DefTech AV8
| DefTech AV8 | |
|---|---|
 DefTech AV8 8x8 | |
| Type | Armoured combat vehicle |
| Place of origin | Malaysia Turkey |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2014 onwards |
| Used by | Malaysian Army |
| Production history | |
| Designer | DefTech FNSS Defence Systems |
| Manufacturer | DefTech |
| No. built | 257[1] |
| Variants | Armored personnel carrier Infantry fighting vehicle Total of 12 variants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 16,000 to 24,500 kg |
| Length | 8 m |
| Width | 2.7 m |
| Height | 2.17 m |
| Crew | 3 + 11 soldiers |
| Armor | Composite aluminium and steel armour, add-on armour at front and sides of the hull up to STANAG-4569 Level 4 |
Main armament | 25 mm FNSS Sharpshooter Turret or Denel LCT30 |
Secondary armament | FN Herstal MAG 58M coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun |
| Engine | Deutz 550 hp |
| Suspension | Independent air suspension system[2] |
Operational range | 700 km (430 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 100 km/h on road 6km/h on water |
The DefTech AV8 is a armoured combat vehicle developed by Malaysian defence vehicle company DefTech based on the Turkish designed FNSS Pars. It is manufactured by DefTech in Pahang, Malaysia.
Development
In June 2011, the Turkish Company FNSS signed a ‘letter of offer and acceptance’ by DRB-Hicom Defence Technologies (DefTech) for the design, development and manufacture of the vehicles. The AV8 vehicle selected by the Malaysian military was based on the FNSS-designed PARS 8×8 multi-purpose, multi-mission, wheeled armored vehicle. The contract included technology transfer arrangements to Deftech and logistics support for the Malaysian army, positioning the vehicle and its 12 variants to become Malaysia’s first indigenous family of 8×8 armored wheeled vehicle.
In April 2012, DefTech and FNSS presented the first scale model of the AV8 at the international defence exhibition, Defence Services Asia 2012 in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia’s DefTech will be the principal assembly agent, and its engineers will work with Nurol holding subsidiary FNSS to customize the vehicles for Malaysian requirements and equipment. South Africa’s Denel will reportedly build a 2-man turret for the APC, while Sapura-Thales was expected to become the systems integrator. The first prototype of the AV8 was presented in March 2013 to the public during the 80th Army Day anniversary celebration in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan.
In April 2014, DefTech announced that the first 12 vehicles would start production in June 2014 and be delivered to the Malaysian Army by end of 2014. DefTech CEO Amril Samsudin also said that DefTech has received contracts from regional countries, like the purchase of nine units of armoured vehicles the previous year by Timor Leste's armed forces.
Design
The driver and the commander seats are located at the front of the vehicle, the turret in the middle and the troop's compartment at the rear. There is three large day periscopes at the front position of driver and commander and one on each side that provide excellent visibility. Eleven infantrymen can be seated at the rear of the hull on individual seats down each side of the hull facing inwards. All shock-absorbing seats are fitted with five-point seatbelts as standard. Back of the driver and commander position, there is an access passage to the troop compartment at the right side of the hull. The troops leave and enter the vehicle via a large hydraulic ramp mounted at the rear of the hull.
Main features
- Two thermal cameras and CCD cameras in the front and rear, providing driver/commander with high situational awareness.
- Left or right hand drive steering.
- All wheel steer.
- All wheel driver.
- Anti lock braking system (ABS).
- Modularity allowing use of common components among vehicle configurations.[4]
Variants
The AV8 will be delivered in 12 variants. A total of 178 AV8s will have an APC configuration with 30-mm or 25-mm turret, or 12.7-mm remotely controlled weapon station. Other versions include armored surveillance vehicle with battlefield radar and mast mounted sensors (24), command vehicles (13), armored ambulances (9), armored recovery vehicles (9), maintenance vehicles (9), 120-mm mortar carriers (8), engineering and NBC reconnaissance vehicles (4) and signals vehicles (3).[5]
Armament
The two main variants, the 30mm and 25mm variants and equipped with Denel LCT30 two-man turret and FNSS Sharpshooter respectively.
The LCT30 is a two-man turret designed and manufactured in South Africa by the Defence Company Denel. The Denel LCT30 turret is armed with a Denel GI30 30mm gun and one 7.62mm coaxial machine gun.
The FNSS Sharpshooter is armed with a Bushmaster 25mm autocannon. A 7.62mm coaxial machine gun is mounted to the left side of the main armament. The turret is fully stabilized and can fire on the move by day and night.
54 AV8s will also be armed with missile turrets equipped with both the Denel GI30 30mm gun and Denel Dynamics ZT3 Ingwe anti-tank missile system (including 216 laser-guided Ingwe missiles).[6]
Another 54 AV8s will be armed with 12.7mm remote controlled weapon systems.
Armor
The hull of the AV8 consists of a composite aluminium and steel armour that provides a protection for the crew and infantry against firing of small arms 7.62 mm armour-piercing attack through a full 360°. The AV8 is more protected than the basic PARS 8x8 with additional armour mounted at the front and to the sides of the hull.
Sub systems
- Air conditioning.
- NBC protection.
- Automatic fire suppression system.
- Land navigation system.
- Various weapon stations.
- Various mission equipment.[7]
Operators
References
- ^ "The Malaysian Insider". Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ "DefTech". Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ "ArmyRecognition". Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ "DefTech". Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ "ArmyRecognition". Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ "S4M magazine". Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ "DefTech". Retrieved 24 November 2014.