AWC Wiesel 1 ATM/HOT

GHOST_KING5710 · April 5, 2025, 10:04pm

Wiesel 1 ATM/HOT

Series 1: ATGMs only

Made in cooperation with @Armen_Lozone

Overseeing missileer

Nearing the end of its service life, the Faun Kraka was becoming insufficient for the needs of the German Airborne units. So, the Army began looking to better options. Key features were mobility, small arms fire and shrapnel resistance as well as air transportability in common NATO transport aircraft.

Porsche was part of this competition however was not able to provide exactly the features that interested the Bundeswehr. Initially the Bundeswehr cancelled the project. But Porsche and MAK continued development because of foreign interest.

Rheinmetall was a lot more successful later when the demand in Germany was brought up again. The Wiesel was eventually chosen from among the candidates that competed in the trials. Named because of its small size and agility.
The Wiesel was also preferred due to its ability to be integrated with a wide assortment of weapons. You can see many of them in game and in various images online. However, one of the most interesting ones to me, is the ATM prototype series.

In 1998 the Wiesel 1 Advance Turret Modular (ATM) was shown during an open day of “Luftlandebrigade 26 Saarland”. The Wiesel 1 ATM is designed for a wide range of tasks from reconnaissance to anti-tank to surveillance purposes.

Interestingly, the ATM system can also be used with the PARS 3 MR Laser beam riding missile. More on that in another post. (JPz Fuchs mit PARS 3 MR: Unwavering resolve)

ATM system

The ATM Weapon system, introduced in 1997, serves as a versatile platform for both observation and reconnaissance, in addition to functioning as a weapon system. This system comprises three key components: a stabilized, elevated sensor platform capable of rising up to 1.5 meters above the roof of the Wiesel, an internal control system located within the vehicle, and a turret equipped with HOT missiles along with either a cannon or a machine gun.

Designed to fulfil the operational needs of the French and German armed forces, the HOT/ATM system can be mounted on light tracked and wheeled armoured vehicles. It is engineered to perform advanced observation tasks while also engaging targets with HOT anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) at a maximum range of 4,000 meters.

The turret is equipped with a mast-mounted stabilized sensor pod that includes a colour CCD camera, a thermal imaging camera (10 µm), an electro-optical block (1 µm), and a laser rangefinder.

The sensor pod’s functions encompass observation, detection, localization, display, automatic target tracking, and missile tracking.

Inside the vehicle, the monitoring and display module enables the operator to conduct battlefield surveillance, accurately localize targets on a digital terrain map, automatically track targets, select targets for engagement, and launch HOT missiles with minimal response time.

The turret operates without a crew, with the operator positioned on the right side of the vehicle and the vehicle commander seated to the left

Specifications

—Survivability—

Crew: 3 (Gunner/Loader + Commander + Driver)
Armour (front, sides, rear): 8mm, 8mm, 8mm

—Mobility—

Weight: 2.8t
Engine: Audi 2.1 L 5-cylinder in-line turbo-diesel
Power: ~87 hp
P/W: 31.07hp/t
Top speed:

Forward: 81 kmph
Reverse: 30 kmph
Suspension: Torsion bar

—Equipment—

Optics: Colour CCD camera
Zoom: x 10 (16° to 1.6°)
Turret elevation: -15°, +45°
Turret rotation: 40°/s
Stabiliser: Optics only
IR search: No
IR Track: Yes
Optics mast height: 1.5m above hull roof (fully extended)
TVD: Yes, 7.5μ - 10.5μ CMT

FOV:
- Wide: 9 x 12°
- Narrow: 2.7 x 3.6°
  LRF: Yes

–Weapon system–
Armament (configuration 1): 2 x HOT-2/3 ATGMs (+ 6 in storage) (or PARS 3 MR)
Armament (configuration 2): 4 x HOT-2/3 ATGMs (+ 6 in storage) (or PARS 3 MR)

Extra info

The ATM weapon system was tested with a wide variety of weapons, stay tuned for more of them to show up soon!

Visual references