Universal Combat Vehicle
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The Universal Combat Vehicles, or UCVs are a series of standardised Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFV) that where designed to streamline production, maintenance, and training for a set of hull classes. Developed by ARX Arms Manufacturing for the Republican Armed Service of Iverica, the end goals were to decrease production costs by using similar or identical parts across a variety of different AFVs. In principle, the volume of orders for the same modules and components would result in lower costs per unit.
The UCV designs are simpler, cheaper to produce and more efficient than preceding designs in service with the RAS.
History
In 1991, the Republican Armed Service's Office of Military Technology initiated a bid for tenders to create a family of land vehicles which shared as many modules, components, production methods, production technology, and control surfaces as possible. Of the tender responses, ARX Arms Manufacturing's Universal Combat Vehicle series was awarded the contract to continue development of their proposed designs.
Many of the designs featured the same torsion bar system, the same roadwheels, and similar power systems. Turrets were likewise similar in layout; with the turrets for the Self-Propelled Gun, Light Tank, and IFV being either scaled-up or scaled-down versions of the turrent of the 42-tonne Main Battle Tank turret. Hatches, sliding bulkheads, ventilation, dampening, fire-suppressant, and filtration systems were also the same in design, albeit configured differently per variant.
Variants
UCA-33 Tercio
The UCA-33 is an amphibious landing armoured assault vehicle designed specifically for the Republican Marine Corps. It was designed with armour-protection as its chief strength and features chaff and flare countermeasures anti-magnetic, and thermal reflective coatings as countermeasures for guided missile weaponry. It also utilises spaced, and explosive-reactive armour to further enhance its protective capabilities. It is armed with twin-40mm grenade launchers mounted on the offset turret, and a pintle-mounted 12.7 mm HMG. The Tercio can carry up to 20 equipped infantrymen or can be used to mount recovery equipment.
UCAA Tauro
A Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft vehicle
UCAG Elefante
A Self-Propelled Artillery vehicle
UCM Ericio
A Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Missile Launcher
UCM Hystriqa
A Self-Propelled Missile Launcher
UC-23 Jaguar
A 23-tonne light tank with varying applique armour packages. Unique among the UCV family for being the only hull constructed using aluminium alloy. Equipped with the G-274 Medium Caliber anti-armor automatic cannon. Can be equipped with 2 pods containing 4 MBT-101 anti-tank guided missiles each.
UC-30 Pantera
The 30-ton armored vehicle was designed to fill the roles of an infantry fighting vehicle, armoured transport, and fire support vehicle for both Exersito, and Republican Marine Corps. It is capable of 70 kph on road, wading up to depths of 5 meters, and transporting 6-8 troops. It is capable of anti-infantry, anti-armour, anti-aircraft (limited) support with its armament of a 30 mm auto-cannon, x2 7.62 mm MG, x1 pintle-mounted 12.7 mm HMG, ATGM (turret mounted), and SAM option (modular).
UC-42 Leon
40 metric ton MBT based on the Universal Combat Vehicle platform. Allows for reduction of weight or instalments of modular kits such as, anti-aircraft capability, electronic warfare capability, sensor suite, air-to-ground coordination, and infantry coordination. Designed especially to handle mountainous or archipelagic topography with pneumatic-hydraulic suspension and excellent power-to-weight ratio. The main armament is a 12.8 cm ARX smoothbore capable of firing MP-T, Sabot, HEAT, and ATGM. Léon may also carry additional pintle-mounted HMG. Protection includes a configurable set of alloyed armour which may include ballistic-ceramic layers, explosive-reactive armour, and thermal-reflective coating.
The Léon was built with manoeuver and combined-arms warfare in mind. The cost per unit justifies its flexibility and force-multiplying capabilities as a multi-role battle tank, and mobile communications and sensor base (through C4I).
Safety measures include all-around NBC (nuclear, biological, and chemical weapon) protection, Hallon gas fire-suppression system, bulkhead separation of munitions, radar array linked with an optional active protection system, chaff and smoke launchers.
Modules
The following modules were developed as a result of the UCV programme. Some modules have since been adopted into a variety of projects outside of the UCV series of vehicles and may no longer be unique to UCV variants.
Active Protection System
A Hard-kill measure that uses explosively formed penetrators to intercept incoming ordnance.
Command, Control, Communication, Computer & Intelligence
C4I integration with a network for sharing of information on tactical to strategic scales of coordination. Information such as enemy positions and other observable battlefield intelligence is collected by sensors (optics and/or radar) and shared from section-sized units up to larger unit commands.
Continuously Variable Transmission
Enables the vehicle to move at its full forward speed when in reverse gear. Its is an automatic transmission that can change seamlessly through a continuous range of gear ratios. This contrasts with other transmissions that provide a limited number of gear ratios in fixed steps. The flexibility of a CVT with suitable control may allow the engine to operate at a constant RPM while the vehicle moves at varying speeds.
CREW Jammer
A signal jammer that prevents remote detonation of munitions around the vehicle. In 2010, the module stirred controversy when allegations were raised claiming the jammer as the cause of cancer among several RAS personnel.
DIRCM Module
The Directional Infrared Counter Measure module is a soft-kill system using a high-power infrared laser to disrupt laser-homing and infrared-homing systems.
Ground Radar
UCV variants like the UC-42 typically use a four-faced distributed active electronically scanned array Pulse Doppler radar designed to detect and automatically track Anti-Tank Rockets, Anti-Tank Guided Missiles and Tank Rounds to guide active protection systems. For reconnaissance of command vehicles, this is usually combined with ground-based multifunction radar to detect low-flying, low-speed aerial vehicles or ground vehicles between 30-42 kilometres away.
Hydropneumatic Suspension
Enables the vehicle to better absorb recoil and alter the pitch and roll of its hull allowing for the UC-42 to adopt firing angles outside of the main gun's normal range of elevation or depression.
Modular Applique Armour
UC-42 and UC-23 armour plating may be increased or reduced for ease of transport, terrain restrictions, or other challenges.
Sense-6 Infrared System
Designed as an alternative to the APS' fire control radar, the Sense-6 is composed of 6 sensors and a computer. Each sensor passively scans a 70 x 70 degree area infront of it to detect thermal signatures and opaque obstructions. When a thermal profile matching a missile or rocket is detected, Sense-6's computer system can trigger the APS. Sense-6 can also function as a close-quarters infantry sensor for the crew, to detect if infantry are moving around the vehicle; this can reduce the risk of driving accidents or warn the crew of potentially hostile infantry. Though initially selected for use on the UC-42, reliability concerns and false-trigger accidents resulted in the module being rejected for mass production.
In Other Militaries
All UCV variants are in active service with the militaries of Federated Commonwealth member states. The UC-42 and its variants are in active service with the Girkmandian Army, the Gallambrian Army, and the Ebrarian Army.