ACV-300

Infobox Weapon
name=ACV-300 IFV


caption=
origin=TUR
type=Infantry fighting vehicle
service=1992 - Present
production_date=1992 - Present
used_by=Users
is_vehicle=yes
crew=3 + 8
length=5.26 m
width=2.83 m
height=2.88 m
weight=14 tonnes [All specifications according to [http://www.fnss.com.tr fnss.com.tr] , as of April 23, 2008]
armour=Protection against 14.5 mm AP
primary_armament=Varies according to type
secondary_armament=Varies according to type
engine=Detroit Diesel Model 6V-53T
engine_power=300 hp
suspension=350 mm
speed=65 km/h
pw_ratio=48.07 hp/tonne
vehicle_range=490 km

ACV-300 is the designation of a vehicle family developed by the Turkish defense company "FNSS", containing an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) and an armoured personnel carrier (APC). The ACV-300 is based on the American Advanced Infantry Fighting Vehicle. It is currently in service with the armed forces of Turkey, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates.

History

FNSS developed the ACV-300 based on the AIFV to meet the Turkish Land Forces Command's (TLFC's) operational requirement. The first production vehicles were completed in 1992. The basic AIFV has a one-person power-operated turret armed with a 25mm cannon and 7.62mm co-axial machine gun. FNSS Defense Systems' latest development is the Armored Combat Vehicle - New Generation which has an additional roadwheel each side. This can undertake a wider range of battlefield missions as it has greater internal volume and load-carrying capability. The vehicle is fully amphibious, propelled in the water by its tracks. Standard equipment includes passive night vision equipment, an NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) protection system and smoke grenade launchers.

The AIFV is in service with Turkey (1,698 plus additional 665) and the United Arab Emirates (136 delivered). Malaysia has ordered 211 ACV-300 in different versions in 2000, all of which have been delivered. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb4692/is_200206/ai_n17671624 as seen on 22 April, 2008]

The Malaysian version of the AIFV is a result of a collaboration between FNSS and the Malaysian company DRB-Hicom Defence Technologies (Deftech). Malaysia's ACV-300 tanks are nicknamed the Adnan, after Adnan bin Saidi, a Malaysian Lieutenant who fought in the Battle of Singapore during World War II. They are manufactured locally at Pekan in Pahang.

The ACV-300 can be fitted with a number of turret choices to tailor to individual customer requirements. They are also equipped with firing ports, which allows infantrymen to fire their weapons from within the vehicle.

The Adnans feature RVH TacNav navigation system incorporating GPS, LWD Avimo laser warning device, Wegmann 76mm grenade launchers, NBC filtration system and SNVVS-2 night vision system.

Users

TUR

Turkey has 1,698 + 665 ACV-300 in service.

UAE

The United Arab Emirates have 136 ACV-300 in service.

MYS

Malaysia has 211 ACV-300 of the following variants in service: [According to the [http://disarmament.un.org/UN_REGISTER.nsf/5cb8afbbb6536a298525647d00612b14/e367a49fd5109d0185256ec1005047b6?OpenDocument United Nations Register of Conventional Arms] ]
* 72 IFV with the M2 Browning machine gun in a one-man turret
* 31 IFV with the Sharpshooter one-man turret co-developed by FNSS and BAE Systems, armed with a 25mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun
* 25 ambulance vehicles
* 24 command vehicles
* 13 signal vehicles with additional communication equipment
* 13 IFV with the Mk 19 grenade launcher in a one-man turret
* 10 vehicles armed with a 81 mm mortar
* 8 vehicles armed with the Pakistani Baktar Shikan anti-tank guided missile.
* 8+7 armoured recovery vehicles

Next to this, Malaysia has announced to purchase 48 additional ACV-300 and 8 vehicles of the stretched variant ACV-S. Those 8 vehicles will be armed with a 120 mm mortar. [ [http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news_lite.php?id=328216 Bernama press release] as seen on April 23, 2008]

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.fnss.com.tr/fnss.php?cni=1.3.15.0&PHPSESSID=240670712c5475ea6420370991208ea5&dil=en&pid=15 Official ACV-300 IFV site on the FNSS website]
* [http://www.fnss.com.tr/fnss.php?cni=1.3.15.0&PHPSESSID=240670712c5475ea6420370991208ea5&dil=en&pid=14 Official ACV-300 AAPC site on the FNSS website]
* [http://www.fnss.com.tr/admin/img/bro/Brochure_ACV-300%20AAPC%2012-7.pdf Official info brochure on the ACV-300 AAPC]