SCIR
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| SCIR | |
|---|---|
_(1).JPG) SCIR displayed during the Journée des héros de la nation parade. | |
| Type | Infantry fighting vehicle |
| Place of origin |  Notreceau |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Notreceauen Army |
| Production history | |
| Designer | GIST Industries / Faravager Automobiles |
| Designed | 1993-2005 |
| Manufacturer | GIST Industries |
| Produced | 2006-present |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 25.6 t (normal combat load) |
| Length | 7.6 m |
| Width | 2.98 m |
| Height | 3 m |
| Crew | 3 |
| Passengers | 9 |
| Armor | Protected against up to 20mm API |
Main armament | GIST-AC25/5 |
| Engine | Faravager D500-3 550 horsepower |
| Suspension | Wheeled |
| Ground clearance | 600 mm (24 in) |
Operational range | 750 km (470 mi) |
| Speed | 100 km/h (62 mph) |
The Système de Combat d'Infanterie à Roues (SCIR "Wheeled Infantry Combat System") is a family of 8X8 infantry fighting vehicles produced by GIST Industries and Faravager Automobiles for the Notreceauen Military. The SCIR was designed to replace the AVS 14T as the primary infantry combat platform in the Notreceauen military. The vehicle entered combat trials with the 3rd Infantry Regiment of the Notreceauen Army in 2005 and achieved full operating status in 2006. Full-scale production began in 2006 with a total order of 950 vehicles scheduled for delivery between 2006 and 2021.
The hull of the SCIR is comprised primarily of aluminum, and features a variety of titanium and steel composite modular plating that can be equipped in the field to replace damaged components or added for mission specific situations. Despite initial concerns about off-road and poor-terrain mobility, extensive testing of the wheeled SCIR has shown that the vehicle possess the ability to keep pace with and sufficiently support the AVS 54 MBT employed by Notreceauen forces while providing a cheaper costs and greater speeds than traditional tracked IFVs. The sub-35 ton weight of the SCIR also makes it transportable by the Chariot T-500 transport aircraft in full combat load.
History
Following the 1990 Notreceauen Defense Review and experience gained fighting Temuair in the 1980s, the National Army of Notreceau submitted a request to the Department of Defense Research and Development (DDRD) for a replacement for the then two-decade old AVS 14T IFV. In 1990 the DDRD announced the initiation of the Programme de portage d'infanterie modulaire (Modular Infantry Carrier Program) with the stated aim of providing a next-generation IFV capable of providing protection against conventional 20mm cannon rounds and maintaining combat speeds and mobility capabilities that allowed it to keep pace with and support the under-development AVS 54.
Ateliers de construction d'Villeaines (AVS) initially sought to capitalize upon the success of the AVS 14T and presented a redesigned vehicle based on the same chassis with an upgraded armor package, new armament and new propulsion system (provisionally called the AVS 22) in 1992. The new proposal, while nearly six tons heavier than the 14T, offered greater protection (rated for 30mm) and higher road speeds (80km/h compared to 65km/h). The AVS 22 also featured an updated turret featuring the new GIST-AC25/5 25mm cannon, providing a not-insignificant increase in firepower when compared to the AVS 14T's older GIST-20/5 20mm autocannon. Initially the proposal was popular with the DDRD and AVS was nearly rewarded a production contract until concerns about AVS's priority development of the AVS 54 and problems with the suspension caused the DDRD to continue the competition.
In 1994 a broader working group comprising engineers from GIST Industries and Faravager Automobiles presented an unconventional prototype to the DDRD. The prototype, initially jokingly referred to as " Camion de la mort à roues" (Wheeled Death Truck), was an 8x8 welded-aluminium chassis lacking a turret or weapon systems and was intended more as a technology demonstrator or proof of concept vehicle than a true submission for the program. Lacking an alternative to the AVS 22, the DDRD still elected to have the vehicle undergo mobility tests to ascertain if the wheeled configuration could traverse the rough terrain necessary to operate effectively in cross-country combat in late 1994.
