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As in previous year events, combat vehicle systems
captured much of the outdoor area of Eurosatory 2004 and a
significant part of the indoor section. On display were the new
versions of wheeled APCs which are planned for replacement of aging
APCs in several European armies. Two new 8x8 vehicles on display
were the French VBCI and German Boxer, both designed for similar
missions supporting light and medium weight mechanized forces,
designed for out of area operations and urban warfare scenarios, as
part of modern high mobility forces. The futuristic French
EBRC vehicle was not
presented here but was widely referred to in an impressive
presentation of future combat systems. The Boxer was displayed here
with the Virtus driver's
enhanced vision system. These two vehicles are
pioneering a new generation of APCs which is now supported by the
larger European industries such as Giat in France and KMW in
Germany. Sofar, such designs were pursued only by defense industries
in non-NATO countries such as the Pandur II (Styre Daimler Puch -
Austria), AMV (Finland - Patria) and Piranha (Mowag - Switzerland).
Plans for the development of new family of wheeled AFVs were also
announced, by Iveco. The first Iveco VBC command vehicle derivative
of the 8x8 Centauro 105mm mobile gun system was displayed here for
the first time. Other derivatives considered for this family include
an Armored IFV, equipped with 25mm turreted gun, armored ambulance,
an engineering vehicle, mobile mortar (fitted with the Thales
DRD2
system) and an up-gunned 120mm Centauro mobile gun system. A
different concept for close fire support was presented by the
Russian T-72
Tank Support System. The system packs rapid firing 2x30mm gun,
long range and missiles to support armored elements in close-in
combat in open terrain or urban terrain, effectively engaging
dismounted infantry and ATGW teams.
Another
newcomer was the Alvis Hagglunds
CV9035 MkIII tracked infantry
fighting vehicle (IFV) currently competing on a Dutch requirement
for over 200 AIFVs. Other displays presented by Alvis were oriented
toward the upcoming British Army FRES program, (CTA turrets for
Warrior), Skyranger, first introduced by Oerlikon and Mowag, was also
on display.
Intelligence gathering is a dominant factor in modern net-centric
warfare; scout and reconnaissance vehicles such as the
FENEK,
Stalker and Mantis are providing the essential organic eyes and ears
for land forces. Specialized recce vehicles are also part of the
French BOA net centric concept, visualized in details at the Thales
pavilion.
Upgrading programs were demonstrated for a number of armored
vehicles, including the Leclerc SXXI tank upgrade which will be
implemented in operational and new production tanks. Further
enhancements are expected to be included with AMX-10P and EBG
armored engineer vehicles. Among upgrades introduced for the
AMX-10RC are the introduction of thermal imager and BMC,
survivability improvements (top armor protection, Gallix
defensive
aids suit (KBCM), reinforced suspension, aided gearbox control,
improved stations ans stowage capacity. Among the
all-armored and mine protected vehicles shown here were the
MLV
displayed in both British and Italian versions, Mowag Eagle IV, the
Belgian Iguana and Australian Bushmaster mine protected vehicles and
German Dingo 2 which is also marketed by Textron Marine & Land
Systems.
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