- Yes
- No
Introduction:
Hello and welcome to my 7th suggestion!
In 2023, BAE Systems Hägglund unveiled the Hägglund Bandvagn Skyddad 10 MSHORAD (abbreviated BvS10 MSHORAD) at DSEI 2023 in London. This system utilizes the BvS10 ATV paired with Escribano Guardian 2.0 ROWS on the front unit of the BvS10, while on the rear unit it has the Moog Flexible Mission Platform.
The vehicle remains a demonstrator with no known orders placed for it. It shows how modular the BvS10 can be, as the armaments on the demonstrator are not the only ones compatible with the RCWS chosen for it. Because no order has been placed, the logical nation it should go to, in my opinion, is Sweden, as it is BAE Systems Hägglund who put the BvS10 MSHORAD together for marketing of the modularity of the platform.
History:
The BvS10 ATV can be traced back to 1948 if you really want to stretch it. Back in the 1940s, the Swedish army bought a handful of Studebaker M29 ATVs named Bandvagn m/48 in Swedish service. These were alright for the time, but it was quickly realised that something better was needed for the soft terrain up in the north of Sweden. Volvo BM would later produce the Bandvagn 202 and 203 in the 1960s; these would see use with both the Swedish and Norwegian military and are still in service to a limited degree. Many have also been sold to civilians after being decommissioned.
After the success of the Bv 202 and 203, Hägglunds would build the Bandvagn 206, which became a world success with over 10 nations across the world using it. There was one huge flaw with the Bv 206: it was not protected against any sort of firearms. The body was just made of fiberglass, and the Ford petrol engine was not optimal either for the vehicle. An armored variant was subsequently developed, named Bandvagn 206S and nicknamed “Skalman” (eng: shell man); this nickname might be linked to the one of the fictional characters in a Swedish cartoon named Bamse where a turtle is named Skalman, but I have no proof to back this up. The connection we know the nickname has is that, since the Bv 206 did not have any protection against even small arms, this protected model got this nickname, as the armor is sort of a shell around the vehicle.
Initially, two Bandvagn 206S would be produced with armored front and back cabs as well as a 6-cylinder turbocharged Mercedes-Benz diesel. Another 20 would be produced later, and the designation Bandvagn 208 would be given to these. Three would be sent down to Bosnia for peacekeeping, where one would burn up. The remaining 19 units would later be upgraded, and the designation was changed to Bandvagn 308A. Two of the Bv 308A would be turned into prototypes for the Bandvagn 309, where stronger diesel engines from Styer, disc brakes, and a NBC-system where added. Between 2001 and 2008, 93 Bv 309 would be ordered in different variants and are still in service today with the Swedish Army. It was not as successful as the Bv 206 around the world, but there are more than five nations in Europe that have bought the Bv 308 and 309.
And now we reach the Bandvagn Skyddad 10, which is built on the philosophy of the Bv 308 and 309, hence why they are very similar, but there are some key differences. It is also worth mentioning that the BvS10 is also called Bandvagn 410 or abbreviated Bv 410. The vehicle itself is actually larger than its predecessors and now has a 6.7L Cummins diesel. Its protection also meets the requirements for STANAG 4569 level II but can be equipped with an enhanced protection kit offering STANAG 4569 level IV as well as the option of a spall liner. The BvS10 has had a much greater success than the Bv 308 and 309, but it does not come close to the widespread usage of the Bv 206. But compared to the Bv 206, the BvS10 is a huge upgrade not just from a protection or powertrain standpoint.
It is a much more flexible platform, with it being able to have slat armor attached as well as a range of different offensive armaments without major modifications needing to be done. This is why the BvS10 has been demonstrated as an MSHORAD platform. But as mentioned in the introduction, none has currently placed an order for these publicly. MSHORAD systems have become a very popular and in-demand system since the outbreak of the Russo-Ukraine war, where drones have proven their role in modern warfare. The BvS10 MSHORAD is here to solve the issue with a light mobile platform capable of doing moderate speeds while being protected from small arms and shrapnel from mines or artillery strikes, while also being able to defend itself and allies from threats in the air. This is a modular platform that uses modular remote weapon stations, so the possibilities are almost endless, which makes this a very ideal platform.
Sideview image of the BvS10 MSHORAD Demonstrator
Specifications
Armor:
The armor would be the same as the Eldenhet 98 we have in-game, as that is built on the BvS10. It won’t be much, but it will help you to be somewhat protected from the elements at least.
Chassis
Front: 5 mm (STANAG 4569 level II)
Sides: 5 mm (STANAG 4569 level II)
Rear: 5 mm (STANAG 4569 level II)
Crew:
The crew would most likely consist of three to four crew members, depending on whether the ROWS is just for the commander or has an actual gunner for it. All crew members would be located in the front cab, most likely. Normally, the BvS10, it has a capacity of four in the front cab and an additional eight dismounts in the rear cab. But for this one, I do believe none sit in the back half of the vehicle. There are no visible prisms on the rear cab, which I would believe it would have if there was crew back there. The crew would have the following positions; I personally would add a “machinegunner,” as the crew count is not really known:
-
Commander: access to the ROWS with day and night cameras that have a detection range of 15 km and 9 km respectively, and a laser rangefinder with a range of 15 km.
