ELVO Kentaurus

Kentaurus
*ΚΕΝΤΑΥΡΟΣ*
Kentaurus ; ΚΕΝΤΑΥΡΟΣ
	Kentaurus AIFV
Type	Infantry fighting vehicle
Place of origin	Greece
Production history
Designed	1996–1998
Manufacturer	ELVO
Specifications
Mass	19.8 t
Length	5.98 m (19 ft 7 in)
Width	2.55 m (8 ft 4 in)
Height	2.45 m (8 ft 0 in)
Crew	3
Passengers	8
Armour	welded steel
Main; armament	30 mm EBO cannon with 396 rounds
Secondary; armament	7.62 mm coaxial with 1,600 rounds
Engine	MTU 6V 183TE22 diesel ; (11,000cc/725kg); 420 hp at 2,300 rpm
Power/weight	21.2 hp/t
Suspension	(Lever Arm) Rotary Damper
Ground clearance	0.42 m (1 ft 5 in)
Operational; range	500 km (310 mi)
Maximum speed	75 km/h (47 mph)

Last updated April 26, 2024

Kentaurus is an armored infantry fighting vehicle (AIFV) designed and developed by the Greek vehicle builder ELVO. Its history is connected with the need for an advanced AIFV by the Greek Armed Forces. The vehicle takes its name from the Greek word for Centaur the creature from Greek mythology. After aborted efforts including Leonidas-2 variants and other attempted improvements and joint developments, ELVO worked entirely on its own, on a new design according to the specifications given at the time by the Hellenic Army. The resulting AIFV developed by the Greek company, named 'Kentaurus' ('ΚΕΝΤΑΥΡΟΣ'), was officially introduced at the Defendory Arms Exhibition in Athens in 1998. It features a 420 hp MTU Diesel engine, 30 mm EBO cannon and 7.62 mm machine-gun (built on Mauser and Rheinmetall designs), Pyrkal smoke-grenade launchers, Toxotis computerized fire control system and KUKA turret. The crew is 3+8, maximum speed on roads is 75 km/h and maximum weight is 19.8 tons.^[3]^[4]^[5]

Despite successful tests by the Greek army, its approval, and an initial agreement in 2003 for an order of 140 vehicles, its fate is uncertain due to subsequent cutbacks in relevant military spending, and evaluation of cheaper alternatives. In 2009 the Greek army signed an MoU for 450 BMP-3s but as of 2012 the contract was frozen and the Greek army is still looking for 500 IFVs to replace the ageing BMP-1 and the purchase of 500 Kentaurus IFV's is being considered.^[3]^[4]

Description

The hull is made of welded steel. The engine is placed in the front-right compartment, with the driver in the front-left. The turret follows and then the troop compartment. The driver accesses his position either from a roof hatch or from the troop compartment. The commander is situated in the E-8 KUKA 1-man turret behind the driver. The troop compartment is accessed from two rear-doors, as well as from two roof-hatches. The squad leader sits alone, with the rest of the men at the sides in a 3-man and 4-man rows. The troops have two optical periscopes for situational awareness. The interior of the vehicle has been designed to permit comfortable movement for men of up to 1.90m height.^[3]

The vehicle has steel armor, concentrated mostly to the front arc. The front arc is rated as proof to APDS-T rounds of 30x173mm calibre at 1,500 meters, of 25x137mm at 400 meters and of 20x139mm at 30 meters. The sides are proof to 12,7mm AP rounds at 100 meters and fully proof to 7,62mm rounds. The vehicle is proof to artillery shrapnel at 15 meters, and against 2,5 kg mines. The vehicle is capable of taking additional passive and reactive armor, and is offered with the option of spall liners inside the vehicle.^[3]

The MTU 183TE22 engine has a dry weight of 725 kg and requires 19 kg of oil and 15 kg of cooling fluid to operate. It can operate without problems at temperatures from -46 to +52 °C. It can be accessed from a large hydraulic assisted hatch and be removed from the vehicle in 15 minutes. Attached to it is an ZF LSG-1000 gearbox, with a RENK SU-1201C final transmission. There are 6 forward gears and 2 reverse.^[3]

