STK Bionix RCV

     Notes: The Bionix RCV (Recovery Combat Vehicle) is the service vehicle of the Bionix family, and it has seen several bulk sales to countries who have already bought the various RCV versions of the Bionix, countries who have a lot of light vehicles, and countries who have decided to replace their old M113-series vehicles with the Bionix.  Vickers of the UK is negotiating a license for production of the Bionix RCV, and the vehicle is becoming a common sight in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and to an extent, Africa, and reportedly some European countries are also interested in the Bionix RCV.

     The Bionix RCV uses as many common components with the other Bionix-series vehicles as possible. The turret is removed, and replaced with a raised superstructure – but unlike most such vehicles, the roof is raised by only about half a meter.  As with most such vehicles, the primary role of the RCV is to recover light vehicles bogged down in much or debris; it also is used to repair such vehicles, though it is a relatively small vehicle and carries a limited amount of spare parts and tools.

     The driver is on the front left of the vehicle; behind him is the commander.  The commander has a raised manually-operated cupola with all around vision blocks, and one front block with a night channel.  His weapon can be aimed and fired from within the vehicle with the hatch shut; he often does this to use the reticle on the front vision block.  The driver has three vision blocks: one wide-angle one to the front that has a night channel, and one normal block on either side of the front block and angled, giving the driver vision to each side.  To the right of the commander is the crane/winch operator, who also has a raised, manually-rotating cupola with all-around vision blocks. He does not, however, have a night channel, though he has a WL/IR spotlight.  Inside, there is room for another mechanic or specialist, but he has no seat and must simply hold on during travel.  The crew has a collective vehicular NBC System and an air conditioner and heater.

     For its mission, the primary tool is the recovery winch, with a capacity of 25 tons, or double that with block and tackle, and useable cable of 90 meters.  For repairs or to act as a jack, the crane has a capacity 30 tons, though at more than 0.8 meters reach, this is reduced to 12 tons.  (Maximum reach is 6.5 meters.) Toolsets include all basic-type tools kits, except large-caliber weapon tools and small arms tools.  It also carries an air compressor and an electric hand-held saw.

     A stated above, the RCV uses a mostly Bionix APC/AFV chassis, including the same tracks, roadwheels and suspension, fuel tanks, and engine and transmission.  The engine is a license-produced 475-horsepower Detroit Diesel DDC-6V-92TA supercharged diesel engine, along with an HMPT-500EC automatic transmission (a modified form of the transmission found in the M2 Bradley) and a driver’s compartment that has a conventional steering yoke, gas pedal, and brake pedal.  The armor suite is the same as on the Bionic APC/AFV, and the same appliqué and ERA can be added for additional protection.  Construction is largely of all-welded steel.

     For foreign customers, STK is willing to make almost any modifications to the RCV desirable.

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

$170,124

D, A

2.52 tons

24 tons

3+1

19

Passive IR (D), Image Intensification (C), WL/IR Spotlight

Shielded

 

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

141/99

39/27

527

171

Stnd

T3

HF16Sp  HS7Sp  HR4*

 

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

+1

None

CIS-50 or CIS-40 or MAG (C)

3000x.50 or 950x40mm or 5000x7.62mm

*Belly AV is 3. 

 

STK Bionix AVLB

     The Bionix AVLB was first revealed at an arms show in 2000, but they also said that the AVLB had been in production and use in Singapore for three years by that point.   It is designed to be a light assault bridge, as it is only MLC 30, so the heaviest vehicles it can accommodate are heavy trucks and the Bionix series.

     The bridge of the Bionix is, as stated, MLC-30, and is a two-part bridge to fit on the Bionix hull.  It is 22 meters long, but has a usable span of 20 meters.  Two such bridges may be laid side-by-side to form one MLC 60 bridge; however, each individual bridge is only MLC 30.  The bridge is a push-pull bridge, and is laid like the German Biber, with the top part sliding out from the top section of the bridge sliding out, and then the bottom part sliding into place.  This is done automatically, with the crew not having to leave the vehicle.

     Like the RCV above, as many components of the Bionix AFV/APC are used as possible, including the entire chassis, with the including the same tracks, roadwheels and suspension, fuel tanks, and engine and transmission.  The engine is a license-produced 475-horsepower Detroit Diesel DDC-6V-92TA supercharged diesel engine, along with an HMPT-500EC automatic transmission (a modified form of the transmission found in the M2 Bradley) and a driver’s compartment that has a conventional steering yoke, gas pedal, and brake pedal.  The armor suite is the same as on the Bionic APC/AFV, and the same appliqué and ERA can be added for additional protection.  Construction is largely of all-welded steel.

     Crew consists of the driver in front left and the commander/bridgelayer to his right. The driver has three vision blocks to his front and slightly to his sides; the commander has all-around vision blocks with day/night CCTV cameras around the vehicle to watch the deployment and recovery and a night vision channel to the front, The driver also has a night channel.  The commander operates the bridge by remote control, with a control box that has two joysticks and several buttons to start and stop the deployment and recovery process.  The vehicle is unarmed, and the crew has only their small arms and perhaps some grenades, and possibly something like an Armbrust or M72 LAW.  The crew is protected by a collective vehicular NBC system, an air conditioner, and a heater. On each bumper is a cluster of four smoke grenade launchers.  The driver has access to a GPS and mapping module.

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

$222,949

D, A

327 kg

28.3 tons

2

23

Passive IR (D), Image Intensification (C), 3xDay/Night CCTV Cameras (C)

Shielded

 

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config*

Susp

Armor

123/86

34/24

527

171

Stnd

T3

TF4  TS4  TR4  HF16Sp  HS7Sp  HR4**

*The CiH Config rating is for when the bridge is mounted.  In such a state, no crew hits are possible; these are treated as misses.  When the bridge is deployed, the Config is Stnd.

**Belly AV is 3.