ARTEC Boxer

     Notes: The Boxer was designed by ARTEC GmbH, a consortium of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall of Germany and Stork PWV of the Netherlands.  Originally, Giat of France was also involved, but they left early in the design process.  The Germans intend to have a force of 600 Boxers, martially replacing M-113-based vehicles and Fuchs-based vehicles.  The Dutch are looking for a force of 400 Boxers, to replace M-113-based vehicles and the YPR-765.  The Boxer is also being closely considered for the British FRES (Furture Rapid Effects System) requirement.  The main strike against the Boxer, so far, is the fact that design and production timeframes have slipped considerably; production was to commence in 2004, but production did not start until September of 2009, and only LRIP (Low-Rate Initial Production) has taken place so far.  In addition, the Boxer suffers from repeated and high cost overruns.  Other strikes against the Boxer include its high weight (about 10 tons more than comparable vehicles), though the heavy armor and sheer amount of advanced subsystems are largely involved in this.  The Boxer, also known as the MRAV (Multi-Role Armored Vehicle), since it is a modular system designed to be adaptable to a number of roles.  (Only APC-type versions will be covered here.)

     The Boxer has a large, long boxy chassis with a sharply-raked glacis and moderately sloped sides.  The driver is in the front left, while the commander is in the front right; the vehicle also has a dedicated gunner’s position. The driver’s position and commander’s position are both surrounded by vision blocks, with the center in both cases being capable being removed and replaced with night vision blocks.  The commander also has a downlinked camera with advanced day and night vision capability.  They both have hatches above their position, and these may be opened completely or locked partially open to give them observation to the outside. The driver has conventional driver controls, and they are connected to the mechanics of the vehicle by redundant control systems and linkages.  The driver has power steering and brakes, and these too have redundant systems.  The commander can also drive the vehicle with reduced-size controls if necessary, and take over the gunner’s weapons if necessary.  His observation devices also give the Boxer a hunter/killer capability.

     The gunner uses an RWS armed with an HK GMG automatic grenade launcher or an M-3M (a high ROF version of the M-2HB more normally found as a door gun on aircraft) machinegun.  (Other armament and turrets are being considered.) He has advanced day and night vision devices as well as excellent fire control, and some conventional vision blocks.  The gunner actually sits inside the armor envelope of the vehicle, with only the RWS projecting above the vehicle, and the gunner’s head being inside the RWS only if his downlinked sights are damaged.  The boxer has a bank of four smoke grenade launchers on each side of the upper hull behind the driver’s and commander’s positions.

     The troop compartment in the rear carries a somewhat small troop squad, and it has been criticized for a lack of firing ports.  However, a lack of firing ports seem to be the wave right now, as they compromise armor integrity and are useless is appliqué armor is installed. Armor protection is better than most vehicles of its class, and MEXAS appliqué armor panels can be installed to further increase protection.  The troops have an NBC overpressure system with a collective NBC system backup.  Most controls and systems are redundant, and the backups can keep the vehicle functioning even when damaged.  The troops have hatches on the roof of their compartment, and doors in the rear face.

     The Boxer has a Battlefield Management System (BMS), allowing it to keep track of enemy and friendly positions, battlefield reconnaissance, and vehicle state, as well as giving it a GPS navigation system with an inertial navigation backup.  Each crew member has monitors giving them only the information they need – the driver has monitors relating to navigation and the mechanical state of the vehicle.  The gunner’s monitors allow his to keep track of his weapons and observation devices as well as ammunition supply and presence of friendly units that may be in the line of fire.  The commander has access of the full suite of the BMS, and can send and receive orders from superior and subordinate units.  The commander’s BMS also gives him full control over the vehicle’s radios, while the other crewmembers have partial control over the short-range radio.  The infantry squad leader has a monitor as well, giving him the state of the battle such as friendly and enemy positions and the radios, as well as allowing him to input ammunition carried by his troops.

