CFAM LMRV39 Kudu Light Armoured vehicle series

[Crookfur]

CFAM LMRV39 Kudu APC



Weight: 21tons
Crew 2 (driver, gunner)
Transport: 10 troops
Engine: CFPW T358 Multi fuel turbine rated at 550horse power (410Kw)
Water drive: 2 water jet systems (steer able)
Max speed: 140kph on road, 70kph off road
0-75kph: 6.5 seconds
Range: 1000km
Weapons: either a manned turret or remotely operated mounting with room for 2 weapons, general load of 1 S11A3 25mm grenade launcher and 1 S9A3 9mm machine gun
Ammunition: 500 25x70mm ACM rounds and 900 9x90mm rounds
Suriviability: Layered titanium and rubber main layer with replaceable Chaotech outer panels and Armourfelt spall liner, provides STANAG lvl 4 (25mm)in the frontal arc and STANAG lvl 3 (14.5mm)to the sides and rear.
Electronics: fire control computer, tactical and command level voice/data links, direct integration with infantry com links, threat warning receiver, driver and gunner EO/IR vision systems
Estimated cost: $2.3million

Designed as a replacement to the venerable LMRV25 Stoat line of vehicles. Some what slower and larger than the original Stoat series of vehicles the Kudu provides a more capable vehicle with improved armour protection and a higher level of reliability. As with the Stoat the Kudu is designed to provide a base for a whole range of vehicles including a mobile guns system, infantry fighting vehicle, self propellent artillery system and a air defence system..
The basic armour scheme of the Kubu uses a combination of technologies to provide a lightweight yet effective defence. The first layer consists of quick replaceable Chaotech armour cells which using a combination of fibreglass, titanium, aramid fibres, spectra material and ceramic inserts provide an extremely strong yet light outer barrier than can easily stop .30cal AP bullets. Behind the Chaotech panels lies the main armour and structure of the vehicle, a barrier made up of a layer of rubber contained between 2 layers of titanium, this usage of titanium throughout the vehicle goes a long way to explaining the high cost of the vehicle and as such the titanium can be replaced with steel or aluminium for a cheaper vehicle that suffers predictable penalties in terms of performance or protection. The final layer of protection consists of a spall lining made up of a layer of armourfelt contained within 2 layers of aramid fibre.

In terms of weaponry the basic APC offers 2 options, either a 1 man turret with room for 2 weapons each in the 25kg range or 1 weapon in the 40kg range plus a lighter weapon up to a maximum weapon weight of 53kgs. This turret is armoured against 14.5mm AP round in the forward 70 degree arc and against .30calibre AP rounds over the remaining 290 degrees. Alternatively a remote weapons station can be fitted to fit weapons of up to 65kg although this mounting provides very little protection. Both weapons mounting include provision for self defence systems such as smoke launchers.

The transported troops have 6 firing ports compatible with most rifles and many light machine guns, 1 transport space is fitted with a tactical information station (TIS) and 2 have access to EO/IR vision turrets to provide increased situational awareness, these turrets can be slaved to eith the driver's tactical display or the TIS.

Optional upgrades include the addition of stand off slat armour/composite panels to provide additional protection against HEAT warheads from RPGs or ATGMs, the installation of an Active Protection System (APS) that can deploy munitions to destroy incoming projectiles and the installation of a Laser Counter Measures (LCM) device intended to confuse and destroy enemy laser illuminators and EO sensors.



CFAM LMRV39 Kudu IFV



Weight: 24tons
Crew: 3 (driver, gunner, commander)
Transport: 8 troops
Engine: CFPW T358 Multi fuel turbine rated at 550horse power (410Kw)
Water drive: 2 water jet systems (steer able)
Max speed: 130kph on road, 60kph off road
0-75kph: 6.5 seconds
Range: 1000km
Weapons: 1 single barrel 40mm CTA gun and 1 coaxial S9A3 9mm machine gun, plus mounting and wiring for 2-4 tube ATGM launcher, generally a 2 round launcher for M12 ATGMs is used
Ammunition: 600 40mm rounds (1 basket of 200 and 1 of 400) and 900 9x90mm rounds
Suriviability: Layered titanium and rubber main layer with replaceable Chaotech outer panels and Armourfelt spall liner, provides STANAG lvl 4 (25mm)in the frontal arc and STANAG lvl 3 (14.5mm)to the sides and rear.
Electronics: fire control computer, tactical and command level voice/data links, direct integration with infantry com links, threat warning receiver, driver, commander and gunner EO/IR vision systems
Estimated cost: $2.7million

Based on the Kudu APC, the IFV version replaces 2 of the transport positions of the APC, including the TIS station, with an enlarged 2 man turret that mounts a 40mm Cased Telescoping Ammunition gun (CTA) capable of firing up to 350 rounds per minute of either APFSDS or Smart Fused ammo. The sabot ammo is capable of dealing with most light combatants the IFV will encounter whilst the SF rounds can be set to act as air bursting or penetrating HE munitions, the ATGM bracket can be configured for most common ATGMs although a 2 tube launcher for the Crookfur M12 ATGM generally supplied.


