
A
brand new vehicle shown for the first time was the Russian
SPM-1 Tigr (Gaz 233034) intended for use by Russia's
ministry of internal affairs, as a transport, operational
and service vehicle. The Tigr produced by Arzamas Machinery
Plant of Nizhni Novgorod, Russia is about the same size
of the AM General Humvee. It is offered in several five
door configurations, accommodating four, 1+3, 2+7 or
2+4 soldiers. The vehicle has integral protection at
Russian level class V (comparable to NATO level 2) protecting
from artillery fragments, grenades, and small arms up
to 7.62 from 10 meters. Tigr can travel at a speed of
up to 140 km/h on highways, or 80 km/h cross country
and has fuel endurance for 900 km travel.
Nexter unveiled the Aravis at Eurosatory, claimed to
be the most protected multi-mission vehicle in its category.
This new 12 ton class 4x4 is designed to offer protection
defeating 14.5 mm threats, 10 kg mine (under the belly
or wheels), artillery splinters and shrapnel from nearby
155 mm rounds and effective protection from IED attacks.
All protection levels are complying with the high 'level
4' standard. Nexter uses a Unimog chassis (already used
in other heavy armored vehicles produced by Swiss MOWAG
and Krauss Maffai (KMW) Aravis maintains high tactical
mobility on road and cross country. It is transportable
by air in a C-130, A400M and C17. The vehicle is designed
with large internal protected space of 9.5 cubic meters,
carrying a crew of two and four or six soldiers, or
other tactical equipment (command and control, reconnaissance
equipment etc.) The crew compartment is accessible through
multiple side doors. At Eurosatory 2008 the pre-production
Aravis vehicle carried a remotely controlled weapon
station.

Renault AMC 6x6 vehicle is a 20 ton class multi-purpose
armored vehicle designed as troop and weapon carrier
(mortar, gun), support and reconnaissance vehicle. At
a combat gross weight of 18 – 23 tons, the AMC
can carry net payload of 6.5 to 10.5 tons, depending
on configuration. The vehicle is powered by a 370 hp
engine which can be uprated up to 460 hp diesel (Euro
4/5 standard) coupled to an automatic transmission.
Utilizing an overhead gun position, the fighting compartment
is fully available for seating accommodation and combat
load for eight soldiers.
A
French version of the MRAP was presented by Renault.
The armored trucks offered at weight levels ranging
from 15 to 22 tons, are powered by the 320 hp Euro 4/5
engine, traveling on road at a maximum speed of 90 km/h.
The vehicle is designed with a V shaped hull, and has
an integral high level of protection against ballistic,
mines and IEDs. The vehicle is coming in 10 and 12 seat
configurations. Other versions of Renault's armored
vehicles include a heavily armored version of the Sherpa
3A HI (High Intensity) 4x4 vehicle designed for reconnaissance
and liaison missions. At Eurosatory Renault demonstrated
the vehicle with remotely controlled overhead weapon
station, further enhancing crew protection.
Rheinmetall
Defense brought the highly protected GEFAS demonstrator
vehicle to Eurosatory 2008, two years after showing
the vehicle's mockup here (Eurosatory 2006). The new
design has been subjected to several survivability tests
that confirmed its protection exceeds the current standards
for high level armor protection. This impressive vehicle
employs a revolutionary design which, according to Rheinmetall,
'is opening a fresh chapter in the history of armored
vehicles'. GEFAS will be introduced as a family of modular
highly mobile vehicle designs in the 15-28 ton weight
class offering protection levels far overmatching current
asymmetric threats. Rheinmetall Defense is leading an
industry team sharing the GEFAS as a privately financed
developmental effort. The team includes engine maker
MTU, ESW and STW Sensor-Technik, armor protection specialist
IBD and Timoney Technology of Ireland.
In Germany, the Bundeswehr’s requirements for
highly protected armored vehicles are being addressed
by Krauss Maffei's "protected command and role-specific
vehicle designated GFF-4. This highly armored 6x6 vehicle
is designed for command, control and forward service
support roles. Similar capabilities to be offered with
smaller vehicles are addressed by a collaborative effort
pursued byKMW and Rheinmetall defense that introduced
here new class of armored multi-purpose vehicle family
weighing 5 – 9 tons. This carrier designated Armored
Multi Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) should be ready for serial
delivery by 2011.
Another German vehicle unveiled, was the GP-F2T prototype,
carrying the Fennek platform into a modular, scalable
design. GP-F2T is a generic, flexible platform which
could be tailored to different missions. Accommodating
a wider variety of mission payloads, the GP-F2T can
be designed with a larger crew and payload compartment,
and elevating mast. It is fitted with two engines (fore
and aft location) separately powering the front and
rear axels, offering dual redundant propulsion and automotive
system and better maneuverability and cross-country
mobility.
Hatehof, a specialist vehicle designer and manufacturer
from Israel is introducing a range of Xtream highly
protected vehicles at Eurosatory. The company is already
producing the latest wheeled armored vehicle operated
by the Israel Defense Forces – the 8.6 ton Wolf,
under cooperation with Rafael. The heavy version of
the Xtream is powered by a Cummins ISBE 275 turbo diesel
engine coupled to an Allison 3000 automatic transmission
and Axeltech transfer case. This high mobility, protected,
all terrain vehicle, is capable of fording water obstacles
1.1 meter deep, negotiate 36° side slopes and 60%
gradient. Coming in two protection and weight levels
of 9 or 16 ton configurations Xtream carries eight soldiers.
The vehicle is protected to STANAG 3, 4 and anti-RPG
protection levels. The vehicle is equipped with front
and rear steering, offering a turning radius of only
6.4 meters, uncommon for vehicles of this weight class.
The new vehicle family was designed to meet specific
requirements for highly protected high mobility vehicle.
Other articles included in our Eurosatory 2008
focus are: