IBV-05
| IBV-05 Infantry Fighting Vehicle | |
|---|---|
 IBV-05 | |
| Place of origin |  Elatia |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2006-present |
| Used by | Elatian Army, Elatian Naval Infantry, Ecclesia Forces |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 2007-2011 |
| Produced | 2012-present |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | Around 28 tonnes (depending on armour module) |
| Length | 8.4m |
| Width | 3m |
| Height | 2.3 m |
| Crew | 3 |
| Passengers | 8-9 |
| Armor | Modular welded steel and composite |
Main armament | 100mm rifledgun/launcher |
Secondary armament | 30x165mm co-axial autocannon, 7.65x53mm co-axial machine gun |
| Engine | Diesel 710 bhp |
Operational range | 1,000km on roads |
| Speed | 120 kph on roads |
The IBV-05 is the newest of the light armoured vehicles in Elatian Army service. It was intended to replace not only the IBV-75 & IBV-81 Infantry Fighting Vehicles, but also older wheeled APC's in Elatian service. Commentators expressed some surprise that a wheeled vehicle is being procured to replace both wheeled and tracked vehicles serving in Elatia's armoured and mechanised units. However, the savings which could be brought about through the simplification of logistics is thought to be substantial.
Previous Elatian infantry carriers were notorious for their inadequate protection, whether against direct fire, mines or IED's, an issue which was brought into sharp relief during the desultory fighting which occurred in the wake of the Great Freeze of 1984 and subsequent chaos. However, it was only relatively recently that the Elatian military was in a position to procure their replacement in the form of the IBV-05.
Armament
The IBV-05 is notable for its heavy armament, featuring a 100mm rifled gun, 30mm autocannon and 7.65mm machine gun all mounted co-axially on its welded turret.
The 100mm weapon is primarily intended against soft targets using HE-frag rounds which may be programmed to airburst. It also possesses a fin-stabilised HESH round which may be used against field fortifications and light armour. Finally, it may fire a laser-guided Bastion gun-launched anti-tank missile to interdict armoured vehicles at long range. The 30mm co-axial gun shares its ammunition with legacy infantry fighting vehicles and is effective against most targets short of modern main battle tanks equipped with composite armour.
The vehicle features a computerised fire control system, linked with a laser range-finder as well as thermal imaging devices for both the gunner and commander. The commander's sight is panoramic and can be used to designate targets for the gunner.
Survivability
Defensively, the IBV-05 features greater survivability compared to previous Elatian light armoured vehicles. Its passive armour is modular. In its basic form, it is immune from all aspects from 14.5mm fire. With applique armour modules, it may be made resistant to 30mm KE rounds from the frontal aspect, as well as certain types of RPG munitions from the front and flanks, at the cost of amphibious capability. Its wheels and floor are designed to mitigate the effects of IED's or anti-tank mines of up to 10kg of TNT. The vehicle remains mobile even if multiple wheels are disabled. It possesses run-flat tyres, as well as a centralised tyre-inflation control system. Active defences include not only smoke grenades, but also an electro-optical jammer and possibly a hard-kill system, which may be installed depending on the readiness level of a given unit. The vehicle possesses an over-pressure NBC protection system.
Variants
The IBV-05 chassis was used to create numerous variants. These include the following:
- IBV-05F: A version with increased open-water capability. Intended for service with the Elatian Naval Infantry.
- IBV-05C: HQ vehicle with raised roof, large LCD displays and enlarged communications suite.
- IBV-05R: Reconnaissnace vehicle with a compartment in the turret for a retractable ground-surveillance radar. Armament is reduced to a 30mm autocannon, a co-axial medium machine gun and a pair of box-mounted ATGM.
- IBV-05M: 120mm turret mortar
- IBV-05T: A tank destroyer variant with launch rails for two heavy beam-riding missiles, plus a magazine with twelve reloads.
- IBV-05E: Engineer variant with a dozer blade.
- IBV-05EW: Electronic intelligence/warfare vehicle
- IBV-05ME: Medical vehicle
- IBV-05N: CRBN reconnaissance vehicle