4×4 armoured fighting vehicles fill a niche requirement, providing combat forces with a unique combination of protection, mobility, and firepower.
It is generally accepted that 4×4 armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) cannot maximise any particular characteristic of the so-called ‘Iron triangle’ of firepower, survivability, and mobility. They are generally less mobile than unarmoured vehicles and less protected than larger 6×6, 8×8 or tracked vehicles. Given their smaller size, and weaker suspension and drivetrain, they are generally unable to mount the same level of weaponry or carry the same number of personnel (although there are some exceptions). However, they combine sufficient levels of firepower, survivability, and mobility, along with relatively low procurement and operating costs, to make them well suited to a wide variety of missions for which either unarmoured or heavier vehicles would be unsuited or less than optimal.
These include armed reconnaissance, strike missions, convoy escort, and direct fire support for light infantry. Even within the 4×4 AFV category there remains a range of attributes, giving different vehicles their unique identity. Also, many of these vehicles are offered in different configurations, so that a given base armoured vehicle may be classified as either a fighting vehicle or as a transport or support vehicle depending on its equipment. Numerous new or upgraded 4×4 AFVs have been either presented by manufacturers or introduced into service over the past five years alone.
United States
JLTV A2
The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) family, initially produced by Oshkosh Defense, and now in the A2 variant by AM General, illustrates the latter point on different classifications, as it comes in four basic configurations: General Purpose (GP) base vehicle; Utility/cargo vehicle (UTL); Heavy Guns Carrier (HGC); and Close Combat Weapons Carrier (CCWC).
In February 2023, AM General was awarded a five-year contract to continue production of the JLTV A2, beating Oshkosh Defense which had built the vehicles since 2015. The firm, which also manufactures the Humvee, introduced the JLTV A2 variant in 2023. While outwardly identical to Oshkosh’s A1, the new variant features an updated powertrain, an upgraded alternator, Lithium-ion batteries, design changes to reduce vehicle noise, increased fuel efficiency, and more cargo space. The JLTV’s base armour provides baseline protection against infantry weapons and IEDs, while modular add-on armour can be applied as mission requirements dictate. Blast protected seats and an automated fire suppression system add to crew safety. The TAK-4i intelligent independent gas spring suspension system (retained from the Oshkosh variant) facilitates operations over broken or steep terrain, while the ability to be transported by CH-47 and CH-53 class helicopters allows for good operational mobility. Prototype deliveries to the US Army are expected to begin in mid-2024.
The HGC variant can accommodate either a remote weapon station (RWS) or a crewed weapon mount, with armament options including various including light, general-purpose and heavy machine guns (HMGs), or an automatic grenade launcher (AGL). The crewed weapon station is equipped with the Objective Gunner’s Protection Kit (OGPT).
Humvee Saber
While AM General’s HMMWV began production in 1984, and is currently being phased out of frontline US military service in favour of the JLTV series, the manufacturer continues to upgrade the family of vehicles, and has been offering the Humvee Saber platform as a form of successor to the original HMMVW family. Unlike its HMMWV predecessor, the Saber is armoured at production, its base armour provides 360° protection from small arms fire, as well as blast protection extending to the undercarriage.
The latest configuration, designated the Humvee Saber Blade, was introduced at the IDEX in Abu Dhabi in February of 2023. Configured as a highly specialised light AFV, the Saber Blade concept is designed to carry a battery of loitering munitions to strike beyond line-of-sight targets. Payload options include the Switchblade 300 and 600 loitering precision strike missiles carried in launch tubes on the vehicle’s flatbed. The Saber Blade can also mount the Hornet Air Guard Counter-uncrewed aerial vehicle (C-UAV) version RWS atop the cab. The Hornet Air Guard integrates optronic, direction finder, and radar sensors, as well as a laser rangefinder, and a 40 mm grenade launcher capable of firing air-bursting munitions. Alternatively, a machine gun and gunner’s protection kit (GPK) can be mounted on the optional turret ring atop the cab. Mission options for the Saber Blade include armed reconnaissance, battlefield preparation, force protection and fire support.
M-ATV
The Oshkosh MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) family sits at the larger and heavier end of the protected mobility vehicle spectrum. The platform has been offered in five variants, with the primary general-purpose combat model being the M-ATV Assault, optimised for reconnaissance, as well as various unconventional and conventional warfare tasks. The M-ATV Assault can be armed with a variety of user-defined RWSs, mounting various light armaments, such as machine guns, or at the heavier end, a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher (AGL) or the Northrop Grumman 30 mm M230LF or XM914 automatic cannons, both chambered in 30 × 113mm.
