There have been 3 new 8x8 vehicles developed in Europe all by sound and proven manufacturers in the last few years. The French VBCI, the German Boxer and the Finnish Patria AMV.
The AMV has hit the ground running and already developed a fearsome reputation in the War in Afghanistan and is dubbed “The Green Devil" by the Taliban and it’s already over taken its European competitors on the export market.
Foreign Operators include:
Croatian Ground Army:
In January 2009 an additional 42 were ordered to compliment the 84 ordered in 2007. It entered service in 2008.
Finnish Army:
Developed for its own requirements as a replacement of the 6x6 Patria Pasi, they use two models, the standard APC (62 ordered) is designated the XA-360 and mounts the established PROTECTOR M151 Remote Weapon Station which can be mounted with either the M2 .50cal MG or the Heckler & Koch GMG automatic grenade launcher. The second model is the XA-361 and is equipped with the Patria Nemo remote-controlled 120mm mortar turret. 24 have been ordered.
Army of the Republic of Macedonia:
In order to save on costs incurred of carrying out field trials, the country has stated it will purchase the same models its neighbour Croatia is purchasing following their field trials in 2007. The number to be ordered has yet to be publicly announced.
Polish Land Forces:
As the largest operator and licensed manufacturer, their modified models have seen active service and come under fire in Afghanistan and Chad, developing a great deal of respect from their enemies.
Designated the Kołowy Transporter Opancerzony Rosomak which translates into Wheeled Armoured Vehicle “Wolverine”, the KTO Rosomak will replace the ageing OT-64 SKOT 8x8 wheeled APC, which being amphibious has required the Rosomak to also be fitted with amphibious (unlike other AMV’s) equipment.
The standard combat vehicle entered service in 2004 and is equipped with a two man turret (gunner & commander). Designed by Italian firm Oto Melara, the Hitfist-30P turret is equipped with a 30mm ATK Mk 44 chain gun and a coaxial 7.62mm Polish UKM-2000 MG. The 30mm main gun is controlled by a modern FCS and thermal sights. 313 of these vehicles have been ordered.
For fighting in Afghanistan, there have been two types of modifications to the combat vehicles. The first is the M1. It includes greater situational awareness (externally mounted CCTV with monitors for the commander) and further steel plate inserts of the modular armour. The additional weight has restricted the vehicles operations to not include amphibious capabilities. The second modified vehicle is the M3. It is the M1 but is equipped with the OSS-D open turret with 40mm belt fed Mk19 grenade launcher or the Russian designed WKM-B .50cal MG.
377 base vehicles have been ordered which will be used for the following variants:
Łowcza - Air defence command vehicle equipped with Łowcza system.
S - Armoured personnel carrier variant for two anti-tank teams armed with fourth generation Israeli Spike Anti-tank guided missiles.
WD (Wóz Dowodzenia – lit. translated Command Vehicle) - command vehicle for battalion commander.
WEM (Wóz Ewakuacji Medycznej – lit. translated Medical Evacuation Vehicle) - armoured ambulance, crew of 3, capable to transport 3 injured in stretched position and additional four in sitting position.
Manufactured by the Polish firm WMZ following the successful acquisition in 2002 of its licence to manufacturer the vehicle, they are subsequently allowed to export. Malaysia who purchased the Polish Twardy MBT held field trials in 2006 of the Rosomak.
Slovenian Armed Forces:
135 have been ordered and first deliveries to Slovenia were made in November 2008. 12 will be equipped with the new non-manned 120mm NEMO mortar turret, which is a single barrelled weapon in a futuristic looking squared shape. The standard APC is fitted with the PROTECTOR M151 Remote Weapon Station. The first 13 vehicles were manufactured in Finland and delivered in December 2007. The rest are being manufactured by Slovenian companies Gorenje and Rotis. They started delivery in December 2008.