Despite initial concerns that the unconventional wheeled vehicle would be unable to operate in rough terrains, the demonstrator managed to achieve the mobility requirements for the programs and even boasted an impressive on-road speed of 140km/h. In 1995 the DDRD requested that the GIST/Faravager group proceed with further development of the vehicle, requesting the addition of a turret, primary and secondary weapons and additional armor to meet the 20mm armor requirement. In response GIST designed a proprietary turret to accommodate its new 25mm cannon, the MAP 50 7.5×54mm coaxial machine gun and the SPDRDM smoke launching system. At the same time Faravager elected to use its heavy D500-3 diesel engine and a proprietary suspension to better accommodate the added weight.
The biggest problem facing the GIST/Faravager proposal, increasing armor performance without overloading the vehicle, was solved with the development of modular steel and titanium plates that could be added or removed from the vehicle and yielded a considerably lower weight than a redesigned hull. GIST/Faravager presented their revised prototype to the DDRD for testing in 1998, officially designating it Système de Combat d'Infanterie à Roues (SCIR). While the finished prototype weighed more than its competitor the AVS 22 (25.4 tons compared to 22 tons) and offered less protection without its modular plating, the SCIR managed an impressive 100km/h speed and the wheeled configuration was not viewed as considerably worse than the tracked configuration of the AVS 22 in terms of combat mobility.
After testing both vehicles extensively, the DDRD announced that the SCIR had won the program and awarded the production contract for the next generation IFV to GIST/Faravager in 2000. Following the awarding of the production contract GIST/Faravager set out to improve the initial combat prototype considerably, incorporating further refinements of the vehicles suspension, an expansion of the turret to account for greater sloping, and an increase in turret electrical output to increase traverse speed foremost among them. In 2003 the completed prototype was presented to the DDRD in two configurations, the baseline SCIR to serve as the primary infantry transport and fighting vehicle; and the VCCR serving as a mobile command vehicle.
Between 2003 and 2005 testing of the prototype commenced and an initial production order was placed to further test the vehicle. In 2005 the SCIR and VCCR were deployed with the 3rd Infantry Regiment during Operation Watchtower for combat testing in Lieuaban. The 3rd Infantry Regiment reported satisfaction with the vehicle and the SCIR and VCCR both met battlefield requirements for mainline service. In 2006 fullscale production of the vehicle was ordered to completely replace the AVS 14T from service and equip all mechanized infantry units of the National Notreceauen Army and eventually National Defense Force of Notreceau with the new system. Beginning in 2008 further variants of the SCIR began development and production including a variant carrying the MACNG anti-tank guided missile, a variant carrying a 120mm mortar and a field hospital variant.
In 2010 the SCIR 2 was approved for service with the Notreceauen military. The SCIR 2 features a heavier base weight of 32 tons which allows for greater protection from fire, powered steering in the rear wheels to reduce turning radius, and the more powerful Faravager 600-2 diesel engine to maintain mobility and speed levels. The rear internal volume was also increased to allow for carrying infantry equipped with the new SIGI system by moving various electronic systems in the vehicle forward and adjusting the sloping and configuration of the frontal seating arrangement. The SCIR 2 also saw integration of the SIGI system into the SCIR chassis, allowing for access and integration into the broader Lien de Bataille (Battle Link) battlefield management system.
Specifications
Armament
The SCIR and SCIR 2 are both equipped with a GIST-AC25/5 25mm autocannon. The gun is capable of firing a variety of Notreceauen manufactured ammunition including APDS, HEI and API. In certain configurations the gun either features a single feed (standard IFV) or dual feed (SPAAG and fire support configuration) ammunition loading system. The turret is a proprietary design manufactured to incorporate a laser range finding module and a thermal imaging camera. The IFV configuration supports a coaxial MGMAC 50 7.5x54mm machine gun, while several variants (VCCR, MCSR) forgo the autocannon and are equipped with a .50 caliber MLMAC 52 heavy machine gun.
