The
AIL Storm is an
IsraelIsrael officially the State of Israel , is a developed state in Western Asia located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon in the north, Syria in the northeast, Jordan in the east, and Egypt on the southwest, and contains geographically diverse features within its...
i manufactured
mini SUVMini SUV is a class of small sport utility vehicles with a length under . This class should not be confused with compact SUV, which refers to slightly larger vehicles, from ....
and the workhorse of the
Israeli Security ForcesSecurity forces in Israel include a variety of organizations, including law enforcement, military, paramilitary, governmental, and intelligence agencies.-Military:...
. The series of
Jeep WranglerThe Wrangler is a compact four-wheel drive in the sport utility vehicle segment produced by American automaker Chrysler under its Jeep marque. It is a successor to the famous World War II 'Jeep' vehicle by way of the Willys civilian Jeep in the 1950s, later produced by Kaiser-Jeep and by American...
based vehicles have been produced by
Automotive Industries Ltd.Automotive Industries, Ltd. is an Israeli Automaker and major supplier of the Israeli Security Forces.Located in Nazareth Illit, the company was originally founded in 1966 by Automotive Equipment Group as a plant for the assembly of cars and trucks...
in
Upper NazarethNazareth Illit is a city in the North District of Israel. At the end of 2007 it had a population of 43,100.The name in Hebrew means Upper Nazareth, referring to the adjacent and much older city of Nazareth. The town was founded in the 1950s as one of several development towns in the Galilee...
under licence from
ChryslerChrysler Group, LLC is an American automobile manufacturer headquartered in the Detroit suburb of Auburn Hills, Michigan. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925. From 1998 to 2007, Chrysler and its subsidiaries were part of the German based DaimlerChrysler AG...
since 1990. The vehicles fill a number of military roles, including that of
armouredMilitary vehicles are commonly armoured to withstand the impact of shrapnel, bullets, missiles, or shells, protecting the personnel inside from enemy fire. Such vehicles include tanks, aircraft, and ships.Civilian vehicles may also be armoured...
Infantry Mobility VehicleAn infantry mobility vehicle is a wheeled armored personnel carrier serving as a military patrol, reconnaissance or security vehicle. Examples include the ATF Dingo,AMZ Dzik,AMZ Tur , Mungo ESK and Bushmaster IMV...
, and certain models are available for export as well as for the civilian market.
Production of an updated four-door second generation model commenced in 2006 despite some mixed messages from the Storm's primary customer, the Israel Defence Forces. Development of a third generation vehicle based on the new Jeep Wrangler JK is in advanced stages, and significant production for both Israeli and foreign customers is planned.
Storm I
The
M-240 Storm MultiMission Vehicle is the first of three Storm generations. A variant of the 1991 Jeep Wrangler YJ and the older CJ-6/CJ-8 wheelbase, it is entirely produced in Israel by Automotive Industries Ltd. with the exception of the engines, as their manufacture is not economically viable on the Storm's market scale.
The Storm was primarily meant to satisfy Israeli military needs, but capable long and short versions are produced for the local civilian market. Like the Jeep, it has a conventional
front-engine designA front-mounted engine describes the placement of an automobile engine in front of the vehicle passenger compartment.Historically, this designation was used regardless of whether or not the entire engine was behind the front axle line...
with a driver and passenger seated behind the engine, and room for cargo or passengers behind them. It is powered by a
ChryslerChrysler Group, LLC is an American automobile manufacturer headquartered in the Detroit suburb of Auburn Hills, Michigan. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925. From 1998 to 2007, Chrysler and its subsidiaries were part of the German based DaimlerChrysler AG...
3.983 litre 6-cylinder in-line petrol with fuel injection developing at 4,700 rpm, fitted with Vortox 2-stage air cleaner or a
VolkswagenThe Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft , also known as Volkswagen Group or as VW, is an automobile manufacturer and mobility organisation based in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany and is the pioneer brand within the Volkswagen Group, which contains the car brands Audi AG, Bentley Motors Ltd.,...
