AIFV
Encyclopedia
The AIFV is a tracked light armored vehicle which serves as an infantry fighting vehicle
Infantry fighting vehicle
An infantry fighting vehicle , also known as a mechanized infantry combat vehicle , is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to carry infantry into battle and provide fire support for them...
(IFV) in the armies of several countries. It is a development of the M113A1
M113 armored personnel carrier
The M113 is a fully tracked armored personnel carrier that has formed the backbone of the United States Army's mechanized infantry units from the time of its first fielding in Vietnam in April 1962. The M113 was the most widely used armored vehicle of the U.S...
armored personnel carrier.
History
In 1967, funded by the U.S. Army, the FMC corporationFMC Corp.
FMC Corporation is a chemical manufacturing company headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. FMC employs over 4,800 people world wide, and had gross revenues of US$3.115 billion in 2008.-The Bean Spray Pump Company:...
produced two prototype vehicles designated as XM765, based on their experiences earlier XM701 vehicle, developed for the MICV-65
MICV-65
MICV-65, short for Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle, 1965, was a US Army project that studied a number of armored fighting vehicles that would replace the M113 and M114 as well as take on a variety of new roles. A number of designs were studied as part of the MICV project, but none of the entered...
program. The XM765 was based on the M113A1, upgraded with an enclosed turret and firing ports, so that the infantry could fight from within the vehicle. The Army evaluated the vehicle, but decided that they wanted a better protected and more mobile vehicle, selecting instead the M2 Bradley
M2 Bradley
The Bradley Fighting Vehicle is an American fighting vehicle platform manufactured by BAE Systems Land and Armaments, formerly United Defense.As with other infantry fighting vehicles, the Bradley is designed to transport infantry with armor protection while providing covering fire to suppress enemy...
.
FMC continued development as a private venture resulting in the product improved (PI) M113A1 in 1970. The PI M113A1 had the driver and engine at the front, with an enclosed weapon station in the center of the hull and the commander seated at the rear. This arrangement meant that the commander had a very poor forward view. FMC went back to the drawing board and came up with a new design, that had the driver on the front left of the hull, with the commander seated behind him. To the right of the commander was a one man turret. The vehicle would later be designated the AIFV (armored infantry fighting vehicle).
While the US was uninterested in the design, a number of other governments were interested in the vehicle, which was simpler, lighter, and cheaper than the Bradley. After a series of demonstrations and the delivery of four evaluation vehicles in 1974, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
government placed an order for 880 of the vehicles in 1975, which were designated YPR-765 when they entered service. Some changes were made at the request of the Dutch government including shifting the weapon station to the right side and moving the commander behind the driver. In total the Netherlands ordered 2,079 of which 815 were produced locally under license. Under the YPR-2000 program, virtually all Dutch vehicles were upgraded to YPR-765A1 standard that is easily identified by the 3-tone NATO camouflage pattern. During the war in Afghanistan, several vehicles were fitted with additional armour.
The Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
also received 45 vehicles in 1979, these were intended to take 25mm cannons, although some were later modified to fit 12.7mm machine guns.
In 1979 Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
placed an order for 514 AIFV-B to be produced locally along with 525 M113A-B (similar to the M113
M113 armored personnel carrier
The M113 is a fully tracked armored personnel carrier that has formed the backbone of the United States Army's mechanized infantry units from the time of its first fielding in Vietnam in April 1962. The M113 was the most widely used armored vehicle of the U.S...
A2). The first vehicles were delivered in 1982.
Turkey selected the AIFV in 1989 after a competition involving the Alvis Vickers Warrior IFV and United Defense LP Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle. The total value of the contract for 1,698 vehicles was US$1.076 billion. The first 285 hulls were produced in Belgium, the remaining vehicles were produced entirely in Turkey. A little way into the production run, with 200 vehicles completed the Turkish AIFV specification was updated to include a more powerful power pack
Powerpack (drivetrain)
Power pack or powerpack is a term used to describe part of a modular powertrain. A powerpack module contains some type of engine and may also contain a transmission and various supporting components...
developing 300 horsepower, an Allison X-200-4 transmission and hydrostatic steering from the M113A3. During the production run a number of changes were made to the armament of the vehicle including different turret packages, and power packs.
Description (per Dutch variant)
The hull of the vehicle is made of welded aluminum with spaced steel laminate armor bolted onto the side and front. The voids of the armor are filled with polyurethane foam, which gives the vehicle extra buoyancy when travelling in the water.The engine sits on the front right of the hull, behind a hatch which can used to remove the complete powerpack
Powerpack (drivetrain)
Power pack or powerpack is a term used to describe part of a modular powertrain. A powerpack module contains some type of engine and may also contain a transmission and various supporting components...
. The powerpack is similar to the M113A1, except for a larger radiator capacity and turbocharger. The transmission is also fitted with heavy duty components from the M548 tracked cargo carrier. Immediately to the left of the engine is the driver, above whom is a hatch that opens to the right. The driver has four M27 day periscopes. The drivers center periscope can be replaced by a passive infra-red periscope for night driving. The commander sits immediately behind the driver, and has a cupola which can be completely traversed. The cupola has five periscopes, four of which are M17 day periscopes, the fifth has 1x to 6x variable magnification.
