJBAN 440A utility vehicles will be armed with ATGM, with all vehicle deliveries starting from 2018.

RABDAN 8x8 has a 28 tonne GVW, powered by a 600 hp and fitted with two rear screws to ensure a 10 km/h speed in water with maximum road speed of 105 km/h. The IFV version can host the driver, commander and gunner with 10 dismounts, with the vehicle fully protected against ballistic and mine threats at Level 4+.

The Rabdan is fitted with the turret with 100mm 2A70 gun and two coaxial weapons; namely, 30mm 2A72 automatic cannon and 7.62mm PKT/ PKTM machinegun from Russian-produced BMP-3 amphibious infantry fighting vehicles. The installation of the BMP-3 combat module on the optional Rabdan vehicles will increase the level of the infantry armoured vehicles fleet unification and replace its fleet of ageing BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles.

One month after the Otokar and NIMR deals were signed, Navistar Defence announced it had agreed to upgrade MaxxPro MRAPs.

Patria AMV

Patria signed agreements on vehicle deliveries to the UAE in November 2007 (5 vehicles) and November 2015 (40 vehicles), showcasing a Patria AMV vehicle with a Russian BMP-3 weapon system at the 2007 IDEX in Abu Dhabi and giving technical support in the system’s integration. In IDEX 2017, Patria showcased the new AMV28A with Kongsberg PROTECTOR Medium Calibre Turret (MCT-30) and the Commander’s Independent Weapon Station with 12.7 mm Machine Gun, Javelin AT launcher and Patria Nemo Container, which is the world’s first 120 mm mortar system integrated with a container.

The Patria AMV 8x8 is a modern and successful combat-proven armoured wheeled vehicle with outstanding test results all over the world. Of the 1,600 vehicles already ordered, they have been used in challenging conditions by customers in Finland, Poland, Slovenia, Croatia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates and Sweden.

Patria AMV’s structural solutions enable high payload capacity, protection and integration of heavy weapon systems. It is available in three different models as 40 cm stretched vehicles:

• Basic model with the following variants: armoured personnel carrier (APC), infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), command vehicle, ambulance, reconnaissance vehicle, anti-tank guided missile vehicle (ATGM), armoured repair and recovery vehicle (ARRV), and the 120 mm Patria Nemo mortar system.

• High Roof Model provides extra space at the vehicle rear (34 cm higher than the basic model), ideal for the vehicle’s use as a command, C4I, ambulance or workshop vehicle.

• Heavy Weapon Platform is optimised to carry large-calibre weapon systems, such as the 120 mm AMOS mortar system or the 105/120 mm cannon (MGS).

AMV offers the best ballistic protection level in its class, providing front sector protection against APFSDS rounds up to 30 mm and excellent defence against IEDs, EFPs and TNT mines up to 10 kg. Its high payload capacity allows integration of 7.62 mm machine guns, extending to a 105/120 mm cannon and a 120 mm AMOS/Patria Nemo mortar system.

Nexter’s Leclerc MBT

One of the world’s elite tanks, the Leclerc MBT, is one of 750 produced by Nexter and deployed by the French and UAE armies, acting as a tremendous deterrent in Kosovo and Lebanon.

The Leclerc featured at the 2017 IDEX had a new KMW Remote Controlled Stabilised Weapon Station (RCWS), a new commander sight and a new vision system, marking Nexter’s continuing investment.

The Leclerc is fitted with the FINDERS (Fast Information, Navigation, Decision and Reporting System) battlefield management system, also developed by Nexter Systems. With a colour map display showing the positions of the host tank, allied and hostile forces and designated targets, FINDERS can be used for route and mission planning.

The French Army has selected Nexter to equip its Leclerc main battle tanks with a terminal information system (TIS) called Icone (Ergonomic Communications and Navigation Interface). The initial phase of the contract covers the equipment of more than 100 Leclerc tanks, permitting the exchange of digitised data for tactical situations with the graphic orders displayed on a background map between the vehicle and higher-level command.

The 120mm 52-calibre smoothbore gun is fitted with a thermal sleeve and muzzle reference system, including a fully electrical aiming system for improved acceleration. While fumes are exhausted with a compressed air unit, the gun fires APFSD (armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot) and HEAT (high-explosive anti-tank) rounds at a rate of 12 rounds a minute.