The vehicle’s TAK-4 independent coil spring suspension system and 411 mm ground clearance enables the vehicle to navigate difficult terrain. The vehicle is capable of fording bodies of water 1 m deep without preparation, and negotiating 60% gradients and 30% side slopes.
The monocoque crew cell is protected by an armour package developed by Plasan. Blast seats provide additional protection for the driver, commander, and up to nine passengers. An extended wheelbase allows the M-ATV Assault to seat 11 occupants, the most of any M-ATV variant. The vehicle has two rear hatches and a double-door roof hatch for fast and easy access and egress under combat conditions.
Europe
Scarabee
The Scarabee light armoured vehicle developed by Arquus is considered a prime contender to form the basis for the Véhicule Blindé d’Aide à l’Engagement (VBAE) light armoured combat support vehicle programme to succeed the Vehicule Blindé Léger (VBL) in the French and Belgian armies, which has been in service with the former since 1990.
In December 2023, Arquus and KNDS signed a contract to jointly conduct the pre-design study. Arquus is designated lead contractor with John co*ckerill Defence a major subcontractor. The procurement is being conducted through the intergovernmental European Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’ARmement (OCCAR), who cited a target date of 2030 for delivery of the first tranche of the new vehicle. In total, France currently foresees the acquisition of 1,440 units through 2035, along with Belgium taking 300. Thus far, the French Armed Forces were reported to have defined the need for at least two different variants of the VBAE, comprising a fire support variant and a reconnaissance variant.
In its current configuration Scarabee is 5.25 m long, 2.1 m wide, and 2 m tall, with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 8 tonnes, and seats four including the driver. Unlike many of its peers, the Scarabee is a hybrid vehicle, possessing a V6 diesel engine developing 224 kW (300 hp), as well as a 75 kW (100 hp) electric motor, the former coupled to an automatic transmission with 8 forward and 1 reverse gears. In terms of mobility, the vehicle can attain a top speed of 130 km/h, and is suited to difficult terrain by virtue of its four-wheel-drive and all-wheel steering capability (enabling diagonal ‘crab’ steering), and 385 mm of ground clearance which can be increased via the fully independent, adjustable height suspension. The vehicle can navigate 60% gradients and 40% side slopes, and cross a 0.9 m trench. In electric drive mode the acoustic and thermal signatures are significantly reduced. Together with the relatively low visual profile, this facilitates stealthy approach to target.
Arquus has cited a broad range of missions ranging from reconnaissance to anti-armour operations. Current weapon options include the Arquus Hornet RWS mounting a 12.7 mm machine gun or 40 mm AGL; a 30 mm autocannon; as well as anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) such as the Akeron-MP. The vehicle is provided with passive armour protection against small arms threats, which can be increased through modular add-on armour, as well as blast protection against mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Gerlach
The Gerlach from Slovakian firm Zetor Engineering is another fairly recent development in this space, first being unveiled at the IDEB 2018 exhibition in Bratislava. With a maximum allowable weight of 14.5 tonnes, the Gerlach Armoured Tactical Vehicle from Zetor Engineering sits at the higher end of the 4×4 protected mobility vehicle spectrum.
Weapons options include various crewed weapon mounts or RWSs, allowing for a range of weapons to be mounted, notionally including machine guns, 40 mm AGL, mortars, and ATGMs. According to the firm, any standard turret or weapon station weighing less than 500 kg can be installed to meet operator requirements.
The vehicle is 5.92 m long, 2.55 m wide, and 2.6 m tall, seating a total of six crew. While it is fairly large, the vehicle has fairly impressive mobility characteristics including a turning radius of 7.5 m, as well as being able to navigate 60% gradients and 57% side slopes, fording up to 1.2 m in depth, and trench crossing of up to 1 m. The six-cylinder, 240 kW (321 hp) engine and six-speed automatic transmission enable a top road speed of 117 kph (though the manufacturer has noted that it has reached 125 km/h in tests), with a range of 600 km through combined terrain.
Safety features include an over-pressurised and protected crew cabin; multi-layer Rheinmetall armour providing STANAG 4569 Level 3 ballistic protection and Level 3a/3b underbody blast protection. The double-floor V-shaped hull is designed to minimise the threat from mines; during 2018 testing, the prototype survived an 8 kg TNT equivalent charge detonating directly beneath the vehicle. The vehicle is ready to begin serial production in Slovakia as soon as a procurement order is placed. The manufacturer has stressed that all vehicle components are produced within the European Union.
Kozak-2M1
The Kozak range from Ukrainian company Practika includes the Kozak-5 and Kozak-7 protected vehicles, as well as the larger Kozak-2 series, which is configured for a broad spectrum of combat scenarios.