Propulsion and Performance
The SCIR is powered by a Faravager D500-3 six-cylinder diesel engine which generates 550hp. A modified independent suspension system is used to offset weight and create greater balance in the vehicle while an automatic transmission and gearbox provides for 6 forward gears and 3 reverse gears. The SCIR 2 and subsequent variants are powered by the Faravager D600-2 six-cylinder diesel engine which generates 600hp and allows for heavier additions to the vehicle in conjunction with an upgraded suspension system. The SCIR has an operational range of 750km on internal fuel stores and is capable of substantial range increase with the addition of external fuel tank modules. The max speed recorded for the SCIR is 100km/h.
Protection
The hull of the SCIR is made from reinforced aluminum, providing a lighter-weight than a traditional steel encasement while still providing protection from small arms fire. The SCIR family features a series of bolt-on steel and titanium armor packages which can increase the protection to 20mm APDS level. A heavier variant of the bolt-on armor package also exists for the SCIRVL giving it protection from up to 30mm APDS rounds. ERA packages exist for integration into all SCIR 2 variants, and the Battre Active protection system has been used on the SCIRVL. The SCIR is also equipped with the SPDRDM (Multi Discharge Tank Protection and Concealment System) launcher system, which mounts a variety of dischargers capable of firing infrared concealing smoke, traditional Smoke grenades and anti-personnel grenades.
Variants
SCIR: Baseline SCIR production variant, features a 25mm autocannon and 7.5x54mm coaxial machine gun mounted in the turret. Capable of carrying 9 infantrymen plus required crew.
VCCR (Wheeled Combat Command Vehicle): 2 SIP stations with 7 users plus required crew, RWS turret mounting the MAP 54 .50 caliber machine gun for self defense.
SCIR 2: Updated production variant of the SCIR, features the same armament as the SCIR with increased armor and space for 10 infantrymen plus required crew. SCIR 2 also features complete integration wit the Lien de Bataille battlefield management system.
VAAR (Wheeled Combat Anti-Air Vehicle): Modified variant of the SCIR 2 purpose designed for the SHORAD role. Features a dual 25mm autocannon SPAAG configuration in the turret and the addition of box-launched MD.318 missiles. Infantry carrying space is sacrificed for radar and tracking equipment restricting the vehicle to a crew of 4.
MCSR (Wheeled Combat Mortar Carrier): Modified variant of the SCIR 2 which features an adapted MRL-120-1 heavy mortar. Crew is reduced to 4 mortar operators and required crew for vehicle operation. Equipped with an RWS system mounting the MLMAC 52 .50 caliber machine gun for self-defense.
SACR (Wheeled Combat Ambulance System): Modified variant of the SCIR 2 specifically designed to provide combat recovery and ambulance services to infantrymen. Infantry carrying capacity is sacrificed to accommodate mobile trauma unit.
SCIRVL (Wheeled Infantry Combat System, Heavy Variant): Modified variant of the SCIR 2 featuring a 57mm cannon, MACNG anti-tank missiles, heavier armor and an Active protection system. Primarily in use with the mechanized infantry component of armored divisions.
Operational History
- Notreceau: Deployed with the 3rd Infantry Regiment to Lieuaban in 2005. Part of the ongoing Operation Watchtower peacekeeping and anti-insurgent campaign in support of the government. The vehicle performed well, meeting combat requirements and was well received among infantrymen and drivers who preferred it to the then in-use AVS 14T for its superior speed and more-comfortable riding characteristics.
Operators
- Notreceau
- Notreceauen Military: All variants of the SCIR 2 currently in service with the National Army of Notreceau. Large numbers of SCIR and limited numbers of SCIR 2 in service with the National Defense Force of Notreceau with further orders placed for more systems.