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 and IBV-81 infantry fighting vehicle, but also older 8-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.
The vehicle is amphibious without preparation, propelling itself in the water using a pair of waterjets.
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 not only effective against soft targets with HE-frag rounds, but also main battle tanks and low-flying helicopters using the laser-guided Arkan gun-launched anti-tank missile. 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 native form, it is resistant to 14.5mm HMG rounds. With the installation of applique armour modules, the vehicle can be protected against 30mm autocannon rounds from the front, as well as certain types of RPG's, although these armour modules also prevents the vehicle from utilising its amphibious capability.
The vehicle's 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. In terms of active defences, aside from smoke grenades, vehicles are also fitted 'fot but not with' an electro-optical jammer and possibly a hard-kill system. The vehicle possesses an over-pressure NBC protection system. Punctured tires can be reinflated using a centralised re-inflation system.
The IBV-12 is currently in service with the Elatian military, starting with the Prophet's Guard and Naval Infantry and percolating its way to other units of the standing army. It is also in service with the Ecclesia Forces.
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-05G: Fire support version with 125mm smoothbore gun. Used exclusively by the Naval Infantry.
- IBV-05M: Mortar carrier equipped with a Nona or Vena 120mm mortar turret
- IBV-05T: A line-of-sight tank destroyer variant with launch rails for two Kornet-M missiles, plus a magazine with twelve reloads.
- IBV-05L: A non-line of sight tank destroyer, equipped with two quadruple pods for the Jheng AFT-10 missiles.
- IBV-05E: Engineer variant with a dozer blade.
- IBV-05EW: Electronic intelligence/warfare vehicle
- IBV-05ME: Medical vehicle
- IBV-05N: CRBN reconnaissance vehicle
- IBV-05O: Armoured recovery vehicle