     Power for the Boxer consists of an MTU 199 TE-20 turbocharged diesel with an output of 791 horsepower and coupled to an automatic transmission with a manual transmission backup.  The suspension is of the off-round type, 8x8 and with independent front and rear steering to decrease turning radius.  Tires are run-flat. The armor is modular and can be changed or supplemented by heavier armor or more advanced armor, and includes composite armor for the front and sides and extra roof and floor armor as well as Kevlar anti-spall liners. The armor is relatively light in weight for its protection level, but contributes to the vehicle’s high weight.  The crew and troops have seats which isolate the seats from ground blasts, and reduce damage to the crew and troops by 25% when a mine, IED, or other explosives explodes underneath or near the vehicle.  The Boxer incorporates thermal, radar, and acoustic suppression technology, reducing observation with such devices by -3 and allowing the Boxer to “sneak up” on enemy positions (reduce the chances of hearing the Boxer at 50 meters or more by -3).

     A command version of the Boxer differs externally very little from the APC Boxer (except for more radio antennas), but internally has a higher order of BMS and two long-range, two medium-range, and two short-range radios, with both long-range radios being data capable.  The computer, rather than being a ruggedized laptop, is built into the vehicle, and has capacious hard-drive storage.  (Solid-state drives are being considered.) The internal systems fully integrate the BMS components, the ability to generate and gather intelligence information, the navigation system, and the vehicle’s observations devices.  The observation devices can be controlled from the command suite, as can turret traverse (for use of those observation systems; the command suite does not have control over the weapons).  Conventional map storage as well as items such as grease pencils, notepads and suchlike are provided, but the primary mapping system is intended to be the BMS.  The command version also has an additional laser rangefinder and laser designator in the RWS. The Boxer Command has a 10kW APU to operate the electronics when the engine is off.  Fold-out bench tables and chairs are provided.

     The modular nature of the Boxer means that the APC can be turned into a command version (or any other version) in 2-5 hours, depending on the type it is being converted to and the availability of components.  Mixes of components are of a limited nature only; the modules are intended to operate independently of the chassis.  The modular nature also simplifies maintenance and repair, down to damage of armor.  Future sub-types are planned, including an armored ambulance (details not released so far, and not covered here).

 

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The Boxer is not available in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Vehicle

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

Boxer APC

$604,079

D, G, AvG, A

2 tons

33 tons

3+8

27

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

Shielded

Boxer APC w/Appliqué

$617,018

D, G, AvG, A

1.7 tons

34.1 tons

3+8

27

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

Shielded

Boxer Command

$763,850

D, G, AvG, A

1 ton

34.1 tons

3+6

28

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

Shielded

Boxer Command w/Appliqué

$767,825

D, G, AvG, A

850 kg

35.2 tons

3+4

28

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

Shielded

 

Vehicle

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

Boxer APC

165/83

39/20

785

348

CiH

W(8)

TF4Sp  TS4  TR4  HF21Cp  HS12Cp  HS9*

Boxer APC w/Appliqué/Command

160/81

38/19

785

358

CiH

W(8)

TF4Sp  HS4  HR4  HF26Cp  HS15Cp  HR11Sp*

Boxer Command w/Applique

155/78

37/19

785

373

CiH

W(8)

TF4Sp  HS4  HR4  HF26Cp  HS15Cp  HR11Sp*

 

Vehicle

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

Boxer APC

+4

Good

HK GMG or M-3M

590x40mm or 1850x.50

Boxer Command

+4

Good

HK GMG or M-3M

440x40mm or 1400x.5050

*Roof Armor is 6Sp; Floor Armor is 8Sp.

 

BTR-3U Guardian

     Notes: This is fairly new design, being developed in 2000 and introduced in 2001.  It is similar in appearance to the BTR-80 in many ways, but is a new design rather than an upgrade or modification of that vehicle.  The BTR-3U has been developed by an international consortium consisting of Kharkiv Morozov and the State Scientific Technical Center of Ukraine, ADCOM of Abu Dhabi, Deutz AG of Germany, Allison of the US, and some other subcontractors; currently, Ukraine and Abu Dhabi use the BTR-3U, though it is being actively marketed to other countries by the consortium. 

