Al-Fahd

Last updated
Al Fahd
Type Armoured fighting vehicle
Place of origin Saudi Arabia
Service history
In service1998-present
Used bySee Operators
Production history
Manufacturer Abdallah Al Faris Company for Heavy Industries [1] [ unreliable source? ]
Produced1998 [1]
No. built240 [1]
VariantsAF-40-8-1 Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC)
AF-40-8-2 Armoured Fighting/Reconnaissance Vehicle (AFRV)
Specifications
Mass16.3 t (18.0 short tons) (operating empty weight) [2] [ unreliable source? ]
Length7.9 m (26 ft) [2]
Width2.94 m (9.6 ft) [2]
HeightVaries by suspension setting [2]
Cruising: 2.065 m (6.77 ft)
Lurking: 1.81 m (5.9 ft)
Obstacle: 2.26 m (7.4 ft)
Crew1 (AF-40-8-1)
4 (AF-40-8-2) [2]
Passengers11 (AF-40-8-1 without turret) [2]

Armour Steel alloy with Kevlar spall liners [2]
Main
armament
Varies by customer requirements
AF-40-8-1: Up to a 40 mm cannon [1]
AF-40-8-2: Up to a 105 mm low-recoil cannon [1]
EngineAF-40-8-1: Deutz 10-cylinder engine [1]
AF-40-8-2: Deutz 12-cylinder, air-cooled engine [1]
AF-40-8-1: 400 hp (300 kW)
AF-40-8-2: 550 hp (410 kW)
Payload capacityLand: 5.5 t (6.1 short tons) [2]
Water: 2.2 t (2.4 short tons) [2]
Transmission Zahnradfabrik Passau GmbH ZF 6WG-200 powered gearbox [1]
Suspension Hydropneumatic adjustable suspension
Ground clearanceVaries by suspension setting [2]
Cruising: 40.5 cm (15.9 in)
Lurking: 15 cm (5.9 in)
Obstacle: 60 cm (24 in)
Fuel capacity550 L (150 US gal)
Operational
range
AF-40-8-1: 800 km (500 mi)
AF-40-8-2: 600 km (370 mi)
Maximum speed Road: 90 km/h (56 mph) [2]
Cross country: 65 km/h (40 mph) [2]
Amphibious: 8 km/h (5.0 mph) [2]

The Al-Fahd is an armoured fighting vehicle used by the Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia. It was the first armored fighting vehicle developed and built-in Saudi Arabia. The vehicle is produced by the Abdallah Al Faris Company for Heavy Industries, which is based in Dammam. [1]

Contents

The Al Fahd is available in three configurations: The AF-40-8-1; an armoured personnel carrier (APC) or infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) variant, and the AF-40-8-2; an armoured fighting/reconnaissance vehicle (AFRV).

Design

Mobility

The AF-40-8-1 and AF-40-8-2 are similar in terms of 8-wheeled hull configuration, suspension, and transmission. Internally, however, the vehicles differ in both engine type and engine placement. The AF-40-8-2's larger, 12-cylinder engine is mounted at the rear of the hull, where the AF-40-8-1's 10-cylinder engine is mounted at the front to allow for the troop compartment and rear troop ramp which is not present on or required for the AFRV version.

The Al Fahd uses a variable hydropneumatic suspension which allows the vehicle to adjust its ground clearance by a total of 45 cm (18 in) - between 15 cm (5.9 in) and 60 cm (24 in) - depending on need.

The vehicle is designed to be able to negotiate slopes of up to 80% (forward) and 55% (side), and cross trenches between 2 m (6.6 ft) and 2.5 m (8.2 ft).

There is also an amphibious version of the Al Fahd available depending on customer requirements. The hydraulic propellers are optional, so not all Al Fahd's are capable of an amphibious operation.

