High-altitude flight: Eagle V crashes out of the nest
The Swiss Army deployed four newest armored Eagle V 4x4 armored vehicles in a specialized version of the disposal of explosive items. They are equipped with a Kongsberg Protector combat module armed with an 12,7-mm machine gun and 76-mm grenade launchers.
After extended tests, the Eagle IV and Eagle V armored vehicles were selected by the German army. An enlarged version of 6x6 has been developed. Let's get accustomed to the family of these machines.
After the success of the Eagle I, II, and III LTV light tactical vehicles (Light Tactical Vehicle), which were based on the chassis of an AM General's HMMWV armored car, General Dynamics European Land Systems-Mowag (GDELS-Mowag) began developing the new Eagle IV 4x4 LTV.
For the base model was taken unarmored tactical car DURO 4x4 also the company GDELS-Mowag, which is used in large quantities in the Swiss army.
GDELS-Mowag purchased the DURO 4x4 and 6x6 off-road vehicle production line from Bucher-Guyer in 2003 and subsequently transferred production to its main production facilities.
Compared with the previous versions, the Eagle IV has a more powerful diesel engine and a chassis with a higher payload and increased maneuverability. It also has a greater internal volume, greater payload, better mine and ballistic protection, which at that time was the main requirement of the customer.
In addition, GDELS-Mowag exercised overall control over the basic elements of the base platform, unlike previous versions of the Eagle family, when changes to the configuration of the original platforms were carried out on a production line in the United States.
After extensive testing and an international competition involving Light Multirole Vehicle (named Caracal) by Iveco Defense Vehicles - submitted through Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles - the Eagle IV project from GDELS-Mowag was selected to meet the needs of the German army for a family of protected vehicles, designated as GFF (Geschutzte Fuhrungs und Funkionsfahrzeugs - armored commander and universal machine).
Ultimately, the 495 Eagle IV armored cars were put into the German army, including the 42 sanitary versions.
In addition to Germany, the Danish army adopted the Eagle IV 90 machines and, as in the case of the German army, many of them were deployed in Afghanistan, where they traveled more than a million kilometers.
Germany later organized another contest for the remaining number of GFF 2 vehicles, in which the German EAP V multi-purpose armored vehicle AMPV (Armored Multi Purpose Vehicle), developed by a consortium of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles, became a rival to the latest Eagle V project.
Eagle V successfully overcame this barrier and the remaining needs of the GFF 2 program were “filled” with this machine. In the middle of 2013, the German Defense Purchasing Authority (Bundesamt fur Ausrustung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung de Bundeswehr) issued a contract for 100 Eagle V armored vehicles plus an option for 76 armored vehicles, which was later executed.
The production of these Eagle V machines was carried out at the GDELS-Mowag plant in Switzerland and GDELS-Germany; final deliveries are completed at the end of 2015.
Urs Engeli, marketing director at GDELS-Mowag, said that "all German Eagle IV and V cars were delivered on schedule and at a specific contract cost."
Like the Eagle IV model, the Eagle V armored car was developed at its own expense based on information received from potential customers. In 2010, he entered the international market and in a short time received the designation of the next-generation armored car Next-Generation Eagle.
According to Engeli: “Compared with the previous version of the Eagle IV, the newest Eagle V has several improvements, including greater internal volume, greater payload, higher levels of anti-mine, ballistic protection and protection against improvised explosive devices (IED), increased mobility and improved facilities".
The Eagle V 4x4 is based on the DURO III off-road vehicle. The chassis is equipped with a welded steel four-door cabin, in which, depending on the version, four or five seats are installed.
The increase in internal volume was achieved by raising the roof and expanding the cabin forward.
The driver and commander are located behind the engine compartment. All crew members are located on energy-absorbing seats, while their legs do not touch the spaced minozaschischennogo bottom.
Crew access to the car is through two doors that open forwards, which, like the rest of the car, have windows with bullet-proof glass.
Depending on the required level of protection, steel or ceramic mounted armor is bolted to the central broncapsule. The engine compartment and the cargo compartment also have modular protection.
Compared to the Eagle I, II and III, the Eagle IV and V variants have higher levels of protection against mines and IEDs, which was confirmed by independent advanced explosive and ballistic tests.
In addition to the basic four-door version of the Eagle V, a version with a two-door protected cabin has also been developed.
In addition to the spaced or “floating” internal bottom, the machine has a steel bottom in a double V-shaped configuration, with the result that it was possible to get a lower profile compared to a single V-shaped body, which is more typical for machines of the category MRAP Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected (with increased protection from mines and improvised explosive devices).