The 1-man KUKA E-8 turret is made of welded steel and has a low profile. It weighs 1,585 kg. Initially it was offered with a Bushmaster II gun of 30mm calibre, but the Kentaurus prototype had a licence-produced Mauser Mk30, also of 30mm, by Hellenic Defence Systems. There are 100 APDS-T and 100 HE-I rounds ready to use in the turret, with a further 196 stored inside the hull. The turret traverses at 30° per second, and the gun elevates from -10° to +45°, also at a speed of 30°/second. All movement is done electrically, with a back-up manual system also present. Secondary armament is a MG3A1 machine gun of 7.62mm. It can be replaced with a 12.7mm heavy machine gun or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher. The turret also has the provision for the addition of AT or AA launchers.^[3]

Gallery

The AIFV Kentaurus in Greek Army camo.
The AIFV Kentaurus being loaded on a C-130 of the Greek Army.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Infantry fighting vehicle</span> Type of armored personnel carrier with direct-fire support

An infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), also known as a mechanized infantry combat vehicle (MICV), is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to carry infantry into battle and provide direct-fire support. The 1990 Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe defines an infantry fighting vehicle as "an armoured combat vehicle which is designed and equipped primarily to transport a combat infantry squad, and which is armed with an integral or organic cannon of at least 20 millimeters calibre and sometimes an antitank missile launcher". IFVs often serve both as the principal weapons system and as the mode of transport for a mechanized infantry unit.

The BMP-1 is a Soviet amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicle that has been in service from 1966 to the present. BMP stands for Boyevaya Mashina Pyekhoty 1, meaning "infantry fighting vehicle, 1st serial model". The BMP-1 was the first mass-produced infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) of the Soviet Union. It was called the M-1967, BMP and BMP-76PB by NATO before its correct designation was known.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMP-2</span> Soviet infantry fighting vehicle

The BMP-2 is an amphibious infantry fighting vehicle introduced in the 1980s in the Soviet Union, following on from the BMP-1 of the 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMD-1</span> Soviet airborne infantry fighting vehicle

The BMD-1 is a Soviet airborne amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), which was introduced in 1969 and first seen by the West in 1970. BMD stands for Boyevaya Mashina Desanta. It can be dropped by parachute and although it resembles the BMP-1 it is in fact much smaller. The BMD-1 was used as an IFV by the Soviet Airborne Forces (VDV). An improved variant of the BMD-1 was developed, the BMD-2. The BMD-1 also provided a basis for the BTR-D airborne multi-purpose tracked APC.

The Schützenpanzer Marder 1 is a tracked German infantry fighting vehicle designed for use with the West German Panzergrenadiere units, mechanized infantry specialized for IFV combat. It has been operated by the German Army as the main Panzergrenadiere IFV since the 1970s through to the present day. Developed as part of the rebuilding of West Germany's armoured fighting vehicle industry, the Marder has proven to be a successful and solid infantry fighting vehicle design.

The Bionix (BX) is a family of tracked Singaporean armoured fighting vehicles developed by ST Kinetics. Intended to augment the Singapore Army's aging M113 armoured personnel carriers, it is the first indigenous armoured vehicle to be developed in Southeast Asia. The Bionix has been operational with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) since 1999 in a wide variety of adaptations including the Bionix II, Bionix 25 and Bionix 40/50 variants.

The ASCOD armoured fighting vehicle family is the product of a cooperation agreement between Austrian Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG and Spanish General Dynamics Santa Bárbara Sistemas. Both companies are now divisions of a unit of General Dynamics. The ASCOD family includes the LT 105 light tank equipped with a 105 mm gun, a surface-to-air missile launcher, an anti-tank guided missile launcher, mortar carrier, R&R vehicle, command-and-control vehicle, ambulance, artillery observer, and the AIFV model.

The Leonidas-2 represented an effort made by the Greek vehicle manufacturer ELVO to produce an advanced armoured personnel carrier (APC) of its own. It is named after Leonidas, king of the ancient city-state of Sparta. The first version of the Leonidas was the Austrian Saurer 4K 4FA armoured personnel carrier built with minor modifications by the Greek company from 1981 until 1987. Initial production was essentially assembly, however Greek content progressively increased. The APC had a 320 hp engine and a weight of 14.8 tons.

ACV-15 is the designation of an amphibious Infantry fighting vehicle family developed by the Turkish defense company FNSS Savunma Sistemleri A.Ş. This vehicle is also manufactured by DRB-HICOM Defence Technologies (DefTech). The design is an attempt to combine the capabilities of an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) and an armoured personnel carrier (APC). The ACV-15 is based on the American Advanced Infantry Fighting Vehicle, which in turn is based on the American M113A1 armored personnel carrier.

