Notes: The AIFV
was originally developed by FMC as an improved version of the M-113, to replace
the M-113 in the US Army. The US
Army did not accept the AIFV, and FMC went on to develop what became the
Bradley, but several of NATO’s countries were quite interested in the AIFV, as
it could be a low-cost upgrade for their M-113 fleets or a lower-cost IFV than
those available at the time. The
primary mover behind this movement was the Netherlands, who went on to develop
the design as the YPR-765; soon other countries were interested, especially
Belgium, and other countries such as the Philippines, Pakistan and Egypt also
bought into the design; in all, more than 10 countries use the AIFV or some
version of it. Several other countries, most notably Turkey and South Korea,
went on to develop their own versions of the AIFV.
The AIFV – the YPR-765
The initial
version of the AIFV was the Dutch version, the YPR-765.
This was a greatly-improved version of a rejected design for the US Army,
the XM-765. FMC continued to
develop the XM-765 concept, hoping for foreign sales, and the Dutch eventually
decided to equip their army with the vehicle – but not before obtaining a
building license and a making even more adjustments and modifications.
They eventually bought or built 880; 815 were actually built in the
Netherlands. There are 23 variants of the basic vehicle.
Like the
M-113A1, the basic infantry version, YPR-765 PRI, has a hull with aluminum
armor, but incorporates a large amount of spaced armor appliqué, with extra
aluminum panels filled by polyurethane foam.
This not only provides extra protection, but allows the AIFV to retain
its amphibious characteristics. The
engine is the same as the M-113A1, but power is increased to 267 horsepower by
use of a turbocharger, the radiator is larger, and the heavy-duty transmission
of the M-548 carrier is used. The
driver is in his customary place on the front left deck, but has a steering yoke
and conventional brake and gas pedals.
He has four vision blocks, allowing frontal and left side vision; the
center of the frontal vision blocks can be replaced by a night vision block.
Directly behind the driver is a commander’s position; the commander has
all-around vision blocks and a 1-6x rotating periscope, but no weapon mount. The
commander has a searchlight for his use.
On the right of
the front hull, behind the engine, is the one-man turret, armed with a 25mm
autocannon and a coaxial machinegun.
Two smoke grenade launchers are found on either side of the turret. The
gunner also has night vision, and a hatch atop the turret.
The troops are at the rear of the AIFV, and enter and exit primarily
through a large powered ramp at the rear with a door in it.
The troops sit with six of them sitting back to back and facing outwards,
towards two firing ports in each side.
There is another firing port in the rear door. The squad leader sits
between the turret and the passengers and faces to the rear.
The YPR-765A1,
also called the YPR-2000, is essentially a YPR-765 with additional appliqué
armor and an uprated 300-horsepower engine.
It saw its first combat use in Afghanistan.
The Belgians
also use several variants of the AIFV. The basic AIFV is almost identical to the
YPR-765. The AIFV-B-C25 has improvements similar to those of the YPR-765A1, has
a suspension similar to that of the M-113A2, an NBC overpressure system, and an
automatic fire detection and extinguishing system. The AIFV-B-50 has a smaller
turret with a heavy machinegun and a mount on the rear deck for a Milan ATGM.
(The Milan launcher is also dismountable.) The AIFV-B-50 also has a pair of 71mm
Lyran smoke mortars which are reloadable from the turret. As the Filipinos
bought their AIFVs from Belgium, their AIFVs are similar, but their counterpart
to the AIFC-B-50 has no Milan firing post. (They were initially to have been all
armed with 25mm autocannons, but the Filipinos balked at the cost.)
Other APC-Type AIFVs
Of course, there
are several specialist versions of the AIFV, including several APC-type
versions. Chief among these are
command and FIST-type vehicles. The
Dutch use one that is essentially identical externally to the YPR-765, but
internally has one long, one short, and one medium-range radio, with the
medium-range radio able to receive data as well as voice communications.
The vehicle also has a ruggedized laptop computer and a hand-held image
intensifier, thermal imager, and laser rangefinder, as well as maps, plotting
supplies, and other such supplies. This vehicle is called the YPR-765 PRCO-B.
Several other
command versions are based on the same chassis, but do not have a turret.
Most are similar except for the internal equipment.
Examples of these vehicles are the Dutch YPR-765 PCRO-C and the Belgian
AIFV-B-CP; these have two long-range, two medium-range, and one short-range
radios, with one of the long-range radios able to receive data as well as fax
and voice transmissions. They come with a long-range antenna which may be
erected when the vehicle is at a halt, and a tent-like extension at the rear
which also may be erected when the vehicle is halted to extend working area.
