Type: Heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicle
Dimensions:
Crew: 3+9
Weight: 60 metric tons combat ready
Length: 9.2 meters gun forward (8.4m gun forward)
Width: 3.9 meters (with skirts)
Height: 2.43 meters (turret roof)
Ground Clearance: 0.3-0.5 meters
Armament:
Main Gun: 57mm L77 autocannon
Main Gun ammunition storage: 140
ATGM: 2 Assassin 2LR tubes
Coaxial:7.62mm machine gun
Close Range Armament: 2 6-tube 80mm close range grenade launchers.
4 Shrakrak drone launchers.
Protection:
Passive Protection: “Rhinoskin” titanium/DU and ERA integrated armor
Active Protection: “Iron Tide M” Hard/Soft Kill APS
Protection:
Rhinoskin II composite armor (DU/Titanium/SLERA)
Active Protection: “Iron Tide M” Hard/Soft Kill APS
Power:
Engine: NMC AVM1800 26L Horizontally Opposed, Twin Turbocharged Diesel
Power Output: 1,800HP (~1342kN) at 2,600 RPM
Power to weight ratio: ~30hp/ton
Auxiliary Power: 1 under armor 20kW APU
Batteries: 16 LFP Li-Ion Batteries
Maneuverability:
Suspension: InArm Fluidic Springs
Maximum Road Speed (governed): 70km/h
Trench Crossing: 2.5m
Vertical Obstacle Crossing: 1.1m
Fording: 1.85m (with minimal preparation)
Fuel Capacity: 1500 liters
Operational range: ~500 kilometers
Cost:
Vehicle - 8,250,000 USD
DPR - 750,000,000 USD
Background
Even as the MBT-131 was in its early development phases, the idea to develop an infantry fighting vehicle based on it was suggested. The Abir already had a front mounted engine, sufficient space, and a rear facing clamshell door. Not completely satisfied with the 7 passenger capacity or the protection of the WUAP IFV variant, the Royal Army wished for a vehicle that could carry an organic squad of 9, while offering protection against heavier auto-cannons and ATGMs.
The resulting IFV-131 Gvira originally carried the WUAPs turret with the 100mm gun and turret, however the IFV-131A1 now carries a 57mm unmanned turret, allowing it to comfortably carry 9 passengers protected from all but the heaviest kinetic and chemical energy threats on the front and even parts of the side. It offers parts commonality for Abir users, and is ideal for carrying and supporting mechanized infantry into combat in face of heavy anti-armor threats.
General Design
The Gvira’s hull is heavily based on the MBT-131, but slightly taller. The engine and transmission are mounted to the front and right, with the driver to their left. The frontally mounted engine serves to improve crew survivability and allows more space at the rear of the vehicle, needed for the troop compartment and clamshell door. The unmanned turret is located behind the engine, offset to the left of the vehicle, with the commander and gunner seated behind the driver. The 9 passengers are seated in the rear of the vehicle, 4 on the right side and 5 on the left.
Armament
The IFV-131A1 carries a turret based on the Allanan Glamdring unmanned 57mm module, modified to use Schwerpunkt electro-optics and other components. The fully digital fire control system accounts for all interior and exterior factors, and offers full digital stabilization for the main and coaxial armaments. Both the gunner and commander have day and night (3rd generation thermal) sights, the commander’s sight being an independent 360 degrees rotating device.
The main weapon is a 57mm L77 automatic cannon offering high lethality against a variety of targets - medium armor, infantry, helicopters and more, with round types including HE fragmentation, Sabot, guided HE fragmentation with time fusing, and GPS guided HE fragmentation. The venerable FN-MAG acts as the coaxial weapon.
For engagement of heavy armor a two tube launcher for the Assassin 2LR is mounted on the left side of the turret.
In addition to being fully able to slave the main and coaxial armaments, the commander also controls a 12 tube close range grenade system. The 80mm grenades launched by this system can engage infantry in close ranges (60 meters) and more importantly screen the vehicle against threats. The grenades are fired from a control panel in the commander’s compartment. Types of ammunition available for this system are White Phosphorus, HE-Fragmentation, IR-screening smoke, IR-Decoy, Less than lethal tear gas and less than lethal “flash-bang”.
On each side of the rear hull is a tube launcher for Shrakrak drones/loitering munitions, allowing the crew both short range aerial recon and top attack capability.
