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Should we be looking at getting something like this?
But with 8 wheel, the 4 four wheel design looks worrysome.
From JANE's DEFENCE WEEKLY
Wildcat AFV addresses urban warfare scenario
ALON BEN-DAVID JDW Correspondent
Tel Aviv
http://www2.janes.com/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2005/images/p1116554.jpg
IThe Wildcat has three levels of modular add-on ballistic armour protection
IMI is aiming the Wildcat at the IDF's ongoing requirement for a wheeled armoured vehicle for urban warfare operations
Israel Military Industries (IMI) and American Trucks Company, partly owned by Terex and STV of the US, have co-developed an armoured fighting vehicle (AFV), dubbed the Wildcat.
Protected against rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and mines, the Wildcat, to be unveiled at the upcoming AUSA 2005 Annual Meeting & Exposition, is designed for urban warfare, as well as major combat scenarios.
"We have analysed the experience of the Israel Defence Force (IDF) in urban warfare in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, as well as those of the US forces in Iraq, and recognised the growing need for high manoeuvrability vehicles that are protected against RPGs," IMI Chief Executive Officer Avi Felder told JDW.
"The IDF consulted us in the process, although Wildcat was not developed specifically to its requirements," he added.
Based on a Tatra 4 x 4 chassis, with a monocoque hull structure, the Wildcat can accommodate 12 fully equipped personnel as well as logistic support and onboard weapons. With its full armour suite, the Wildcat's maximum weight is 12 tonnes.
The Wildcat has three levels of modular add-on ballistic armour protection:
* Basic level: passive armour protection against 7.62 mm armour piercing (AP) munition;
* Level 2: passive armour protection against 14.5mm AP munition; and
* Level 3: explosive reactive armour (ERA) protection against RPGs and other shoulder-launched missiles
The hybrid armour suite, combining passive and reactive armour, was developed by IMI, with similar versions installed on the IDF's Merkava Mk 4 main battle tanks (MBTs), M113 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) and IMI's Sabra upgrade for Turkish M60A1 MBTs.
"A unique advantage of the Wildcat is the crew hull, which is elevated one metre from ground level, providing better protection against mines and IEDs," said Felder. "In comparison to the M113 APCs that we are upgrading for the IDF, the sides of the Wildcats are equally protected, but with improved protection from IEDs compared to the M113 where the belly is elevated only 30 cm from the ground."
Entrance to the Wildcat is through an armoured rear door, a configuration proven in other IDF platforms to provide more protection in urban warfare situations.
The vehicle is equipped with IMI's WAVE - assault stabilised remotely operated weapon station, with firing ports enabling 360 º fighting capabilities, as well as firing on the move. Observation sights include a charge-coupled device camera and periscopes allowing crew members to navigate while operating weapons. In addition, the Wildcat is equipped with anti-mine collapsible seating, a fire extinguishing system, air-conditioning, and nuclear, chemical and biological protection suite.
"Overall, the Wildcat can carry the same personnel strength as the Stryker, with similar manoeuvrability, but provides better protection for a cost of less than 50 per cent of the Stryker," Felder told JDW.
The unit price of the Wildcat is estimated between USD500,000 and USD600,000. "Also, the operation and maintenance costs are significantly lower.
"We have learned that operations in an urban environment require an appearance less threatening than an MBT or heavy APC and designed the Wildcat to appear less intimidating," said Felder.
IMI is clearly aiming the Wildcat at the IDF's ongoing requirement for a wheeled armoured vehicle for urban warfare operations. For more than two years the IDF has been seeking an armoured vehicle providing protection against RPGs and manoeuvrability for the confined operating conditions of the Gaza Strip and West Bank.
Several General Dynamics Land Systems Stryker 8 x 8 medium armoured vehicles were sent to Israel for evaluation, but the IDF was deterred by the price and was concerned at the lack of sufficient protection for IDF requirements.
A requirement for 100 Krauss-Maffei Wegmann Dingo 2 4 x 4 all protected vehicles was issued and approved by the US government, but was later withdrawn from reconsideration.
"Our natural potential markets are primarily the IDF and the US armed forces," said Felder. "However, we believe that the Wildcat offers a unique solution for the needs of many armed forces."