The 6.6 m long, 2.56 m wide, 2.42 m tall Kozak-2M1 has a GVW of 14 tonnes, and can seat a maximum of 9 crew. The vehicle has a monocoque V-shaped hull with armour consisting of overlapping high-hardness steel plates with a spall liner on the interior. Crew are provided with a multi-layer floor and wall/ceiling-mounted seats with five-point harnesses, to protect against mines and IEDs. Overall, these measures provide ballistic protection to STANAG 4569 level 2 and underbody blast protection to Level 4a/3b according to the manufacturer. The vehicle is offered with either an Iveco Tector 6 208 kW (280 hp) or Deutz TCD 2 265 kW (355 hp) engine, which can be coupled to either a manual ZF Ecolite or automatic Allison 3000 SP six-speed gearbox and a two-speed transfer case. These enable a maximum on-road speed of 120 km, and a maximum range of 1,000 km. The vehicle is also provided with an independent double wishbone suspension, a central tyre inflation system (CTIS), providing good off-road performance.
The Kozak-2M1 is fitted with firing ports in the rear section, notionally enabling infantry to engage targets with their small arms while under armour protection. Top-mounted weapon options include crewed weapon stations or RWSs, notionally armed with machine guns, AGLs, or ATGMs. The manufacturer states that the vehicle can be armed with up to a 30 × 113 mm cannon. Additional systems include a 360° video camera system, and NBC filtration system to enhance operational capability and crew survival. The Kozak-2M1 was reported to have entered service with the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 2020, with procurement understood to be ongoing.
Middle East
Pars 4×4
Turkish manufacturer FNSS unveiled the Pars 4×4 in the anti-tank vehicle (ATV) configuration, at Eurosatory 2018, having created the new variant within 15 months to fulfil a 2016 development contract awarded by the Turkish Armed Forces. Serial production began following successful trials in 2019. Deliveries of the production vehicles to the Turkish Army were completed in 2021, with the firm also offering market the Pars 4×4 platform internationally, in two variants: a reconnaissance variant and the aforementioned ATV.
The Pars 4×4 ATV is designed to maximise both firepower and mobility. According to statements by FNSS, the vehicle can defeat main battle tanks and other armoured targets at long ranges, before relocating quickly to evade counterfire. The Anti-tank Remote Controlled Turret (ARC-T) designed by FNSS is stabilised in two axes and can traverse continuously through 360°. The ARC-T is armed with a 7.62 mm machine gun and two missiles, with common ATGMs offered including the OMTAS, Kornet-E, and Skif, among others. The ARC-T sight is provided with day and thermal channels as well as a laser rangefinder. The reconnaissance variant is offered with the Sancak RWS, and can be armed with 7.62 or 12.7 mm machine guns, or a 40 mm AGL, or a 30 mm automatic cannon. The armoured hull provides ballistic and blast protection, however the precise protection level has not been specified by the manufacturer.
The vehicle’s mobility characteristics include a maximum road speed of 110 km/h, a turning radius of only 7.5 m. Uncommonly for this vehicle class, the Pars 4×4 is amphibious without preparation, and is fitted with two propellers at the rear, to provide propulsion in the water, to a maximum swim speed of 6.5 km/h. In terms of strategic mobility, the vehicle is sufficiently small to be air transportable by C-130H aircraft.
NMS 4×4
Nurol Makina introduced its NMS 4×4 armoured vehicle at the IDEF 2017 defence exhibition in Istanbul. The vehicle series is available in baseline NMS (seating 7), extended wheelbase NMS EWB (seating 11), and pickup truck NMS-L (seating 5), providing multiple options for various user-defined requirements.
The hull is a steel monocoque V-shaped design to provide good protection against ballistic threats as well as mines and IEDs, and the windows are ballistic glass. The NMS 4×4 base armour offers protection to STANAG 4569 Level 1 against ballistic threats, which can be increased up to Level 4 using an appliqué ceramic armour kit. The underbody blast protection is understood to be similarly scalable depending on user requirement. If the user opts for the baseline protection configuration of NMS, the vehicle can reach a top road speed of 160 km/h and a range of 1,000 km.
Depending on equipment, the vehicles are suitable for combat, reconnaissance and surveillance, troop transport or air defence applications. The roof-mounted RWS can be equipped with a 7.62 or 12.7 mm machine guns, 70 mm rockets, or ATGMs, or surface-to-air missiles (SAMs).
