ATF Dingo

This article is about the German infantry mobility vehicle. For the British reconnaissance vehicle, see Daimler Dingo. For the Australian armoured car, see Dingo (scout car).

Dingo 2
ATF Dingo 2 with a mounted machine gun
Type	Infantry mobility vehicle
Place of origin	Germany
Service history
In service	2000 - Present
Used by	Operators
Wars	War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Russian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
Manufacturer	KNDS Deutschland
Unit cost	~$500,000 (2006) [1]
Specifications
Mass	8.8 - 11.9 t
Length	5.45 m (short) 6.08 m (long) [2]
Width	2.3 m
Height	2.5 m
Crew	2 crew (Driver and remote weapons system Officer) 8 passengers
Armor	MEXAS
Main armament	1 × MG 3 light machine gun 1× M2 Browning Machine Gun 1 × HK GMG
Engine	Diesel 160 kW
Suspension	4x4
Operational range	1,000 km
Maximum speed	90+ km/h

The ATF Dingo is a German heavily armored military MRAP ^[3] infantry mobility vehicle based on a Unimog chassis with a V-hull design, produced by the company KNDS Deutschland (formerly Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW)). The first prototype of the Dingo 1 was completed in 1995 and the first production Dingo 1 entered service in 2000 with the German Army. ^[4] It is designed to withstand land mines, rifle fire, artillery fragments and NBC-threats. ATF stands for Allschutz-Transport-Fahrzeug, meaning all-protected transport vehicle in German. It is named after the Australian native dog, the dingo. The Dingo 2 entered service in late 2004 after undergoing trials from November 2003-May 2004. ^[5] Currently^{[ when? ]} KNDS Deutschland is developing the Dingo 2 GFF for the German Army with increased internal volume.

Textron signed an exclusive deal to produce and market KMW's (since April 8, 2024 KNDS Deutschland) Dingo in the United States. ^{[6] [7]} However, Textron chose its own more expensive and heavier M1117 armored security vehicle for the MRAP competition, which did not receive a contract. ^[8]

Design

The ATF Dingo has a modular design with five elements: chassis, protection cell, storage space, engine compartment, and bottom mine blast deflector. Its design is lighter and includes an armored chassis with a blast pan instead of the more common monocoque hull found in modern blast resistant vehicles. IBD's layered MEXAS is used and the windows are angled to deflect blasts and bullets. A tarpaulin is used over the back storage area instead of metal to save weight.

The Dingo's standard armament is a Rheinmetall MG3 7.62 mm machine gun in a remote-controlled turret on the top of the vehicle, borrowed from KNDS Deutschland's Fennek. The operator sits safely inside the cabin, controlling the weapon with an electro-optical sight with night vision capability.

In 2008 the Bundeswehr ordered several hundred fully remote-controlled weapons stations from KMW, for its Dingos and other armored vehicles: the light FLW 100 (for the MG3 or the Heckler & Koch MG4), and the heavy FLW 200 (for the M3M .50 BMG or the HK GMG automatic grenade launcher). The weapons station is controlled by an operator viewing a monitor inside the vehicle.

The ATF Dingo 2 is an advanced version of the Dingo, based on the upgraded Unimog U 5000 chassis with improved protection and more payload. It is offered in two versions, a 3,250 mm wheelbase version (3.5 tonnes payload) and a 3,850 mm wheelbase version (4 tonnes payload) . The Dingo 2 can seat eight personnel.

Operational use

In September 2022, Germany announced that it would provide 50 ATF Dingos to Ukraine to use in the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine. ^[9] During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as of 3 September 2024: 7 units were destroyed and 1 was damaged. ^[10]

