AIFV

The AIFV (Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle) is an American tracked light armored vehicle that serves as an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) in the armies of several countries. It is a development of the M113A1 armored personnel carrier.

History

In 1967, funded by the United States Army, the FMC Corporation produced two prototype vehicles designated as XM765 – these were based on their experiences with the earlier XM701 vehicle, developed for the MICV-65 program. The XM765 was based on the M113A1, upgraded with an enclosed turret and firing ports, so that the infantry could fight from within the vehicle. The Army evaluated the vehicle, but decided that they wanted a better protected and more mobile vehicle,[1] selecting instead the M2 Bradley.

FMC continued development as a private venture, resulting in the product improved (PI) M113A1 in 1970. The PI M113A1 had the driver and engine at the front, with an enclosed weapon station in the center of the hull and the commander seated at the rear. This arrangement meant that the commander had a very poor forward view. FMC went back to the drawing board and came up with a new design, which had the driver on the front left of the hull and the commander seated behind him. To the right of the commander was a one-man turret. The vehicle would later be designated the AIFV (armored infantry fighting vehicle).

Description (per Dutch variant)

weight	13.6 metric tons (combat load)

suspension	Torsion bar in tube

speed	61 kph

vehicle range	490 km

primary armament	25 mm KBA-B02 cannon (180 rounds ready; 144 in reserve)

secondary armament	7.62×51mm NATO machine gun (230 rounds ready; 1,610 in reserve)

armour	Aluminum hull with spaced laminate steel appliqué armor on the front and sides

crew	3+7

engine	Detroit Diesel Allison 6V-53T

engine power	267 hp (195 kW) at 2800 rpm

transmission	TX100-1A

pw ratio	19.29 hp/t

The hull of the vehicle is made of welded aluminium, with steel laminate spaced armor bolted onto the side and front. The voids of the armor are filled with polyurethane foam, which gives the vehicle extra buoyancy when travelling in the water. Original production AIFVs can swim without deploying flotation curtains, using only a large front-mounted trim vane; they are propelled in the water by their tracks.

The engine sits on the front right of the hull, behind a hatch that can be used to remove the complete powerpack. The powerpack is similar to the M113A1, except for a larger radiator capacity and turbocharger. The transmission is also fitted with heavy duty components from the M548 tracked cargo carrier. Immediately to the left of the engine is the driver, above whom is a hatch that opens to the right. The driver has four M27 day periscopes. The driver's center periscope can be replaced by a passive infrared periscope for night driving. The commander sits immediately behind the driver, and has a cupola that can be completely traversed. The cupola has five periscopes, four of which are M17 day periscopes, the fifth has 1x to 6x variable magnification.

The turret is fitted on the right side of the hull behind the engine. The turret, which has electro-hydraulic traverse, can elevate from -10 to +50° and can traverse and elevate at a speed of 60°/sec. The turret mounts an Oerlikon KBA 25 mm B02 cannon with a dual ammunition feed and 180 rounds of ready use ammo, with another 144 rounds stored in the hull. Mounted to the left of this gun is a 7.62 mm FN MAG machine gun, which has 230 rounds of ready ammo, with a further 1,610 in the hull. There is a six-barrel smoke discharger mounted at the front, just above the large trim vane.

The troop compartment is at the rear of the hull; a large power operated ramp allows access through the rear of the vehicle, a door is also provided in the ramp. Additionally a single piece hatch covers the top of the troop compartment. The compartment contains seven troops in the Dutch variant, with six sitting back to back facing outwards and a single passenger sitting between the command and the turret facing backwards. There are two firing ports in each side of the hull and a single firing port in the rear. The side firing ports are provided with M17 periscopes, the rear one is fitted with an M27 periscope.

Variants

Belgian service variants

AIFV-B — A revised Dutch variant that was fitted with the same suspension as the M113A1-B (similar to the M113A2), an NBC system and a Halon fire suppression system; it entered service in September 1985. Surplus vehicles have been sold to Chile, Indonesia, and the Philippines, with the remaining carriers being phased out in favor of wheeled vehicles.
AIFV-B-C25 with a 25 mm Oerlikon KBA-B02 cannon — with smoke grenade launchers fitted on the side of the turret
AIFV-B-MILAN with a MILAN anti-tank missile launcher
AIFV-B-.50 with a 12.7 mm CWS cupola, two Lyran 71 mm mortars and a pintle mount for a MILAN missile launcher.
AIFV-B-CP — command post vehicle with a 12.7 mm cupola (M113 type), a tent, generator and telescopic mast.
AIFV-B-TRG — driver training vehicle.

