KMW, Rheinmetall to showcase armored multipurpose vehicles at Eurosatory 2010

The German-based companies Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Rheinmetall have placed on display before the international audience gathering at Eurosatory 2010 one of the four prototypes of their newly developed family of armoured multipurpose vehicles (AMPV) in the 5.3 to 9.3-ton class. The vehicle, which has not been only developed for the Bundeswehr’s GFF/GTF project, having requested protected C4I and mission-specific vehicles as well as protected transport capacity, is designed taking into account the operational experiences made by the German armed forces in Afghanistan and elsewhere. High levels of tactical, operational and strategic mobility compelling combat effectiveness and maximum survivability are key requirements imposed on modern military vehicles today – whether they are designed primarily for combat, command and control, mission-specific roles or transport. In contemporary conflicts where the threat is often asymmetric yet deadly, protecting troops deployed in harm’s way from hostile fire, IED attacks, CBRN agents as well as extreme climate conditions has become a top priority for commanders worldwide: around the clock and in every branch of every service. According to KMW the AMPV has been built to perfectly cope with these demanding scenarios. The vehicle on display at Eurosatory 2010 is an AMPV 2, of which four prototypes are currently undergoing company trials. The vehicle is slightly over five metres long, two metres wide and two metres high. Empty, it weighs 7.3 tons and can carry a two-ton payload. The highly protected vehicle cell consists of a self-supporting steel hull with composite armour. Spall liners, reinforced flooring and cellular design offer protection against mines and IEDs, while add-on armour modules provide extra ballistic protection. As the manufacturer claims, a key characteristic of the vehicle is its high mobility which contributes to a vehicle’s overall battlefield survivability. Fitted with a robust chassis featuring independent wheel suspension, the vehicle is well suited for modern combat scenarios such as in Afghanistan. Additionally, automatic transmission, permanent all-wheel drive, automatic differential locking management and combat wheels with a central tyre inflation system combine to assure mobility even in this challenging terrain.