FV.50 Guardian
FV.50 Guardian | |
---|---|
Type | Main battle tank |
Place of origin | A&L |
Service history | |
In service | 2004-present |
Wars | Ummayan Civil War Aravalli War One-Month War |
Production history | |
Designed | 1988-1996 |
Manufacturer | ROF Blackwater |
Produced | 1998-present |
No. built | >560 |
Variants | ARRV AVRE AVLB |
Specifications | |
Weight | 64 tons 75 tons with armour modules. |
Length | 8.1 (Hull) |
Width | 3.8 (4.2m w/ armour modules) |
Height | 2.7 (Turret Roof) |
Crew | 4 (Commander, driver, gunner, loader) |
Armor | Hybrid composite armour, IRHA plates, NxRA tiles, composite tiles on hull, rubber, and fibreglass spall lining. |
Main armament | Mk.1 and Mk.2: RA-120mm 55 calibre smoothbore gun Mk.3: RA-130mm 52 calibre smoothbore gun 42 rounds, 25 in autoloader |
Secondary armament | 7.62mm coaxial chain gun 7.62mm loader-hatch machine gun 7.62mm commander-hatch machine gun or optional 12.7mm RWS |
Engine | 12-cylinder opposing-piston, multi-fuel engine. 1,900 hp (1,397kW). |
Power/weight | 25.3 hp/t |
Suspension | In-Arm hydractive suspension |
Operational range | ~500km |
Speed | 68 km/h (42 mph) On-road 54 km/h (34 mph) Off-road |
The FV.50 Guardian is a third-generation main battle tank in service with Anglia and Lechernt as a replacement for the MBT-80 Challenger. It entered operational service with the Crown Army in 2004.
It was designed by the Military Vehicles and Engineering Establishment (MVEE), ordered by the Ministry of Defence to develop a main battle tank to retain parity with newer armour being developed in Septentrion. The Guardian has four crew members consisting of a commander, gunner, loader, and driver. The main armament is a 120mm 55 calibre smoothbore gun built by Royal Arsenal, an improved version of the earlier 120mm 44 calibre smoothbore gun used on the Challenger.
The Guardian completely replaced the Challenger in service with the Crown Army, and in 2005 would make its combat debut in the Ummayan Civil War, where the Guardian would quickly earn a reputation as being one of the most capable MBTs in Septentrion.
Development
While still a formidable platform it was clear that the MBT-80 Challenger was being superseded as newer armour was being developed and operated in Casaterra and Hemithea. The Ministry of Defence requested the Military Vehicles and Engineering Establishment to begin development of an MBT that could go head-to-head with the latest tanks being fielded by other nations.
Some work on further development of the Challenger had been ongoing since 1984 at the Military Vehicles and Engineering Establishment, and several experimental vehicles were produced, including one with new experimental composite armour. After the request from the MoD to start work on a new tank, it was announced that these concepts would be brought together in a new design built from the ground up.