But with 8 wheel, the 4 four wheel design looks worrysome.
From JANE's DEFENCE WEEKLY
Wildcat AFV addresses urban warfare scenario
ALON BEN-DAVID JDW Correspondent
Tel Aviv
http://www2.janes.com/janesdata/mags/jdw/history/jdw2005/images/p1116554.jpg
IThe Wildcat has three levels of modular add-on ballistic armour protection
IMI is aiming the Wildcat at the IDF's ongoing requirement for a wheeled armoured vehicle for urban warfare operations
Israel Military Industries (IMI) and American Trucks Company, partly owned by Terex and STV of the US, have co-developed an armoured fighting vehicle (AFV), dubbed the Wildcat.
Protected against rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and mines, the Wildcat, to be unveiled at the upcoming AUSA 2005 Annual Meeting & Exposition, is designed for urban warfare, as well as major combat scenarios.
"We have analysed the experience of the Israel Defence Force (IDF) in urban warfare in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, as well as those of the US forces in Iraq, and recognised the growing need for high manoeuvrability vehicles that are protected against RPGs," IMI Chief Executive Officer Avi Felder told JDW.
"The IDF consulted us in the process, although Wildcat was not developed specifically to its requirements," he added.
Based on a Tatra 4 x 4 chassis, with a monocoque hull structure, the Wildcat can accommodate 12 fully equipped personnel as well as logistic support and onboard weapons. With its full armour suite, the Wildcat's maximum weight is 12 tonnes.
The Wildcat has three levels of modular add-on ballistic armour protection:
* Basic level: passive armour protection against 7.62 mm armour piercing (AP) munition;
* Level 2: passive armour protection against 14.5mm AP munition; and
* Level 3: explosive reactive armour (ERA) protection against RPGs and other shoulder-launched missiles
The hybrid armour suite, combining passive and reactive armour, was developed by IMI, with similar versions installed on the IDF's Merkava Mk 4 main battle tanks (MBTs), M113 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) and IMI's Sabra upgrade for Turkish M60A1 MBTs.
"A unique advantage of the Wildcat is the crew hull, which is elevated one metre from ground level, providing better protection against mines and IEDs," said Felder. "In comparison to the M113 APCs that we are upgrading for the IDF, the sides of the Wildcats are equally protected, but with improved protection from IEDs compared to the M113 where the belly is elevated only 30 cm from the ground."
Entrance to the Wildcat is through an armoured rear door, a configuration proven in other IDF platforms to provide more protection in urban warfare situations.
The vehicle is equipped with IMI's WAVE - assault stabilised remotely operated weapon station, with firing ports enabling 360 º fighting capabilities, as well as firing on the move. Observation sights include a charge-coupled device camera and periscopes allowing crew members to navigate while operating weapons. In addition, the Wildcat is equipped with anti-mine collapsible seating, a fire extinguishing system, air-conditioning, and nuclear, chemical and biological protection suite.
"Overall, the Wildcat can carry the same personnel strength as the Stryker, with similar manoeuvrability, but provides better protection for a cost of less than 50 per cent of the Stryker," Felder told JDW.
The unit price of the Wildcat is estimated between USD500,000 and USD600,000. "Also, the operation and maintenance costs are significantly lower.
"We have learned that operations in an urban environment require an appearance less threatening than an MBT or heavy APC and designed the Wildcat to appear less intimidating," said Felder.
IMI is clearly aiming the Wildcat at the IDF's ongoing requirement for a wheeled armoured vehicle for urban warfare operations. For more than two years the IDF has been seeking an armoured vehicle providing protection against RPGs and manoeuvrability for the confined operating conditions of the Gaza Strip and West Bank.
Several General Dynamics Land Systems Stryker 8 x 8 medium armoured vehicles were sent to Israel for evaluation, but the IDF was deterred by the price and was concerned at the lack of sufficient protection for IDF requirements.
A requirement for 100 Krauss-Maffei Wegmann Dingo 2 4 x 4 all protected vehicles was issued and approved by the US government, but was later withdrawn from reconsideration.
"Our natural potential markets are primarily the IDF and the US armed forces," said Felder. "However, we believe that the Wildcat offers a unique solution for the needs of many armed forces."
