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AIFV
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The AIFV (Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle) is a tracked light armoured vehicle which serves as an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) in the armies of several countries. It is a development of the M113A1 armoured personnel carrier.
967, funded by the U.S. Army, the FMC corporation produced two prototype vehicles designated as XM765, based on their experiences earlier XM701 vehicle, developed for the MICV-65 programme.
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Encyclopedia
The AIFV (Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle) is a tracked light armoured vehicle which serves as an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) in the armies of several countries. It is a development of the M113A1 armoured personnel carrier.
History
In 1967, funded by the U.S. Army, the FMC corporation produced two prototype vehicles designated as XM765, based on their experiences earlier XM701 vehicle, developed for the MICV-65 programme. 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.
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 centre 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 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 programme, 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 also received 45 vehicles in 1979, these were intended to take 25mm cannons, although were later modified to fit 12.7mm machine guns.
In 1979 Belgium placed an order for 514 AIFV-B to be produced locally along with 525 M113A-B (similar to the M113A2). 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 around 200 vehicles completed the Turkish AIFV specification was updated to include a more powerful power pack developing 300 horsepower, an Allison X-200-4 transmission and hydrostatic steering from the M113A2. 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 aluminium with spaced steel laminate armour bolted onto the side and front. The voids of the armour 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. 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 is a variable magnification from 1x to 6x.
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 machine gun. 180 rounds of 25 mm are ready to use, with another 144 rounds stored in the hull. The coxial 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.
Variants
Belgian service variants
- AIFV-B - As per Dutch variant, but 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 favour 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 Milan 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 - basic IFV vehicle with 25mm KBA-B02 cannon.
- YPR-765 PRCO-B (Pantser-Rups Commando) - command vehicle with a crew of nine and fitted with the same turret as the PRI.
- YPR-765 PRCO-C (Pantser-Rups Commando) - command vehicle with .50cal cupola.
- YPR-765 PRCO-C1 - Battalion commanders vehicle.
- YPR-765 PRCO-C2 - Battalion fire control center.
- YPR-765 PRCO-C3 - Mortar fire control vehicle.
- YPR-765 PRCO-C4 - Anti-aircraft command vehicle.
- YPR-765 PRCO-C5 - Observation vehicle for artillery units.
- YPR-765 PRRDR (Pantser-Rups Radar) - Radar vehicle fitted with a ZB-298 battlefield surveillance radar. Withdrawn.
- YPR-765 PRRDR-C - Radar command vehicle. Withdrawn.
- YPR-765 PRGWT (Pantser-Rups Gewonden Transport) - Ambulance.
- YPR-765 PRI.50 - APC with cupola mounted 12.7mm M2 machine gun.
- YPR-765 PRMR (Pantser-Rups Mortier) - Tractor for 120mm mortar MO-120-RT with cupola mounted 12.7mm M2 machine gun.
- YPR-765 PRVR (Pantser-Rups Vracht) - Cargo vehicle with cupola mounted 12.7mm M2 machine gun.
- YPR-765 PRAT (Pantser-Rups Anti-Tank) - Fitted with a TOW missile launcher as M901 ITV, entered service in 1982.
- YPR-806 PRBRG (Pantser-Rups Berging) - Armoured recovery vehicle, in fact based on a modified M113A1-B chassis and hull.
Turkish service variants
See ACV 300
- ACV-AAPC (advanced armoured 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 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 - Armoured Tow Vehicle. Fitted with a Norwegian one-man turret with two BGM-71 TOW missiles in a ready to launch position, and four troops carried.
- ACV-AMV - Armoured 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 as per M113A2.
- 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 Eryx missile launcher and 120mm mortar turret.
UAE variants
- ACV-RV (Armoured Recovery Vehicle)
- ACV-AESV (Armoured Engineering Squad Vehicle)
- ACV-AFOV (Armoured Artillery FO Vehicle)
- ACV-ACPV (Armoured Command Post Vehicle)
Note: all are ACV-350 and fitted with air-conditioning and an over-pressure NBC system.
Users
- Bahrain, 25 vehicles from the Netherlands delivered in 1996 and 42 AIFV-B-C25 from Belgium in 2008.
- Belgian Army, 190 of 514 vehicles originally delivered, being replaced by MOWAG Piranha III
- Chilean Army, YPR-765s purchased from the Netherlands and 169 AIFV-Bs purchased from Belgium.
- Egyptian Army, a total of 1,207 YPR-765s purchased from the Netherlands and Belgium since 1996.
- Lebanese Army, 16 ex-Belgian vehicles awaiting delivery in 2008.
- Moroccan Army, 90 ex-Belgian AIFV-B-C25 and 20 AIFV-B-.50, delivered 2008.
- Malaysian Army, 211 vehicles received.
- Royal Netherlands Army, over 2,000 vehicles. Known locally as the YPR-765. IFV and some command variants to be replaced by the CV90.
- Philippine Army, 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.
- South Korean army, Known as KIFV and K200
- Gendarmerie (Serbia) - JSO captured one or two YPR-765 in Bosnia.
- Turkish Army, over 1,698 vehicles
- 1,380 × AAPC (First batch of 830, second batch delivered 2001 to 2004 of 551)
- 650 × AIFV
- 48 × ATV
- 170 × AMV
- United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, 133 vehicles received from Turkey.
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