Al-Fahd Infantry fighting vehicle

Infobox Weapon

origin=Saudi Arabia
type=
is_vehicle=yes
length=?
width=?
height=?
weight=?
suspension=Wheeled
speed=90 km/h
vehicle_range=600 km
primary_armament=105 mm /
secondary_armament=40 mm /
armour=?
engine=twelve-cylinder Deutz air-cooled diesel engine.
engine_power=550 hp
pw_ratio=
crew=3

Al Fahd armoured vehicle has been developed by the Abdallah Al Faris Company for Heavy Industries, which is based in Saudi Arabia at Dammam.

The Al Fahd is the first armoured vehicle designed and built in Saudi Arabia and entered production of 100 vehicles for the Saudi Arabian National Guard and Saudi Arabian Army in 1998 [http://www.army-technology.com/projects/al_fahd/ Al Fahd Wheeled Armoured Reconnaissance/Personnel Carrier, Saudi Arabia] at Army-Technology.com. Retrieved on November 27, 2007.] and it is an 8 wheeled armoured vehicle. The vehicle is available in two variants:

*AF-40-8-1
*AF-40-8-2

Variants

AF-40-80-2

AF-40-80-2 can be equipped with a turret for the installation of 105 mm low recoil weapons on the AFRV, and 40 mm weapons on the personnel carrier. The driver's station is equipped with a suite of day and night vision periscopes. Day and night vision scopes can also be fitted to the crew stations. [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/gulf/al-fahd.htm Al Fahd AF-40-8] at GlobalSecurity.org]

AF-40-8-1

AF-40-8-1 has the capacity to carry 11 equipped troops plus the driver. The position of the engine in the APC is at the front instead of the rear of the vehicle. A large ramp door (which is not fitted on the fighting vehicle variant) at the rear gives access to the troop compartment.

The APC can be equipped with a turret for weapons up to 40 mm calibre, and also an optional number of firing ports can be installed.

The fuel capacity of the two vehicles is the same. The smaller engine, the Deutz 10 cylinder, 400hp engine, combined with a lower operating empty weight and combat payload, gives a 800 km cruising range, which is 200 km further than that of the fighting vehicle.

Propulsion

The Al Fahd is equipped with a twelve-cylinder 550 hp Deutz air-cooled engine. A water-cooled engine is an available option. The vehicle has a ZF 6WG-200 powered gearbox by Zahnradfabrik Passau GmbH. The unit is of layshaft design with hydraulically actuated multi-plate clutches engaging the gears, and a hydrodynamic torque converter as the starting device.

For use on prepared roads, only the middle four wheels are powered and steered, and the maximum speed is 90 km/h. 550 l of diesel fuel are carried, giving a maximum range of 600 km.

Performance

The chassis, engine, transmission, suspension and levelling system are designed to provide a high level of performance for crossing rough and variable terrain. For travelling across rough terrain, the drive and powered steering are applied to all eight wheels. The vehicle's levelling system operates in both manual and automatic mode. The vehicle is able to negotiate slopes up to 80%, side slopes to 55% and natural and engineered trenches to 2,500 mm and 2,000 mm.

The vehicle's suspension system is a combined nitrogen gas spring and hydraulic damping system. For weapon firing, a series of valves on the nitrogen gas system is closed to provide a firmer hydraulic suspension system. Once the main weapons are discharged the nitrogen gas system is reinstated into the vehicle suspension system and the vehicle is ready to proceed across the rough battlefield terrain.

An hydraulic amphibious system is available as an option. The maximum amphibious speed is 8 km/h. The hull is water-sealed and airtight.

User countries

* Saudi Arabia (100)
* Pakistan
* Lebanon
* Kuwait
* Bangladesh (60)

References