Non-Subscriber Extract
UK AFV with composite hull passes field tests
- Article Tools
| 12 March 2001 |
CHRISTOPHER F FOSS JDW Land Forces Editor DERA, Chertsey
The
UK's Advanced Composite Armoured Vehicle Platform (ACAVP), Europe's first
armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) with a plastic/glass-fibre hull, has successfully
completed extensive field trials. According to the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA), these trials demonstrated it would be possible for future AFVs to use a plastic/glass-fibre hull that would offer the user significant advantages over current aluminium/steel hulls. These advantages include a reduction in weight by integrating the spall liner into the composite structure, decreased acoustic signature and the incorporation of stealth characteristics. These characteristics increase battlefield survivability.
ACAVP development started in 1993 under the leadership of DERA with the involvement of a number of UK contractors. Vosper Thornycroft, which has extensive experience in advanced composite materials, built the hull.
Vickers Defence Systems (VDS) at Leeds carried out design work as well as being responsible for integrating all of the subsystems and delivering the complete vehicle to DERA early last year ready for trials.
Other companies contributing expertise included Ciba; Hexel Composites; the Army Base Repair Organisation; Kidde-Graviner; and the Perkins Engine Company.
As the basic idea was to test the viability of a composite hull, all of the key subsystems were taken from existing and well-proven vehicles. The complete running gear is from the Alvis Vehicles Warrior infantry fighting vehicle with the power pack of the Desert Warrior. The latter consists of a Perkins Engines Company CV8 Condor developing 550hp coupled to an X-300 automatic transmission and a modified cooling system. With a weight of around 24 tonnes, the ACAVP has a power-to-weight ratio of 23hp/tonne.
The ACAVP hull is made from E-glass, which is a plastic/glass-fibre composite, and compared with a normal AFV hull provides a higher level of protection at a lower weight. An appliqué layer of passive armour is fitted to the hull front and sides for more protection.
It is guarded against 14.5mm armour-piercing (AP) attack through 360º and has protection against 30mm AP attack over the frontal arc. The appliqué armour can be rapidly removed to allow the vehicle to be transported by a Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules.
Following initial trials at VDS's Leeds facility, the ACAVP went to Chertsey for a series of functional and safety tests. These included measuring climbing ability, gradient, side slope, trench crossing and speed characteristics. It then went to the British Army's Armoured Trials and Development Unit (ATDU) at Bovington for a further 1,800km of battlefield day trials.
While there were failures of subsystems, for example, a split fuel tank and several fuel and hydraulic line fractures, there was no damage to the composite hull, which met all of its design requirements.
By fitting a more compact power pack and hydro pneumatic suspension, further weight savings could be made. A rubber band track could further reduce noise levels.
DERA hopes to start a four-year Integrated Survivability Demonstrator (ISD) programme in 2005. This vehicle will probably have a composite hull as well as a number of other features such as active armour and a defensive aids suite.
As yet there is no production application for the ACAVP, although its design has been configured as a reconnaissance vehicle where the two-person crew compartment is at the front, mission module is in the centre with the Fox 30mm turret and the power pack at the rear.
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| The UK's Advanced Composite Armoured Vehicle Platform has completed its trials at the Armoured Trials and Development Unit. (Source: CF Foss) |