David
Light Armored Combat Vehicle
Land Rover-UK / MDT - US/Israel
The IDF selected the British Land-Rover Defender, up-armored by the
Arotech subsidiary MDT for a replacement of the Israeli based Automotive
Industries Storm (Sufa) vehicles. Responding to the growing threats by
small-arms and IEDs, the IDF modified the Storm (AIL M-240) with
extensive armoring. With a large loading bed, and a narrow body,
enabling the vehicle to move in dense urban area, the Storm is offered
with a 180 HP gasoline engine or 107 HP diesel engines, coupled with a
manual transmission. With a gross weight of up to 2,350 kg, the Storm
can carry up to 750 kg of payload, including five or seven passengers.
Storm could handle well the additional weight of add-on armor required
to stop low threats, but it does not have the payload capacity to carry
heavier armor or combat loads. The IDF is currently buying the new Storm
II but no armored versions have been released yet.
The current configuration fitted, with an armor hull, bullet-proof
windscreen, protected roof and more, provides a good protection converts
this lightweight patrol, utility and command vehicle into a maximum
weight up-armored vehicle. The modifications added significantly to the
gross weight of the vehicle, causing safety hazards, limiting mobility
and maneuverability, limiting its operability in combat operations,
causing rapid wear and frequent breakdown of automotive systems and
assemblies. The IDF is looking for Storm replacement for some time, and
has recently announced an initial order for David armored vehicles,
under a $22 procurement order to replace its veteran urban warfare
workhorse. In August
2006 MDT received a follow-on order of US$10 million to supply more
vehicles through July 2007.
Promising to be a more flexible 'Urban Combat Vehicle', "David" uses a
larger chassis based on the LandRover Defender, designed in Israel by
Arotech's MDT Protective Industries in collaboration with the IDF. The
'David' will be built in MDT Armor's Alabama facility. With a small
footprint, considerably shorter, lighter and narrower than the
up-armored HMMWV, the 3.7 ton armored defender is well suited for
operating in urban and other densely populated areas. The vehicle offers
full 360 deg. Protection against assault rifles at point blank
velocities, limited protection against IEDs, roof protection designed to
defeat typical threats fired at very short range and augmented floor
protection. The vehicle is fitted with run-flat inserts to maintain
mobility even with deflated or damaged tires. The 2.5 liter turbocharged
diesel engine develops maximum power of 122 bhp, coupled via manual 5
gear transmission to the 4x4 propulsion system. MDT followed a modular
design allowing for several armor options, seating arrangements and
equipment installations carrying 4, 5 or 6 soldiers in full battle gear.
Gun ports in all 4 directions allow for accurate return fire as soldiers
have full view of gun sites and surrounding area through the armored
windows.
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Armored Fighting Vehicles