2.5 litre 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel developing 88 kilowatts (118 hp) at 4,200
rpmRevolutions per minute is a unit of frequency of rotation: the number of full rotations completed in one minute around a fixed axis...
. The front axle is fully floating and the rear axle is semi-floating, while a reinforced frame and body as well as good angles of approach and departure (40° and 37° for short frame, 40° and 26.5° for long frame) add to the Storm's
off-roadingOff-roading is a term for driving a specialized vehicle on unpaved roads, such as sand, gravel, riverbeds, mud, snow, rocks, and other natural terrain.-Off-road vehicle:...
capability.
The two production frame lengths, 4.15 (13.6) and 4.5 metres (14.8 ft), the latter of which was among the few such
JeepJeep is an automobile marque of Chrysler. It is the oldest off-road vehicle brand, with Land Rover coming in second. The original vehicle which first appeared as the prototype Bantam BRC became the primary light 4-wheel-drive vehicle of the US Army and allies during the World War II and postwar...
-derivatives in production in recent years, were both available in civilian and military models. Aside from the Israeli market, Storms have long been exported to countries in South America, Asia, and Africa. A Jeep-managed production line in Egypt, whose vehicles are used by the Egyptian armed forces, was absorbed into the AIL Storm production after it closed in 1995.
Security versions
Like its parent
Jeep WranglerThe Wrangler is a compact four-wheel drive in the sport utility vehicle segment produced by American automaker Chrysler under its Jeep marque. It is a successor to the famous World War II 'Jeep' vehicle by way of the Willys civilian Jeep in the 1950s, later produced by Kaiser-Jeep and by American...
, the Storm is first and foremost an airmobile, capable offroad and utility vehicle meant to tackle extreme terrain in a general
reconnaissanceReconnaissance is a military and medical term denoting exploration conducted to gain information. Militarily, its shorthand Canadian and British form is recce , its American usage form is recon...
role, and can be outfitted with a machine gun or other weapons systems. When armed with a 105 mm (4.1 in)
M40 recoilless rifleThe M40 recoilless rifle was a lightweight, portable, crew-served 105 mm weapon intended primarily as an anti-tank weapon made in the United States. The weapon is commonly described as being 106 mm, but it is in fact 105 mm; the 106 mm designation was designed to prevent confusion with the...
, the vehicle is uniquely capable of firing directly over its blast guard equipped hood rather than in the perpendicular position required by most other vehicles.
A variant of the extended version used in desert border patrol makes use of a high-ceilinged canopy to allow a swivelling rear facing heavy machine-gun mount, while the canopy can be extended to provide a mobile command post. An air conditioned
hardtopA hardtop is a term for a rigid, rather than canvas, automobile roof. It has been used in several contexts: detachable hardtops, retractable hardtop roofs, and the so-called pillarless hardtop body style.-Detachable hardtops:...
version of the extended model is often used by officers, and a version developed for
riot controlRiot control refers to the measures used by police, military, or other forces to control, disperse, and arrest civilians that are involved in a riot, demonstration, or protest...
has clear
polycarbonatePolycarbonates are a particular group of thermoplastic polymers. They are easily worked, moulded, and thermoformed; as such, these plastics are very widely used in the modern chemical industry. Their interesting features position them between commodity plastics and engineering plastics...
shielding along the rear sides and roof, as well gunports for less-lethal weapons. The shielding allows for a wide
field of viewThe field of view is the angular extent of the observable world that is seen at any given moment.Different animals have different fields of view, depending on the placement of the eyes. Humans have an almost 180-degree forward-facing field of view, while some birds have a complete or...
while at the same time protecting against
firebombThe Molotov cocktail, also known as the petrol bomb, gasoline bomb, or Molotov bomb, or simply Molotov, is a generic name used for a variety of improvised incendiary weapons...
s and rock-throwing.
Armoured version
As with several analogous light military vehicles, despite being originally designed to fill a light reconnaissance role, the advent of
urban warfareUrban warfare is combat conducted in urban areas such as towns and cities.Urban combat is very different from combat in the open at both the operational and tactical level...
and close quarters combat meant that the
Israel Defense ForcesThe Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are Israel's military forces, comprising the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
had to recast the Storm in new roles.