They also have ruggedized laptops and various mapping, plotting, and
other such supplies, as well as a hand-held image intensifier, thermal imager,
and laser rangefinder. Unlike most
such command vehicles, the roofline is not raised on these vehicles.
These versions do not have turrets, but instead, the commander’s position
has a rotating cupola with a pintle-mounted machinegun; the smoke grenade
launchers are shifted to the hull front.
These vehicles have NBC overpressure systems, and carry a 5kW APU.
The Dutch also
operate an ambulance version, the YPR-765 PRGWT.
This version is unarmed, and can carry two stretcher and two seated
patients, or five seated patients.
It carries a small refrigerator for perishable medical supplies, a small heater
for blankets, a small water heater, the equivalent of 20 personnel medical kits,
and the equivalent of four doctor’s medical bags.
It also has a defibrillator and two sets of oxygen-administering
equipment. It has an NBC
overpressure system.
The YPR-765
PMORS is a battlefield surveillance command post vehicle which is used to help
spot enemy artillery and mortar positions and command elements, and collate such
information from its subordinate elements.
It does not have a turret, but on its roof is a pintle-mounted
machinegun; its roof is also festooned with antennas and an extendible
surveillance mast. The mast extends
to 4 meters and includes a thermal imaging camera, an image intensifier, a video
camera, a shotgun microphone, a radio direction finder, and a radar detector.
Other antennas are for the five radios, most of which are data-capable.
Also included is a limited EW capability; the PMORS has an ELINT 2 capability,
which it uses to locate the radio emissions of command and artillery units.
A small computer ties all of this together and keeps other friendly
elements informed. The interior is cramped, but has positions for operators and
intelligence analysts. On the rear
deck is a 10kW generator, and the rear deck hatch is plated over. The firing
ports are likewise plated over, though the vision blocks are retained. The
commander’s cupola has an engraved mil ring on it and a built-in compass. The
PMORS has an NBC Overpressure system.
Twilight 2000
Notes: The YPR-765A1 does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
YPR-765 PRI |
$59,384 |
D, A |
1.14 tons |
13.7 tons |
3+7 |
8 |
Passive IR (D, G), WL/IR Searchlight |
Shielded |
YPR-765A1 |
$66,840 |
D, A |
890 kg |
14.2 tons |
3+7 |
6 |
Passive IR
(D, G), Image Intensifier (G), WL/IR Searchlight |
Shielded |
AIFV-B-C25 |
$69,184 |
D, A |
1.14 tons |
13.7 tons |
3+7 |
8 |
Passive IR
(D, G), Image Intensifier (G), WL/IR Searchlight |
Shielded |
AIFV-B-50 |
$57,738 |
D, A |
1.14 tons |
13.4 tons |
3+7 |
8 |
Passive IR (D, G), WL/IR Searchlight |
Shielded |
AIFV-B-50
(Filipino) |
$47,238 |
D, A |
1.14 tons |
13.3 tons |
3+7 |
7 |
Passive IR (D, G), WL/IR Searchlight |
Shielded |
YPR-765
PCRO-B |
$128,253 |
D, A |
1.04 tons |
13.9 tons |
3+6 |
10 |
Passive IR (D, G), WL/IR Searchlight |
Shielded |
YPR-765
PCRO-C |
$115,816 |
D, A |
800 kg |
13.7 tons |
2+4 |
11 |
Passive IR (D, G), WL/IR Searchlight |
Shielded |
YPR-765
PRGWT |
$67,155 |
D, A |
1.04 tons |
13.7 tons |
** |
10 |
Passive IR (D), WL/IR Searchlight |
Shielded |
YPR-765
PMORS |
$227,396 |
D, A |
318 kg |
14.2 tons |
5 |
16 |
Passive IR (D), 2nd Gen
Thermal Imaging, 2nd Gen Image Intensification (Mast) |
Shielded |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
YPR-765 PRI |
145/101 |
31/23/3 |
416 |
137 |
Trtd |
T2 |
TF5
TS4 TR4
HF9Sp HS6Sp
HR6 |
YPR-765A1 |
155/108 |
33/24/3 |
416 |
158 |
Trtd |
T2 |
HF6Sp
TS4Sp TR4
HF11Sp HS8Sp
HR7* |
AIFV-B-C25 |
160/111 |
34/25/3 |
416 |
158 |
Trtd |
T2 |
TF5
TS4 TR4
HF9Sp HS6Sp
HR6 |
AIFV-B-50 |
165/114 |
35/26/4 |
416 |
137 |
CiH |
T2 |
TF3
TS3 TR3
HF9Sp HS6Sp
HR6 |
YPR-765
PCRO-B |
144/100 |
31/23/3 |
416 |
137 |
Trtd |
T2 |
TF5
TS4 TR4
HF9Sp HS6Sp
HR6 |
YPR-765
PCRO-C/PRGWT |
145/101 |
31/23/3 |
416 |
137 |
Stnd |
T2 |
HF9Sp
HS6Sp HR6 |
YPR-765
PMORS |
138/96 |
29/21/3 |
416 |
137 |
Stnd |
T2 |
HF9Sp
HS6Sp HR6 |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
YPR-765 PRI/YPR-765A1/PCRO-B |
+1 |
Fair |
25mm KBA, MG3 |
324x25mm, 1840x7.62mm |
AIFV-B-C25 |
+1 |
Fair |
25mm KBA, MAG |
324x25mm, 1840x7.62mm |
AIFV-B-50 |
+1 |
Basic |
M2HB, Milan ATGM Launcher |
3700x.50, 5xMilan ATGM |
AIFV-B-50
(Filipino) |
+1 |
Basic |
M2HB |
3700x.50 |
YPR-765
PCRO-C/PMORS |
None |
None |
M2HB (C) |
2000x.50 |
*Belly armor is 4.
