Iveco LMV

Iveco LMV

Type Infantry mobility vehicle
Place of origin Italy
Specifications
Weight 6.5 tons (STANAG 4569 Level 3)[1]
Length 5,504 mm (216.7 in) (4,704 mm (185.2 in))
Width 2,050 mm (80.7 in)
Height 1,950 mm (76.8 in)
Crew
  • 1+4[1]
  • 1+3 (Panther)
  • 1+6 (Stretched Variant)

Armor STANAG 4569 Level 1-4[1]
Main
armament
Remote Weapon System
Engine Iveco F1D Common Rail EURO 3
136 kW (185 PS; 182 hp)
Payload capacity 1,200 kg (2,600 lb)
Transmission 6 speed automatic[2]
Suspension Independent, Double A-Arm
Ground clearance 473 mm (18.6 in)
Operational
range
500 km (310 mi)+
Speed > 130 km/h (81 mph)

Iveco LMV (Light Multirole Vehicle) is a 4WD tactical vehicle developed by Iveco, and in service with several countries. After its adoption by the Italian Army under the name VTLM Lince (Lynx)(Veicolo-Tattico-Leggero-Multiruolo), it won the FCLV (Future Command and Liaison Vehicle) competition of the British Army as the Panther and has been adopted by the armies of Belgium, Croatia, Norway, Russia and Spain. The Italian Army took vehicles to both Afghanistan and Lebanon. In Afghanistan Lince vehicles have saved passengers' lives in several attacks with IEDs.

Design

Croatian Iveco LMV

The LMV uses modular armor packs to adjust its level of protection to its mission requirements.[2] As regards mine protection the vehicle's height from the ground has been increased to 493 mm without augmenting the overall height (less than 2 meters); it uses also suspended seats of aeronautical derivation, v-hull under body, and a collapsible sandwich structure in the floor to deflect and absorb mine blasts. Its exhaust is piped through its C-pillars, and its turbocharger is located underneath the engine to reduce its thermal signature. Mobility is helped by a run-flat system, allowing the vehicle to move even with completely deflated tires.

Variants

Panther CLV

The Panther Command and Liaison Vehicle or Panther CLV is the British Army variant of Iveco LMV. The Panther CLV came from the "Future Command and Liaison Vehicle" (FCLV) project. Design modifications were made by BAE Systems to allow assembly at BAE Systems Land Systems' factory in Newcastle upon Tyne. The Panther seats 4, while the VTLM Lince seats 5. Over 400 Panthers are now being assembled at BAE Systems factory in Newcastle upon Tyne under a £160 million contract. It is intended that the Panther will replace vehicles including Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (tracked) (CVRT), FV 432, Saxon and Land Rover Truck Utility Medium (TUM).[3]

The armour protection is tuneable by the replacement of armour packs within the vehicle's external skin. The basic add-on armour pack provides ballistic protection against small arms fire and a heavier kit provides protection against ambush including mines.

Panther Command and Liaison Vehicle (CLV) are equipped with Enforcer RCWS weapons stations which are developed by SELEX Galileo. The weapon station can be armed with a 7.62mm or 12.7mm machine gun or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher.

The first Panthers have been delivered to the 1st Mechanised Brigade (United Kingdom) and handfuls are undergoing hot weather trials in Afghanistan.[3]

Other variants

The LMV is available in two different wheelbases, 3.2 m (126.0 in) and 3.5 m (137.8 in).[2] A two door, two seater is also available.[2] Since 2015 LMV is on production which features a host of improvements: these include a more powerful 220hp diesel engine coupled to a new eight-speed automatic transmission, an upgraded drive line for higher performance and a new air filtration system. The payload of the LMV has been increased by some 40 per cent and it is now fitted with new specially designed suspension units and recently developed all-terrain tyres for a higher level of cross-country mobility. A key feature of the latest LMV batch of improvements is that they can be backfitted to the entire legacy LMV fleet to enhance their capabilities. The internal layout of the LMV has also been redesigned for greater crew comfort, with new seats, a next-generation dashboard and an upgraded hardtop. The internal cab height has been increased by 100mm to create more internal volume and an electronic architecture has been fitted for easier upgrading in the future.

Marketing

As September 2015, Iveco Defence Vehicles has achieved sales of more than 4,000 LMVs Lince 4X4. 90 Iveco LMV authorized sell to Ukraine for Euro 41 millions, by the Italian government on 14 September 2014, but never confirmed delivered

Gallery

Operators

Map of Iveco LMV operators in blue

Current operators

See also

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Iveco LMV.
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