South Africa:
As one of the most prolific manufacturers and operators of wheeled APC’s in the world, the decision to purchase and licence build the AMV has been a big move by South Africa and a major success for Patria. Africa has deployed for over 30 years vast numbers of mines and it was South Africa that developed the V-Shape hull to minimise their effect. The AMV’s mine protection has been the only wheeled AFV to meet the nations protection requirements. In May 2007 The Hoefyster program was announced as a Partnership between South African Firm Denel Land Systems and Patria which was set to produce a new 8x8 APC. Later that same month the contract was signed between both firms, with Denel manufacturing 70% of the total value of the contract and Patria the other 30%. 264 vehicles designated “Badger” have been ordered which will be phased orders over a 10yr period with first deliveries expected in 2011. There will be five versions: a standard infantry carrier, a command car, fire support variant, mortar carrier and tank hunter, costing roughly $145 million (US).
Sweden:
The purchase of 113 vehicles has been halted (as of the 29/10/09), not due to issues with the vehicle, but by BAE Hagglunds who had been developing a similar line of Modular tracked & wheeled vehicles for Sweden went to court claiming issues with competition biding and procurement process by the Swedish Government Agency in charge of purchasing the vehicle. The Courts are in the process of reviewing the case. If the purchase goes through, then the vehicles will be built by Patria, but with certain technical support coming from Sweden.
In August 2010 it was annouced that Sweden is going ahead with the purchase of a 113 vehicles and that Swedish subcontractors are providing protection, automotive, suspension, propulsion and electronic systems for the Swedish AMV's. Subcontractors include Scania, SSAB who are providing steel parts for the armour and Akers Krutbruk are providing the protection suite.
The vehicles will be produced in Finland. First deliveries will be made in late 2013 and the vehicles will become operational with the Swedish Army in 2014. By that time the new AMV will replace tracked vehicles currently in service, including the Swedish produced PBV302, and Hägglunds BV206(S) and Russian origin MT-LB, as well as several wheeled 6×6 APC variants of the Patria PASI Series. Eventually the FMV could buy up to 150 AMVs, as the former models are fully retired.
United Arab Emirates:
Operating the largest fleet of BMP-3 (600) an AMV mounting the BMP-3’s turret was publicly displayed in the UAE. If this combination was chosen it would help maintain a good supply chain with only one type of munitions required. The BMP-3 turret mounts a 100mm main gun which can fire anti-tank missiles and has a 30mm auto cannon. Its expected that the AMV will work along side the BMP-3 but offer a greater level of mobility, however the UAE is keeping important information about the purchase close to its chest and including if it will be building the vehicle under licence at the same time as production in Finland.
So what is that makes the AMV so desirable?
If the military’s of around the world have learnt anything from the occupation of Iraq and the War in Afghanistan, it is that the mine and the IED are the biggest threat to modern AFV’s, including the ever increasing size of IED’s, which continuously requires the revaluation as to more resistant protection. The AMV by design is a modular vehicle and gives it users the flexibility to ever increase its protection using those modules, be it using them as a form of spaced armour or inserting various ceramics, be it number or combination. Its weight (16 to 26 tons) is less than its competitors like the German Boxer so gives the vehicle a greater strategic mobility, that is, its easier to transport by existing plane and railway. Its hydraulic suspension which adjusts each wheel individually, has also given the vehicle an overall fantastic level of mobility and aids the vehicles capability to have increased levels of protection by coping with the subsequent increased weight.
The Stats:
It has a 3 man crew (commander, driver, gunner) 8 troops
Weight varies 16,000 to 26,000 kg
Length 7.7 m (25 ft) Width 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in) Height 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in)
Engine DI 12 Scania Diesel360 kW (480 hp) or 405 kW (543 hp)
Power/weight 15.6 kW/t (21.2 PS/t) (max weight)
Suspension 8×8 wheeled or 6×6 wheeled
Operational range 800 km (500 mi)
Speed over 100 km/h (60 mph) on land up to 10 km/h (6.2 mph) in water