**See Notes above.
ASCOD IFV
Notes:
ASCOD (Austrian Spanish Cooperation Development) was an entity put
together temporarily from the Austrian Steyr-Daimler-Puch and Spanish Santa
Barbara Systemas to develop the AFV family that bears its name. Some half a
dozen vehicles are based on this vehicle range, and the ASCOD IFV is one of
them. (It should be noted that most
of the versions have never been built.) Though later Santa Barbara Systemas
would drop out of production after being bought out by General Dynamics Land
Systems, the vehicle continues to be produced, developed, and shopped around;
currently, the users are Austria, who use 112 (and call them the Ulan; they have
plans to buy an upgraded version called the Ulan 2), and Spain (who currently
use 144, and have plans to buy more; they call theirs the Pizarro, with later
vehicles being the Pizarro 2 version).
Greece was initially to have also been a customer, but the Greeks decided
to go with less expensive refurbished BMP-1s from Germany.
In Austria, they complement the CV-9030 in service.
Production began in 1996, and continues today.
ASCODs have yet to deploy to combat.
Ulans and Pizarros differ in some details, most notably the engine.
The ASCOD has a
driver’s hatch on the front deck behind a well-sloped glacis plate.
The driver has three vision blocks to the front, the middle of which can
be replaced with a night vision block.
The driving station is designed to provide reasonable room and has a
steering yoke with brake and gas pedals.
The 2-man turret is in the center of the vehicle offset to the right with
the commander on the right and gunner on the left; they have a comprehensive
night vision suite, though the commander uses the gunner’s thermal imager.
Armament is a 30mm autocannon, a coaxial machinegun, and a commander’s
machinegun, with six smoke grenade launchers on each side of the turret.
The main gun and coaxial have an elevation of 50 degrees, which allows it
to engage helicopters and slow-moving aircraft as well as ground targets.
The rear deck has a round hatch to the right and a rectangular hatch to
the left; the round hatch is surrounded by vision blocks.
The passenger compartment is accessed by a large door in the rear, and
has seats for five down the left side and three down the right side.
A passenger seat is under the circular hatch on the deck; this hatch and
the seat rotate and it is meant for the squad leader.
The ASCOD’s silhouette is long and low; the silhouette is low primarily
due to the low-profile turret. All
the versions below have a BMS, GPS, Vehicle State Computer, and mapping
computer.
Pizarro
The Pizarro is
the Spanish version of the ASCOD.
The Pizarro is armed with a Mauser MK-30/2, the same gun as mounted on the
German Wiesel 2 RMK-30; however, in this case, recoil gasses are not vented to
the rear of the gun; instead, they are forced through a pipe, where they exit to
the right of the gun externally.
There is an MG3 machinegun mounted externally; crews have called for a
commander’s machinegun, but as of yet their calls have gone unheeded.
For this reason, there are many Pizarros sprouting makeshift pintle
mounts with varying weapons, usually medium or heavy machineguns.
The Spanish Army, though such modifications are not regulation, has
turned a blind eye towards such modifications. The Pizarro’s cannon and coax are
aimed by the Indra Mk-10, which gives the Pizarro a full solution digital
computer, day channel, thermal channel and laser rangefinder.
The gunner interfaces the Mk-10 through an LCD screen, and essentially
designates targets while the Mk-10 does the final aiming and firing. Future
versions will be fitted with the VC2 2nd Gen thermal imager.
The turret has a bank of six smoke grenade launchers on each side.