     The 326-horsepower Deutz engine is coupled to an Allison transmission, giving the vehicle a surprising amount of power for its size.  The BTR-3U is amphibious with a minimum amount of preparation; a trim vane must be opened at the front of the vehicle, and bilge pumps activated.  Once in the water, it is propelled by a water jet at the rear.  The troop compartment is accessed by doors on either side of the vehicle, with the top of the door hinging upwards and the bottom downwards where it forms a step.  There are two firing ports on either side of the passenger compartment, and two in the rear.  The turret is the one-man Shkval unified fighting module, which allows the gunner to control all the weapons.  A commander’s seat is located beside the driver’s seat in the front of the vehicle.  The standard AT-5 Konkurs of Ukrainian design may be replaced with any number of missile systems of a similar size, including those of US, Western or Eastern European, Israeli, or other countries.  In addition, a laser designator may be fitted to control laser-guided missiles (though this is not included in the cost below).  Smoke generation for cover is accomplished by six 81mm grenade launchers (three on each side of the turret, firing forwards); these may be loaded with virtually any sort of smoke hand grenade of the appropriate size.  An unusual feature of the BTR-3U is the heating and air conditioning system for the crew and passengers; this is because the vehicle is intended to operate in virtually any part of the world.  The tires are adjustable for pressure, allowing the BTR-3U to operate over a variety of terrain.  The BTR-3U has an automatic Halon fire suppression system, along with manually-operated bottles.  Upgraded radiological and overpressure protection is available upon request, but not standard equipment.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This vehicle does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

     Merc 2000 Notes: This vehicle does not exist in the Merc 2000 timeline.

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

$259,495

D, A

2.21 tons

16.4 tons

3+6

5

Passive IR, Image Intensification

Enclosed

 

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

170/69

80/27/8

120

82

CiH

W(4)

TF5  TS3  TR3  HF6  HS4  HR4

 

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

+2

Good

30mm 2A42 Autocannon, 30mm AGS-30 Grenade Launcher, PKT

350x30mm, 116x30mm Grenades, 2500x7.62mm

 

Jankel/KADDB Aigis/Al-Jawad

     Notes: A joint project of Great Britain and Jordan, the Algis is a highly-modified GM K-series or Ford F-450 pickup truck, turned into a light armored personnel carrier which looks like an innocuous and inoffensive SUV (in its basic guise).  It is primarily used by Jordan’s counterterrorist team (Squad 14), but may in the future be picked up by Britain’s special ops units as well.  It was, in fact, first used by the British in Kosovo, who were giving the vehicles a sort of combat trial, but the results have not been reported and the British MoD will neither confirm nor deny its use in Kosovo.  Modifications include (of course) armor, firing ports, bullet-resistant glass, stowage for military equipment and supplies, special seating arrangements, and in one version, an powered extendible assault ladder similar to those on a fire truck (but shorter), which deploys from what is an open bed in that version of the Aigis.  The armor is not heavy, but will stop a 7.62mm AP round at 10 meters, or a 20-kilogram plastic explosive burst at 6 meters.  The floor is somewhat armored, and can withstand the burst of most antipersonnel mines or grenades.  The Aigis has run-flat tires.   The vehicle is known as the Aigis by the British and the Al-Jawad by the Jordanians.

     The Stirling Tactical Intervention Vehicle is an interesting modification of the Aigis; it has the extendible ladder mentioned above.  As an option, it may carry standard foldable ladders.  The height to which it may be extended is still classified, but I will use 20 meters for game purposes until I have better information.  It may be rotated through at least 180 degrees.  The ladder may be removed, and armored side and roof panels substituted, basically turning the Stirling into an armored pickup truck.  It can be used as a mobile observation point or to rescue hostages, but its primary role is to deliver an assault team.  If necessary, there is room inside for a cage in which a prisoner may be placed. 

