ISV60 Praetorian
| ISV60 Praetorian | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Infantry support armored fighting vehicle |
| Place of origin |  Tarsas |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2003-present |
| Used by | see users |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Alderia Armaments |
| Produced | 2003-onwards |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 48 tonnes |
| Length | 7.69 m |
| length | 6.93 m |
| Width | 3.72 m |
| Height | 2.55 m |
| Crew | 3 |
Main armament | 2x VKS-60 60 mm automatic cannons 2 x quad-boxes for anti-tank guided missiles |
Secondary armament | 2 x 30 mm automatic grenade launchers 12.5mm coaxial machine gun |
| Engine | Pantra DL-214 Diesel Engine 1000 hp |
| Power/weight | 20.8 hp/t |
| Suspension | torsion bar |
Operational range | 500 km |
| Speed | 65 km/h onroad 45 km/h cross country |
The ISV60 Praetorian is a multi purpose vehicle based on the T80125 chassis. It was intended initially as a modern tank destroyer and an urban combat support vehicle. The concept of the vehicle is unconventional among armoured fighting vehicles. It carries armaments normally seen on an IFV but lacks any troop transport capabilty. Instead, it is intended primarily to support tanks in both open and urban environments. It is currently utilized by the Imperial Legion.
History & development
Urban warfare had always been a unique combat situation in terms of armour. On one hand the heavy fire power tanks provided proved both useful and necessary but had significant drawbacks. By the end of the 90s, it had become apparent that T80125 tanks were vulnerable to infantry attacks and often required IFV escort. It was decided that an ideal scenario would be to confine the role into one vehicle and save IFVs for their true roll of escorting infantry. The ISV60 was designed with this concept in mind. It was primarily intended to support tank divisions during their advance through congested areas, geared mostly towards urban warfare.
Design
The ISV60 is based on the T80125 chassis and adds a two-man turret. The driver retains his location on the right front of the tank while the commander and gunner are seated tandem in the back of the turret behind much of the electronics and munitions. There are two hatches on the main turret between the missile batteries. The turret itself is mounted on an elevated armored platform on the chassis. The vehicle possesses advanced thermal and nightvision sites for spotting infantry in congested urban locations. The ISV60 possesses a basic composite armor made from a combination of two plates of spaced rolled homogeneous steel with heavy tungsten alloy and rubber plate fixed in between. The inner RHA plate is covered from the inside with a kevlar anti-spall liner. This armor is capable of defeating most hand held Anti-armor weapons and anti-tank guns in the 105mm range from both the front and the sides. The option exists for adding full spectrum ERA, NERA and slatarmour to add to the existing protection
As with most armored combat vehicles since 1996, the ISV60 comes standard equipped with the Fortress Defense System. The system is based around an all around covering Doppler pulse radar that provides detection and classification of incoming threats. The radar provides important information like direction, velocity, and size. It is stationed directly on top of the turret for maximum coverage. This information is presented to the crew on a computerized response system that comes equipped with multiple options for a hardkill or a softkill against an incoming projectile. The system can use VIRRS (Visual, Infrared and Radar smoke) grenades which can lay smoke screens to protect against incoming projectiles. These can fire either automatically via computerized command or manually at the crew's discretion in response to a threat. In automatic mode, the system automatically dispenses smoke grenades in the threat direction. Other equipment also includes an IR/electro-optical jammer that can be used against radio and wire-guided Saclos missiles and a laser based spoofing jammer for use against IIR/EO guided missiles. Integral to the system is a active protection system consisting of two rotating boxes that can launch volleys of buckshot towards incoming targets and either prematurely detonate them or disrupt the flight pattern. These can be used to intercept a variety of projectiles.
The Praetorian carries a computer assisted fire control system as well. This system computes fire solutions based on externally acquired information to compensate for elevation, wind direction, humidity and distance to target. This greatly improves the accuracy of the weaponry on board. An electronic sighting system for the gunner was deemed imperative. This includes FLIR thermal imaging systems for both day and night operations, computer assisted controls and tracking for traversing and elevation of the weaponry and laser range finder. The commander has control of a 360 degree capable periscope sighting that includes the same thing as the gunner's viewing equipment, but also includes IFF signalling system that can send identification signals to a target and determine friend or foe based on the response. The commander also has the option to align the gunners sights with the position he is looking at with the periscope. He can also activate a commanders override to take control of the guns. Both the gunner and the commander possess fire controls in the form of a laser beam used to guide the beam-riding missiles. Additional electronics include a combat compiling and exchange system that links the vehicle to the Tarsan battle network. An INS/GPS navigation system and advanced display monitors for coordination are also on board.