The turret of
the Pizarro is a bit larger than the Ulan’s turret, and the Pizarro may seat
only seven dismounts. The troops
seat three on each side down the sides; the dismount squad leader sits in a
pivoting seat in the center just behind the turret, facing to the rear. The
troops exit through a rear ramp which also has dual doors in it.
The Pizarro has an NBC Overpressure system. The troop compartment has a
pair of hatches atop the middle of the rear deck; these have all-around vision
blocks, but do not have cupolas or weapon mounts.
The armor is
spaced and of composite construction, being fitted with MEXAS.
The Pizarro also has lugs for SABBLIR ERA at the lower half of the
glacis, at the lower sides of the turret sides, and on the hull sides.
The Pizarro has a laser warning system, which alerts the crew that the
Pizarro is being lased by ATGM or aircraft lasers or vehicle rangefinders or
designation beams: A detection triggers two smoke grenades, the some of which
has a prismatic component to block the lasers.
The Pizarro is also equipped with an optical chemical sniffer.
The Pizarro uses
a 600-horsepower MTU 8V-183-TEE22 supercharged diesel. They are equipped with a
Sapa Placancia SG 850 automatic transmission, which can be switched by the
driver to manual transmission if necessary.
Suspension is by torsion bar with rotary dampers at the ends.
The Pizarro is able to drive at half full forward speed in reverse. On a
road, the Pizarro is able to accelerate to a Com Mov of 17 in 14 seconds.
It can cross a 2.3-meter ditch, climb a 95-centimeter wall, and ford 1.2
meters, though it is not amphibious.
Despite being
part of ISAF, Spain did not deploy the Pizarro to Afghanistan due to a lack of
what the Spanish MoD considered decent anti-mine/IED protection. However,
Pizarros and Pizarro 2s have been deployed to Latvia for the current crisis in
Ukraine.
Pizarro w/Applique Armor
Pizarros may be
equipped with applique armor, made of spaced sheets of steel RHA, on the hull
sides, glacis, floor, turret roof, turret front, and turret sides.
Unfortunately, the extra protection is minimal.
Due to the design of the vehicle, the Pizarro cannot mount cage armor on
the hull or turret.
Pizarro 2
As the note
above indicates, the Pizarro suffered from a lack of antimine protection.
Therefore, this was the first thing the Spanish addressed when ordering
their ASCOD 2s. The armor was made thicker, and was applied with a space in
between two plates, with a layer of MEXAS between the two. As well, an MRAP
shape being put into the belly. The
driver’s and passenger’s seats are special mine-resistant seats, which have
crumple zones underneath; it was not possible to incorporate these into the
commander’s and gunner’s positions due to space availability.
Armor all around the vehicle was improved in general; in addition, the
Pizarro still has a layer of MEXAS, and can be fitted with the SABBLIR ERA.
The Pizarro 2 is
also protected by the Iron Fist APS (a modification of an Israeli system), which
is rated as equal in protection as the APS mounted on the Russian T-14 Armata.
The Pizarro 2 is also equipped with a laser
warning/detection and its smoke grenade launchers have prismatic aerosol smoke
in them.
The amount of
ammunition available was also a sore spot with the crews, and as the base ASCOD
2 is bigger, more ammunition storage is available.
The Pizarro 2
driver has better night vision as well as a backup camera, and images from the
cameras are displayed on an HD LCD screen.
In addition, the Mk-10 suite was replaced by the VC10 suite, which
integrates the day vision, night vision, and fire control into a single suite of
electronics. This includes 2nd
Gen Thermal Imaging for the commander and gunner.
The Pizarro 2’s
suspension is beefed up to take the extra weight and size of the Pizarro 2, and
the engine is replaced with an MTU V8 199 T21 turbocharged diesel outputting 805
horsepower. The transmission and
driver’s controls are the same used on the Pizarro.
Finally, I told
the readers above about crews jury-rigging weapon mounts in front of their TC
hatches. The Pizarro 2 has a new
machinegun mount; it uses a modified MG3 and turns the commander’s hatch into a
cupola. The MG3 can be aimed,
fired, and reloaded from inside the cupola when the hatch is closed, and the
commander has a reticle using a laser rangefinder and ballistic computer on an
LCD screen or by using the weapon’s sights themselves with the head outside of
the turret.
Ulan
The Ulan (Lance)
is not sold whole to Austria; they instead are sold as a kit to Steyr, who does
the assembly. All of Austria’s Ulans were delivered and assembled between 2002
and 2005, for a total force of 112 Ulans.
The primary
difference between the Ulan and the Pizarro is the engine.
The Ulan uses a more powerful (but also physically larger) MTU
8V-199-TE22 engine which develops 720 horsepower.
This makes the Ulan more fuel-hungry and decreases road range, but
increases agility. The automatic transmission and driver’s controls are the
same.
