ARCV 95
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| ARCV 95 | |
|---|---|
 A Ruvelkan TSPJ1 IFV | |
| Type | Armored fighting vehicle |
| Place of origin |  Acrea Ruvelka |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1991-Present |
| Used by | Acrea Ruvelka |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Landrut AB Krona Defence AB |
| Manufacturer | Landrut AB S & T Dynamics |
| Produced | 1990 – Present |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 23-38 tonnes |
| Length | 6.55 m |
| Width | 3.1 m |
| Height | 2.7 m |
| Crew | Commander, driver, gunner |
| Passengers | 8 passengers |
Main armament | Krona MK-130/80 30mm autocannon Krona MK-135/80 35mm autocannon Krona MK-140/70 40mm Autocannon S&T Compact 120mm cannon |
Secondary armament | 1 × MG-50 or MG-64 (7.62×51mm; CV95) 1 × Vitali SLMG (5.56×45mm; TSPJ1) |
| Engine | Thyssen MFD-14 diesel engine Thyssen MFH-18 hydrobar diesel engine (CV95M) 550 hp (MFD-14) 600 hp (MFH-18) |
| Suspension | Torsion Bar Active damping suspension (CV95M) |
Operational range | 320 km (CV95A, TSPJ1) 600 km (CV95M) |
| Speed | 72 km/h (CV95A, TSPJ1) 80 km/h (CV95M) |
The ARCV 95 (Acrean-Ruvelkan Combat Vehicle 1995) is a family of armored fighting vehicle jointly developed and produced by Acrea’s Landrut AB and Ruvelka’s S & T Dynamics. The ARCV 95 is a multi-role platform with a number of varying configurations outside of its main IFV design; these include a light tank equipped with a 120mm gun, mortar carrier, command and control vehicle, and ambulance. The ARCV 95 began to be supplemented in 2005 in Ruvelkan service by the ARCV 05, but Adoption of the ARCV 05 by the Acrean Army was passed over in favour of developing a new generation of its variants of the ARCV 95 infantry fighting vehicles, and further development of what would become the CV25. The ARCV 95 was adopted in Acrean service as the CV95, and in Ruvelkan service as the TSPJ1.
Development
The joint ARCV 95 program was initiated in 1985 when Ruvelkan military officials sought a new armoured fighting vehicle platform. Initial options sought to purchase an existing vehicle, however the proposal was made by Landrut for Ruvelka to join the ongoing CVX program initiated by Acrea in 1983. After some negotiation, Ruvelka joined the program in 1985 and the new program was renamed ARCV 95, to reflect a planned in-service date of at least 1995.
Design
Armament
The ARCV 95 can be fitted with a wide array of primary and secondary armaments. The basic turret design of the ARCV 95 is able to accommodate cannons from 20mm to 40mm in caliber, though currently only 30mm, 35mm, and 40mm cannons are produced for the ARCV 95's infantry fighting vehicle variants. Initial development also included a 25mm cannon, but its performance was found to be severely lacking with 30mm as the minimum acceptable ammunition for the main gun. Following the first update to the vehicle, the Acrean Army implemented a new and stronger turret for its 30mm and 35mm armed CV95s. This turret is incompatible with the 40mm autocannon used on Ruvelkan TSPJ1s or the Acrean CV9540 LVK short-range air defence variant. All variants use a two-man turret. Both Acrean and Ruvelkan variants are equipped with either a coaxial 7.62mm or 5.56mm machine gun.
Secondary armament is varied based on the variant. Acrean variants are equipped with a twin-tube ATGM launcher, at first consisting of seven wire-guided SAT-1 AAPS missiles with two in the launcher and five additional missiles stowed inside the vehicle. Later CV95 variants are equipped with SAT-2 PSVS fire-and-forget missiles and a marginally increased load of eight missiles, with six able to be stowed inside the vehicle due to the missile's smaller diameter. Ruvelkan TSPJ1s are not equipped with missiles and instead rely on updated armour piercing ammunition for the 40mm main gun.
Protection
All basic ARCV 95 variants are rated for protection against at least 30mm APFSDS from the direct front 30° on either side, and all-around protection against 14.5mm armour-piercing ammunition. In its 1994 update program, Acrean variants were up-armoured to increase the frontal arc protection to 45° on either side against 30mm APFSDS, and all-around protection was increased to stop 20mm armour-piercing ammunition. The much more heavily armoured CV9535M variants are rated for all-around protection against 40mm APFSDS. CV95s have been updated to include hard- and soft-kill active protection systems to defend against anti-tank guided missiles and light anti-tank weapons.
While standard Ruvelkan TSPJ1 IFVs have not received major protection upgrades over their lifetime, the TSPJ1 Light Tank was heavily uparmoured to bolster protection against kinetic and chemical threats. Its armour is rated to stop 40mm APFSDS from all sides, and the integration of explosive reactive armour provides excellent protection against light anti-tank weapons and contemporary anti-tank guided missiles.
Mobility
Variants
Acrea
The Acrean variants of the ARCV 95 are designated CV95. The CV95 is the most numerous type of the ARCV 95, with over 14,000 vehicles of all variants produced for the Royal Acrean Army and Royal Acrean Marine Corps.
- CV9530: Initial variant adopted by the Acrean Army. Equipped with a 30mm autocannon and can carry a combat load of 600 rounds. Originally equipped with a side-turret launcher for two SAT-1 AAPS anti-tank guided missiles. Maintained in reserve units, and has been replaced in active Army units by the CV9535.
- CV9535: Adopted by the Acrean Army and RAMC. Equipped with a 35mm autocannon and can carry a combat load of 400 rounds. Originally equipped with a side-turret launcher for two SAT-1 AAPS anti-tank guided missiles, though these have been replaced on newer variants by a launcher for two SAT-2 PSVS missiles.
- CV9535C: Updated RAMC variant with new armour composition and heavier armour package.
- CV9535M: Adds improved armour protection, upgraded thermal imagers, updated fire-control system, improved hybrid diesel-turbine powerpack, active damping suspension, and integrated hard- and soft-kill active protection systems.
- CV9540: 40mm-armed variant trialed by the Acrean Army in 1990. The Acrean Army and RAMC deemed the 40mm to have insufficiently increased performance compared to the 30mm and 35mm, only having marginal improvements in most areas while also having drawbacks in ammunition capacity and size.
- CVM95 120: Indirect fire variant equipped with a twin-barrel 120mm mortar system.
- CV9540 LVKV: SHORAD variant equipped with a fire control radar and 40mm cannon.
Ruvelka
The ARCV 95 in Ruvelkan service is designated the TSPJ1, and has produced over 3,500 vehicles.
- TSPJ1 Uhlan IFV: Standard infantry fighting vehicle of the Ruvelkan Army and Imperial Fusiliers. Armed with a 40mm cannon.
- TSPJ1 Uhlan Light Tank: Light tank variant armed with a 120mm cannon. Sacrifices troop carrying capacity for ammunition stowage, as well as a heavier improved armour package featuring a combination of non-explosive and explosive reactive armour.