The tank has an automatic loading system enabling cross-country fire-on-the-move against mobile targets and carrying 22 rounds of ready-to-use ammunition. The tank is also armed with a 12.7mm machine gun co-axial with the main gun and a roof-mounted 7.62 mm anti-aircraft gun.

The UAE has tropicalised the Leclerc main battle tank for tropical and desert conditions to meet national requirements, while a new powerpack and diesel auxiliary power unit has been installed and the hull extended at the back to accommodate the powerpack and larger fuel tanks. The Euro Powerpack features the MTU 883 V-12 diesel engine to provide 1,500hp, coupled with Renk HSWL295 TM automatic transmission.

Nexter has developed the Leclerc Battle management equipment (LBME), a derivative of FINDERS, for both domestic and export versions of the tank. The HL-70 commander’s sight has been replaced by the HL-80, manufactured by SFIM, while Leclerc tanks and Patria AMVs are currently being used in Yemen combat operations.

BTR-3U Armoured Personnel Carrier

The BTR-3U armoured personnel carrier was jointly developed in 2000 as a private venture by Ukrainian and UAE companies. As an improved variant of the Soviet BTR-80 armoured personnel carrier, it stands as a newly-built vehicle rather than an upgrade of the existing APC and represents a further development of the Ukrainian BTR-94.

Despite having a similar appearance, the BTR-3U has greater internal volume and a more powerful and fuel-efficient engine alongside many other improvements. While this vehicle was first publicly revealed in 2001, small numbers of the BTR-3U have been ordered by Azerbaijan, Ecuador, Kazakhstan and Nigeria.

Other operators include Iraq, Myanmar, Thailand and the UAE Indeed, this APC is being licence-produced in Myanmar for local needs from knock-down kits. Moreover, Ukraine expects to supplement its ageing APCs with the BTR-3 and, so far, at least 22 BTR-3E armoured personnel carriers have been delivered to Ukraine’s armed forces.

Originally, the APCs were built for the Thai Army, but were transferred to Ukrainian forces due to ongoing military conflict in the country. In 2016, the Ukrainian MoD ordered another 40 of these armoured personnel carriers, including variants, while deliveries commenced during the same year.

The BTR-3U is armed with Shkval armament module, fitted with a 30 mm dual-fed cannon, 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, 30 mm automatic grenade launcher and Konkurs anti-tank guided missiles. In addition, the weapons on the Shkval module can be replaced and fitted with different anti-tank missiles amongst other improvements.

The BTR-3U armour provides protection against small-arms fire and artillery shell splinters fitted with NBC protection and automatic fire suppression systems.

FNSS ACV 15 Family

The Armoured Combat Vehicle (ACV) is the generic designation for a tracked, diesel engine-powered, heavy armoured platform in the 13-15 tonne class, capable of performing combined arms operations with main battle tanks. The platform design allows integration of different subsystems for executing a variety of different roles, with the Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) chassis forming the base vehicle for all other members of ACV-15 Family of Vehicles.

The ACV-15 is a full tracked (5 road wheels), lightweight, low silhouette armoured vehicle capable of high-speed operations on desert conditions, poor infrastructure, roads and/or highways. The movement of the tracks propels and steers the vehicle on land, while access to the vehicle is through a hydraulically-operated ramp, with personnel door on the rear of the vehicle or through the driver and commander’s hatches on the top deck.

A large cargo hatch cover is provided in the top deck behind the turret, with access for servicing and maintenance of the power plant, located in the front right section of the vehicle through both internal covers and a cover on the front of the vehicle. Two armoured fuel compartments are located in the rear of the vehicle for weight distribution and crew safety, then separated from the vehicle by armour plate.

The hull is constructed of ballistic aluminium plate whose thickness varies on the different planes of the hull to meet ballistic requirements. The all-welded construction provides a watertight hull, with hatches, doors and other openings containing watertight seals.

The power plant and the driver and commander’s compartments in the forward area only use half the space available, with a turret located on the middle right section and the personnel compartment in the rear utilising the remaining half of the area. FNSS has produced more than 2,500 ACV-15s for Turkish Land Forces and other customers worldwide.

Reference Text/Photo:

www.nexter-group.fr

www.internationalarmouredvehicles.com

www.nimr.ae

www.fnss.com.tr

www.patria.fi

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