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TL;DR: A quad-tracked, air-transportable light AFV armed with a 27mm autocannon.
History:
The Luftbeweglichen Waffenträger (LuWa) is an extremely recent German air-transportable AFV designed to replace the aging Wiesel 1 series of AWCs. With the demonstrator being first revealed on June 22nd, 2021, the LuWa was a project commissioned of Industrieanlagen-Betriebsgesellschaft mbH (IABG) by the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) of the German Army. The vehicle’s development is a collaborative effort between many parties, including, but not limited to: ACS, IABG, FFG and Valhalla. The LuWa demonstrator features a rather unique quad-track layout utilizing a diesel-electric drive with four motors, with each sprocket having its own motor. This essentially means that if one or two of the LuWa’s tracks are broken, the vehicle could still limp away to safety. The LuWa’s crew consists of two men sitting in tandem with the driver having a clear 180° view through bulletproof glass and the gunner having access to a remote weapon station housing a Rheinmetall MLG 27mm autocannon. The Rheinmetall MLG 27mm autocannon is a navalized version of the Mauser BK 27 aircraft gun found on aircraft such as the Panavia Tornado and Eurofighter Typhoon. The basic form of the LuWa, the one we see here, is a reconnaissance and fire-support-vehicle, however, as it is meant to replace the Wiesel 1, the LuWa can been configured to fit a multitude of roles including, but not limited to: a Spike LR2 ATGM carrier, a mortar carrier, an ambulance, a radar carrier, and an air-defense-missile carrier. If the LuWa were to be accepted into service, most if not all variants of the Wiesel 1 would be phased out, however, the Wiesel 2 and its variants would be retained. On the 14th of October, 2021, the LuWa was presented to the German Ministry of Defence (BMVg) and BAAINBw and underwent driving and live-fire tests. A sample of the vehicle hull was also subjected to a blast test. The LuWa received high marks, however, its development will continue.
Place In War Thunder:
With the implementation of three Wiesel variants, seeing the LuWa is almost an inevitability. Despite its newness the LuWa would still struggle with frontal engagements, having to resign to a flanking similar to vehicle like the Type 87 RCV. On top of this, the MLG 27 has a magazine capacity of only 90 rounds. Shooting all of those off at 1,000-1,700rpm would take no time at all, so you’d have to be mindful of your shot placement. The LuWa’s armor is pretty much negligible, so taking a hit isn’t an option and you wouldn’t want to chance sitting in an artillery strike. That being said, if you do take a hit to the track/s and survive, it’s likely that you’d be able to slip away thanks to the LuWa’s quad-track setup. This vehicle would fit best as a Rank VI/VII light tank, potentially after the Wiesel 1A4 or Wiesel 1A2, depending on the penetration of the MLG 27’s FAPDS.
Specifications:
Armament: Rheinmetall MLG 27mm autocannon (1,000-1,700rpm)
Dimensions: 4.20m, 1.85m, 2.11m (L,W,H)
Weight: 6200kg
Armor: Only proof against small arms and artillery shell splinters.
Crew: 2 (Driver, Commander/Gunner)
Ammunition: HE, HE-SD, FAPDS
Speed: 70~kph
Horsepower: 270~hp
Pictures:
Suspension Close-Up:LuWa during testing:Being Inspected:Interior of the LuWa trainer:Turret Opened:Being Showcased:Diagram showing involved companies and their respective contributions:
Sources:
Demonstrator of GSD LuWa technologies. Promising armored vehicle for the Bundeswehr
https://inf.news/en/military/04eed8fd1b47404b6f49369adb343fa0.html
http://www.military-today.com/apc/luwa.htm
Germany launches the development of new airborne tracked armored vehicle
Germany 27 mm/145 MLG 27 - NavWeaps
Medium calibre weapons – automatic cannons 20–35mm | Rheinmetall