CFAM LMRV39 Kudu MGS/ARV
Weight: 27tons
Crew: 3 (driver, gunner, commander)
Transport: 2
Engine: CFPW T361 Multi fuel turbine rated at 590horse power (440Kw)
Water drive: 2 water jet systems (steer able)
Max speed: 140kph on road, 70kph off road
0-75kph: 6.2 seconds
Range: 1100km
Weapons: 1 G571 73mm/55cal Magnum ETC gun, 1 co axial S9A3 9mm MG plus 2 pintle mounted S9A2s
Ammunition: 50 73mm rounds and 1200 9x90mm rounds
Suriviability: Layered titanium and rubber main layer with replaceable Chaotech outer panels and Armourfelt spall liner, provides STANAG lvl 4 (25mm)in the frontal arc and STANAG lvl 3 (14.5mm)to the sides and rear. Turret has Lvl4 armour in front 90 degree arc and lvl 3 on the remaining 270 degrees
Electronics: fire control computer, tactical and command level voice/data links, direct integration with infantry com links, threat warning receiver, Active protection system, LCM system, driver, commander and gunner EO/IR vision systems
Estimated cost: $3.4million

The final entry into the initial Kudu variant line up and perhaps the most extreme is the Mobile Gun system/Armed Reconnaissance Vehicle variant. In this case the entire troop compartment is removed save for a small 2 man space at the rear of the vehicle, the roof of the main body has been lowered and a full turret has been fitted. The turret provides a mounting for the main gun, a 73mm/55calibre Magnum ETC gun that offer exceptional tank killing power for small vehicles. The G571 Magnum gun is a development off shoot of the 103mm G559 ETC gun developed for the Grey Viper and Koshi light tanks, it uses the same propellant charge but fires a smaller 73mm round at very velocity providing sparkly penetrating ability at short to medium ranges. Like the G559 the 73mm gun can used reduced charge loadings and can be elevated up to 45 degrees allowing for a small NLOS engagement capability.


CFAM LMRV40 Kudu Longhorn MGS/TD

Weight: 27tons
Crew: 3 (driver, gunner, commander)
Engine: CFPW T361 Multi fuel turbine rated at 590horse power (440Kw)
Water drive: 2 water jet systems (steer able)
Max speed: 140kph on road, 70kph off road
0-75kph: 6.2 seconds
Range: 1100km
Weapons: 1 G59H 103mm ETC gun (alt low recoil 120/125mm gun), 1 co axial GPMG plus 1 remote weapons station
Ammunition: 8 103/120mm rounds ready and 24 stored plus 1200 MG rounds (400 ready, 800 stowed)
Suriviability: Layered titanium and rubber main layer with replaceable Chaotech outer panels and Armourfelt spall liner, provides STANAG lvl 5 (25mm) in the frontal arc and STANAG lvl 4 (14.5mm) to the sides and rear. Turret has Lvl5 armour in front 90 degree arc and lvl 4 on the remaining 270 degrees
Electronics: fire control computer, tactical and command level voice/data links, direct integration with infantry com links, threat warning receiver, Active protection system, LCM system, driver, EO/IR vision systems, full stabilised range finding gun sight with FLIR and image intensification modes, commander’s independent panoramic sight
Estimated cost: $4.4million

[Crookfur]

LMRV39E2 Ballistic Kudu SPG




Combat weight: 34 tons
crew: 3
Length chassis: 8.1m
Length overall (gun forward): 8.8m
width: 3.25m
height (sensor raised, gun lowered): 3.8m
Weapons: 1x G327SE 130mm/ 45 calibre howitzer and 1 pintle mount for a machine gun
Ammunition: 40x 130mm projectiles and charge sets
Power plant: CFPW T361 turbine rated at 590horse power (440Kw) plus APU linked to electric drive system
Speed: 60kmh
range 800km
Armour: light weight composite and perforated steel over welded titanium body, anti spall liner of armorfelt sandwiched between aramid fibre sheets. Armour protection is rated as STANAG level 4 (vs 14.5mm or 155mm artillery burst at 30m) from all sides.
Cost: $3.6million

The Ballistic Kudu is a light weight self propelled gun system based on a heavily modified version of the Crookfur Kudu series chassis. Designed to provide mobile and survivable firepower the Ballistic Kudu is built around a new 130mm howitzer.