     A third variant of the Aigis is the Guardian, known to be used by the London Metropolitan Police and other undisclosed British police departments.  Instead of an SUV-like profile, the Guardian has a large rear box body and additional Kevlar armor panels for the hood.  There are two firing ports in each sight with vision blocks, and two in the twin rear doors.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: These vehicles do not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline. 

Vehicle

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

Aigis

$9,570

D, A

1.5 tons

6.8 tons

2+6

2

Headlights

Enclosed

Stirling*

$15,732

D, A

750 kg

7.05 tons

2

3

Headlights

Enclosed

Guardian

$14,400

D, A

1.5 tons

7.52 tons

2+6

3

Headlights

Enclosed

 

Vehicle

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

Aigis

306/76

70/19

110

115

Stnd

W(3)

HF3  HS3  HR2

Stirling*

298/75

70/19

110

115

Stnd

W(3)

HF3  HS3  HR2*

Guardian

284/71

65/16

110

115

Stnd

W(3)

HF4  HS3  HR2

 

Vehicle

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

Aigis

None

None

None

None

Stirling

None

None

None

None

Guardian

None

None

None

None

*This is the Stirling in with the extendible ladder; with armored side and roof panels, the statistics are the same as the Aigis.  Note that when the ladder is fitted, the Stirling is open-topped and has no side armor for the bed.

 

OT-64

     Notes:  The OT-64 (known as the SKOT to the Poles) is a joint product of Poland and Czechoslovakia used by those countries in place of the BTR-60 and BTR-70.  Besides Czechoslovakia and Poland, the OT-64 is used by 11 other nations, including Cambodia, India, Egypt, Syria, Slovakia, Iraq (all destroyed or collapsed), Syria, and several African countries. The Czechs and Poles got their first OT-64s in 1964; the Czechs initiated the project, motivated by a need to replace their obsolete OT-810 half-tracks. They are still used by other countries, but are being rapidly replaced in Czech, Slovakian and Polish service by newer vehicles.

     The OT-64 was an advanced design for the time, with 8x8 independent steering for the rear and front set of wheels, locking differential, automatic transmission, a collective NBC system, and decent armor.  The front is sharply raked and has a driver’s position to the front left, with a large vision block to the front and a hatch above the position.  The commander is beside him, with a hatch above his position and raised vision blocks to the front and right side.  The driver and commander have doors in each side; there are small vision slits in these doors.  On the roof of the passenger section are four large hatches.  Troops enter and exit through doors in the rear face.  There are two firing ports in each side and two in the rear.  The engine used is a Tatra T-928-14 diesel developing 180 horsepower.

     Several variants exist, and there are other minor differences between Polish and Czech versions and in other countries depending upon who they got their OT-64s from.  The basic version, the OT-64A (called the SKOT by the Polish) has a pintle mount on each side of the passenger compartment for light machineguns.  Some OT-64As have a pair of AT-3 ATGM launchers mounted atop the roof; these are OT-64AMs/SKOT-Ms.  The forward part of the troop compartment has a small turret with a KPV machinegun and an SGMT as a coaxial machinegun.  In some newer versions of the OT-64A, the KPV is replaced with an NSVT.  The SKOT-2 (OT-64B) was used only by Poland and had a simple machinegun mount with AV2 gun shields to the front and sides; the open hatch operates as a rear gun shield.  The SKOT-2 has three hatches over the rear compartment: one that opens forward and two behind it open to the center.  The next most common variant is the OT-64C(1)/SKOT-2AP; this has a new turret of a different shape than the BTR-70 and BRDM-2 turrets (a variant of the BRDM-2’s turret), and the weapons have a much better elevation (capable of firing almost straight up and to a -11-degree depression).  The four roof hatches open outwards and can be locked upwards; they have firing ports in them. After that, there is another variant of the OT-64C(2)/SKOT-2AM; this version has a launcher for an AT-3 Sagger ATGM on either side of the turret or a double launcher to the left side and to the rear of the turret. 

