Defense Technology International - May 2007 - (Page 30) FIGHTING VEHICLES INFANTRY bottom blasts. The ergonomic seats reduce fatigue and stress during extended operations, and eliminate the direct effect of a blast-induced shock wave because they don’t have rigid connections to the hull. The system also includes special restraint screens on the sides that limit movement of the head during a side blast. To enhance crew safety, the Namer will be equipped with Rafael’s Trophy active protection system (DTI July/August 2006, p. 38). Future developments may include a multi-purpose IFV with missile-launch capability, enabling engagement of targets beyond the line of sight. Program sources estimate the Namer will cost about $2 million apiece in a production run of at least 200 units. According to Brig. Gen. Amir Nir, Merkava program manager, the Namer could enter full production by 2010. Meanwhile, a new platform based on an evolutionary Merkava chassis could follow in 2015. Nir told DTI that for this version, he sees a versatile ground platform, weighing 35-40 tons, that while lighter than the current Merkava, still retains protection from all threats. The weight saving will be achieved primarily through replacement of the turret with a remote-controlled, integrated gun and missile station. The use of active-protection armor instead of conventional armor may yield further reductions. The vehicle could deploy unmanned systems and missiles for beyond-line-of-sight as well as direct-fire engagements. The first 65 of France’s 700 VBCI (Vehicule Blinde de Combat d’Infanterie) vehicles should be delivered to the French army by a consortium of Nexter (previously known as Giat Industries) and Renault Trucks almost 10 years after the army said it needed to replace its aging AMX-10P vehicles. Although the program has had setbacks, it is now “ahead of other vehicles on the market,” according to project manager Philippe Lemascon. So much so that the U.K. has expressed interest in the VBCI to meet its requirement for Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) vehicles. The first six prototypes have proven satisfactory. Two versions will be delivered: 550 VCI models, which carry nine personnel and their equipment, and 150 VPC command-post vehicles. The VCI has a one-man Dragar II turret armed with a stabilized M811 25-mm. dualfeed cannon, a 7.62-mm. coaxial machine gun and a command post for day and night observations. A driver, commander and gunner make up the crew. The VPC, meantime, carries a remotely-operated 12.7-mm. gun. Both versions have top speed of 100 km. (62 mph.)/hr., range of 750 km., and an aluminum all-welded hull fitted with titanium armor plates to protect against medium-caliber threats. This takes weight to 24-28 tons depending on the level of protection. The vehicle has eight independent wheels and a pneumatic suspension, and can be transported by train, ship or aircraft. The VBCI program has been plagued with difficulties from the start, but by the end of 2001, a full-size model of the vehicle was ready. And then disaster hit in February 2002 when the army tried the model out. Soldiers could not stand up inside the vehicle or get out easily; the commander risked decapitation by the revolving turret if he put his head out of the vehicle, and observation tools available to the squadron leader (now obliged to keep his head inside the vehicle) did not provide the same vision that the gunner was afforded. Since 2003, however, the program has stayed on track time- and budget-wise, with a cost of € 1.65 billion, up 16% from original estimates in 2000. The Italian army will start receiving in 2008 the first batch of 54 Freccia (Arrow) 8X8 wheeled IFVs, built under an initial € 310-million contract by CIO, the IvecoOto Melara consortium. The army requires up to 250 Freccia IFVs, which will be acquired at a relatively slow pace until the end of 2014, at a cost of more than €1.5 billion. Freccia is produced in several versions: a basic infantry combat vehicle, with a crew of 11 (driver, commander, gunner and eight infantrymen); an anti-tank version with twin launchers for Rafael Spike-ER fire-and-forget missiles and a 25-mm. gun turret; a mortar version fitted with a TDA 2R2M 120mm. mortar; and a command-post variant. Italy was among the first to outline a requirement for an 8X8 armored IFV, following its experience with the Centauro, an 8X8 armored vehicle fitted with a 105/52-mm. gun turret. The army acquired 400 vehicles starting in the late 1980s. The Freccia IFV is a derivative of the Centauro. This proved to be a sound approach, since it permitted the use of Centauro’s strong and stable hull as the baseline of the vehicle. BAE SYSTEMS HAGGLUNDS BAE Systems’ Hagglunds CV9035 Mk III, ordered by Denmark and the Netherlands, fires a 35-mm. Bushmaster III cannon. 30 DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL MAY 2007 www.aviationweek.com/dti http://www.aviationweek.com/dti Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Defense Technology International - May 2007 Contents Around the World Science Watch Tech Watch Warfare 2.0 Down to Earth Connection On Guard Free Flow Hybrid Subs Big and Bad Fast Craft Hard Landing Shore Patrol The Net Cutting Edge On the Record In Review Insight Defense Technology International - May 2007 Defense Technology International - May 2007 - (Page Cover1) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - (Page Cover2) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - (Page 3) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - (Page 4) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - (Page 5) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Contents (Page 6) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Contents (Page 7) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Around the World (Page 8) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Around the World (Page 9) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Science Watch (Page 10) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Tech Watch (Page 11) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Warfare 2.0 (Page 12A) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Warfare 2.0 (Page 12B) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Warfare 2.0 (Page 13A) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Warfare 2.0 (Page 13B) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Warfare 2.0 (Page 14) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Down to Earth (Page 15) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Down to Earth (Page 16) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Down to Earth (Page 17) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Connection (Page 18) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Connection (Page 19) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Connection (Page 20) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - On Guard (Page 21) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - On Guard (Page 22) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Free Flow (Page 23) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Hybrid Subs (Page 24) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Hybrid Subs (Page 25) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Hybrid Subs (Page 26) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Hybrid Subs (Page 27) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Big and Bad (Page 28) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Big and Bad (Page 29) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Big and Bad (Page 30) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Big and Bad (Page 31) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Big and Bad (Page 32) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Fast Craft (Page 33) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Fast Craft (Page 34) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Fast Craft (Page 35) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Hard Landing (Page 36) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Hard Landing (Page 37) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Hard Landing (Page 38) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Hard Landing (Page 39) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Shore Patrol (Page 40) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Shore Patrol (Page 41) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Shore Patrol (Page 42) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - The Net (Page 43) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Cutting Edge (Page 44) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Cutting Edge (Page 45) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - On the Record (Page 46) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - On the Record (Page 47) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - In Review (Page 48) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - In Review (Page 49) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Insight (Page 50) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Insight (Page Cover3) Defense Technology International - May 2007 - Insight (Page Cover4) http://www.nxtbookMEDIA.com
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