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An armor upgrade for the British Army FV432 armored
personnel carrier was developed by RAFAEL. While the Warrior has
replaced it in the troop carrying role in the late 80s, many FV432
series vehicles remained in service operated as ambulances, command
posts, mortar carriers and support vehicles. Recent extension of the
FV432 service phase-out date from 2014 to 2020 required significant
modernization of the vehicle. Modernization of 500 is currently
planned, including automotive and protection improvements.
At DSEi 05 RAFAEL displayed an FV432 installed with
appliqué reactive armor, RCWS-30 weapon station and thermal beacon
for blue-force identification. The armor suit proposed by RAFAEL
utilizes new-generation insensitive reactive armor, which is already
produced for the US Army Bradley AFVs and Israeli Army M113 series
APC. The new insensitive reactive armor is optimized to provide
all-round protection against shaped charge warheads including PG-7
rockets, as well as kinetic (KE) armor-piercing projectiles and high
speed fragments delivered by explosions of artillery, mortars or
roadside bombs and IED. The explosive element uses low-burning rate
material that behaves like inert material during transportation,
storage and maintenance but releases its full energy when hit by
shaped charge warhead. The US Ministry of Transportation has
classified the explosives in RAFAEL's reactive armor as an
"Extremely Insensitive Detonating Substance – EIDS).
For improved firepower, the FV432 is provided with
the latest-generation Rafael Remote Controlled Weapon Station 30 (RCWS
30) armed with a stabilised US ATK Gun Systems Company 30mm MK 44
cannon. A 7.62mm MG is mounted co-axial, and installed on the left
side is a two-round Spike LR missile launcher to engage tanks and
other targets at long range. |