     The OT-64R-2 and R-3 command vehicles are command versions; the OT-64R-2 is similar to the OT-64C(1)/SKOT-2AP, but carries less troops internally, more radios (an extra long-range and medium-range radio), and internal map boards and storage for maps and plotting and office-type supplies.  The OT-64R-3 has no turret (only a pintle mount by the commander’s hatch) and has a total of two long-range, two medium-range, and two short-range radios.  Later versions have a data-capable long-range radio and a ruggedized laptop computer.

Vehicle

Price

Fuel Type

Load

Veh Wt

Crew

Mnt

Night Vision

Radiological

OT-64A

$96,867

D, A

1.7 tons

14.3 tons

3+10

8

Passive IR (D, G)

Shielded

SKOT

$108,784

D, A

1.7 tons

14.4 tons

3+10

8

Passive IR (D, G)

Shielded

OT-64A w/NSV

$95,671

D, A

1.7 tons

14.3 tons

3+10

8

Passive IR (D, G)

Shielded

OT-64AM/SKOT-M

$107,117

D, A

1.6 tons

14.5 tons

3+10

8

Passive IR (D, G)

Shielded

SKOT-2

$56,991

D, A

1.8 tons

14 tons

3+10

7

Passive IR (D)

Shielded

OT-64C(1)/SKOT-2AP

$97,836

D, A

1.6 tons

14.5 tons

3+10

8

Passive IR (D, G)

Shielded

OT-64C(2)/SKOT-2AM

$108,189

D, A

1.5 tons

14.7 tons

3+10

8

Passive IR (D, G)

Shielded

OT-64R-2

$108,342

D, A

800 kg

14.7 tons

3+5

9

Passive IR (D, G)

Shielded

OT-64R-3

$58,420

D, A

800 kg

14.4 tons

2+5

9

Passive IR (D)

Shielded

OT-64R-3 (Late)

$145,874

D, A

800 kg

14.4 tons

2+5

10

Passive IR (D)

Shielded

 

Vehicle

Tr Mov

Com Mov

Fuel Cap

Fuel Cons

Config

Susp

Armor

OT-64A

104/53

24/12/2

330

90

CiH

W(4)

TF4  TS4  TR4  HF6  HS4  HR3

SKOT

103/52

24/12/2

330

91

CiH

W(4)

TF4  TS4  TR4  HF6  HS4  HR3

OT-64AM/SKOT-M

103/52

24/12/2

330

91

CiH

W(4)

TF4  TS4  TR4  HF6  HS4  HR3

SKOT-2

107/54

24/12/2

330

88

Stnd

W(4)

HF6  HS4  HR3

OT-64C(1)/SKOT-2AP

103/52

24/12/2

330

91

CiH

W(4)

TF4  TS4  TR4  HF6  HS4  HR3

OT-64C(2)/SKOT-2AM/OT-65R-2

102/51

24/12/2

330

93

CiH

W(4)

TF4  TS4  TR4  HF6  HS4  HR3

OT-64R-3

103/52

24/12/2

330

91

Stnd

W(4)

HF6  HS4  HR3

 

Vehicle

Fire Control

Stabilization

Armament

Ammunition

OT-64A

None

None

KPV, SGMT

500x14.5mm, 2000x7.62mm

SKOT

None

None

KPV, SGMT, PK (Right, Left)

500x14.5mm, 3000x7.62mm

OT-64A w/NSV

None

None

NSV, PKT

550x12.7mm, 2000x7.62mm

OT-64AM/SKOT-M

None

None

KPV, SGMT, 2xAT-3 ATGM Launchers

500x14.5mm, 2000x7.62mm, 4xAT-3 ATGM

SKOT-2

None

None

NSVT

1750x12.7mm

OT-64C(1)/SKOT-2AP/OT-64R-2

+1

Basic

KPV, PKT

500x14.5mm, 2000x7.62mm

OT-64C(2)/SKOT-2AM

+1

Basic

KPV, PKT, 2xAT-3 ATGM Launchers

500x14.5mm, 2000x7.62mm, 4xAT-3 ATGM

OT-64R-3

None

None

PKT (C)

2000x7.62mm