The K21 is a South Korean infantry fighting vehicle. A replacement for the K200-series, it was formerly designated as K300 or XK21 KNIFV. The initial production began in 2009, with the Republic of Korea Army planning to field approximately 466 units. It is designed to effectively defeat other IFVs as heavily armed and armored as the BMP-3.

The AIFV is a US 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.

The Shipunov 2A42 is a Soviet/Russian 30 mm autocannon. It is built by the Tulamashzavod Joint Stock Company and named after A. G. Shipunov.

The BVP M-80, is a tracked Yugoslav-made infantry fighting vehicle, produced from the 1980s until the country's collapse in the 1990s.

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.

The ZBD-04 or Type 04 is a Chinese infantry fighting vehicle. It bears some external resemblance to the BMP-3, particularly with regards to its turret and main armament; However, the chassis and internal subsystem possesses a different layout. The earliest prototypes received the designation ZBD-97. An improved version, ZBD-04A, is the vehicle currently in service and being produced.

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.

The Oerlikon KBA is a 25 mm (25×137mm) autocannon, developed as a close range multipurpose weapon for the mechanised battlefield, originally made by Oerlikon and currently produced in Rheinmetall Italia S.p.A. facilities. It is a positively locked breech, gas and recoil operated cannon with a rotating bolt head and a dual-belt selective feed system taking a 25mm NATO cartridge. The rate of fire in burst mode is 600 rounds per minute but it can be adjusted electronically and reduced to single shot or a selectable range from 100 up to 200 rounds per minute.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ZBD-03</span> Chinese infantry fighting vehicle

The ZBD-03 or Type 03 is a Chinese airborne infantry fighting vehicle. It features a light-weight chassis and hydropneumatic suspension for airborne operations. Early prototypes received the designation ZLC-2000.

The Makran IFV, an Iranian armoured personnel carrier (APC), is the highly modernized and upsized copy of the BTR-50 APC. The vehicle is produced and designed by the Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization. It was unveiled in June 2020 by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The vehicle is named after the Makran coastal region, a region that stretches between Iran and Pakistan. While the Makran is technically an infantry fighting vehicle, it has a large troop compartment as it is based on the BTR-50, allowing it to dual function as an armoured personnel carrier.

References

↑ "Mobility Systems". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2006-12-15.
↑ Dunstan, Simon (2005-04-09). Modern Tanks & Armoured Fighting Vehicles (Vital Guide) Airlife - 2002. The Crowood Press. p. 44. ISBN 978-1840371901.
1 2 3 4 5 6 TOMA «Kένταυρος» ENAΣ KENTAYPOΣ ΓIA TO EΛΛHNIKO OΠΛOΣTAΣIO [AIFV "Centaur" A CENTAUR FOR THE GREEK ARSENAL]. Πτήση & Διάστημα (in Greek) (117). March 2000.
1 2 "Greek ELBO Kentaurus Tracked Infantry Fighting Vehicle". TankNutDave.com. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
↑ "Τεθωρακισμένο Όχημα Μάχης (ΤΟΜΑ) ΚΕΝΤΑΥΡΟΣ" [Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle (AIFV) CENTAUR]. ELVO (in Greek). Archived from the original on 28 January 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

Sources

Simon Dunstan, 'Modern Tanks & AFV's' (Vital Guide), Airlife Publishing (2002).

External links

ELVO Kentaurus at military-today.com
Promotional video of Kentaurus on YouTube

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] "Mobility Systems". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2006-12-15.

[2] Dunstan, Simon (2005-04-09). Modern Tanks & Armoured Fighting Vehicles (Vital Guide) Airlife - 2002. The Crowood Press. p. 44. ISBN 978-1840371901.

[:0-3] 1 2 3 4 5 6 TOMA «Kένταυρος» ENAΣ KENTAYPOΣ ΓIA TO EΛΛHNIKO OΠΛOΣTAΣIO [AIFV "Centaur" A CENTAUR FOR THE GREEK ARSENAL]. Πτήση & Διάστημα (in Greek) (117). March 2000.

[:1-4] 1 2 "Greek ELBO Kentaurus Tracked Infantry Fighting Vehicle". TankNutDave.com. Retrieved 2024-04-19.

[5] "Τεθωρακισμένο Όχημα Μάχης (ΤΟΜΑ) ΚΕΝΤΑΥΡΟΣ" [Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle (AIFV) CENTAUR]. ELVO (in Greek). Archived from the original on 28 January 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]