Protection
The IFV-131A1, like the tank it originates from, has a sharply angled glacies plate and a mild V shape hully bottom. The turret requires very little protection as it is unmanned.
Gvira is protected by “Rhinoskin II” composite armor modules. “Rhinoskin II” combines depleted uranium, titanium alloy, and silicon carbide with integrated layers of SLERA (self limiting reactive armor). This formidable protection, in varying thickness, covers much of the hull (with a very thick module on the very “nose” of the hull) and side skirts. The turret is covered with a similar but much lighter configuration of armor. IFV-131 is thus protected against all but the heaviest threats on its front hull and top, and against medium threats on the turret front and hull sides.
To further protect the tank, specifically against top and side attacks by ATGMs, the IFV-131A1 is equipped with the “Iron Tide M” Active Protection system, controlled by the TC from his LCD display.
The IFV-131A1 uses an overpressure system combined with individual CBRN protection for its crew. Individual protection is in the form of 4 air filtering systems running directly to the masks and NBC overalls of the crew. The air is not only filtered but also cooled. If this system fails the tank can use the overpressure system along with standard gas masks. Passengers rely on their own gas masks combined with the overpressure system.
Crew and vehicle survivability
To further crew survivability the internal compartment is lined with an anti spalling layer, and all seats are of a suspended type to reduce the energy transfer of an underbelly IED or mine. In addition to the slight V shape of the hull floor, an extra mine protection titanium alloy plate is available for the IFV-131. This plate reduces ground clearance and performance but dramatically improves the survivability of the tank and crew in case of a large explosion under the hull.
An automatic fire suppression system is installed in the crew and passenger compartments, engine bay and ammo stowage. This is automatically activated by visual or thermal sensors, or can be manually activated. Diesel is stored in 5 self sealing tanks, with cutoff valves to allow separate use of the forward or rear tanks. Thanks to the unmanned turret, the crew and passengers are significantly separated from the ammo thus increasing their chances of survival should it catch fire.
Mobility
With the tank turret and main armament replaced by much lighter components and ammunition, Gvira is a highly mobile vehicle. It is powered by the same 24L, 1800 horsepower horizontally opposed engine as the MBT-131. The twin turbocharged engine utilizes a pressurized closed circuit cooling system, and is multi fuel capable. The powerpack integrates a semi-automatic hydromechanical 7 gear transmission, with pivot and neutral steering.
Gvira retains the excellent Horstman InArm suspension. The system integrates dual piston compressible struts into each individual suspension arm. These hydraulic units act as both springs and dampers, and using a centralized control system allow the driver to adjust the ride height or “kneal” the vehicle. While not needed for hulld down depression of the gun (like on Abir) it offers excellent cross country mobility and comfort. 4 track return rollers are used above the 6 road wheels, carrying all steel 650mm wide tracks.
Communications and Networking
Gvira has a combined internal/external communications system, consisting of a main control panel and 6 individual panels. Each crew member, as well as three of the passengers, uses a headset integrated into his ballistic helmet. The TC has control over the channel selection and crew member access to external radio and intercom. The system has a separate tank commander/driver channel using the most protected battery for power to ensure commander-driver communications. The system also has a wireless ability, which switches on automatically when a helmet is disconnected. This prevents crew members from accidently disconnecting and allows for quick dismount.
The tank can accommodate 2-3 transmitter-receivers and 2-3 receivers. The antenna bases are integral and allow lowering the antennas forwards and backwards from inside the IFV. A storage compartment for a man portable radio is located near the rear exit hatch. A tank/infantry telephone is located at the rear of the vehicle and connected to the commander’s internal communications, as well as external communications to allow infantry to use the IFV to communicate.
Each crewmember has access to BASTION II networking, with the TC also being able to use Telepat goggles synced in with the vehicle.
Crew Comfort
The IFV-131 is equipped to support its crew in long term operations during fighting and when buttoned. . An air-conditioning system is connected to the CBRN protection system and can flow warm or cool air into the overalls and NBC masks of the crew. A 50 liter NBC protected water tank located in the rear hull is connected to a heating/cooling unit and supplies hot or cold water through a tap in the rear corridor. Rations are kept in water tight compartments in the fighting compartment itself as well as in the rear corridor. 7 days worth of rations can be carried in this way. The Gvira has a special storage compartment holding an electric cooking pen, an electric cigarette lighter, plates and utensils.
FOR PURCHASES ADRESS OUR MAIN STOREFRONT.