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
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.
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 |