The Gun System:

The new G327SE howitzer has a calibre of 130mm and sits in between very light 105mm and heavy 155mm artillery systems. As standard a 45 calibre length barrel is fitted although this can be upgraded to a 55 calibre barrel if required. The barrel construction is similar to that of other current generation Crookfur guns and offers superior strength, precision and thermal properties when compared to most other available gun barrels. Breach locking is achieved using a sliding wedge breach block with a metal obturator. The gun is located in its own unmanned turret at the rear of the vehicle along with its autoloader. In order to impose the minimum recoil force on the chassis the gun is fitted with a high efficiency muzzle break, two large hydraulic recoil dampers and a longer than usual recoil path. Unusually the gun is fitted with a twin axis stabilisation system which does permit the gun to be fired reasonably accurately on the move although only with a reduced propellant charge (up to charge 4). It is this requirement for fire on the move capability that forced the inclusion of an autoloader after it was deemed too difficult and dangerous for a gun crew to select and load the correct round and number of charge blocks whilst the vehicle was moving across country.

The autoloader features separate projectile and charge loading systems with projectiles being selected from a 40 round magazine on the left of the vehicle and charges from another magazine on the right hand side. Both magazines are armoured with blow out panels on the roof and each is reloaded through large doors on the rear of the turret. In terms of performance the autoloader can load fast enough for the gun to fire at a rate of 12 rounds per minute, a rate that the gun itself can sustain for 90 seconds. For sustained fire the RoF of the system is reduced to 6-8 rpm.

The standard projectile for the 130mm gun is a 38kg ERFB round. The projectile is propelled using a modular charge system with up to 6 stacked charge modules being used allowing for the range to easily adjusted. Each charge stage has its own consumable water and chemical resistant outer casing that is designed to quickly interlock with charge stages above and below itself allowing for pre prepared charge sets to be easily handled. As would be expected the propellant and explosive payloads used all meet the relevant insensitive munition requirements.

Chassis:

As mentioned previously the Ballistic Kudu is a modification of the Kudu lined of wheeled armoured fighting vehicles and is the most heavily modified of the series. Firstly the rear armoured bay has been totally removed to make a flat bed onto which the turret is mounted. The turret ring does penetrate into the vehicle hull. Secondly the chassis has been slightly extended and the two rearward sets of wheels slight repositioned whilst the wheel base width has been slightly increase for all four wheel sets to give higher stability when firing the gun. The suspension has been beefed up and the hydro pneumatic system automatically “kneels” when the vehicle comes to a halt in order to allow the use of the maximum propellant charge in the gun. The front of the chassis houses the engine/generator set based around the same T361 turbine package used on all the heavier Kudu variants. To the left of the power plant sits the driver with the gun commander and gunner sitting behind him in an air conditioned compartment. All three main crew positions have shock mounted seats with foot rests to improve ride comfort and reduce the likelihood of injury in the event of an explosion underneath the vehicle such as that caused by a mine. The driver has a fairly standard yoke style controller for steering and has both thermal and image intensification view mode through his forward vision block, a low light TV camera is mounted on the rear of the vehicle to help with reversing. The two main crew positions each have a multi screen workstation and both are identical allowing either role to be carried out from both seats. Normally the gun commander will handle communications, navigation and mission plotting whilst the gunner lays the gun and keeps an eye on all aspects of the gun’s operating cycle. A 4th fold up chair is fitted should an additional passenger be required to be carried. Access to and from the forward compartment is through the main door on the left of the vehicles and through the driver’s and commander’s roof hatches. The commander’s hatch is equipped with a mounting ring to allow a machine gun to be fitted.

Systems:

The main electronic system present on the Ballistic Kudu is the integrated navigation and gun laying computer. This system provides both accurate navigational data to the crew and also allows for accurate gun location survey. Using a laser ring gyro Inertial navigational system combined with a GPS receiver the precise location of the vehicle is know as well as what angle the vehicle is currently sitting at even as it moves. The gun laying device takes this information and combines it with target coordinates and the desired fire mission type to automatically lay and elevate the gun to hit the target. Additional information such as wind speed and atmospheric conditions are also taken into count as is data from the Muzzle Velocity Measuring Device. Wing speed data can be supplied either from an off board meteorological source or from the vehicle radar set. The Radar set is a small multi function using with a fixed AESA array. The primary function of the radar is to provide Muzzle velocity and trajectory information but it does provide a limited counter battery detection capability and a wing speed measuring mode. Communications are provided by several integrated voice and data radio links and if required a physical fibre optic connection. Finally as the gun is stabilised so that it can be fired on the move an EO/IIR sensor with laser is mounted on the turret to allow the gun to be used in a direct fire mode.

