Rabdan rides in with Russian turret

Rabdan rides in with Russian turret

BY CHRISTOPHER F FOSS

The Rabdan (8x8) infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) is being shown at IDEX on the Otokar Stand 10-A05 fitted with the complete turret of the Russian BMP-3 IFV, which is deployed in large numbers on the UAE’s present tracked vehicles.

The two-man turret is armed with a 100mm 2A70 rifled gun which, in addition to firing conventional ammunition, can fire a laser-guided projectile (LGP) fitted with a tandem high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead to neutralise threat targets fitted with explosive reactive armour. Mounted co-axial with the 100mm gun is a 30mm 2A72 dual-feed cannon and a 7.62mm PKT machine gun. Rabdan is a further development of the Turkish Otokar Arma (8x8). In 2017, local company Al Jasoor, a joint venture between the UAE’s Heavy Vehicles Industries (HVI) and Otokar, was awarded a contract from the General Headquarters of the UAE Armed Forces for 400 IFVs. The first units were delivered in August 2018. In addition to the IFV, there will be an armoured personnel carrier, an ambulance, a command and control mortar and repair and recovery variants.

Rabdan has a crew of three – commander, gunner and driver – and carries eight dismounts. Cameras provide situational awareness through 360°. The IFV is fully amphibious, being propelled in the water by two propellers, one either side at the rear.

Small but potent

BY SAM J BASCH

With its menacing weapons on a low platform, the Badger unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) from Advanced One, part of the Remah International Group (Stand CP-310, UAE Pavilion), reminds one of the fearless animal after which it is named. The UAE designed and developed Badger was officially launched at IDEX this week.

Armed with a variety of weapons, including a 40mm anti-tank rocket system, the Badger multi-purpose weapon system can also be used in surveillance, transport and casevac roles. According to Advanced One general manager Philip de Vries, the fully autonomous Badger weighs 180kg and can reach a speed of 14km/h with a payload of 450kg. Moreover, a trailer can be hitched to the UGV, if required, which adds to the carrying capacity without affecting performance.

“The Badger is powered by two electric motors driven by a 48V rechargeable battery and runs on rubber tracks, allowing it to traverse difficult terrain, including sand, and climb at a 45° angle,” he explained. “The weapon mount, be it a machine gun or rockets or any other system, can easily be interchanged within minutes.”

Of the two armed versions on display, the rocket mount sports a pair of launchers, each containing nine anti-tank rockets with a range of 2,000m. The launchers can be elevated by means of an actuator to a height of 1m.

“The vehicle is operated from a control vehicle or mobile control station. At present it has a range of 1km, but we are working on extending the range to 30km through the use of a different control box linking up to a drone,” de Vries said.

Production vehicles will be built in composite materials to withstand small-arms fire. As a protection measure under consideration, the vehicle will go into an hour-long ‘sleep mode’ if tampered with.

Making an impact

On the Milrem Robotics Stand 07- C10 can be viewed an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) that is the result of an eight-month joint project with MBDA.

This integrates the former’s THeMIS UGV and the latter’s IMPACT (Integrated MMP Precision Attack Combat Turret) with two MBDA Missile Moyen Portee (MMP) antitank guided missiles (ATGMs) and a 7.62mm machine gun.

TheMIS is a fully modular UGV that can operate for up to 10 hours with a full fuel tank, of which 1.5 hours is in the silent mode. Maximum speed is being quoted as 22km/h and payload of up to 750kg. It can be operated with line-of-sight via cameras, or equipped with a kit for fully autonomous operations.

IMPACT is a lightweight turret that weighs only 250kg. In addition to being installed on UGVs, it can be installed on light armoured vehicles, with the operator seated under armour protection.

MMP is the replacement for the MBDA MILAN and the US Raytheon/Lockheed Martin Javelin ATGM currently deployed by French infantry units and Special Forces and was first deployed last year. The initial French Army MMP contract covers the supply of 400 firing posts and 2,850 missiles.

Two MMPs are integrated into the right side of the turret of the latest Jaguar (6x6) reconnaissance vehicle for the French Army, with an additional two MMPs in reserve for manual loading. Jaguar is the replacement for the currently deployed VAB (4x4).