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2021-03-01

TITUS Overrides Hybrid Warfare Constraints

Modern hybrid warfare poses innumerable challenges and many lives of soldiers are lost in the battlefield not necessarily due to direct combat, but also other factors such as improvised explosive device (IED) and mines. TITUS (Tactical Infantry Transport & Utility System), the latest generation 6x6 armoured vehicle successfully showcased at IDEX 2021 by Nexter and TATRA TRUCKS, offers a robust solution.

Designed and manufactured for extreme protection, TITUS provides a wide response to all asymmetric threats: mobility, protection, ergonomy and flexible deployment.

The vehicle was earlier unveiled at DSEI , the International Defence & Security event in London.

Continuing a famous long lineage, including Leclerc (MBT), VBCI (IFV) and ARAVIS (highly protected 4x4), all combat proven in many theatres of operation, Nexter has combined the best of its experience and technology in TITUS.

The variants of Nexter TITUS include a target acquisition vehicle, command post, ambulance, and self-propelled 120mm mortar vehicle, while other variants such as urban area, mobility support and recovery and re-supply vehicles are available on request.

The development of the vehicle has been progressive. It took two years of internal development and investment by the company to provide a cost-efficient wheeled armoured vehicle solution.

By its modularity, TITUS family is dedicated to every unit, facing different threats in an evolving environment. From Infantry transport to combat support and combat service support functions, from Peace Keeping Operations to Counter-Insurgency, TITUS has brought the technology into the heart of the action.

While it has been designed to meet the military markets of the Middle East and Asia, TATRA TRUCKS Inc. and NEXTER SYSTEMS have already agreed to strengthen their cooperation for the new state-of-the-art TITUS based on a modified 6x6 TATRA TRUCKS chassis.

As per the pact, TATRA TRUCKS will be responsible as prime contractor for the preparation of the bids and the integration of the TITUS vehicles earmarked for the Czech and Slovak armed forces, with the support of NEXTER SYSTEMS, acting as design authority.

“Nexter and TATRA TRUCKS are looking forward to localising products in the UAE to provide regional countries with opportunities of Transfer of Technology (ToT) and accessibility to international technologies,” according to Olivier Travert, Senior Vice President, Sales, Nexter Group.

Armament

Flexibility offers a huge advantage. TITUS can be equipped with any kind of Remote Control Weapon Station from 7.62mm to 25mm, and 40mm Grenade Launchers as well, depending on the level of threats and type of missions. It can be fitted with a Nexter ARX20 remotely controlled turret located on the front left side of the top of the hull, as exhibited in IDEX 2021.

The ARX20 remotely controlled weapon station (RWS) developed and built by Nexter mounts the 20mm 10M621 automatic gun, and fires 20x102 NATO ammunition at a rate of 750 rds./min. A 7.62mm coaxial machine gun is mounted to the right of the main armament and a bank of four smoke grenade dischargers is mounted at the front of the turret.

The new weapon station provides greater range and effect, compared to common RWS operating 12.7mm weapons while offering reduced weight and improved compactness, compared to equivalent 25-30mm turrets.

Nexter and its partner EOS are also working on the integration of a 30x113mm turret on TITUS.

Favourable Design

The layout of the Nexter TITUS is similar to MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) category vehicle with the engine at the front, the crew compartment in the middle, and the troop’s area at the rear.

The APC (Armoured Personnel Carrier) version of the TITUS Nexter has seating for 10 dismounted troops, a commander station, and a gunner and driver in the front. The front part of the vehicle and the windows provide protection against small arms firing and shell splinters, Level 2, STANAG 4569 and Level 2 for the crew and soldiers compartment able to withstand a 50 kg IED blast.

The TITUS can be fitted with add-on armour to increase the protection to Level 3 for the engine bonnet and armoured glasses, and Level 4 for the crew and soldiers compartment, with IED protection of 150 kg blast, increased by the original Nexter SAFEPRO design.

The vehicle is also equipped with SAFEPRO seats to increase the motorised infantryman’s survival. Importantly, it protects the lower limbs with the foot-rest, the pelvis and the spine with the patented seat system and the nape and the head with the head-rest and 4-point harness.

The SAFEPRO seat limits shocks suffered by the infantryman in case of an explosion of blast-effect mines or IEDs. The front part of the hull is equipped with a large windscreen which enables the crew to have wide forward visibility. One door is available on each side at the front of the hull, with a small bulletproof area on the upper part. Each side of the troop’s compartment is equipped with three small bulletproof windows and firing ports, which are covered when the add-on armour is fitted on the vehicle.

Exceptional Mobility

The Nexter TITUS offers exceptional mobility through its Tatra 6x6 chassis coupled with a Cummins 500 Hp engine coupled to an automatic gearbox with 6 forward and 1 reverse speeds.

The vehicle has front and rear wheeled steering with Allison automatic transmission offering 6x4 drives on roads with full 6x6 drives over difficult terrain. The chassis consists of a central backbone tube and independently suspended swinging half-axles. The TITUS can run at a maximum road speed of 110 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 700 km.

It can cross a vertical step of 650 mm and a fording depth of 1.2m without preparation. The vehicle is able to negotiate slope up to 60% and side slope to 30 per cent.

Accessories

The Nexter TITUS is integrated within the C4I network through the last generation of electronic combat equipment, as the Nexter Battlefield Management System FINDERS provides situational awareness, enhanced by a perimetric camera system, and reconnaissance robot (NERVA LG), allowing safe dismounting. The TITUS is fitted with four cameras providing 360° coverage.

Middle East Focus

In an interview with Nation Shield, Olivier Travert and Tomas Mynarcik, Director – Defence Programmes, stated that the TITUS provides much-needed protection to the field soldiers, especially from IEDs and mines. It is ready for production locally for customers looking to expand their capabilities.

Olivier Travert elaborated: “Nexter is a well-known company providing defence makers, artillery systems, ammunition, and weapon systems for several armies. TITUS, which is designed and produced jointly with TATRA, is a very successful product. We are trying to promote it in the UAE to meet the need of regional forces.”

Talking about the importance of the partnership with Nexter, Tomas Mynarcik said, “The partnership is critical to us as it allows us to bring a unique product like TITUS to our home country, the Czech Republic. We are looking forward to expanding that reach in the Middle East too.”

According to Olivier Travert, protection is the key. “We are not talking about basic safety, but protection from IED and mines for the soldiers inside the vehicles is of utmost importance. I think the customer in the region understands this, which is why the vehicle has been receiving interest from various delegations.”

The TITUS has already found at least three buyers, and the makers are hoping to find new buyers in the region. He adds, “What is unique in our joint proposal is our capability to build this solution locally. We are looking forward to partner with local armed forces and businesses. This is in line with the country’s vision of building local capabilities, which I believe can create a good opportunity for both our companies.”

Mynarcik added that TATRA Trucks has already established its local subsidiary to offer a unified channel for local services and solutions assembly and local control of the work.

Customisable

To meet all the threat environments, TITUS is customisable in different configurations:

• Low intensity: 7.62mm RCWS, protection level 2, violence control equipment, dozer blade, non-lethal weapons.

• Conventional warfare: 12,7mm or 20mm RCWS, 40mm grenade launchers, protection level 3, jammers, shooting detectors mounted with ARX®25.

• Counter-Insurgency / Military Operation in Urban Terrain: Additional Light Machine Guns on the back, protection level 4, bar armour against RPG, additional armour on windows, cable cutters, assault ladder.

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