Armament
The ISV60 has been armed to support tanks and infantry against a number of potential threats and situations. It was envisioned initially as a tank support vehicle during urban battles. As a result, the Praetorian has a higher elevation that a normal tank. The primary armament is a pair of 60mm automatic cannons, which provide excellent fire power against various targets. The guns are loaded using 4 rounds clips which are installed using an automatic loading system that moves clips from storage magazine into the feeding slot. When fired, the empty shell casings are ejected via ejection port at the top of the guns. The weapon fires 60x440mm shells and comes in a standard set of 3 different round types. To engage armoured targets, it has the 60AP99 depleted uranium tipped APFSDS. The caliber and velocity generated by the gun allows the round to penetrate almost any standard IFV and APC. The gun is capable of penetrating the side and rear armour of some MBTs as well. Against soft-skin targets and infantry the cannons have the 60DP99 rounds, which are dual-purpose rounds using a 50 mm copper liner shape charge (300 mm against RHA equivalent) with an incendiary-fragmentation sleeve combining steel and incendiary pellets in a layer around the high explosive with an impact fuse. It is ideal for dealing with lighter armored vehicles (low weight APCs) and softer targets such as trucks. The fragmenting incendiary combination makes it useful for attacking infantry in open and fortified positions.
The third type of munition is the 60PF99, which is a High explosive fragmentation round with a programmable fuse. It is constructed with a high explosive filling surrounded by a layer of pre-fragmented tungsten pellets. The cell is equipped with a fuse that can be pre-programmed to detonate in various modes. These are delayed fuse armor piercing. This means the 60PF99 detonates after it penetrates a target (useful against structures and bunkers). There is also a gated proximity fuse, where the round detonates within a certain distance of a target (making it useful against flying targets such a helicopters). The final option is a timed fuse where the round detonates at a set time after being fired, allowing it to detonate mid air (useful against infantry in the open or behind cover). The round can also be programmed with an impact fuse and is programmed the moment it leaves the barrel. A set of magnets in the breech interact with sensors in the fuse, imprinting the shell with the type of fuse it must use. In order to engage both heavy armour, fortified structures, and aircraft at a short range the ISV60 carries two missile rails that can carry quad packs of ATGMs and other missiles. To back up its primary weapons the, Praetorian has a variety of secondary weaponry that complements them. Two 30 mm automatic grenade launchers mounted on both sides of the turrets can be used to deliver fragmentation grenades over a reasonable distance and a GMG42 coaxial machine gun is ideal for anti-personnel use.
Varaints
- ISV60-M1:- The basic production version.
- ISV60-M2 - Upgraded model featuring additional computer system upgrades and slightly more armor. Slight changes to the suspension firmness and engine turbochargers increased fuel savings and range slightly.
- ISV60-M3 - Latest variant featuring similar systems from the T13125 Atlos MBT. It is significantly more capable than its predecessors featuring a more powerful targeting computer to hit targets from a greater distance. Additional armor was applied to the turret face.
- ISV60-M330 - M3 variant featuring quad 30mm autocannons instead of dual 60mm cannons.
- 'ISV60-M1E: An export version with a selection of different weapon systems. Can carry autocannons within the 30-60mm range, a choice of automatic grenade launchers and different anti-tank missiles and short-range surface to air missiles.
- ISV60-M4- Released in 2017 as part of the Automation Directive. The turret has been replaced with a fully automated unit and the crew reduced to two men. The main computer systems have been combined into the Aegis Core Master Processing Suite featured prominently on other Tarsan armored vehicles. First deployment of the new Fortress Defense System II with increased speed and capability and the ability to reload the buckshot tubes for extra shots. Additional improvements to the engine increase the speed and agility of the vehicle slightly. New track skirts that can be deployed as necessary come standard with the ability to reduce the number of mission kills on the vehicle. The more advanced firefighting system from the T13125 Atlos is a standard feature. Trials are under way with limited serial production to begin in July of 2018 with tentative field tests scheduled for the end of 2018.