The Ulan does
not have lugs for ERA on their armor, though it can mount applique armor as on
the Pizarro; the applique armor kit for the Ulan uses thicker steel. However,
it, too, cannot mount cage armor. Ulans are also equipped with the MEXAS system.
The suspension is essentially the same, but made by Renk in Germany instead of
GDLS. The Ulan has an NBC overpressure system with a
collective NBC backup.
Instead of the
TCs jury-rigging weapons mounts by their hatch, the Austrian made pintle mounts
in front of their hatches standard.
They cannot be used when the TC’s hatch is closed. Otherwise, the difference in
armament consists of a change of machineguns from MG3s to MAGs.
The Ulan
is equipped with the Kolllsman Day/Night Range Sight (DNRS), which integrates a
digital ballistic computer, day vision and night vision channels and a laser
rangefinder. The Kollsman system also has an automatic target tracker; the
gunner lases a target and the turret and gun slew to put the gun on target. The
commander has a cupola with all-around vision blocks; the center front block has
a magnification of x2.8; he also has an LCD screen which projects what the
gunner is seeing; he does not have his own thermal imager. The TC has emergency
controls for the gun to take care of sudden close threats. The Ulan was
designed from the outset to carry more ammunition than the Pizarro. Most other
differences are the use local components and systems instead of stock ASCOD
parts and systems.
Ulan 2
GDLS designed an
ASCOD 2 to Austrian Ulan 2 specifications (it turned out to be very much like
the Pizarro 2), but due to the availability of Russian armor vehicles and
components, they decided to go a different route.
They bought the GDLS Ulan 2 hulls, but for a turret, they mounted the
complete turret and turret basket of the Russian BMP-3.
They also applied some applique armor to the turret.
This was the vehicle they called the Ulan 2.
As stated above,
the turret is up-armored, and the ASCOD hull can also use the applique designed
for the Pizarro 2. In addition, a
MEXAS armor suite was also used to improve the armor installation. The Ulan 2’s
suspension is beefed up to take the extra weight and size of the Ulan 2, and the
engine is replaced with an MTU V8 199 T21 turbocharged diesel outputting 805
horsepower. The transmission and
driver’s controls are the same used on the Ulan, but are produced by Renk under
license.
The turret has
the same basic controls, but are replaced with local components, often improved
over the BMP-3’s components. The
Austrian installed an upgrade of the Kollsman fire control suite, this includes
the Kollsman system automatic target tracker.
The commander has his own thermal/image intensifier/day magnification
sight head on the turret roof; this gives the Ulan 2 a hunter/killer capability.
The missiles and gun ammunition is the same as on the BMP-3, including
the 9M117 Bastion missiles; however, these are locally produced instead of
coming from Russia. Instead of the
PKT machineguns of the BMP-3, MAG machineguns have been installed.
The Ulan 2’s
passenger compartment is more cramped than that of the Ulan, due the space the
BMP-3’s turret requires. The
Austrian Army says that the Ulan 2 can seat seven; the troops have found that is
true, but only if the troops do not take large items like heavy weapons,
machineguns, etc. Six dismounts was
found to be a more realistic number.
Czech ASCOD 2 Tender
In 2018, the
Czech Republic put forth a tender for an IFV to replace their aging BVP-1s and
BVP-2s. They have tested several
vehicles to fill the role: the German Lynx, the Swedish CV90, and the ASCOD 2.
In all cases, the IFVs were upgraded and improved, and modified with the
use of several Czech-made components.
Originally, the replacement for the BVPs was to be in service by 2022;
this date, however, has slipped to 2023, and may slip further.
Rumors are circulating that the competition will be halted, citing that
none of the competing vehicles satisfied all requirements.
Another rumor states that the Czechs might seek (major) upgrades for
their BVPs.
So one of these
possible vehicles for the Czech tender is the ASCOD 2.
This version uses the maximum armor suite for the ASCOD 2, including
MEXAS composite layers and spaced armor.
The armor is also thicker, a big part of why the Czech ASCOD 2 is so much
heavier than most ASCOD 2-based vehicles. This armor includes an MRAP hull and a
MEXAS layer in the belly armor.
Suspension is similar to other ASCOD 2s, but is heavily beefed up to carry the
enormously greater weight. 805
horsepower and 1072-horsepower engines have been tested.
A hybrid powerplant design has also been tested. Despite the weight,
these powerplants give the ASCOD 2CZ good speed and agility.
For a turret,
the ASCOD 2CZ is equipped with an Israeli Elbit MT-30 Mk 2 turret. This turret
is armed with 30mm Bushmaster II autocannon, VZ-68 machinegun, and a dual
Spike-LR ATGM launcher which retracts into the hull for reloading.
