Defense Technology International - October 2007 - (Page 18) DISPATCHES GLOBAL ULTIMATE MRAP Rheinmetall’s mix-and-match Gefas can be tailored to threats JORIS JANSSEN LOK • KIEL, GERMANY ext year will be critical for a German industry initiative that seeks to deliver the ultimate in mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicles. Rheinmetall Landsysteme is leading the Gefas (Geschutztes Fahrzeugsystem) program to develop a high-tech, diesel-electric, modular armored vehicle for use outside Germany. Gefas vehicles will be assembled in various configurations to counter asymmetrical threats. The survivability of the vehicles and their crews is crucial to the success of these missions, and to their acceptance by public opinion at home. Assembly of a technology demonstrator started at the company’s main plant in Kassel in July. Following a dynamic rollout planned for April or May, the Gefas demonstrator will be subjected to a grueling series of mobility trials and demonstrations through 2008. The Gefas concept is based on a set of modular building blocks that can be used to assemble 4 X 4, 6 X 6 or 8 X 8 vehicles weighing 12-26 tons. Rheinmetall teamed with five partners: MTU Friedrichshafen, responsible for the 410-kw., four-cylinder 890 Series diesel engine; ESW, supplier of the electric power-generating system; Sensor-Technik Wiedemann (STW) , developing the motor technology that is key to the electric drive; IBD Deisenroth Engineering, providing armor systems; and Timoney Technology (in Ireland), contributing axle technology. Gefas is not targeting Germany’s GFF program for new protected vehicles (DTI September, p. 38). “Gefas is not a stowage, volume-oriented vehicle, but a mission-oriented platform for a broad spectrum of tasks under high threats,” Rheinmetall says. At the heart of each vehicle is a secure, protected safety cell that accommodates crew and passengers. This is suspended from the roof of a load-carrying frame to help absorb the shock of mine explo18 N The modular design of the Gefas vehicle yields configurations that can be quickly assembled. sions. The cell and framework form the vehicle’s main module, which can be surrounded by armor panels. The secure crew cell is designed for six: a driver and commander plus four others (troops, sensor and weapon operators or passengers). Bins for personal equipment are on the outside to save space. Smaller crew cells are possible as well, says Peter Priebs, project manager. The power pack and generator are housed in a dedicated module, from which electric power is provided to two, three or four axle modules, depending on vehicle configuration. Each axle module incorporates electric drive motors (one per wheel), suspension systems and two wheels. This concept does away with a main drive shaft, which, Priebs says, can “turn into a secondary projectile in case of a mine explosion.” The electric drive allows the vehicle to move silently with the main diesel motor off. “Even if we have just one axle module functioning, we can still pull ourselves out of a critical situation,” Priebs claims. Standard connectors and interfaces permit modules to be exchanged and rearranged as necessary, he says. “It’ll take a small crew 30 min. to complete a module change.” The connectors between the modules will be protected against sand, dust and mud, “but we still have to assess how well they withstand mine explosions,” he notes. The 7.8-meter (25.6ft.)-long basic configuration, unveiled as a wooden mockup at last year’s Eurosatory show in Paris, represented a 17.5-ton 4 X 4 with a 1.5-ton payload, for convoy protection, escort, patrol, command-and-control or reconnaissance missions. Payloads for convoy protection include high-power microwave transmitters for use against improvised explosive devices (IEDs), remote-control weapon systems, electro-optical sensors, laseroptical sniper-sight detectors and multispectral smoke-grenade launchers. A Gefas vehicle can protect its occupants from threats like small-arms fire (to 12.7 mm.), antiarmor missiles, antitank and antipersonnel mines. Gefas has a V-shaped hull to defl ect the blast from mines and IEDs, a common feature on blast-resistant vehicles. The 2.55-meter-wide Gefas (5.4-meter wheelbase) will have a turning circle of 13.6 meters, “better than a Humvee,” says Priebs. Ground clearance is 0.7 meters, top speed is over 70 kph. (43.5 mph.) and the autonomous range is more than 700 km. (435 mi.). The vehicle will be able to climb 60% gradients and traverse 1.5 meters of water. I DTI’s weblog, Ares, has a post, ‘Ultimate MRAP,’ with photos of the Gefas mock-up. Go to DTI’s homepage: aviationweek.com/dti and click on ‘Extras for this issue’ under ‘DTI Interactive.’ www.aviationweek.com/dti DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL OCTOBER 2007 RHEINMETALL CONCEPTS http://aviationweek.com/dti http://www.aviationweek.com/dti
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