Dutch variants

Dutch variants:[2] (the pantser-rups designation means armored-tracked)

YPR-765 PRI (pantser-rups-infanterie) — primary infantry fighting vehicle with a 25 mm Oerlikon KBA-B02 cannon and a coaxial FN MAG machine gun contained in a turret (EWS - Enclosed Weapon Station); crew of three plus seven passengers (normally only five carried); outward-facing bench seats in the rear compartment.
YPR-765 PRI.50 — armored personnel carrier with a .50-caliber M2 HB machine gun on an M113-type cupola in place of a turret.

YPR-765 PRCO-series (pantser-rups-commando, i.e. command post vehicle)
YPR-765 PRCO-B — company commander's vehicle with the same EWS-turret as the pri; crew of six plus two passengers; folding table in the rear compartment with two inward-facing seats on either side.
YPR-765 PRCO-C-1 — battalion commander's vehicle with a .50-caliber M2 HB machine gun on an M26 cupola; crew of five plus four passengers; folding table in the rear compartment with a three-seat bench on the left and two seats on the right, all facing inward.
YPR-765 PRCO-C-2 — battalion fire control center with a .50-caliber M2 HB machine gun on an M26 cupola; crew of seven plus one passenger; rear compartment as for C-1.
YPR-765 PRCO-C-3 — mortar fire control vehicle with a .50-caliber M2 HB machine gun on an M26 cupola; crew of four plus one passenger; the rear compartment has a folding table with two inward-facing seats on the left side and a large bulletin board for military maps on the right side.
YPR-765 PRCO-C-4 — armored command post vehicle for armored anti-aircraft artillery PRTL platoons. Equipped with a .50-caliber M2 HB machine gun on an M113-type cupola; crew of three; folding table in the rear compartment with an inward-facing, three-seat bench on the left. This vehicle is equipped with a diesel-heater, a tall collapsible antenna mast on the left side of the hull and a tent extension that could be attached to the rear of the vehicle's hull to provide additional work space.
YPR-765 PRCO-C-5 — observation vehicle for artillery units with a .50-caliber M2 HB machine gun on an M113-type cupola; crew of five; rear compartment with a folding table with two inward-facing seats on the left.
YPR-765 PRRDR (pantser-rups-radar) — vehicle equipped with a ZB-298 battlefield surveillance radar, armed with a .50-caliber M2 HB machine gun on an M113-type cupola; crew of four plus two passengers; folding table in the rear compartment, with one inward-facing seat on either side. Each tank battalion and each armored infantry battalion had three of these in its staff and support company.

YPR-765 PRGWT (pantser-rups-gewondentransport) — armored medical evacuation vehicle (AMEV); unarmed; crew of three plus five passengers; rear compartment has two forward-facing seats on the left, bins for the personal equipment of the wounded on either side, and can hold two stretchers on either side, suspended from chains. The vehicle is equipped with a diesel-heater.
YPR-765 PRMR (pantser-rups-mortiertrekker) — armored mortar tractor for MO-120-RT 120 mm mortar with a .50-caliber M2 HB machine gun on an M26 cupola; crew of seven, including mortar crew; rear compartment has an inward-facing, three-seat bench on the left and a mortar ammunition rack on the right. Storage racks for 150 mortar rounds.
YPR-765 PRV (pantser-rups-vracht) — armored cargo vehicle (vracht = cargo, freight) with a .50-caliber M2 HB machine gun on an M113-type cupola; crew of two; empty rear compartment with a folding safety screen between the crew and cargo.
YPR-765 PRAT (pantser-rups-anti tank) — tank destroyer armed with an Emerson TOW Under Armor "Hammerhead"-turret similar to that of the M901 ITV and an FN MAG machine gun on a pintle mount; crew of four; rear compartment holds a rack with missile reloads on the left, an inward-facing bench seat and various equipment, including a M41 tripod) on the right.
YPR-806 PRBRG (pantser-rups-berging) — armored recovery vehicle; US Army designation is M806, it is based on a modified M113 chassis and hull but using AIFV automotive components. Repair and recovery vehicle equipped with an internal winch and two earth anchors mounted on the rear hull.