[Crookfur]

LMRV39E3 Pack Kudu Ammunition Supply Vehicle



Combat weight: 27 tons
crew: 2 (plus up to 4 passengers)
Length chassis: 8.1m
width: 3.25m
height 3m
Weapons: 1 Pintle mount for machine gun or a remote weapons system
Ammunition: 500 rounds for Pintle mounted machine gun
Payload: 120 x 130mm projectiles, 450 propellant charge modules
Power plant: CFPW T361 turbine rated at 590horse power (440Kw) plus APU linked to electric drive system
Speed: 60kmh
range 800km
Armour: light weight composite and perforated steel over welded titanium body, anti spall liner of armorfelt sandwiched between aramid fibre sheets. Armour protection is rated as STANAG level 4 (vs 14.5mm or 155mm artillery burst at 30m) from all sides.
Cost: $1.7million

As the Ballistic Kudu Self Propelled Gun program neared its successful conclusion it became clear that a Ammunition Supply Vehicle based on the same chassis would give the customer the option of purchasing an system that would perfectly compliment their new gun system.

Ammunition storage and supply:

As with the Ballistic Kudu it is the rear bed of the vehicle that has received the most work. Where the gun turret was located on the Ballistic Kudu there now sits a large armoured compartment. In side this compartment can be found storage racks for one hundred and twenty 130mm projectiles, armoured storage boxes holding up to 450 modular propellant charge units and a large supply of additional projectile fuses and spare parts for the gun system. Normally the projectiles are stowed with a fuse fitted in the “safe” position but they can be carried without a fuse fitted with the projectiles being fused as they are loaded onto the gun platform, although this does slow down the rate of resupply.
Resupply can either be carried out automatically or manually. In automatic mode twin ramps and round selectors transfer projectiles and charges directly into the magazines of the Ballistic Kudu with data connections on the loading ramp informing the gun platform of the exact projectile types and fusing options being supplied. If in a safe area and with additional personnel available resupply can be carried out manually, this is quicker but negates some of the safety features built into the storage compartment. The rear door slits and hinges up and down to provide over head cover during resupply, the lower half of the door has a built in ladder.

In terms of safety features the magazine has a rapid action Halon fire suppression and when the compartment is closed or operating in automatic resupply mode the on board nitrogen generator maintains an internal atmosphere of less than 5% oxygen, greatly reducing fire risk during normal operation and in the event of non serious penetrating hits.

Chassis:

The chassis is largely identical to that used on the Ballistic Kudu with changes made to rear bed and the forward compartment. As described the rear bed houses the magazine/ammunition compartment whilst the forward compartment has been slightly reworked. The driver still sits alongside the engine but behind that the compartment has been rearranged. Only one workstation is fitted and it serves to manage the resupply system, communications and if fitted the Remote Weapons System (RWS). With space gained by removing the second workstation and by extending the compartment backwards under beneath the magazine slightly 4 folding seats have been fitted to allow for additional passengers to be carried. These passengers can either be used to aid with manual reloading, to carry out field repair and maintenance of the gun and possibly to provide local security during a resupply operation. The aft of the crew compartment has a door into the magazine which allows access to the stores and to the roof hatch and machine gun mounting (if no RWS is fitted). For safety this internal door is automatically locked when the low oxygen atmosphere is present in the magazine. Access to the crew compartment is through the driver and passenger roof hatches and via the main door on the left hand side. Along each side of the vehicle are multiple storage compartments for tools and additional supplies. Finally a small refrigerator and a boiling vessel are fitted to the crew compartment

Systems:

As with most Crookfur vehicles the Pack Kudu is fitted with the full range of digital voice and data communications systems. Aside from these the main system is the automated resupply management system. This system allows the operator to choose what rounds are supplied, in what order and with which fuzes. It also allows the operator to monitor the entire process using both animated graphical process and diagnostic indicators and internal cameras. The same workstation also allows the operator to access diagnostic information on any Ballistic Kudu it is resupplying. For self protection the Pack Kudu can either mount a machine gun on the roof hatch or replace this hatch with a remote weapons system operated from the crew compartment. The RWS option is recommended as it allows the vehicle to defend itself and maintain its low oxygen atmosphere in the magazine. For additional protection a set of radar and laser warning receivers are fitted along with smoke dischargers and a smoke generation system on the engine exhaust.


Variants:

LMRV39C3 Pack Kudu: variant designed to supply Scoundrel SPG, features forward deck crane and access to magazine through ammunition hatch located in the Pintle mount/RWS position, this allows for the 6 round magazine of the G341LW series guns to be rapidly replaced. Holds 90 6” (export) or 160mm (domestic) rounds.