When the need for a light armoured vehicle became apparent to the Israeli security forces, AIL's engineering department designed a vehicle protection system from the bottom up, integrating it into the existing vehicle in a manner that did not compromise its off-road and other capabilities, and that did not create the mechanical strain and increase in maintenance often associated with up-armouring, in part due to its computerized
injected engineFuel injection is a system for mixing fuel with air in an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in gasoline automotive engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
.
The armour protects against 7.62 millimetre (0.3 in) armour-piercing ammunition, and maintains a high protection-to-weight and cost ratio by employing IDF approved advanced materials. The protected Israeli configuration's gross vehicle weight is 3,000 kilograms (6,614 lb), though several varying protection levels are in use with individual units.
Another important asset are the Storm's narrow dimensions, which allow it to traverse the narrow alleyways common to the
casbahThe Casbah is specifically the citadel of Algiers and the traditional quarter clustered around it. The Casbah is specifically the citadel of Algiers and the traditional quarter clustered around it. The Casbah is specifically the citadel of...
s of many Middle Eastern cities, places that armoured
HumveesThe High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle is a military 4WD motor vehicle created by AM General. It has largely supplanted the roles formerly served by smaller Jeeps such as the M151 1/4 ton MUTT, the M561 "Gama Goat", their M718A1 and M792 ambulance versions, the CUCV, and other light trucks...
can only enter with great difficulty and minimal manoeuvrability, if at all. Full-height rear doors which allow for the quick deployment of fully equipped troops into combat are touted as another advantage over similar vehicles.
Civilian use
First generation Storms were made available to the general public in Israel from 1992 to 2001. A small number were purchased directly by private consumers, while larger numbers were acquired second-hand from Israeli government-owned firms like the Israel Electric Company and
MekorotMekorot is Israel's national water company. It was founded in 1937. It supplies 90% of Israel's drinking water and 80% of its water supplies....
water company, as well as
National Parks AuthorityThe Israel Nature and Parks Authority is a government organization in Israel that manages the country's nature reserves and national parks...
and
Israel PoliceThe Israel Police is a civilian force in the State of Israel. As with most other police forces in the world, its duties include crime fighting, traffic control and maintaining public safety...
. Modified Storms are popular with
off-roadingOff-roading is a term for driving a specialized vehicle on unpaved roads, such as sand, gravel, riverbeds, mud, snow, rocks, and other natural terrain.-Off-road vehicle:...
enthusiasts in Israel.
Storm II
Beginning in 2006, AIL began delivery of an improved model to the IDF, the
M-242 Storm Mark II, known in the field as the "Storm Commander". A number of significant changes have been incorporated into the new TJ-based Storms stemming from soldiers' feedback, updated operational requirements, and testing by
GOC Army HeadquartersThe Israeli GOC Army headquarters , is a multi-corps command headquarters created in 1998, which amalgamates the ground forces of the Israel Defense Forces. As of December, 2007, Mazi is headed by Aluf Avi Mizrahi.-The IDF's third arm:...
and Logistics, Medical, and the Centers Directorate. Perhaps the most obvious change is the addition of dual passenger doors, making the Storm II the first five-door
Jeep WranglerThe Wrangler is a compact four-wheel drive in the sport utility vehicle segment produced by American automaker Chrysler under its Jeep marque. It is a successor to the famous World War II 'Jeep' vehicle by way of the Willys civilian Jeep in the 1950s, later produced by Kaiser-Jeep and by American...
derivative.
Other improvements include the addition of gears to six over the previous four and increased stability resulting from wider axles than its predecessor.
Leaf springOriginally called laminated or carriage spring, a leaf spring is a simple form of spring, commonly used for the suspension in wheeled vehicles. It is also one of the oldest forms of springing, dating back to medieval times....
s were replaced with modern suspension, and the Storm II features rear
DanaDana Holding Corporation is an auto parts and systems company recently emerged from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.The company, which has 35,000 workers, is listed on the Fortune 500. Originally incorporated in New Jersey in 1904 as the 'Spicer Universal Joint Manufacturing Company', named after Clarence W...