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Gunner: access to Moog FMP with 360-degree radar.
-
Driver
-
Machinegunner
Armaments:
Now to the most interesting part in my opinion. The armament of the demonstrator shown at DSEI 2023 in London has, as mentioned, the Escribano Guardian 2.0 mounted on the front cab, armed with a 7.62 mm Gatling gun from Dillon Aero. The exact model is the M134D, chambered in 7.62x51 mm. On the rear cab, we have the Moog Flexible Mission Platform armed with one RBS 70 from SAAB as well as four Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) guided rockets. The demonstrator shows no sign of any smoke launchers, which is a bit odd, but if someone ordered this, smokes would surely be an option.
It is important to note the primary usage of the armaments is intended for drones or other unmanned aerial vehicles, but nothing stops it from shooting down larger targets such as helicopters or manned aircraft. It should still be able to be effective in War Thunder, maybe just not in the highest of battle ratings.
Main armament
Moog Flexible Mission Platform armed with:
- One SAAB Bofors RBS 70 launcher
- Four Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System
- 360-degree hemispheric radar
Secondary armament
Escribano Guardian 2.0 armed with:
- One Dillon Aero M134D Gatling gun
Ammuntion:
The exact amount of ammunition carried is not known at this time, but we can at least assume some capacity of additonal ammuntion of the rear cab, as thought has no crew members in it.
RBS 70 Launcher
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Robot 70 Mk. 2: range up to 7 km and a height of 4 km, capable of penetrating 200 mm of armor and is laser guided.
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BOLIDE / Robot 70 NG: range up to 8 km and a height of 5 km. It is also capable of reaching Mach 2+ and has a programmable time fuze. It does not need to be guided all the way to the target as it is fire-and-forget.
Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System Launcher
- APKWS II: effective firing range between 1,100-5,000 meters with rotary wings, while fixed wings give a range of 2 to 11 km of effective firing range. Can reach a speed of 1000 m/s (3,600 km/h or Mach 2.9). Guidance is Semi-active laser homing. As the APKWS is a modified Hydra 70 rocket, it can use the same warheads as the Hydra 70 unguided rockets.
Dillon Aero M134D
- NATO Standard 7.62 x 51 mm rounds. Maximum magazine size is 4,000 rounds. Has an RPM of 3,000 or 50 rounds per second.
Mobility:
The mobility of the Hägglunds Bandvagn series has been perfected over the last few decades, with the BvS10 featuring a powerful engine, low weight, and all four tracks being powered, which leads to a very low ground pressure that allows it to move through terrain few vehicles can do. By the way, it can swim, unlike the Eldenhet 98.
Engine
Cummins 6.7L in-line six-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine.
- 285 hp (213 kW)
- 970 Nm of torque
Gearbox
Allison automatic gearbox
- Gears forward: 6
- Gears backwards: 1
Speed
- Land: 70 km/h
- Water: 5 km/h
Mass
The base BvS10 weighs in at 5 tons, but since this has both the ROWS and FMP, there is some weight gain there. The FMP weighs in at around 350 kg without any armaments, and the ROWS is probably of a similar weight. The weight gained in this config is probably close to 1 ton, if not more.
Power-to-weight
Assuming the weight is around 6 tons, we have a power-to-weight ratio of 47,5 hp per ton
- 285 hp / 6 tons = 47,5 hp/ton
Sources
BvS10 - Wikipedia
Bandvagn 410 – Wikipedia
Bandvagn 202/203 – Wikipedia
Bandvagn 206/208 – Wikipedia
Bandvagn 308/309 – Wikipedia
Bv 308 / 309
FMP: Versatile Payload Platform for Any Mission
DSEI 2023: BAE Systems Displays BVs10 AFV Variant, Proposes New Way of Warfare in High North and Indo-Pacific | Moog Space and Defense
DSEI 2023: BAE Systems presents M-SHORAD variant of BvS-10 ATV
https://www.defesaaereanaval.com.br/defesa/bvs10-da-bae-systems-participara-de-testes-do-exercito-indiano
DSEI 2023: BAE Systems Displays BVs10 AFV Variant, Proposes New Way of Warfare in High North and Indo-Pacific
M134D – Standard 7.62 x 51mm - Dillon Aero
EldE 98 | War Thunder Wiki
https://eme-es.com/en/guardian/
Robotsystem 70 (RBS 70) | SoldF
Robotsystem 70 – Wikipedia
Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System - Wikipedia
Hydra 70 - Wikipedia
Lvrbv 701 | War Thunder Wiki
RBS 70 NG