The ASCOD 2CZ uses the Israeli MiniPOP Fire Control /Optics suite which
integrates all electronics and day/night optics. The commander and gunner have
independent optics heads, allowing for a hunter/killer capability. The MT-30
generally takes control of the turret in combat (there is a gunner’s override),
slewing the turret to the designated target and laying the gun on it, and
automatically firing the laser rangefinder at it. The gunner supplies
fine-tuning the aim of the gun, then gives authorization to the computer to
fire. The MT-30 system allows the gun to track moving targets.
As the ASCOD 2CZ has a hunter/killer capability, the gunner may be firing
on a target, and the commander feeding the next target into the fire control
computer. The commander also has an
emergency override just in case the commander sees a more threatening target.
The Czechs are
also considering other autocannons for ASCOD 2CZ, including cannons of 35mm,
40mm, and 50mm. These autocannons
will be Bushmaster autocannons, as the change would not be difficult.
I am statting these below, but I am only using the 805-horsepower (the
engine most likely to be used) in the stats below. In any case, the autocannon
and coax would have a depression of -10 degrees and elevation of +60 degrees,
making it capable of engaging infantry on the ground, vehicles, and helicopters.
At the rear of
the turret are clusters of three smoke grenade launchers; the angle of these
launchers may be adjusted by the commander.
Twilight 2000
Notes: The Ulan 2 and Pizarro 2 do not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline; both
the Pizarro and Ulan are usually seen wearing applique armor.
The Czech version of the ASCOD 2 also does not exist in the Twilight 2000
timeline.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
Pizarro |
$670,460 |
D, A |
1.2 tons |
26.3 tons |
3+7 |
14 |
Passive IR (D), Image Intensification
(G, C), Thermal Imaging (G) |
Shielded |
Pizarro
w/Appliqué |
$676,947 |
D, A |
1.14 tons |
28.1 tons |
3+7 |
17 |
Passive IR (D), Image Intensification
(G, C), Thermal Imaging (G) |
Shielded |
Pizarro 2 |
$948,622 |
D, A |
1.29 tons |
28.9 tons |
3+8 |
23 |
Image Intensification (D, G, C), 2nd
Gen Thermal Imaging (G, C), Backup Camera (D) |
Shielded |
Ulan |
$744,957 |
D, A |
1.15 tons |
28 tons |
3+8 |
15 |
Passive IR (D), Image Intensification
(G, C), Thermal Imaging (G, C) |
Shielded |
Ulan
w/Appliqué |
$795,947 |
D, A |
1.14 tons |
29.4 tons |
3+8 |
23 |
Passive IR (D), Image Intensification
(G, C), Thermal Imaging (G, C) |
Shielded |
Ulan 2 |
$1,381,097 |
D, A |
1.05 tons |
32.4 tons |
3+6 |
23 |
Passive IR (D), Image Intensification
(G, C), Thermal Imaging (G, C) |
Shielded |
ASCOD 2CZ
(805 hp) |
$1,439,750 |
D, A |
1.35 tons |
38 tons |
3+8 |
27 |
Image Intensification (D), 2nd
Gen Image Intensification, 2nd Gen Thermal Imaging (G, C),
Backup Camera (D) |
Shielded |
ASCOD 2CZ
(1072 hp) |
$1,442,937 |
D, A |
1.37 tons |
38 tons |
3+8 |
27 |
Image Intensification (D), 2nd
Gen Image Intensification, 2nd Gen Thermal Imaging (G, C),
Backup Camera (D) |
Shielded |
ASCOD 2CZ
(35mm Autocannon) |
$1,441,617 |
D, A |
1.33 tons |
38.23 tons |
3+8 |
31 |
Image Intensification (D), 2nd
Gen Image Intensification, 2nd Gen Thermal Imaging (G, C),
Backup Camera (D) |
Shielded |
ASCOD 2CZ
(40mm Autocannon) |
$1,157,333 |
D, A |
1.32 tons |
38.61 tons |
3+8 |
31 |
Image Intensification (D), 2nd