44 axles and front TJ Dana 30s, factory designed slip yoke eliminators, and the added safety of
airbagAn airbag is a vehicle safety device. It is an occupant restraint consisting of a flexible envelope designed to inflate rapidly in an automobile collision, to prevent vehicle occupants from striking interior objects such as the steering wheel or window....
s. Soldiers' comfort was addressed as well with the addition of standard rear air conditioning as well as
CD playersA Compact Disc player , or CD player, is an electronic device that plays audio Compact Discs. CD players are often installed into home stereo systems, car audio systems, and personal computers. They are also manufactured as portable devices...
.
Storm II is also produced in an armoured version, and is offered with an optional 2.8 litre VM Motori turbodiesel,
automatic transmissionAn automatic transmission is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
, right hand drive, and run-flat tyres. AIL is capable of completing ten vehicles daily. Due to recently passed tax laws, a civilian version is not yet available in the local market.
MDT David controversy
Developed in the 2000s at an investment of
US$The United States dollar is the unit of currency of the United States. The U.S. dollar is normally abbreviated as the dollar sign, $, or as USD or US$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies and from others that use the $ symbol. It is divided into 100 cents .The U.S...
2 million after IDF commitments for 1,200 units, some AIL jobs were believed to be in jeopardy following a mid-2005 announcement that the IDF would purchase 100 US sold
Land Rover DefenderThe Land Rover Defender is a British four wheel drive off-roadutility vehicle.The product of continued development of the original Land Rover Series I launched in 1948, it uses the basic yet robust underpinnings of a ladder frame chassis and aluminium body and is available in a huge variety of body...
-based MDT David. The announcement provoked threats of protests from AIL's management and labourers, who had recently faced the blow of local
HumveeThe High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle is a military 4WD motor vehicle created by AM General. It has largely supplanted the roles formerly served by smaller Jeeps such as the M151 1/4 ton MUTT, the M561 "Gama Goat", their M718A1 and M792 ambulance versions, the CUCV, and other light trucks...
assembly ceasing due to budget considerations. The MDT David was chosen over the armoured version of the Storm because the heavy Storm was said to suffer from handling and reliability problems, safety hazards and limited mission operability. However the IDF said that the purchase of the David was to fill a temporary gap in production until the Storm II's testing was completed, and has since begun filling its commitment.
Storm III
A
Storm Mark III was set to be produced for the Israeli Security forces starting in June 2008, but production has yet to start. A prototype is however already on the roads. Based on the new four-door Jeep Wrangler JK design, the Mark III is meant to address some of the shortfalls of the current Mark II. Whereas the previous vehicle was an update of the original Storm, the Storm III is designed from the outset for a five-door configuration. Unlike the JK, the new Storm will have a much higher maximum load in part due to heavier-duty
shock absorberA shock absorber in common parlance is a mechanical device designed to smooth out or damp shock impulse, and dissipate kinetic energy.- Explanation :...
s, necessary for an armoured version. It will include as standard a 2.8 litre
VM MotoriVM Motori S.p.A. is a diesel engine manufacturing company in Cento, Italy, which is the heart of Emilia-Romagna and also home to Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and Ducati.-History:...
turbodieselTurbodiesel refers to any diesel engine with a turbocharger. Turbocharging is the norm rather than the exception in modern car and truck diesel engines...
and automatic transmission.
Like the Storm II, the Mark III will initially only be available to the military, with versions set to be delivered to
Israel PoliceThe Israel Police is a civilian force in the State of Israel. As with most other police forces in the world, its duties include crime fighting, traffic control and maintaining public safety...
in 2009. A civilian version will only be released if the local tax code is modified to allow it to compete with foreign imports of the same class, and AIL says that if that happens such a version could be offered with a petrol engine. Nevertheless, the factory says it plans to roll out 600 vehicle the first year for both local and foreign markets.
A pair of production J8's was tested by Israeli web magazine Jeepolog.com journalists in April 2009. It was dubbed "probably, the best Jeep ever". The civilian version that was apparently considered for the local Israeli market has been abandoned.
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