The turret is fitted on the right side of the hull behind the engine. The turret has electro-hydraulic traverse and can elevate from -10 to +50° and can traverse and elevate at a speed of 60°/sec. The turret mounts an Oerlikon Contraves 25 mm KBA-B02 cannon with a dual ammunition feed, mounted to the left is a 7.62 mm FN MAG machine gun. 180 rounds of 25 mm are ready to use, with another 144 rounds stored in the hull. The coaxial gun has 230 rounds ready with a further 1,610 stored in the hull.
The troop compartment is at the rear of the hull, a large power operated ramp allows access through the rear of the vehicle, a door is also provided in the ramp. Additionally a single piece hatch covers the top of the troop compartment. The compartment contains seven troops in the Dutch variant with six sitting back to back facing outwards, and a single troop sitting between the command and the turret facing backwards. There are two firing ports in each side of the hull and a single firing port in the rear. The side firing ports are provided with M17 periscopes, the rear one is fitted with an M27 periscope.
Belgian service variants
- AIFV-B — A revised Dutch variant, fitted with the same suspension as the M113A1-B (similar to the M113A2) and NBC system and Halon fire suppression system. Entered service in September 1985. Surplus vehicles have been sold to Chile, with the remaining carriers being phased out in favor of wheeled vehicles.
- AIFV-B-C25 with 25 mm KBA-B02 cannon — with smoke grenade launchers fitted on the side of the turret
- AIFV-B-.50 with 12.7 mm CWS cuppola, 2 Lyran 71mm mortars and pintle mount for MilanMilanMilan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
missile launcher. - AIFV-B-CP — command post vehicle with 12.7mm cupola (M113 type), a tent, generator and telescopic mast.
- AIFV-B-TRG — driver training vehicle.
Dutch variants
(the pantser-rups designation means armoured-tracked)- YPR-765 pri (pantser-rups-infanterie) — basic infantry fighting vehicle with 25-mm KBA-B02 cannon and MAG machine gun in turret; crew of three plus seven passengers (normally only five carried); outward-facing bench seats in rear compartment.
- YPR-765 pri.50 — armoured personnel carrier with .50-caliber M2 HB machine gun on M113-type cupola in place of turret.
- YPR-765 prco-series (pantser-rups-commando)
- YPR-765 prco-B — company commander's vehicle with same turret as pri; crew of six plus two passengers; folding table in rear compartment with two inward-facing seats on either side.
- YPR-765 prco-C-1— battalion commander's vehicle with .50-caliber M2 HB machine gun on M26 cupola; crew of five plus four passengers; folding table in rear compartment with three-seat bench on left and two seats on right, all facing inward.
- YPR-765 prco-C-2 — battalion fire control center with .50-caliber M2 HB machine gun on M26 cupola; crew of seven plus one passenger; rear compartment as for C-1.
- YPR-765 prco-C-3 — mortar fire control vehicle with .50-caliber M2 HB machine gun on M26 cupola; crew of four plus one passenger; folding table in rear compartment with two inward-facing seats on left.
- YPR-765 prco-C-4 — anti-aircraft command vehicle with .50-caliber M2 HB machine gun on M113-type cupola; crew of five plus two passengers; folding table in rear compartment with inward-facing, three-seat bench on left.
- YPR-765 prco-C-5 — observation vehicle for artillery units with .50-caliber M2 HB machine gun on M113-type cupola; crew of five; rear compartment as for C-3.
- YPR-765 prrdr (pantser-rups-radar) — radar vehicle fitted with a ZB-298 battlefield surveillance radar, armed with .50-caliber M2 HB machine gun on M113-type cupola; crew of four plus two passengers; folding table in rear compartment with one inward-facing seat on either side.
- YPR-765 prrdr-C — radar command vehicle. Withdrawn.
- YPR-765 prgwt (pantser-rups-gewondentransport) — ambulance vehicle (literally: "casualty transport" since in Dutch military terms, an ambulance carries more medical equipment); unarmed; crew of three plus five passengers; rear compartment has two forward-facing seats on left, bins for personal equipment of the wounded on either side, and can hold two stretchers on either side, suspended from chains.
- YPR-765 prmr (pantser-rups-mortiertrekker) — tractor for MO-120-RT 120-mm mortar (mortiertrekker = mortar tractor) with .50-caliber M2 HB machine gun on M26 cupola; crew of seven, including mortarmen; rear compartment has inward-facing, three-seat bench on left and mortar ammunition rack on right.
- YPR-765 prv (pantser-rups-vracht) — cargo vehicle (vracht = cargo, freight) with .50-caliber M2 HB machine gun on M113-type cupola; crew of two; empty rear compartment with folding safety screen between crew and cargo.
- YPR-765 prat (pantser-rups-anti tank) — tank destroyer armed with an Emerson TOWBGM-71 TOWThe BGM-71 TOW is an anti-tank missile. "BGM" is a weapon classification that stands for "Multiple Environment , Surface-Attack , Missile ". "TOW" is an acronym that stands for "Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire command data link, guided missile"...