At IDEF 2023 Nurol Makina presented the NMS-L fitted with a stabilised Unirobotics Trakon 30 remote turret on the roof, armed with the 30 mm Canik Venom LR 30 × 113 mm automatic cannon, as well as an eight-cell launcher for Ilgar loitering munitions carried on the rear bed. A C-UAV configuration with a radar and an auxiliary power unit (APU) is also planned; it would permit a RWS-mounted machine gun over the cab to engage unmanned aircraft at very short ranges.
Akrep II
Otokar’s Akrep II armoured vehicle, introduced in 2019, also offers an impressive combination of mobility and firepower. The vehicle is 5.9 m long, 2.5 m wide, and 1.98 m tall vehicle has a 6 m turning radius, and is capable of sideways or ‘crab steering’ thanks to an optional steerable rear axle. Steering, acceleration and deceleration are controlled electrically (drive-by-wire). This not only improves responsiveness, but also preconfigures the vehicles for driver-assist technology, autonomous driving capabilities, and remote control.
Primary missions are reconnaissance and fire support, with weapon mounting options including various light weapons in a RWS, ATGMs or SAMS. Somewhat less commonly for its category, the vehicle is also offered with larger turrets, having previously been displayed mounting a 25 mm automatic cannon in a Bozok remote turret, a 30 mm automatic cannon in a Mizrak remote turret, and a 90 mm L36 gun low-pressure rifled gun in a John co*ckerill Defence CSE 90LP two-person turret. The former two armaments would be suitable for defeating light and medium-armoured vehicles, and infantry, while the latter would be suited to direct fire engagement of heavily armoured targets and fortified positions, and even capable of limited indirect fire at ranges up to 6 km at an elevation of 30°.
The Akrep II was designed to be able to cope with diesel, hybrid, and electric drive propulsion, with the company showing its Akrep IIe electric drive technology demonstrator at IDEF 2019. The electric-drive IIe benefits from considerably reduced acoustic and thermal signatures which, combined with the low hull silhouette reduces the risk of detection. However, the first Akrep II version ready for market was the Akrep IId diesel version shown at IDEF 2021. The vehicle has a diesel variant features a unique powerpack arrangement, placing the engine on the right side and the transmission on the left of the rear engine compartment. This is done in order to ensure sufficient space for the turret basket of a manned turret if required.
Nimr Abjan Mk2
UAE-based Nimr Automotive (a subsidiary of EDGE group) Abjan Mk 2 at IDEX 2021, as a follow-on to the Abjan 447A prototype shown at IDEX 2019, albeit slightly smaller and lighter than the latter, seating five occupants as opposed to seven on the Abjan 447A prototype. Notional mission profiles include reconnaissance, special operations, counterinsurgency and tactical response. The modular design permits modification to meet the specific needs of end users.
In terms of dimensions and weights, the vehicle is 5,62 m long, 2.35 m wide, and 2.39 m tall, with a GVW of 11.5 tonnes, which includes a 2.9 tonne payload capacity. The hull provides protection against small arms fire and the V-shaped underbody provides protection against mines and IEDs. The manufacturer has not stated the baseline level of protection offered, but protection is understood to be scalable, via modular add-on ballistic and blast armour to suit the operating environment. Additional protective measures include obscurant smoke grenade launchers, blast-attenuating seats for the crew, an NBC air filtration system, and run-flat inserts in the tyres.
The vehicle’s off-road performance is bolstered by the independent suspension and CTIS. Mobility characteristics include a maximum road speed of 110 km/h, and maximum range of 700 km. Additionally, the vehicle is able to navigate 60% gradient, ford water 1 m deep water, and overcome a 0.6 m trench.
Weapons options centre around a roof-mounted RWS or ring mount crewed weapon station, which can be outfitted with various weapon options, including the Dillon Aero M134D 7.62 mm Gatling gun, providing significant firepower to engage infantry and light armoured targets. Alternative armament options include a 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm machine guns, as well as various other light armament options.
Flexibility and value
The developments and procurement decisions of the past five years demonstrate that the universal appeal of 4×4 AFVs remains undiminished. They provide not only flexibility and multi-mission response capabilities in a wide variety of settings, but their combination of speed, range, manoeuvrability, protection and firepower make them the ideal choice for reconnaissance, special operations and low-intensity conflict operations. They are also considerably more economical to procure, maintain and operate than heavier armoured vehicles including 6×6 and 8×8 wheeled platforms. For these reasons, armed forces with limited budgets and major powers alike will continue to acquire 4×4 AFVs. Future systems will increasingly add new technologies such as organic unmanned reconnaissance and strike aircraft, hybrid and electric drive, more efficient battery systems, and the ability to deploy electronic warfare (EW) and potentially directed energy weapons (DEW) for the missile defence and C-UAV role.
Sidney E. Dean
