- Yes
- No
Introduction:
Welcome to my 6th suggestion!
Following the integration studies done for AMAP-ADS (known in Sweden as AAC) for the Stridsfordon 9040 and the CV90120. IBD and Åkers Krutbruk Protection AB would develop an armour kit called the “Evolution Kit”. It was decided to try to integrate the armour kit onto both the Strf 90 platform and the Stridsvagn 122. The Strv 122B+ we have in-game is the Strv 122 fitted with the “Evolution Kit”, but we do not yet have the Strf 9040C with the same armour packages. Just like with AAC, it was promising, but it was decided for both the Strf 90 and Strv 122 not to adopt these packages when the vehicles went through REMO. These became Strf 9040D1, D2, and E (though Strf 9040C never went through REMO, as they got sent to Ukraine), respectively, and the Strv 122 became Strv 122C and D.
History:
The Strf 90 started production in the late 80s, but already in the mid-90s it was decided to try to uparmor the Strf 90s. Trials would be done with both appliqué armor, as well as one chassis was sent down to Rafael in Israel to be tested with ERA. It was first in 2002 that the first Strf 9040s would be upgraded with an add-on armor package. This configuration of the Strf 9040 would be called Strf 9040C. Another batch of Strf 9040s would be delivered in 2005 with LIRK and CAN-bus system and would be called Strf 9040C+.
While the uparmoring of the Strf 9040 was successful, there were still plans to protect the vehicles even more. A Strf 9040A was fitted with AMAP-ADS to show that the platform could have an APS and modular add-on armor packages fitted simultaneously. But in the end it was not chosen. IBD and Åkers Krutbruk Protection AB, who developed the protection kit for the 9040C and the AMAP-ADS demonstrator, then developed the so-called “Evolution Kit”. This is the same armor kit that the Leopard 2A4 “Evolution” has. So when it was time for the Strf 9040 and Strf 122 to undergo modernization known as REMO, one Strv 122 and one Strf 9040C would be fitted with the “Evolution Kit” to show that it was still possible to protect the vehicles even more. Before this, the Strf 9040C had AMAP-SC and the Strv 122 had AMAP-B “Heavy”. These two up-armored vehicles would be shown in 2012 both stationary and under maneuvering.
It retained the AMAP-SC in the front of the hull as well as the AMAP-SC on the turret. The “Evolution Kit” was fitted to the sides of the vehicle to give it more protection on the sides. It was also shown with SAAB Barracuda MCS fitted to the front, roof, and turret wich would lower the IR and radar signature drastically.
The Strf 9040C with the “Evolution Kit” during maneuvers
When it was time for REMO for the Strf 9040Cs, the Ukrainian war had already broken out, and it was decided to send the Strf 9040Cs as aid packages to Ukraine, where they have since served the Ukrainian army well. Why the Strf 9040Cs were picked is most likely because the A and B/B1 variants were already being delivered as D1 and D2, so sending the non-upgraded vehicles would have been the most logical thing to do. Because of this, the Strf 9040C “Evolution” never came to full fruition; it would have been the most armored Strf90/CV90 variant made.
Specifications
Armor:
The armor remains the same except for the addition of the Evolution Kit from IBD and Åkers Krutbruk Protection AB, which has been mounted to the sides and shall therefore give the same protection as the armor modules mounted on the sides of the Strv 122B+ in-game.
Chassis
Front: 20 mm + AMAP-SC
Sides: 16 mm + Evolution Kit
Rear: 20 mm
Turret
Front: 20 mm + AMAP-SC
Sides: 20 mm + AMAP-SC
Rear: 20 mm
Crew:
The crew remains the same, with it being a three-man crew; optics and other equipment would be the same as on the Strf 9040C in-game.
Commander
Gunner
- Optics: 7.2x - 8.0x
- Thermal imager
- Laser rangefinder
Driver
- NVD
Armaments:
As per usual Strf 9040 standard, even this one comes with the 40 mm Bofors L/70 automatic cannon; the mounting for the Ksp m/58 is visible, but it seems like it had been removed while the prototype was being demonstrated.
Since the mounting is there and all other Strf 9040Cs are equipped otherwise with it, I could see it being added, but I would also argue that since it did not have it mounted, it could just be left out if this vehicle is ever implemented.
Ammunition:
- slpprj m/90
- slsgr m/90
- kulsgr m/90
- slpprj m/01
Secondary:
- Ksp m/58
- Smokes
Mobility:
The mobility would be impacted by the addition of the Evolution Kit, as these armor modules are larger and heavier than the AMAP-SC normally mounted to the sides of the vehicle. It is hard to know how much additional weight there would be, but I would think at least a ton.
We know the weight of the Leopard 2A4 and the Leopard 2A4 “Evolution” (≈60 tons); counting the panels of the add-on package, we get around 22 modules. The weight difference is around 3.4 tons, so dividing the weight difference by the number of panels, we get around 155kg per module. The kit on the Strf 9040C “Evolution” uses 4 modules per side, with the addition of another set of 4 covering a bit of the running gear. So let’s say that all of the panels would probably be around the same as 10 of the ones on the Leopard 2A4 Evolution. Then we have a weight increase of around 1.5 tons, but we have also lost a bit since the normal additional side panels have been removed. Let’s go with 1.25 tons of weight gained via this package.
Engine:
Scania V8 DSI 14 making 550 hp
Gearbox:
Perkins X-300-5N
- 4 forward gears
- 2 reverse gears
Speed:
- 70 km/h forward
- 45 km/h backward
Mass:
28.5 tons + ≈1250 kg ≈ 29.75 tons
Power to weight:
550 hp / 29.75 tons ≈ 18,49 hp/ton
Sources
Första svenska förlusten i Ukraina: Stridsfordon 90 - Dagens PS
https://defense-update.com/20120603_leo_2_evolution_armor.html?__cf_chl_f_tk=nZjzdEIumBgsL1GGTdL9DldRERJ4CpTiiC8IiKQyIy0-1783427057-1.0.1.1-nwxIfPCpmwDfswV_ZwpcCyZIb9lCuSOJYFYKoDJih.g
Strf 9040
Stridsfordon 90 – Wikipedia
Militaria - Hans Högman
Stridsfordon | SPHF
Strf 9040C | War Thunder Wiki
IBD Evolution Kit, new balanced Survivability Concept for main battle tank Leopard 2A4 Evolution
Advanced Modular Armor Protection - Wikipedia
Client Challenge
Client Challenge