A
Aussie Digger
Guest
The ASLAV phase 4 upgrade project has been canned. The ASLAV's have got all the upgrades (Bar armour, RWS, 40mm Mk 19 etc) they are likely to get in the near future.
The reason they cannot be used, is they are predominantly a Cavalry vehicle, not a APC/IFV. They are used for reconnaissance operations, not infantry transport operations. The ASLAV-25 (equipped with 25mm chain gun) only has 4x seats in the "rear" which is not sufficient for an infantry section, though it's firepower is equivalent to that of a Bradley (though ours have better thermal imagers and fire control systems), except for the lack of TOW missiles.
The ASLAV-PC (armed with RWS and 0.50 cal HMG or Mk 19 AGL) has space for 10 troops, but is used to provide transport for "recon scouts" who conduct dismounted recon operations, and as such are not true infantry.
The Army's mechanised brigade therefore requires an armoured vehicle with the same level of performance and mobility as the M1A1, good armoured protection and good firepower. It also must be able to carry a fully equipped infantry section of 9 troops.
The M113AS3/4 which they will be getting, arguably has the mobility and armour protection to fill this role and can actually carry 10 troops. It's firepower is significantly deficient however and this is the main reason a different vehicle is being pushed for.
The M113AS3/4 is only going to be fitted with a single 0.50cal HMG with a 250 round "ready bin". This weapon will be controlled by a computerised fire control system, and will feature high quality day and night passive sights, but no thermal imager, laser range finder or turret stabilisation system (meaning firing on the move is difficult).
Despite the fact that the weapon will be able to offer an increased "first round hit probability" it in fact offers no more firepower than now in terms of range, performance and lethality and a significantly lower rate of fire, "combat persistence" and overall firepower when compared with the current M113A1, which is fitted with the same 0.50cal HMG, but ALSO a 0.30cal HMG, with each gun having 250rnds, ready to fire...
If they were to fit a turret with similar firepower to that of a Bradley or ASLAV-25, it would severely restrict the troop carrying ability (down to about 4) and increase the manning requirement's for the battalions (by 90-100 troops each), plus cost more money...
Other turrets exist, including remote weapon stations (RWS) that can be operated by 1 man (crew commander) and do not impinge on carrying capacity, but provide significant firepower options, that roughly match that carried by the majority of modern IFV's, but Government is un-willing at this stage to fund this upgrade to their firepower.
As such, we seem "stuck" with it...
I'll be interested to see if the DCP funds a new vehicle. I seriously doubt it though given the massive funding poured into the M113 upgrade already and how close it is to delivering operational vehicles (December 06, is when the first companies worth is due)...
The reason they cannot be used, is they are predominantly a Cavalry vehicle, not a APC/IFV. They are used for reconnaissance operations, not infantry transport operations. The ASLAV-25 (equipped with 25mm chain gun) only has 4x seats in the "rear" which is not sufficient for an infantry section, though it's firepower is equivalent to that of a Bradley (though ours have better thermal imagers and fire control systems), except for the lack of TOW missiles.
The ASLAV-PC (armed with RWS and 0.50 cal HMG or Mk 19 AGL) has space for 10 troops, but is used to provide transport for "recon scouts" who conduct dismounted recon operations, and as such are not true infantry.
The Army's mechanised brigade therefore requires an armoured vehicle with the same level of performance and mobility as the M1A1, good armoured protection and good firepower. It also must be able to carry a fully equipped infantry section of 9 troops.
The M113AS3/4 which they will be getting, arguably has the mobility and armour protection to fill this role and can actually carry 10 troops. It's firepower is significantly deficient however and this is the main reason a different vehicle is being pushed for.
The M113AS3/4 is only going to be fitted with a single 0.50cal HMG with a 250 round "ready bin". This weapon will be controlled by a computerised fire control system, and will feature high quality day and night passive sights, but no thermal imager, laser range finder or turret stabilisation system (meaning firing on the move is difficult).
Despite the fact that the weapon will be able to offer an increased "first round hit probability" it in fact offers no more firepower than now in terms of range, performance and lethality and a significantly lower rate of fire, "combat persistence" and overall firepower when compared with the current M113A1, which is fitted with the same 0.50cal HMG, but ALSO a 0.30cal HMG, with each gun having 250rnds, ready to fire...
If they were to fit a turret with similar firepower to that of a Bradley or ASLAV-25, it would severely restrict the troop carrying ability (down to about 4) and increase the manning requirement's for the battalions (by 90-100 troops each), plus cost more money...
Other turrets exist, including remote weapon stations (RWS) that can be operated by 1 man (crew commander) and do not impinge on carrying capacity, but provide significant firepower options, that roughly match that carried by the majority of modern IFV's, but Government is un-willing at this stage to fund this upgrade to their firepower.
As such, we seem "stuck" with it...
I'll be interested to see if the DCP funds a new vehicle. I seriously doubt it though given the massive funding poured into the M113 upgrade already and how close it is to delivering operational vehicles (December 06, is when the first companies worth is due)...