The Eagle V armored car is equipped with a six-cylinder diesel engine with a common Cummins fuel line hp 245 power. and torque 925 Nm. The engine is connected to an Allison 2500 SP automatic transmission with five forward and one reverse gears and a two-stage transfer case. Also in the undercarriage scheme there is a Torsen limited slip differential.
The car can reach a maximum speed of up to 110 km / h in the upper range and 55 km / h in the lower range. The gross weight of the machine is 10 tons, and the power density of 24,2 hp / t.
The car showed a high level of off-road terrain and differs bridges type de Dion with gears in the wheel hubs and patented roll stabilizers. The mechanism of Watt ensures that the wheels always remain in contact with the ground when driving over rough terrain. The Eagle V has high ground clearance, a protected differential and closed disc brakes. The machine is equipped with 365 / 80R20 anti-rim wheels with hydro-pneumatic main brakes, as well as a standard anti-lock braking system. The front wheel steering has a hydraulic boost.
The standard equipment of the German Army Eagle V armored car includes an overpressure protection system with overpressure, an air-conditioning system and a SYEGON centralized paging system for wheels from Nexter Systems. Also standard are the engine preheater, mirrors and windshield with electric heating.
Roof mounted armament depends on customer requirements, but can vary from an unprotected machine gun, a protected combat module, to a remotely controlled combat module (RCF) armed with an 7,62-mm or 12.7-mm machine gun or even an 40-mm automatic grenade launcher.
Armored vehicles of the German army Eagle IV and V are equipped with a Krauss-Maffei Wegman rooftop UAW FLW100 armed with an MGNXXX machine gun 7,62-mm. The previous machines, the Danish Eagle IV, were equipped with BAE Systems Bofors UAB Lemur, armed with an 3-mm machine gun M12,7 HB.
In order to cover the front arc, on each side of the roof, groups of three launchers of 76-mm grenades were installed.
In order to increase the level of survivability, an active protection complex can be installed, for example, LEDs 150 (Land Electronic Defense System 150) of Saab.
As part of the extended tests of the Eagle V, a network was installed from RUAG Defense LASSO (Light Armot System against Shaped Ordnance), which protects against rocket-propelled grenade launchers.
The machine can be equipped with a wide range of additional equipment, including a system for protecting against weapons of mass destruction, pneumatic trailer brakes, towing brakes, a fire extinguishing system for the engine and a habitable compartment, various options for storage on the roof, weapon systems, anti-skid chains, a camera system and an energy management system. Subsystems, such as weapons modules, navigation systems, radio stations and operational control elements, which are usually supplied as part of government supplies, can also be integrated by GDELS-Mowag.
The Eagle V 4x4 and Eagle V 6x6 variants have many common components. Extended chassis allowed to get platforms with a large volume and carrying capacity that can perform an extended range of combat missions.
Sales of Eagle cars
Specialized options
The base machine Eagle V, as a rule, is used for reconnaissance and control and communication tasks, and depending on the specialized equipment on board, such as radio stations and operational control systems, the crew consists of 4 or 5 people.
In the armored cars of the Danish army Eagle IV and the German army Eagle IV and V communication equipment is located in a secure module accessible to the crew, which is installed on an unprotected cargo platform in the rear.
In addition to the basic four-door Eagle V configuration with four or five seats, the machine can also be equipped in the configuration of a pickup with a two-door cab. The pickup has a cargo platform behind the cab with folding sides, on which Tricon containers can be transported.
The sanitary version of the German Army Eagle IV, which was deployed in Afghanistan, is distinguished by a protected rear module and a stretcher loading and unloading device. This option has a single rear door that opens to the left.
The first contract for this car, issued in 2009, was an urgent operational requirement for 20 units. In 2011, he was followed by another contract for 22 machines. In the German army, these machines received the designation Eagle IV BAT.
The army also upgraded a number of its Eagle IV machines for equipment placement for special tasks. These include meteorological stations, systems with video recording equipment, a mine detection service configuration, and finally, the ADLER II German artillery command and control system.
Eagle IV / V armored cars can also transport Medium Trackway Bridge with 40 ton carrying capacity (MLC 40) manufactured by GDELS-Germany. The bridge is transported in sections in a trailer and assembled in spans the width of 4, 6 or 8 meters, which are induced in front of the car. After overcoming an obstacle, the bridge is quickly assembled.
Armored Eagle in the role of a bridge laying
The possibility of developing an option for special forces with an open top was also studied, since an increased level of awareness of the situation is necessary here. This option can be equipped with defensive arches, on which the turret is mounted with an 7,62-mm or 12,7-mm machine gun or an 40-mm grenade launcher.
In the Swiss Army, four Eagle V vehicles are used to support demining tasks. They are equipped with a Kongsberg Protector rooftop DBMS with an 12,7-mm M2 HB machine gun. One car delivered to the police for the protection of the airport Zurich.