Gen Image Intensification, 2nd Gen Thermal Imaging (G, C),
Backup Camera (D) |
Shielded |
ASCOD 2CZ
(50mm Autocannon) |
$1,281,155 |
D, A |
1.31 tons |
38.83 tons |
3+8 |
31 |
Image Intensification (D), 2nd
Gen Image Intensification, 2nd Gen Thermal Imaging (G, C),
Backup Camera (D) |
Shielded |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
Pizarro |
158/111 |
44/31 |
860 |
233 |
Trtd |
T3 |
TF14Cp
TS7Cp TR6
HF18Cp HS8Cp
HR6 |
Pizarro
w/Appliqué |
156/109 |
43/30 |
860 |
233 |
Trtd |
T3 |
TF17Cp
TS8Cp TR6
HF22Cp HS10Cp
HR6* |
Pizarro 2 |
192/135 |
53/37 |
1032 |
299 |
Trtd |
T3 |
TF20Cp
TS10Cp TR7
HF26Cp HS12Cp
HR7** |
Ulan |
174/122 |
48/34 |
860 |
267 |
Trtd |
T3 |
TF14Cp
TS7Cp TR6
HF18Cp HS8Cp
HR6 |
Ulan
w/Appliqué |
174/121 |
48/34 |
860 |
267 |
Trtd |
T3 |
TF19Sp
TS10Sp TR6
HF24Cp HS12Cp
HR6*** |
Ulan 2 |
170/119 |
47/33 |
1032 |
299 |
Trtd |
T3 |
TF19Cp
TS10Cp TR6
HF26Cp HS12Cp
HR7**** |
ASCOD 2CZ
(805 hp) |
155/109 |
43/30 |
1032 |
299 |
Trtd |
T3 |
TF28Cp
TS14Cp TS10
HF36Cp HS17Cp
HR10***** |
ASCOD 2CZ
(1072 hp) |
195/136 |
54/38 |
1032 |
398 |
Trtd |
T3 |
TF28Cp
TS14Cp TS10
HF36Cp HS17Cp
HR10***** |
ASCOD 2CZ
(35mm) |
154/108 |
43/30 |
1032 |
299 |
Trtd |
T3 |
TF28Cp
TS14Cp TS10
HF36Cp HS17Cp
HR10***** |
ASCOD 2CZ
(40mm) |
153/107 |
43/30 |
1032 |
299 |
Trtd |
T3 |
TF28Cp
TS14Cp TS10
HF36Cp HS17Cp
HR10***** |
ASCOD 2CZ
(50mm) |
153/107 |
42/30 |
1032 |
299 |
Trtd |
T3 |
TF28Cp
TS14Cp TS10
HF36Cp HS17Cp
HR10***** |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
Pizarro |
+3 |
Fair |
Mauser 30mm Mk 30/2 Autocannon, MG3 |
300x30mm, 1500x7.62mm |
Pizarro 2 |
+4 |
Good |
30mm Mauser Mk 30 autocannon, MG3, MG3
(C) |
400x30mm, 2900x7.62mm |
Ulan |
+3 |
Fair |
30mm Mauser Mk 30 autocannon, MAG, MAG
(C) |
405x30mm, 2900x7.62mm |
Ulan 2 |
+4 |
Good |
100mm 2A70 Gun, 30mm 2A42 Autocannon,
MAG, MAG (C) |
40x100mm, 6xAT-10 ATGM (Austrian),
500x30mm, 4000x7.62mm |
ASCOD 2CZ
(30mm) |
+4 |
Good |
30mm ATK MK44 Bushmaster II Autocannon,
VZ-68, VZ-68 (C), 2xSpike ATGM Launchers |
500x30mm,
3500x7.62mm, 6xSpike-LR ATGM |
ASCOD 2CZ
(35mm) |
+4 |
Good |
35mm ATK
Bushmaster III Autocannon, VZ-68, VZ-68 (C), 2xSpike ATGM Launchers |
450x35mm,
3500x7.62mm, 6xSpike-LR ATGM |
ASCOD 2CZ
(40mm) |
+4 |
Good |
40mm ATK
Bushmaster IV Autocannon, VZ-68, VZ-68 (C), 2xSpike ATGM Launchers |
400x40mm,
3500x7.62mm, 6xSpike-LR ATGM |
ASCOD 2CZ
(50mm) |
+4 |
Good |
50mm ATK
Bushmaster III Autocannon, VZ-68, VZ-68 (C), 2xSpike ATGM Launchers |
300x50mm,
3500x7.62mm, 6xSpike-LR ATGM |
**Belly armor is 7Cp and is an MRAP belly.
***Belly Armor is 8Cp; Roof Armor is 5Sp.
**** Belly armor is 7Cp and is an MRAP belly,
Roof Armor is 6Sp.
*****Belly Armor is 8Cp and is an MRAP belly.
Roof Armor is 7Sp.
Notes:
The OT-62 was originally to be a joint Czech/Polish copy of the Russian
BTR-50PK, but it quickly got enough changes, upgrades, and modifications to be
considered its own vehicle. The
OT-64 entered service with Czechoslovakia in 1964; the Polish did a bit more
work on their version, the OT-62C, and it did not enter service until 1966;
production ended in 1971. Some 15
other countries use or used the OT-62, but its original users – Czechoslovakia
and Poland – have long since sold or given them to other countries, turned into
range targets, or in some cases, turned over to civilian police or fire
services. As of 2010, Libya and
Egypt operate the largest amount of OT-62s; they still have hundreds in service.
