- Yes
- No
History and introduction
At IDEAS Defense Expo 2018, the Viper Infantry Fighting Vehicle, made and designed by HIT (Heavy Industries Taxila), symbolises Pakistan’s next step to modernising its Armed Forces.
Its design allows a wide range of adaptability and versatility, may it be deployment across the eastern border with Indian forces, or along the western border in counter-insurgency operations, the Viper represents a key role to be played in the Armed forces of Pakistan. A role that was and has been for a long time, unfulfilled.
The Viper is made by the marriage of a sturdy Saad APC chassis (which is itself a development of the license produced Talha APC which is a clone of the M113A1 APC) with the state-of-the-art Turra-30 unmanned combat module. The IFV is C4ISR enabled as well as having a modern EO, FCS and weapons suite.
The chassis, aside from being armed to the teeth, is powered by a German-made Deutz TCD V06 engine producing around 480hp which is connected to an automatic TX 200-5C Allison transmission. The survivability is further enhanced by mounting bolt on armour and external fuel tanks, spall Liner and
a NBC Kit. It even has an Air Conditioning System for the crew and improved rubber tracks over the APC it is based on.
Final dimensions are a still under critique as the shown prototype had reduced height and the firing ports of the vehicle were also removed as they were not needed. It had an unmanned Slovakian Terra-30 RCWS on it. Pakistan also tested Ukranian BM-7 Parus RCWS for the Viper IFV project, but it did not get selected.
Technical specifications
Crew: 3 (composition: Driver, Gunner, Commander)
Height: 2.6m
Length: 6m
Width: 2.5m
Amphibious: No
Fording: 36 inches ( 0.91m)
Armour rating: Base armour Level 4 STANAG 4569 made of 5083 Aluminium + Add-on plates on top of that
— Mobility —
Weight: ~17t
Engine: Deutz TCD 2015 V6 OR Ukrainian 3TD
Power: 480hp OR 450hp (respectively as above)
Top speed: 75kmph (Road), 30kmph (10º incline)
Power/weight: 28hp/t OR 26hp/t (respectively as above)
Transmission: TX 200-5C Allison
Suspension: Hydropneumatic (suspected), if not then torsion bar as on Saad APC
— Armament —
Main gun: 30mm Shipunov 2A42 Autocannon
Secondary gun(s): 2 x 9M113 Konkurs/Kormet ATGM launchers
Auxiliary/Anti-air armament: 7.62mm PKT MG
Elevation: -10/+30
Traverse: 360º
Gun sight: CRANE-XLR
Laser range finder: Yes
Thermals: Yes, cryogenically cooled, around 2nd generation?
— Ammunition —
-
Calibre: 30mm
Count: Unknown, estimated 400
Types and performance:
-
Konkurs ATGM OR Kornet ATGM
Count: 2 (+ 4 storage)
Variants: All
Testing
The Viper IFV is currently in preliminary serial production and HIT (Heavy Industries Taxila) is working on refining the design and improving its abilities. A pilot batch (estimated 5 vehicles since Pak Army has a longstanding habit of ordering 5 vehicles) has been turned over to the Pakistan army for extensive field trials.
Turret
The turret is a Slovakian Turra-30 RCWS module. It is quite modern with a high degree of compatibility with different weapon systems like the Bushmaster 30mm autocannon and the Shipunov 2A42 autocannon (which is the one mounted on the Viper). It can be armed with 2 of the Spike missiles or 2 of others such as the Konkurs series of ATGMS (which are mounted on the Viper).
It is also equipped with 8 smoke dischargers (4 to the right of the gun and 4 under the ATGM launchers) and a 7.62mm MG RCWS for the commander.
Hull
A locally produced Saad APC is the hull for this IFV. Saad is a modernised variant of the M113 chassis and this IFV uses Bolt-on Armour plates and external fuel tanks to increase protection along the front and sides. This specific chassis also seems to have hydro-pneumatic suspension as can be seen by the incredibly low ground clearance in these photos.
It also has internal spall liners for crew protection and is powered by a German Deutz TCD 2015 V06 engine with 483 HP and automatic transmission. The rear firing ports were also removed as they were not required on the IFV.
Extra info
The CRANE XLR features a cooled thermal camera module with a 640x512 pixel resolution and two switchable FOV of 2° and 10° horizontal angle for dark, dusty and difficult operations. For daylight operations a colour surveillance camera module with a 36x optical zoom used. The sight is also equipped with a 20km-range laser rangefinder.
Many sources also mention it capable of firing the kornet series of ATGMs.
Sources
- Viper Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) — Global Defense Insight
- EVPÚ Defence a.s. – the Czech Brand for National Security - Defence Turkey Magazine
- https://www.evpudefence.com/content/news_files/121/1555502137_CZ_EN_Review%201-2019%20evpu.pdf
- DEUTZ Americas: Diesel Engines
- CRANE-XLR Weapon Station Gunner Sight | EVPÚ Defence
- Product Search
- Army Guide
- Army Guide
- Talha Armored Personnel Carrier | Military-Today.com
- Pakistan’s 2021: Chinese Solutions & Original Projects Take Lead - Quwa
- Viper Infantry Fighting Vehicle. | Pakistan Defence
- Pakistan resumes armor modernization as terror threat recedes