Philippine service variants

The Philippine Army uses a mixed variant of earlier AIFVs similar to the Dutch YPR-765, and later variants from Turkey based on the ACV-300.

AIFV-25 — basic infantry fighting vehicle armed with a 25 mm Oerlikon KBA-B02 cannon and a coaxial machine gun
AIFV-ARV — armored recovery vehicle
ACV-300 APC — with a 12.7 mm M2 machine gun in a shielded gun cupola; later upgraded with FNSS Saber turrets with either 40mm AGL or 12.7mm M2 machine gun paired with 7.62mm machine gun
ACV-300 ARV — armored recovery vehicle

Turkey

Service variants

ACV-AAPC (advanced armored personnel carrier) — with a one-man turret with a 12.7 mm machine gun and a 7.62 mm machine gun; 13 troops carried.
ACV-AIFV (advanced infantry fighting vehicle) — fitted with a stabilized 25 mm one-man Sharpshooter Turret and has the capacity of carrying 11 personnel.
AIFV with FMC EWS (assembled by DAF Special Products) turret with a 25 mm Oerlikon Contraves 25 mm cannon and a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun
AIFV with Giat Dragar turret with a 25 mm M811 cannon and a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun.
ACV-ATV — Armored Tow Vehicle. Fitted with a Norwegian one-man turret with two BGM-71 TOW missiles in a ready to launch position, and four troops carried.
ACV-AMV — Armored Mortar Vehicle. Fitted with an 81 mm mortar and a 7.62 mm machine gun.

Turkish private variants

120mm AMV — A private venture, armed with a TDA 120 mm recoiling mortar in the rear of the vehicle. Not in service.

Service variants

ACV-AAPC (advanced armored personnel carrier) — with a one-man turret with a 12.7 mm machine gun and a 7.62 mm machine gun; 13 troops carried.
ACV-AIFV (advanced infantry fighting vehicle) — fitted with a stabilized 25 mm one-man Sharpshooter Turret and has the capacity of carrying 11 personnel.
AIFV with FMC EWS (assembled by DAF Special Products) turret with a 25 mm Oerlikon Contraves 25 mm cannon and a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun
AIFV with Giat Dragar turret with a 25 mm M811 cannon and a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun.
ACV-ATV — Armored Tow Vehicle. Fitted with a Norwegian one-man turret with two BGM-71 TOW missiles in a ready to launch position, and four troops carried.
ACV-AMV — Armored Mortar Vehicle. Fitted with an 81 mm mortar and a 7.62 mm machine gun.

Turkish private variants

120mm AMV — A private venture, armed with a TDA 120 mm recoiling mortar in the rear of the vehicle. Not in service.
ACV with HMTS — armed with four Hellfire missiles in the ready to fire position.
ACV-300 — Fitted with a 300 hp powerpack similar to the M113A3.
ACV-350 — Fitted with a 350 hp powerpack.
ACV-S — A stretched version of the AIFV with an additional road wheel and extra armor giving resistance to 14.5 mm AP projectiles, with an upgraded 350 or 400 hp powerpack. Weight is 18,000 kg. A variety of turrets are available, including 12.7 mm, 25 mm (FNSS Sharpshooter Turret) and 30 mm as well as an Eryx missile launcher and 120 mm mortar turret.

UAE variants

Note: all are ACV-350 and fitted with air conditioning and an over-pressure NBC system.

ACV-RV (Armored Recovery Vehicle)
ACV-AESV (Armored Engineering Squad Vehicle)
ACV-AFOV (Armored Artillery FO Vehicle)
ACV-ACPV (Armored Command Post Vehicle)

origin	United States
type	Infantry fighting vehicle
used by	Operators
variants	Variants
wars	1989 Philippine coup d'état attempt Yugoslav Wars War in Afghanistan Syrian Civil War Battle of Marawi Sinai insurgency Russo-Ukrainian War *Russian invasion of Ukraine
is vehicle	yes
length	5.26 m
width	2.82 m
height	2.62 m (to turret roof)

History

Export

Netherlands

Philippines

Belgium

Turkey

Description (per Dutch variant)

Variants

Belgian service variants

Dutch variants

Philippine service variants

Turkey

Service variants

Turkish private variants

Service variants

Turkish private variants

UAE variants

Operators

Current operators

Former operators

See also

Bibliography

External links

References