Iran
has started production of two domestically-developed missiles with enhanced
armor-penetration capability, the Iranian media has reported. The Iranian
state TV footage showed on Saturday the Qaem ground-to-air missile and
the Toufan-5 anti-tank missile.
Responding
to the need for wheeled armored vehicles for use
in asymmetric warfare, RAFAEL developed the Golan
Heavy Wheeled Armored vehicle. This 15 ton armored,
wheeled troop carrier is configured to accommodate
10 troops in a highly protected environment. Golan
has been proposed for the IDF and USMC. Testing
of the vehicle began in September 2006. In January
2007 Golan was selected, along with nine other candidates,
to compete for the Joint US Marines/NavyArmy Mine
Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Program. PVI is
leading the team for th MRAP opportunity while RAFAEL
is in the lead for Israeli and other overseas sales.
On February 23, 2007 the USMC awarded PVI a first
order for 60 low rate initial production vehicles,
representing the first order for Golan vehicles.
The
vehicle can be equipped with remotely controlled
weapon station mounting a machine gun, and
optronic equipment, as well as the gunshot
detection system.
Personnel
compartment
The
crew compartment is designed to provide
a scaled armor protection system. The maximum
protection level includes reactive modular
armor tiles while the medium and light levels
are based on passive modular armor. All
three protection level configurations present
the same physical silhouette. In the light
and medium level configurations, there are
no reactive armor tiles attached to the
outer crew compartment structure. In their
place, passive armor tiles (that include
storage boxes) with an identical outer shape
are attached. The V shaped hull and vehicle
body has been specifically designed to withstand
mines and IED blasts. It is configurable
to carry different levels of armor, from
light passive armor to heavy reactive armor
that can deflect RPGs. When equipped with
reactive armor, the vehicle is the only
MRAP vehicle able to defeat Explosively
Formed Penetrators, the deadliest type of
IED.
Protection
The
vehicle uses an armored monocoque structure.
The integrity of this structure provides
the strength to absorb the deformations
generated by mines and IED blasts. The V
shaped hull has a "floating floor"
panel to mitigate the blast effects of mines.
It thereby provides an optimal solution
to protect the crew and vehicle against
the identified threats. The vehicle has
an effective armor suite to defeat small
arms and RPG threats, medium size IED's,
7 kg mines under belly and 14 kg under wheels.
The spall liner was eliminated, assuming
the efficiency of external armor to prevent
hull penetration by most threats. The passive
armor utilizes a combination of protection
technologies including metals, composites,
slat and transparent armor. The maximum
protection level includes reactive modular
armor tiles while the medium and light levels
are based on passive modular armor. Protection
from anti-tank rockets (Such as RPGs) can
be provided by appliqué reactive
armor modules or an active protection system
which are "plug-in" add-ons to
the basic design. Other "plug-ins"
include counter IED and counter sniper systems.
The add-on reactive armor system utilizes
the Insensitive Explosive Reactive Armor
(I-ERA) tiles installed on the side walls.
The I-ERA is based on the same technology
provided for the US Bradley Infantry Fighting
Vehicle. The reactive (I-ERA) add-on armor
is an insensitive explosive known as Low
Burn Rate (LBR) or Low Flammability (LF2)
that was approved by both the Israeli Defense
Force and the US Army.
Propulsion
Unlike
vehicles utilizing off-the-shelf commercial
chassis, the Golan does not have a chassis
at all. Instead, the 4x4 automotive system
axles, and suspensions link directly to
the armored structure, which acts as a frame.
The Golan is motorized with an Cummins Diesel
315 HP, coupled to an Allison transmission.
Accessories
The
Golan platform may be adapted to serve as
an armored personnel carrier, command vehicle,
ambulance or intelligence collection vehicle.
In the personnel carrier role, it has capacity
of up to 10 soldiers.
Specifications
Armament
One
7,62 mm machine gun and/or
one 12,7 mm machine gun.
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