Protection

The Al Fahd uses a high-hardness steel alloy to offer protection against 14 mm ammunition on the frontal arc at ranges of 300 m (980 ft) and greater, and 7.62  mm ammunition at ranges of 25 m (82 ft) and greater on the sides and rear of the vehicle. [2] The vehicle also incorporates multiple layers of Kevlar internally to protect the crew and passengers against spall.

Armament

The armament for both the AF-40-8-1 and AF-40-8-2 varies according to customer specifications. The AF-40-8-1 is capable of mounting anything up to and including a 40 mm cannon, and the AF-40-8-2 anything up to and including a low-recoil 105 mm cannon, the 105mm cannon can be elevated up high similar to the ST-3 [3]

Operators

Map of Al-Fahd operators in blue Al-Fahd Operators (Fixed again).png
Map of Al-Fahd operators in blue

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armoured fighting vehicle</span> Combat vehicle with both armament and armour

An armoured fighting vehicle or armored fighting vehicle (AFV) is an armed combat vehicle protected by armour, generally combining operational mobility with offensive and defensive capabilities. AFVs can be wheeled or tracked. Examples of AFVs are tanks, armoured cars, assault guns, self-propelled artilleries, infantry fighting vehicles (IFV), and armoured personnel carriers (APC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé</span> French armoured personnel carrier

The Véhicule de l'Avant Blindé or VAB is a French armoured personnel carrier and support vehicle designed and manufactured by Renault Trucks Defense. It entered French service in 1979 and around 5,000 were produced for the French Army as well as for export. It has seen combat in various conflicts in Africa, Asia as well as Europe and has also been exported to more than 15 countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terrex ICV</span> Armoured combat vehicle

The Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV) is an armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) developed by ST Engineering of Singapore and Timoney Technology of Ireland, and produced by ST Engineering Land Systems for the Singapore Army as well as by Turkish auto-maker Otokar as the Yavuz (AV-82) for the Turkish military.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panhard ERC</span> French armored car

The Panhard ERC is a French six-wheeled armoured car which is highly mobile and amphibious with an option of being NBC-proof. While various models were tested, only two versions of the ERC entered production in large numbers: the ERC-90 Lynx and the ERC-90 Sagaie. The main difference between the two versions is the type of turret and 90 mm gun fitted. Sagaie is French for assegai, a type of African spear.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AMX-10P</span> Infantry fighting vehicle

The AMX-10P is a French amphibious infantry fighting vehicle. It was developed from 1965 onwards to replace the AMX-VCI in the French Army. It served with the French Army from its introduction in 1973 until its retirement in 2015, when it was fully replaced by the VBCI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TPz Fuchs</span> Amphibious armoured personnel carrier

The TPz Fuchs from Transportpanzer Fuchs is a German armoured personnel carrier originally developed by Daimler-Benz, and manufactured and further developed by the now Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV). Fuchs was the second wheeled armoured vehicle to enter service with the Bundeswehr. It can be used for tasks including troop transport, engineer transport, bomb disposal, Nuclear, Biological and Chemical reconnaissance and electronic warfare. RMMV and its predecessors manufactured 1,236 Fuchs 1, mostly for the German Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BTR-90</span> Russian armored personnel carrier

BTR-90 (GAZ-5923) is an 8×8 wheeled armored personnel carrier developed in Russia, designed in 1993 and first shown publicly in 1994. It is a larger version of the BTR-80 vehicle, fitted with a BMP-2 turret.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dragoon 300</span> Amphibious Armoured Vehicle

The Dragoon 300 AFV was produced by Arrowpointe Corporation during the 1980s. It was based on the automotive components of the United States Army's M113 APCs and 5-ton trucks. It resembles a larger V-150 Commando.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BTR-3</span> Eight-wheel drive armored personnel carrier

The BTR-3 is an eight-wheel drive armored personnel carrier developed in 2000–2001 by an international consortium. The companies involved in the project include the Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau of Ukraine, Adcom Systems of Abu-Dhabi, UAE, and the State Scientific Technical Centre of Artillery & Rifle Arms of Ukraine. Although somewhat similar in appearance to the Soviet BTR-80, the BTR-3U is an all-new production vehicle rather than an update of the existing in-service vehicle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fahd (armored personnel carrier)</span> Armored personnel carrier

