Kader Al-Fahd Mortar Carrier

     Notes:  This version of the Al-Fahd is a mortar carrier topped by a turret containing a 120mm breechloaded mortar. Though the Saudis have built quite a few of these mortar vehicle versions, they have now essentially stopped production of them, in order to provide as many APCs, IFVs, and Command Vehicle variants as possible.  The LAV II-based AMS is now the primary turreted mortar in Saudi service.

     This vehicle is a variant of the basic Al-Fahd APC.  Essentially, the turret is similar to those built for various LAV II and LAV III vehicles as mock-ups.  The interior is, as most such vehicles, full mostly of ammunition and an autoloader for the mortar.  The gun is fed by an autoloader, but any special rounds or types of rounds out of sequence require the autoloader to be stopped and the special round to be loaded by hand.  This can require good timing during a long bombardment.  The Mortar Carrier is fully equipped for its mortar mission, including automatic survey and virtual aiming stakes.  A mortar ballistic computer provided, along with GPS and a computer which can be used as a map box and to provide blue force and red force information. For direct fire necessities, the Mortar Carrier has a fire control computer, a laser rangefinder, and stabilization for the mortar. On the rear deck of the mortar is a small hatch to load rounds and equipment or discard items; however, the primary loading and unloading is anticipated to be done by the rear ramp.  On each side of the turret are a cluster of four smoke grenade launchers.

     The driver is in the front of the hull; the driver has a night vision block in addition to his conventional vision blocks.  The hatch may be locked partially open (so it are elevated straight out from the hull), or locked open completely. The engine is at the center, behind the driver.  Though firing ports can be fitted, there are none on the Saudi National Guard version. The normal commander’s station on the right front of the hull is deleted, and replaced with additional storage for equipment and ammunition. The commander is in the turret, along with the gunner, with the two loaders in the hull behind/in the turret as necessary.  The commander’s cupola has all-around vision blocks, and is manually rotatable (rather like an M-113’s cupola), as well as a separate night vision device (integrated with a wide-angle vision block) and a reticle rangefinder.

     The Mortar Carrier has a Deutz 10 400-horsepower diesel. The transmission is automatic, and driver’s controls conventional.  The suspension is 8x8 and of the off-road-type, with the drive being switchable to 8x4 for road use (the four middle wheels being the drive wheels in this case). The front four wheels are independently steerable from the rear four vehicles, giving the Mortar Carrier a tight turning radius. The suspension incorporates conventional hydraulic shock absorbers along with a nitrogen gas spring system which gives the AF-40-8-1 a very smooth ride.  The nitrogen gas spring system automatically adjusts to smooth out recoil when weapons are being fired, especially when they are fired on the move.  The Mortar Carrier has an automatic fire detection and suppression system.  Armor is of aluminum (and quite decent); lugs for ERA are optional, but not standard.  Also not standard is amphibious capability though it is available; in addition, the Mortar Carrier has the capability of mounting virtually any form of appliqué armor. The vehicle has NBC overpressure with a collective NBC backup, and air conditioning.

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

$629,642

D, A

800 kg

15.51 tons

5

13

Passive IR (D,G,C), Thermal Imaging (G), Image Intensification (C)

Shielded

 

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

195/94

43/22/4

550

235

Trtd

W(6)

TF10Sp  TS6Sp  TR4  HF12Sp  HS5Sp  HR3

 

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

+2

Fair

120mm Lockheed/Soltam Cardom Gun/Mortar, MAG, MAG (C)

60x120mm, 2150x7.62mm

*The Fire Control bonus for the commander’s machinegun is +1, while the Stabilization is basic.

 

Kader/GDLS Armored Mortar System (AMS)/LAV

     Notes:  The AMV is a vehicle with the same chassis as the LAV-25/LAV II and the same turret as that of the Al-Fahd Mortar carrier.  The AMS has increased greatly in number in the Saudi National Guard; the Saudis decided to use their Al-Fahds for other purposes, and it was also felt that a mortar vehicle did not need to be protected or as large as the Al-Fahd.  The idea was, in essence, that a mortar vehicle would be behind the main fighting forces and not as subject to direct combat as other vehicles.  So far, only the Saudis use the AMS; they are being made in Canada to Saudi specifications.

     As the AMS has virtually the same turret as the Al-Fahd Mortar carrier, it shares the same features in the turret as that vehicle.  The turret also incorporates an attitude sensor to detect vehicle cant when firing. The interior is, as most such vehicles, full mostly of ammunition and an autoloader for the mortar.  The gun is fed by an autoloader, but any special rounds or types of rounds out of sequence require the autoloader to be stopped and the special round to be loaded by hand.  This can require good timing during a long bombardment.  The Mortar Carrier is fully equipped for its mortar mission, including automatic survey and virtual aiming stakes.  A mortar ballistic computer provided, along with GPS (along with an inertial navigation backup) and a computer which can be used as a map box and to provide blue force and red force information. For direct fire necessities, the Mortar Carrier has a fire control computer, a laser rangefinder, and stabilization for the mortar. On the rear deck of the mortar is a small hatch to load rounds and equipment or discard items; however, the primary loading and unloading is anticipated to be done by the rear ramp.  On each side of the turret are a cluster of four smoke grenade launchers.  The commander and gunner have hatches on the turret roof, The commander’s cupola has all-around vision blocks, and is manually rotatable (rather like an M-113’s cupola), as well as a separate night vision device (integrated with a wide-angle vision block) and a reticle rangefinder.

     The driver is in the front of the hull; the driver has a night vision block in addition to his conventional vision blocks.  The hatch may be locked partially open (so it are elevated straight out from the hull), or locked open completely. The engine is at the center, behind the driver.  Though firing ports can be fitted, there are none on the Saudi National Guard version. The normal commander’s station on the right front of the hull is deleted, and replaced with additional storage for equipment and ammunition. The commander is in the turret, along with the gunner, with the two loaders in the hull behind/in the turret as necessary.  The commander’s cupola has all-around vision blocks, and is manually rotatable (rather like an M-113’s cupola), as well as a separate night vision device (integrated with a wide-angle vision block) and a reticle rangefinder. Unlike the LAV-25, the AMS has full overpressure with a vehicular NBC system for backup.

     The LAV II hull has an 8x8 suspension with front and rear sets of wheels with independent steering, giving the LAV-25 a surprisingly small turning radius.  For standard road use, the LAV-25 normally uses only the four rear wheels as drive wheels, switching to 8-wheel drive off road.  The LAV-25 is amphibious with a minimum of preparation (about 2 minutes), and is propelled in the water by propellers and steered by rudders.  Power is provided by the standard LAV II engine, the Detroit Diesel 6V53T 275-horsepower turbocharged diesel.  This is coupled to an automatic transmission and the driver has a conventional drive control setup.  The rear ramp is retained, and is used not only for crew entry and exit, but for ammunition replenishment. A small hatch on the roof can be used to fight from or to load gear, or to replenish ammunition more directly. The AMS can take virtually form of appliqué and reactive armor.

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

$519,020

D, A

400 kg

14 tons

3

13

Passive IR (D,G,C), Thermal Imaging (G), Image Intensification (C)

Enclosed

 

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

176/106

38/22/4

300

190

Trtd

W(6)

TF10Sp  TS6Sp  TR4  HF6  HS4  HR4

 

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

+2

Fair

120mm Lockheed/Soltam Cardom gun/mortar, MAG, MAG (C)

50x120mm, 1620x7.62mm

*The Fire Control bonus for the commander’s machinegun is +1, while the Stabilization is basic.