The Eagle IV was also used in tests of robotic systems conducted under the leadership of the company in the 2012 year. At the initial stage, the car was equipped with a set of VERO, which allowed working either in a manned or remote configuration. Currently, work is underway to increase the autonomous capabilities of the machine.
The driver's seat of the Eagle V 4x4 is on the left, on the right, the seat of the commander. Right-hand drive versions of the Eagle V were also developed.
Eagle V 6x6 has a larger internal volume and carrying capacity compared to the 4x4 version and, accordingly, can perform a significantly wider range of combat missions. Pictured with optional rear wheel steering for maneuvering in confined spaces
Eagle V 6x6
At Eurosatory 2012, GDELS-Mowag displayed its latest generation Eagle V 6x6 LTV armored car. It has power and chassis components in common with the Eagle V 4x4, but its front end has been redone.
The 6x6 version has a total weight of up to 15 tons and is currently offered in various configurations, including secure cabins for two, four or five people, as well as various functional modules or load platforms.
In addition, there are configurations with a large protected cabin for use as an ambulance or for transporting personnel to 14 people.
According to GDELS-Mowag, the Eagle 6x6 LTV armored car has a carrying capacity of up to 6000 kg and a maximum protected volume of up to 16 m3.
This option is based on the chassis, chassis and suspension of the DURO III 6x6, and is characterized by permanent all-wheel drive, Torsen automatic differentials and a Cummins turbocharged diesel engine with 245 hp / 925 Nm or 285 hp / 970 Nm, connected with an Allison automatic transmission.
The protected and unprotected car DURO 6x6 was made in large quantities for the Swiss army, which operates a fleet of 200 machines that perform various tasks. In the Swiss army, including was put version of a protected ambulance.
The company GDELS-Mowag is currently engaged in mass production of the third batch of the protected version DURO 6x6 for the Swiss army. The first deliveries have already passed and production should continue until the 2017 year.
In the configuration of an armored personnel carrier a total of 420 machines were manufactured. They are equipped with a Kongsberg Protector DBMS, armed with an 12,7-mm machine gun M2 HB, installed by the company as part of government procurement.
In addition to the crew of two people, 11 (including the gunner) paratroopers are seated facing each other on energy absorbing seats that can be folded for the carriage of goods.
As usual, several options are offered for the Eagle V 6x6, including rear-wheel steering, which provides the same agility as the Eagle V 4xXNNUMX version.
The 6x6 model is designed to perform a wide range of combat missions, including an armored personnel carrier, an ambulance, a commander, a fuel / water tank, a recovery vehicle, a cargo conveyor, and many others. Cargo version with a rear platform with a folding side and a canvas cover for harboring cargo can carry standard containers.
In order to increase the internal volume of the roof behind the driver and the commander slightly raised.
Marines use a double door in the stern, which opens more mechanically, rather than using electricity or hydraulics. The lower part is folded down and steps are obtained, while the upper part with bullet-proof glass opens up (photo below).
The armored car will be equipped with a double-armored vehicle armed with an 7,62-mm or 12,7-mm machine guns or an 40-mm grenade launcher.
The sanitary option will have a crew consisting of a driver, a second driver / commander and two paramedics. Two stretchers are located on the sides, between them there is space for the medical staff. In addition, one stretcher can be replaced with three seats for sedentary patients.
This version with an optical-electronic station installed on a telescopic mast can also be used for reconnaissance missions.
The German army is armed with a fleet of protected Eagle IV 4x4 ambulances that were widely used in Afghanistan.
Comment
The production of the Eagle V armored car for the German army has now been completed, but GDELS-Mowag continues to offer this car on the market to other potential customers.
The development of the Eagle V in the 6x6 configuration means that GDELS-Mowag can offer potential customers a complete family of machines with common components of the power plant and chassis in order to reduce the cost of the entire lifetime, as well as training crews.
This family of machines also provides the same levels of protection and mobility, allowing you to perform joint tasks.
GDELS-Mowag will offer the UK not only its Ocelot armored car, which is in service with the British army under the designation Foxhound, but possibly also the Eagle V armored car in both configurations in order to meet the requirements of the British Army for a multi-purpose armored car Multi Role Vehicle-Protected.
The increased capacity and carrying capacity of the 6x6 version can be especially useful in sanitary and evacuation configurations.
Hypostases of the Eagle IV / V family
Materials used:
www.gdels.com
www.wikipedia.org
www.saabgroup.com
www.wikipedia.ru
www.weaponscollection.com
www.armyrecognition.com
www.military-today.com
www.w54.biz
www.miltechmag.com
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