Under Armor turret as on M901 ITVM901 ITVThe M901 ITV is a United States Army armored vehicle designed to carry a dual M220 TOW launcher. It is based on the ubiquitous M113 Armored Personnel Carrier chassis.- Equipment :...
and MAG machine gun on pintle mount; crew of four; rear compartment holds rack with missile reloads on left, inward-facing bench seat and various equipment (such as TOW ground launcher) on right. - YPR-806 prbrg (pantser-rups-berging) — armoured recovery vehicle, in fact based on a modified M113 chassis and hull but using AIFV automotive components.
Turkish service variants
See ACV 300ACV 300
ACV-300 is the designation of a tracked vehicle family developed by the Turkish defense company FNSS, containing an infantry fighting vehicle and an armoured personnel carrier . The ACV-300 is based on the American Advanced Infantry Fighting Vehicle, which is based on the chassis of the M113...
- ACV-AAPC (advanced armored personnel carrier) — with one man turret with 12.7 mm machine gun and 7.62 mm machine gun and 13 troops carried.
- ACV-AIFV
- AIFV with FMC EWS (assembled by DAF Special Products) turret with a 25 mm Oerlikon Contraves 25 mm cannon and co-axial 7.62 mm machine gun
- AIFV with Giat Dragar turret with 25 mm M811 cannon and coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun
- ACV-ATV — Armored Tow Vehicle. Fitted with a NorwegianNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
one-man turret with two BGM-71 TOWBGM-71 TOWThe BGM-71 TOW is an anti-tank missile. "BGM" is a weapon classification that stands for "Multiple Environment , Surface-Attack , Missile ". "TOW" is an acronym that stands for "Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire command data link, guided missile"...
missiles in a ready to launch position, and four troops carried. - ACV-AMV — Armored Mortar Vehicle. Fitted with a 81 mm mortar and a 7.62 mm machine gun.
Turkish private variants
- 120mm AMV — A private venture, armed with a TDA 120mm recoiling mortar in the rear of the vehicle. Not in service.
- ACV-IFV Sharpshooter — IFV with FNSS Sharpshooter Turret. This variant is now being exported to Malaysia ("Adnan").
- ACV with HMTS — armed with four Hellfire missiles in the ready to fire position.
- ACV-300 — Fitted with a 300 hp powerpack similar to M113A3 but with high power.
- ACV-350 — Fitted with a 350 hp powerpack.
- ACV-S — A stretched version of AIFV with an additional road wheel and extra armour giving resistance to 14.5mm AP projectiles, with an upgraded 350 or 400 hp powerpack. Weight is 18,000 kg. A variety of turrets including 12.7mm, 25mm (FNSS Sharpshooter Turret) and 30 mm are available as well as an EryxEryxIn Greek mythology, Eryx was a king of the city of Eryx in Sicily. He was either the son of Poseidon or Aphrodite and King Butes of the Elymian people of Sicily. Eryx was an excellent boxer but died when Heracles beat him in a match....
missile launcher and 120mm mortar turret.
UAE variants
- ACV-RV (Armored Recovery Vehicle)
- ACV-AESV (Armored Engineering Squad Vehicle)
- ACV-AFOV (Armored Artillery FO Vehicle)
- ACV-ACPV (Armored Command Post Vehicle)
Note: all are ACV-350 and fitted with air-conditioning and an over-pressure NBC system.
Users
BahrainBahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
, 25 vehicles from the Netherlands delivered in 1996 and 42 AIFV-B-C25 from Belgium in 2008. Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, 190 of 514 vehicles originally delivered, being replaced by MOWAG Piranha III
LAV III
The LAV III armoured vehicle is the latest in the Generation III Light Armoured Vehicle series built by General Dynamics Land Systems, entering service in 1999. It is based on the Swiss MOWAG Piranha IIIH 8x8....
Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, YPR-765s purchased from the Netherlands and 169 AIFV-Bs purchased from Belgium. Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, 1,207 YPR-765s purchased from the Netherlands and Belgium since 1996. Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
, 441 YPR-765s purchased from the Netherlands. Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, 16 ex-Belgian AIFV-B-C25 vehicles. Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, 90 ex-Belgian AIFV-B-C25 and 20 AIFV-B-.50, delivered 2008. Malaysia, 211 vehicles received,plus previous 111 KIFV variants known as MIFV(Malaysian Infantry Fighting Vehicle) Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, over 2,000 vehicles. Known locally as the YPR-765. IFV and some command variants to be replaced by the CV90. Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, 85 vehicles (including 6 armored recovery vehicles), many armed with 25 mm cannons, received from the United States, and a single Armored Recovery Vehicle (ARV) received from FNSS of Turkey in 2004. Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, 2,249 were produced under licence (1,698 between 1990-2000 and 551 between 2001-2004)
-
- 1,380 × AAPC
- 650 × AIFV
- 48 × ATV
- 170 × AMV United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab EmiratesThe United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
, 133 vehicles received from Turkey.