According to open publications, the Command of the Special Forces (Kommando Spezialkräfte, KSK) of the Bundeswehr is in need of additional vehicles. It is planned to close it as part of the projects for the purchase of an airborne platform, as well as "heavy" and "light infantry fighting vehicles". In this context, during the arms exhibition held in September 2022 and timed to coincide with the 8th KSK Symposium, several manufacturers presented their solutions to increase the mobility of the German Special Forces (SpN).
"Mobility", "security" and "impact" are important parameters that determine the capabilities of military equipment. The combination of these factors in Western military theory is designated by the term "iron Triangle" (Iron Triangle). In fact, these parameters affect each other. Increased security basically requires more armor or other measures, which, in turn, leads to greater mass and volume, thereby having a significant impact on the mobility of the machine. As a result, weight reserves cannot be used for the "impact" parameter (for example, placing the required weapon system or payload, or obtaining the required amount of combat space).
In the design of special-purpose vehicles, the parameters of mobility and impact are usually more pronounced than the protection parameter. Ballistic protection of modern SpN vehicles, if it exists at all, is mainly limited to modular protective armor of levels 1 or 2 of the NATO STANAG 4569 standard. These levels allow you to protect the crew from small arms fire, as well as from artillery shells detonating no closer than 80 m.
The level of security of special purpose vehicles is also influenced by factors of mobility and impact. Their high mobility – both in cross–country ability and speed - allows the crew to use paths that remain blocked for conventional vehicles. The goal of mobility is to get around as many dangerous zones as possible in advance or to overcome them quickly. If fire contact is unavoidable, the relatively high firepower of the vehicles, which may include several machine guns of different calibers, should guarantee temporary fire superiority, deter the enemy and provide a quick way out of a dangerous situation.
At the weapons symposium, several manufacturers presented cars that correspond to this principle.
At the stand of Messer Waffenhandel und Sicherheitsgesellschaft mbH, a company engaged in arms trade and security, the American manufacturer BC Customs presented the SRTV-SXV search and rescue tactical vehicle for the first time in Germany. Special Operations Forces of the US Air Force in 2021 ordered SRTV-SXV in the amount of $ 70 million. It is reported that the machine is highly mobile, suitable for transportation inside the MV-22 tiltrotor , CH-47 and CH-53 helicopters, and can also be parachuted using a cargo parachute. The car, created on the basis of a racing buggy, is characterized by low weight (curb weight of about 1.5 tons) and high mobility. The machine is driven by a diesel power plant with a capacity of 170 hp. The total permissible weight can reach 3 tons.
Search and Rescue Tactical Vehicle SRTV-SXVThe German concern Rheinmetall demonstrated at the event a version of the Caracal car equipped with ATGM MELLS.
This vehicle is used by ACS Armored Car Systems, Mercedes-Benz and Rheinmetall to participate in a tender for the supply of an airborne platform for the German Armed Forces. The Caracal family of amphibious vehicles is based on the new G-class chassis of the 464 series. The car is equipped with a six-cylinder diesel engine with a capacity of 183 kW (249 hp) of the Euro 3 class, which allows you to develop a torque of 600 Nm and a speed of up to 140 km/h.
The stand also demonstrated for the first time the advanced acoustic protection system for vehicles APV (Acoustic Protection for Vehicles), developed by Rheinmetall Electronics. Like other APV systems available on the market (a black rectangular box on the roof of the vehicle) is able to detect the sounds of shots, thereby indicating to the crew the direction, approximate range, as well as the caliber of projectiles flying into the vehicle.
Advanced APV Shot Detection System from Rheinmetall ElectronicsACS Armored Car Systems demonstrated a reconnaissance version of the Enok car, also based on the G-class (onboard).
Various sensors are integrated into the machine, including extendable ones on the mast, as well as communication systems.
Enok version for airborne troops with various sensors and communication systemsThe Light Tactical Transport Vehicle (LTTV) of the British manufacturer Jankel was also presented in Germany for the first time.
Jankel built the LTTV on the chassis of a 4×4 Daimler Unimog U5000 car, which is equipped with a 163-kW multi-fuel engine (Euro-3) as standard. The wheels on the helical suspension are driven through a semi-automatic transmission. The cabin and (combat) superstructure are designed by Jankel engineers. At the same time, as far as possible, proven Daimler serial assemblies were used. The open cabin is based on an armored body, the protection of which can be supplemented by armored doors and a folding separate frontal armored glass. LTTV has a STANAG 4569 standard protection level 1, which, according to the manufacturer, can be scaled to level 2. The base machine has a curb weight of 6.5 tons. The payload, depending on the mission module, can reach 3 tons, including protection.
A distinctive feature of LTTV are easily replaceable mission modules. The modules are attached to the chassis using four standard ISO rotary latches. For the Belgian Armed Forces, which have ordered 199 such vehicles, 167 modules are provided for the transportation of troops and special forces, eight medical modules and 24 logistics modules for the transportation of goods. In Belgium, the vehicle is used as a base in combination with lighter special purpose vehicles.
LTTV of the British manufacturer JankelDiederich Engineering Systems Defense (DES) demonstrated the Polaris MRZR-D4 model, which is in service with the Bundeswehr as a general-purpose amphibious SUV (LL UTV).
The machine is equipped with a hydraulically retractable armament station R150 from the Australian company Electro Optic Systems (EOS), which increased its combat value. The ability to remove the R150 allows the vehicle to be transported by air without the need to dismantle the weapon system from the vehicle. The R150 station allows you to install all the main machine guns, as well as a 40 mm grenade launcher.
Polaris MRZR-D4 model with retractable weapon station R150In addition, DES, EOS and Diehl Defense for the first time exhibited a version of the Polaris DAGOR, also equipped with a hydraulically retractable R150 armament station and Spike-NLOS guided missiles (4 guides).
SD allows you to hit targets with high accuracy at a range of more than 32 km. Depending on the variant of the warhead, the Spike NLOS has a mass of about 70 kg. There are three different warhead options available in total. Spike NLOS has the principle of "sensor-shooter", in connection with which the missile is used for a previously explored target. The "man in the loop" function allows you to control over the radio channel and gives the operator the opportunity to adjust the hit point at any time, change the target or abort the mission in case of a change in the situation. The system has the ability of day / night vision, and also has the ability to affect the target illuminated by laser designators.
Polaris DAGOR with R150 weapon Station and Spike-NLOS URDutch manufacturer Defenture has unveiled a new version of its airmobile tactical vehicle (ATTV).
In cooperation with Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, the manufacturer is considering the model as a possible candidate for an airborne platform for the Bundeswehr. The exhibition demonstrated a protected version of ATTV – STANAG 4569 level 1+ – with a built-in EOS R400S Mk2 weapon station. The armament complex includes two ATGMs, as well as a 30 mm automatic gun (30 mm x 113) of the M230 LF type manufactured by ATK, similar to the one used as weapons on the Apache attack helicopter. According to Defenture's statements, the vehicle configuration was developed at the request of the ATTV user.
A protected version of ATTV with a 30 mm automatic cannonAccording to the materials of the resource soldat-und-technik.de