The Fahd is a 4x4 Egyptian armored personnel carrier, designed to fit the requirements of the Egyptian Military. It replaced older APCs in Egyptian service such as the BTR-40, and the Walid. It has been used by the United Nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WZ-523</span> Armored personnel carrier

The WZ-523 is a six-wheeled Chinese armored personnel carrier designed to be amphibious. Built on the chassis of the Hanyang HY472 truck, it can carry a crew of three and seat up to eight additional passengers. Two primary models were produced—one with a roof-mounted 12.7mm heavy machine gun, and the other with a small turret armed with a 35mm grenade launcher and a 7.62mm co-axial general purpose machine gun. An export model that entered service in 2008 as a fire support vehicle was also marketed successfully to the Namibian Army; this is armed with a 73mm 2A28 Grom smoothbore cannon using the same turret as the Soviet BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Didgori-2</span> Armoured Reconnaissance and Transport

The Didgori-I is an armoured multi-role and special operations vehicle produced by STC Delta. It was developed in 2009, alongside the Didgori-2 using the same internal features with some additional functions. The armoured personnel carrier is thought to provide transport, enhanced visibility and firepower support for infantry troops and Special Forces in various missions including reconnaissance and convoy protection.

Abdallah Al Faris Company for Heavy Industries is one of the main suppliers of arms to the Saudi Arabian Army. It has created the Al-Fahd and the Al-Faris 8-400.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Type 08</span> Chinese wheeled armoured fighting vehicle family

The Type 08 is a family of eight-wheeled amphibious, modular armored vehicle developed by Norinco for infantry fire support, battlefield logistics, and quick reaction operations. Developed in the early 2000s, the modern Chinese vehicle family were produced for more than 6000 hulls and widely deployed by the People's Liberation Army Ground Force and People's Liberation Army Marine Corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VPK-7829 Bumerang</span> Russian amphibious armoured personnel carrier

The VPK-7829 Bumerang is a modular amphibious wheeled infantry fighting vehicle and armored personnel carrier being developed by Russian Military Industrial Company (MIC) for the Russian army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DefTech AV8</span> Malaysian armoured combat vehicle

The DefTech AV8Gempita (Thunder) is an amphibious multirole armoured vehicle developed by Malaysian defence company DefTech with the assistance of Turkey defence company FNSS. The Gempita resembles some of the Turkey FNSS Pars design and technology. The vehicle has a modular design which allows the fitting of different turrets, weapons, sensors, and communications systems on the same vehicle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">K808 White Tiger</span> Korean wheeled armored personnel carrier

The K808/806 White Tiger wheeled armored personnel carrier (APC) is family of 8x8 and 6x6 armored vehicles. Developed by Hyundai Rotem as a private venture in 2012, the Korean Army declared a plan to acquire 600 6×6 and 8×8 wheeled APCs in order to help build rapid response forces molded after U.S. Stryker combat brigades, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). Hyundai Rotem, a, made the K808/806 in competition with the Doosan Black Fox and Samsung Techwin MPV, and eventually won the competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timoney (armoured personnel carrier)</span> Irish armoured personnel carrier

The Timoney armoured personnel carrier refers to a series of armored personnel carriers developed by Timoney Technology Limited of Ireland in the 1970s and 1980s.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Al Fahd - Wheeled Armoured Reconnaissance/Personnel Carrier - Army Technology". Army-Technology.com. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Specifications: Al Fahd - Wheeled Armoured Reconnaissance/Personnel Carrier - Army Technology". Army-Technology.com. Archived from the original on 4 October 2009. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  3. "БРОНЕТРАНСПОРТЕР AL FAHD".
  4. 1 2 3 The Militarization of the Persian Gulf: An Economic Analysis by Hossein Askari, Amin Mohseni, Shahrzad Daneshvar, p.90.