| On February 4, 2008
Sweden has decided not to proceed with the development of the
next-generation SEP family of armored combat vehicles. Joris
Janssen Lok reported on Aviation Week's Ares blog. According
to armed forces procurement chief Leif Nylander, one of the
main reasons for the decision was that neither Sweden nor BAE
Systems have managed to find an international partner for the
program, with whom Sweden could have shared the development
cost. The Swedish Army planed to field a new Modular Armored
Tactical System program (SEP) which will be based on common
modular wheeled and tracked platforms configured for more than
twenty different roles. These included armored personnel carrier,
command post, ambulance, medical vehicle, anti-tank missile
system, anti aircraft missile system, mortar vehicle, reconnaissance,
forward observation vehicle, nuclear, biological and chemical
warfare decontamination centre, mine clearing and mine scattering,
recovery and repair, communication post, radar, electronic warfare
etc. (more...) |
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The common chassis will have an electric
transmission system, replacing the mechanical drive shafts with
electrical cables, transferring the power from the engines to
wheels. This transmission system has many advantages over existing
mechanical systems, including volume and fuel efficiency, and
increased stealth characteristics. Other benefits are reducing
life cycle costs and environmental impact. Decoupled from the
final drives, the engine can be mounted flexibly, including
the use of distributed power sources (multiple engines). The
batteries integrated into the electric drive system allow stealth
movement on electrical power only, driving silently with the
engines shut down. Another benefit of the electric drive is
the increased useable internal volume.
The armored hull is built with integral ballistic armor primarily
protecting the fighting compartment. The hull is constructed
of high hardness steel armor construction rated to protect against
shell fragments and rifle rounds. Appliqué armor weighing
1.5 tones made of ceramic tiles protects against 14.5 mm armor
piercing rounds. Heavier armor provides protection against 30
mm armor piercing fin stabilized discarding sabot (30 mm APPFSDS)
rounds.
The new vehicles will comprise mission or role specific modules,
fitted on common tracked or wheeled vehicles. These modules
will be designed as "Plug in building blocks", allowing
fast adaptation to different tasks and quick upgrades as new
technologies become available.
In a troop carrier role, a combat ready SEP will be able to
carry a load of 4.5 tons, including 12 infantrymen. A space
of 10 cubic meters will be available in a standard load carrying
module, substantially larger than that of conventionally powered
vehicle of a similar length. Fully laden, SEP will weigh 16.6
tones, carrying up to 6 tones of payload, at top speed of 100
kilometers per hour for the wheeled version and 85 km/h for
the tracked variant.
SEP Wheeled
The wheeled version, called "SEP-Wheeled" vehicle
has three axles and uses 6x6 drives. The vehicle uses two engines
driving an electric transmission, powering each wheel by a 100
kW maximum power permanent magnet, in-hub electric motors. The
motors are fitted with a two speed reduction gear. This design
offers high redundancy and survivability when operating in combat
conditions.
The SEP uses two commercially available diesel engines placed
in the sponsons of the vehicle. This gives the advantage of
a totally clear central volume of the vehicle, compared with
traditional designs built with large, centrally mounted engine
compartments. The wheels are mounted with double cast-steel
wishbones with short torsion bar spring. The front wheels are
steered normally, the centre wheels are not steered and the
rear wheels are steered to provide steering at low to medium
speeds and to cut out the rear wheel steering at high road speeds
to maintain high speed stability. The wheels are fitted with
405/70 type R24 tires. Using the electric drive has improved
the vehicle's stealth characteristics, in terms of thermal,
acoustic and radar signatures.
The vehicle uses two 6 cylinder diesel engines in-line, developing
2x270 hp (2x200 kw) of power at 4000 RPM. Each engine is coupled
to a 7 speed automatic transmission, driving a separate alternator
generating 150 amperes. Steering is performed by 1 pr 2 axels,
providing 18 meter turning diameter or all four axels, facilitating
pivot maneuvers within a seven meter diameter (the vehicle's
length is six meters). The vehicle uses hydro-pneumatic suspension,
offering several optional automotive systems designed to improve
performance over different types of terrain, including automatic
braking system (ABS), central tire inflation system and central
leveling adjustment capability. SEP 8x8 will be able to carry
a wide range of armament, including gun turrets (25 –
120mm) and mortars (81 – 120mm). While the 6x6 SEP is
designed to be transportable inside a C130, the 8x8 version
will have to be carried in the larger A-400M. The vehicle comes
fitted with displays for the commander and driver, both seated
side by side in the front. Integration with different electronic
mission systems is also supported utilizing CAN bus multiplex
data system for the vehicle's automotive and maintenance systems
and high speed Ethernet data network for tactical, C4ISR systems
support.
SEP Tracked
The tracked vehicles are fitted with special rubber bandtracks
(already used with Bv206 articulated carriers) rather than conventional
steel link tracks. These tracks are lighter, quieter and have
a operational life of about twice that of an equivalent steel
linked track. The new bandtracks have a lower rolling resistance
and are operating more efficiently with the electric transmission
systems, yielding higher fuel efficiency. Another unique design
feature is the underframe mounted suspension. This spaced outer
layer gives improved protection against mines. The SEP vehicle
can withstand a 7 kilogram TNT explosion under a track.
 The
use of bandtracks and decoupling the suspension from the side
frames and hull dramatically reduces internal noise level to
as low as 85dB, which is sufficiently low to meet civilian vehicle
noise requirements. The vehicle uses a new electronic architecture
developed by Hägglunds, based on an open scalable, fault
tolerant databus which manages all the on-board systems and
crew interfaces including the weapons systems, battlefield management,
defensive aids suite, built in test, digital radio communications
and other mission or role specific systems.
SEP T2 was delivered on November 22, 2005 to the Swedish defense
Material Administration (FMV) by BAE Land Systems Hägglunds.
According to Sven Kågevall, Managing Director of Land
Systems Hägglund, SEP develops considerable international
interest, from the UK, where it is considered for the British
FRES project, EDA (the European Defense Agency of the EU), which
restructures and coordinates the work of future defense products
in Europe, as well as Norway and Australia.
SEP was displayed by BAE Systems Land Systems Hägglunds
at the AUSA 2007 exhibition. At DSEi 2005 the company displayed
its two new prototypes of wheeled and tracked chassis developed
for the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) Modular
Armoured Tactical System (MATS) program. (also known as SEP
- Splitterskyddad Enhets Plattform). SEP is currently under
development for the Swedish defense Forces, under a 500 million
Swedish Kronor contract awarded to BAE Hagglunds in 2006. This
program includes the development of two 6x6 wheeled vehicles
and two SEP tracked vehicles in troop transport and logistics
carrier configurations. These vehicles will be configured in
troop carrier and logistics vehicle configurations. The vehicles
will weigh around 17-18 tons and will use electric drive or
standard diesel engine. The Swedish Army is expected to buy
at least 500 of the new vehicles, and have them operational
by 2014.
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