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| General
information |
| Nexter
chose Eurosatory 2008 Defence Exhibition to unveil
the twelve-tonne 4 x 4 Aravis protected vehicle.
The ARAVIS Nexter Systems is designed to carry out
such missions as patrol, reconnaissance, area control/inspection,
convoy escort, route-securing, etc. and is well
adapted to enforcement and peace-keeping missions,
notably in urban zones. Nexter CEO Luc Vigneron
said the Aravis will be priced slightly below current
products in the market but offer higher protection.
An armored crew citadel with a spall liner against
internal shock waves is intended to protect the
eight people in the vehicle, which uses a commercial
Mercedes Unimog chassis. The company developed the
vehicle with its own funds. Combat experience in
Iraq and Afghanistan has pushed force protection
and mobility high on the list of armies' priorities,
creating opportunities to industry to meet urgent
operating needs. Roadside bombs have forced armies
to put troops inside vehicles rather than expose
them to harm by manning a gun turret. The vehicle
has a large interior volume of 9.5m3 and can carry
2 crew members and up to 6 infantry men and their
equipment. The programme manager for the Aravis,
Emmanuel Fron, told Jane's that the vehicle had
been designed from the start to protect against
improvised explosive devices (IEDs) against the
backdrop of international peacekeeping operations
in Iraq and Afghanistan. In August 2008, the Aravis
demonstrated its capabilities to a test area in
United Arab Emirates. During the test, the Aravis
run 1,700 km on road, desert, and mountainous terrain
with temperature of more than 50°. The Délégation
Générale pour l’Armement (DGA
– French Procurement Agency) advised NEXTER
Systems of the contract on April 16, 2009. The purchase
will provide the French Army with highly protected
vehicles for reconnaissance assignments on potentially
mined roads. The ARAVISs will go to the Engineers
unit, which escorts BUFFALO and SOUVIM vehicles
specialised in improvised explosive device prevention
(IED) tasks in Afghanistan. The first vehicles will
be delivered by NEXTER Systems to the DGA at the
end of 2009. Users and personnel in charge of maintaining
the ARAVISs will be trained upon the delivery of
the first vehicles. January 19th, 2010, the French
Head office of armament (DGA) delivered to the French
Army its first four high protected wheeled armoured
vehicles ARAVIS Nexter Systems. A total of 15 Aravis
were ordered by the French Army.
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Variants
:
Nexter has developed kits to enable the Aravis to
be configured as a command post and an ambulance.
Aravis
VBHP : standard version of the Aravis,
high protected armoured vehicle for enginer troops
Aravis
Observation : battlefield detection
and surveillance armoured vehicle with Margo 5000
Optronic
Aravis
Fire Support : armed with an 20 gun
ARX-20 Nexter turret |
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| Armament |
| The
Aravis can be fitted with a remote controlled
weapon station armed with weapons up to
20 mm in calibre. The Aravis version for
the French Army, is equipped with a a remote-controlled
weapon station with a 12.7 mm machine gun
similar to the VAB TOPs used in Afghanistan
since the beginning of the year. The Aravis®
Nexter Systems can be armed with the new
remote controlled 20mm ARX 20 turret developed
by Nexter Systems or a 12.7 mm remote controlled
turret according to the type of mission.
ARX®20 offers the advantage of combat-useful
firing power and range superior to 12.7mm
weaponry whilst ensuring total crew protection.
The French version of the Aravis is equipped
with a remotely weapon station armed with
a 12.7 mm machine gun. |
| Protection |
| Nexter
claims that the protection of the Aravis,
based on the company's new Safepro armour
technology, outclasses that of all existing
4 x 4 vehicles. Nexter describes the protection
level as 4-4-4: Stanag 4569 Level 4 ballistic
protection able to defeat 14.5-mm threats,
Level 4 mine protection able to defeat ten-kg
mines under the belly and wheels and all-round
Level 4 protection against 155-mm artillery
splinters. Additionally, the Aravis is able
to withstand the blast of an improvised
explosive device, equivalent to 50 kg of
TNT, at five metres. The new design incorporates
modular applique armour with 'anti-blast
device', V-shaped anti-mine plates and a
spall liner with the crew citadel. This
vehicle offers 9.5 cubic metres of internal
volume, of which eight cubic metres are
under armour protection, and can carry a
driver, commander and up to six passengers
with their equipment. ARAVIS® surpasses
all other vehicles in the 12 tonne category
with its combined protection levels: level
4 for ballistic protection (resists 14.5mm
caliber attacks), level 4 for mine protection
(resistant to 10 kg mines both under the
cab and under the wheels), level 4 for protection
against artillery explosions (resists 155mm
artillery attacks) as well as a high level
of protection against IED’s (TNT charges
or 155 mm mortars, on the sides).
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| Propulsion |
The Aravis, is based on the light truck
chassis Mecedes-Benz U-5000. Nexter Systems
selected the Unimog U5000 chassis for the
Aravis because of its legendary high mobility
on roads and across country, and because
of the wide availability of spare parts.
The vehicle is powered by a 218-hp Mercedes
Benz four-cylinder diesel OM 924 engine
and can achieve a top speed of 100 km/h
and a range of 750 km. For its reconnaissance
tasks, the ARAVIS has, in addition to the
turret cameras, peripheral cameras showing
the nearby environment around the vehicle. |
| Accessories |
| The
Nexter Aravis is equipped with video cameras
provide 360° situational awareness.
The vehicle can be airlifted by a C-130
Hercules transport aircraft. |
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| Specifications |
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Armament |
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Remote
controlled weapon station
armed with weapons up to
20 mm in calibre. |
Country
users |
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France |
Designer
Company |
|
Nexter
Systems
|
Accessories |
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Video
cameras provide 360°
situational awareness. |
Crew |
2
+ 7 soldiers |
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Armor |
|
SAFEPRO
Nexter Systems armor kit.
a
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Weight |
12,500
kg |
Speed |
100
km/h |
Range |
750
km
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Dimensions |
Lenght,
6,0 m; Width, 2,5 m; Height,
2,5 m |
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