Operators

Map of ATF Dingo operators

Current operators

country	version	ordered	options	delivered [11]	notes
Germany - Bundeswehr (Army)	Dingo 1	147	0	147
	Dingo 2 A1/A2/A2.3	287	0	287
	Dingo 2 BÜR (ground surveillance radar)	78	0	2
	Dingo 2 A3 system repair	25	0	4
	Dingo 2 C1 GSI battle damage repair	48	0	48	deliv. by end 2010
	Dingo 2 A3.2 troop transport	45	0	45	deliv. by end 2010
	Dingo 2 A3.2 operational intelligence	20	0	20	ordered 17.11.2010
	Dingo 2 A3.3 troop transport	39	0	39	ordered 17.11.2010
	Dingo 2 A4.1	50 + 65	0	0	50 ordered in November 2023 [12] 65 ordered in December 2024 [13]
Germany - Federal Police	Dingo 2 Polizei	2	0	2
Belgium - Belgian Land Component	Dingo 2 MPPV Fus (patrol)	158	0	158
	Dingo 2 MPPV PC (mobile command post)	52	0	52
	Dingo 2 MPPV ambulance	10	0	10
	Dingo 2 (new variants)	0	66	0
Luxembourg - Luxembourg Army	Dingo 2 Protected Reconnaissance Vehicle	48	0	48
Austria - Austrian Armed Forces	Dingo 2 ATF	60	0	60
	Dingo 2 AC NBC reconnaissance	12	0	12
	Dingo 2 AC ambulance	3	0	3
Czech Republic - Czech Army	Dingo 2 A2	21	0	21
Norway - Norwegian Army	Dingo 2 A3	20	yes	20
Iraqi Kurdistan -Peshmerga	Dingo 1	20	0	20	[14]
Qatar - Qatari Army	Dingo 2 A3.3 troop transport	125	0	125	[15] [16]
Serbia - Serbian Army	Dingo 2 ambulance	2	-	-	Donated in 2024 [17]
Ukraine- Ukrainian Ground Forces	Unknown	0	0	50	Donated during the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine [18]

Gallery

• 
  Three German Army ATF Dingos in Afghanistan.
• 
  ATF Dingo 1 of the German Army deployed in Kosovo.
• 
  German Army Dingo 1's rear view.
• 
  German Dingo 2 with ground surveillance radar (BÜR)
• 
  Austrian Dingo 2 NC
• 
  Czech Dingo 2 A2
• 
  Prototype Dingo (Dingo WTS)
• 
  Serbian Dingo 2

References

1. "Dingo - All Protected Vehicle (APV)". Defense Update. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
2. Krauss-Maffei Wegmann – DINGO 2 – Ihr Partner rund um Wehrtechnik Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
3. "Dingo 2 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle". Military-Today.com. Archived from the original on January 29, 2009. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
4. "Dingo 1". Military Today. Military Today. Retrieved 20 May 2021.^{[ dead link ‍]}
5. "Dingo 2 All-Protected Carrier Vehicle". Army Technology. Verdict Media. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
6. "Textron". Archived from the original on 2020-03-10.
7. "Archived copy" (PDF). www.textronsystems.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 November 2006. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
8. http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-6037098_ITM
9. "Germany delivers mixed news for Ukraine on vehicles" . Retrieved 15 September 2022.
10. "Attack on Europe: Documenting Ukrainian Equipment Losses During the Russian Invasion of Ukraine".
11. http://www.strategie-technik.de/08_10/heer.pdf%5B‍%5D, retrieved 15 November 2010
12. "Bundeswehr beschafft 50 Dingo 2 A4.1 auf modernem Unimog-Fahrgestell". soldat-und-technik.de (in German). 2023-11-30. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
13. "Bundestag billigt 38 Rüstungsvorhaben für rund 21 Milliarden Euro" (in German). 2024-12-18. Retrieved 2024-12-19.
14. "ISIS-Terror im Nordirak: Diese Waffen liefert Deutschland an die Kurden". 31 August 2014.
15. Nkala, Oscar (24 October 2014). "Germany approves export of military vehicles, small arms to Algeria". Defenceweb. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
16. "Dingo 2 All-Protected Carrier Vehicle - Army Technology".
17. "Staff talks with representatives of German Federal Ministry of Defence". Serbian MOD. 2024-04-06.
18. "Military support for Ukraine | Federal Government". Website of the Federal Government | Bundesregierung. Retrieved 2023-02-07.

External links

• KNDS Deutschland - Website of the manufacturer
• DINGO - Protection in the 10-Tonne Class
• Dingo 2 in the Austrian Armed Forces