The OT-62 looks
basically like a BTR-50, but there are several important differences.
The OT-62 is a physically somewhat larger vehicle, particularly in
length. The OT-64 commander’s
position has a small turret, barely larger than a cupola, instead of a simple
pintle mount for its machinegun.
The OT-62 has a more powerful PV-6 Diesel engine developing 300 horsepower in
it, and is propelled during amphibious operations by waterjets.
The troop compartment is fully enclosed and has an NBC overpressure
system, which can be operated by a hand crank if the main system fails.
The front half of the vehicle is higher than the rear half, like the
BTR-50. The commander’s turret is
on the front left of the raised section, with the driver to his right.
The commander has vision blocks for his turret and two vision blocks in
the hull in front of him; the driver has three vision blocks just below his
hatch on the front hull. The
commander’s turret does not have a hatch.
The engine compartment is in the rear of the vehicle, along with the
transmission, cooling system, and fuel tanks; the passengers leave and enter by
overhead hatches or doors in the sides of the passenger compartment as the rear
of the raised section of the hull.
The automotive compartment and the crew compartment have automatic fire
detection and extinguishing systems.
The system can also be activated by manual pull handles, and fire
extinguishing bottles are also present.
The suspension is by conventional torsion bars, with six large roadwheels
which are hollow to increase buoyancy.
Track tension is variable and can be adjusted by the driver from his
compartment. The vehicle is long
but has only two pairs of shock absorbers, leading to a rough ride.
The OT-62 is amphibious, propelled by waterjets, and requires that a pair
of bilge pumps be turned on and a trim vane extended at the front; a special
driving vision block that allows the driver to see over the trim vane must also
be put in. This procedure takes 10 minutes. The bilge pump can be operated
manually if necessary.
The basic Czech
version, the OT-62A Topas, is armed with an M-59A recoilless rifle mounted on
the rear deck, but has no commander’s armament; in addition, the commander has
no hatch above him. The OT-62B
Topas-2A has the small turret mentioned above; it is armed with one machinegun
and is manually-rotated and has manual elevation and some side-to-side movement
for the gun. Beside the turret is a
T-21 recoilless rifle; it can be aimed and fired from inside the vehicle, but
reloaded only by opening the hatch behind it and having someone reload it.
To the right of the recoilless rifle is a manually-operated IR
searchlight.
The OT-62C
Topas-2AP is the Polish version, and it differs much from the Czech versions.
In the center of the raised section of the deck is the same turret as
fitted to the OT-64, with a KPVT heavy machinegun and a coaxial PKT. The guns
can be elevated almost straight up (89.5 degrees), but only to -5 degrees. The
turret also has an AT-3 Sagger launch rail on either side of the turret on some
models.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
OT-62A |
$56,539 |
D, A |
1 ton |
14.8 tons |
2+18 |
8 |
Headlights |
Shielded |
OT-62B |
$64,437 |
D, A |
1 ton |
15 tons |
2+18 |
8 |
Headlights |
Shielded |
OT-62C |
$137,658 |
D, A |
1 ton |
16.4 tons |
3+12 |
8 |
Headlights |
Shielded |
OT-62C
w/ATGM |
$141,858 |
D, A |
1 ton |
16.5 tons |
3+12 |
8 |
Headlights |
Shielded |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Config |
Susp |
Armor |
OT-62A |
138/97 |
28/20/5 |
417 |
127 |
Stnd |
T3 |
HF6
HS3 HR3 |
OT-62B |
137/96 |
28/20/5 |
417 |
128 |
CiH |
T3 |
TF2
TS2 TR2
HF6 HS3
HR3 |
OT-62C |
125/87 |
25/18/5 |
520 |
140 |
CiH |
T3 |
TF2
TS2 TR2
HF6 HS3
HR3 |
Vehicle |
Fire Control |
Stabilization |
Armament |
Ammunition |
OT-62A |
None |
None |
82mm M-59A Recoilless Rifle (Rear Deck) |
12x82mm |
OT-62B |
None |
None |
PKT, T-21
Recoilless Rifle |
1250x7.62mm, 12x82mm |
OT-62C |
+1 |
Basic |
KPVT, PKT |
500x14.5mm,
2000x7.62mm |
OT-62C
w/ATGM |
+1 |
Basic |
KPVT, PKT,
2xAT-3 ATGM Launchers |
500x14.5mm,
2000x7.62mm, 4xAT-3 ATGMs |