- Yes
- No
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Introduction:
During the late 1990’s the SANDF was looking to replace the aging Ratel fleet with more modern ICV’s. In 1997 ARMSCOR registered Project Hoefyster, under which it provided seed money to four local defence companies to design the next generation infantry combat vehicle (NGICV), with the four companies being Land Systems OMC, Industrial Automotive Design (IAD), Land Mobility Technologies (LMT) and Mechanology Design Bureau (MDB). All four companies developed 8x8 vehicles designed to carry the LCT35 turret specified for the design. By early 2004 it was reported that the LMT design have been chosen for further development, hover as soon as the news got out ARMSCOR reopened competition and called on local and international companies to tender for the deal with the due date being in February 2005. When the bids were due, only one was received from a group involving Patria, EADS, Denel, OMC and LMT which proposed the Patria 8×8 Armoured Modular Vehicle (AMV), being redesigned for southern African conditions by LMT. The vehicle hulls were to be built by OMC and the turrets as well as guns would be provided by Denel. This vehicle would be the final winner under Project Hoefyster to replace the aging Ratel and would be named the Badger. However, for this forum post we will be focusing on the NGICV prototype developed by OMC, due to it being the most complete vehicle out of the four provided during Project Hoefyster. The OMC prototype would also be further developed at the company’s own expense to create the RG41, unveiled at Eurosatory Defence Expo in 2008. The NGICV “OMC” is an 8x8 infantry combat vehicle, proving protection for the crew against small and medium calibre weapons, as well as being able to survive land mines. The NGICV “OMC” is equipped with the LCT35 turret featuring the LIW EMAK 35mm autocannon as its primary weapon and a 7.62mm co-axial machine gun, alternatively the turret can also be equipped with the ATK 30mm Bushmaster. The turret features a thermal sight, laser range finder and a gun stabilization system. As of writing this post the NGICV’s with the LCT turrets are currently on display at the Tempe Military Base in Bloemfontein.
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Specifications:
Main armament: one LIW 35mm EMAK
Ammunition: SAPHEI, HEI-T, HEI, APCI-T
Secondary armament: one 7.62mm MG
Elevation: -10, +30
Crew: 4 (driver, gunner, commander, loader)
Weight: 22t
Top Speed: 100 km/h
Thermal/Night sight: Yes
Smoke grenades: four on each side
Primary Sources:
LIW EMAK 35 Brochure
Surviving the Ride written by Steve Camp and Helmoed Romer Heitman (page: 463-468)
South African Armoured Vehicles: A History of Innovation and Excellence written by Dr Dewald Venter (page: 86-91)
Secondary Sources:
VEG Magazine: Project Hoefyster (page: 42-45)
DefenceWeb (BAE Systems punts for Hoefyster): https://www.defenceweb.co.za/land/land-land/bae-systems-punts-for-hoefyster/
Tank Encyclopedia (Badger): Badger - Tank Encyclopedia
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