The BvS 10 is a Swedish vehicle development by BAe Systems Land Systems Hagglungs originally for the British Royal Marine service (where it went on to be known as the 'Viking'). Unique qualities of the light-armored military solution include an articulated center-section for maximum flexibility and wide tracks for excellent cross-country mobility over soft terrain. The 5.5-ton (short) vehicle carries a Cummins 6.7L 6-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine as its powerpack and a crew of four in the front drive vehicle with seating for eight in the rear hull section.
With its in-built troop-carrying capability, the vehicle is primarily intended as an Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) though other more specialized variants exist. It is typically modestly armed, mainly for self-defense purposes, through various machine gun (up to 12.7mm) fits or 40mm Automatic Grenade Launchers (AGLs). Armor protection is considered light-to-medium in the vehicle's base form, developed more so to counter the threat of small arms fire and artillery "spray" in contested zones than anything else. The protection level can, however, be enhanced through add-on armor panels. In addition to weaponry, the vehicle has onboard smoke grenade dischargers for self-screening its movements, these being featured in two banks of four launchers at the front corners of the hull frame.
The Cummins powerpack is mated to an Allison automatic transmission system with six forward and one reverse speed(s). Road speeds reach up to 70kmh and operational ranges are limited to 500 kilometers on internal fuel.
Dimensions of the drive vehicle include a running length of 26.2 feet with a beam of 7.4 feet, and a height of 8 feet - when compared to earlier Hagglunds articulated designs, this makes the BvS 10 dimensionally larger and able to carry more over longer distances.
All told, the base design is relatively compact when compared to modern APC offerings. There are twin bullet-resistant windows at the front and additional panels along the sides with access possible through rectangular, hinged access doors (also found along the sides of the hull). The engine sits in the bow in typical automobile fashion. The track-and-wheel arrangement has six small roadwheels to a hull side with the track-link run sporting broad surface pads for excellent ground contact. An access hatch at the hull roof provides another entry/exit point for the crew as well as a mounting position for armament.
The vehicle saw a relatively short development period spanning 2001 to 2004 and first-deliveries to the Royal Marines were in 2005 resulting in a procurement of some 108 total hulls for the service. Since then, this unique battlefield solution has been taken into operational service with the forces of Austria, France, Germany (ordered), Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States (ordered). More recently, it has been shipped to Ukraine to support the defensive war effort against Russian invaders. Canada is actively working to procure a stock of 100 of the go-anywhere vehicles.
Power & Performance Those special qualities that separate one land system design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the BvS 10 All-Terrain Articulated Light Armored Vehicle.
1 x Cummins 5.9 liter 6-cylinder inline turbocharged diesel-fueled engine developing 275 horsepower driving conventional track-and-wheel arrangement. Installed Power
40 mph 65 kph Road Speed
298 miles 480 km Range
Structure The physical qualities of the BvS 10 All-Terrain Articulated Light Armored Vehicle.
2 (MANNED) Crew
24.9 ft 7.6 meters O/A Length
7.7 ft 2.35 meters O/A Width
7.2 ft 2.2 meters O/A Height
18,739 lb 8,500 kg | 9.4 tons Weight
Armament & Ammunition Available supported armament, ammunition, and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Hagglunds Bandvagn BvS 10 (Viking) All-Terrain Articulated Light Armored Vehicle.
1 x 5.56mm, 7.62mm, or 12.7mm machine gun over hull roof.
8 x Smoke grenade launchers (2x4 banks).
Also any personal weapons carried by the crew.
AMMUNITION: 500 x 12.7mm ammunition (estimated).
1,200 x 7.62mm ammunition (estimated).
8 x Smoke Grenade Launchers.
Variants Notable series variants as part of the Hagglunds Bandvagn BvS 10 (Viking) family line.
BvS 10 - Base Series Designation.
BvS 10 "Viking" - British Royal Marines variant.
BV410 CATV ("Collaborative All-Terrain Vehicle") - Enhanced mine protection.
Beowulf CATV ("Cold weather All-Terrain Vehicle") - U.S. Army variant.
BvS10 Mk.IIB - Austrian Army model.
Operators Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Hagglunds Bandvagn BvS 10 (Viking). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national land systems listing.
Total Production: 210 Units Contractor(s): BAe Systems Land Systems - UK / Hagglunds - Sweden
[ Austria; Canada (committed); France; Netherlands; Turkey; Sweden; Ukraine; United Kingdom; United States (ordered) ]
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Image from the United States Department of Defense DVIDS imagery database.
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Image from the United States Department of Defense DVIDS imagery database.
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Image from the United States Department of Defense DVIDS imagery database.
Similar Developments of similar form-and-function, or related, to the Hagglunds Bandvagn BvS 10 (Viking) All-Terrain Articulated Light Armored Vehicle.
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