| IMI –
Land Systems Division (Slavin) has completed the development
of the "Urban-Fighter",
an up-armored and improved M-113 Armored Personnel Carrier.
The vehicle is optimized for Missions Others Than War and Low
Intensity Conflict (LIC), particularly in urban environment.
The Urban-Fighter is considered to augment and replace IDF unprotected
or less protected vehicles currently operating in counter-insurgency
operations in the West Bank.
By the end of June 2007 IMI delivered the Urban-Fighter’s
prototype to the IDF for testing. IMI expects the IDF to decide
on potential procurements after the tests completion. Unlike
other M-113’s up-armoring projects, the ‘"Urban-Fighter"’
required only minor automotive upgrade, which further contributes
to its cost effectiveness. In fact, converting a plain M -113
into a fully equipped Urban Fighter is expected to cost about
10 percent of the cost of a Mine
Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) currently produced for
the US Army and Marines. The vehicle’s protection was
enhanced to stop heavy machine guns, shrapnel and most types
of Improvised Explosive
Devices (IED)s utilizing the Iron
Wall technology armor suite developed by IMI, providing
bulletproof protection, as well as counter IED / Explosively
Formed Projectiles (EFP) protection. In addition, the Urban-Fighter
uses improved slat armor, protecting it from attacks by RPGs.
The new vehicle offers features hitherto unavailable to APCs,
including armored transparent side windows, offering unobstructed
visibility upwards and sideways. 360 degrees observation and
firing capability is provided for the commander and another
crewmember by a raised cupola fitted with transparent armor.
Firing ports are imparted for warfighters in the front, sides
and rear. The fighting compartment was has also been redesigned
with the addition of blast-protected seats, improving the survivability
of the crew to attacks by mines and IEDs. The vehicle can carry
eight fully loaded troops and a driver.
The driver’s position was greatly improved, compared
to conventional M-113s and is now fitted with two windows and
side and rear looking video cameras eliminating the ‘blind
areas’ that necessitated direction by the commander. The
new driver’s compartment ensures good visibility under
most driving conditions, for safe driving on roads, dust roads
and cross country. The current configuration retains the ‘steering
sticks’ however the vehicle can be installed with an optional
steering wheel to further simplify driving.
IMI's Land Systems Division is Israel's leading armor systems
house, developing and producing advanced protection systems
for heavy, medium and light vehicle applications. Among the
company's current programs is the designing and production of
the special armor elements used on the Merkava tank, the development
and production of the modernized Turkish M-60 tank and the design
and production of protection suites for the IDF's new armored
infantry fighting vehicle (Namer).
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