IAV-90
| IAV-90 Chasis | |
|---|---|
 Two basic IAV-90's during public drills (1996) | |
| Type | Infantry Fighting Vehicle |
| Place of origin |  Inyursta |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1994 - |
| Used by | Inyurstan Army |
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Designer | PavCo Arms, Inyurstan Army |
| Designed | 1982 - 1984 |
| Manufacturer | PavCo Arms Inc. |
| Produced | 1992 |
| Variants | YT-1 Caiman Light Tank |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 19,050kg (21t) |
| Length | 7.3m |
| Width | 3.4m |
| Height | 1.8m (top of hull) |
| Crew | 3 (commander, gunner, driver) |
| Passengers | 8 |
| Armor | Spaced laminate armor base layer, 20mm protection frontal, up to 14.5mm top, sides & back |
Main armament | Various |
Secondary armament | Various |
| Fuel capacity | 40gal |
Operational range | 500km (internal fuel, road) |
| Speed | 55km/h (road) 40km/h (off-road) |
The IAV-90 series is a family of infantry fighting vehicle in service with the Inyurstan Army. It serves moderate use with armored units as both an IFV and an armored personnel carrier, as well as limited use in other roles outside of armored formations. Since its introduction, the IAV-90 family has replaced virtually all M113 variants in frontline service with the Inyurstan Army.
Development
Prior to Generalissimo Martinez's coup in Cuscatlan, a ground war with Maoist Cuscatlan was an extremely likely probability, and to a lesser extent potential ground combat against the Soviet-backed Guerroca was also a potential threat. Inyurstan military planners had already seen the vulnerability of the M113 in the Red Insurgency, and desired an infantry fighting vehicle akin to the BMP series to support future operations.
The IAV-90 series had a somewhat troubled development, and neither the Inyurstan Army nor the Inyurstan Navy (by proxy of the Inyurstan Marine Corps) could agree on a number of specifications. This would cause the Inyurstan Navy to drop out of the program in 1985 and instead go with Seratto Defense Solutions' IAV-78 concept. By the time it was finally completed in 1992, the focus had shifted from a troop-carrying amphibious light tank instead to a mobile, all-terrain vehicle that could keep up with main battle tanks in a standing war.
Design
Built with spaced laminate armor, the IAV-90 chassis provides protection against all small-caliber weapons and most cannon rounds from frontal angles. Subsequent upgrades and armor packages add ERA, slat armor, and even the advanced modern Maelstrom AEPS.
Originally designed to offer a more armored and armed alternative to the M113, the IAV-90/95 later found additional utility operating alongside M1A2 MBT's which they could keep pace with in combat situations. Six road wheels and .85m wide treads give the IAV-90 a significant advantage in off-road situations, especially in rough terrain such as hillsides, forests and scrublands.
IAV-90 APC/AFV
During the Lolloh-Ruol Wars, the primary units deployed were IAV-90M2 and IAV-95M2 which featured slat armor. They saw improved survivability against Lollohian RAT-2 RPG's during several engagements, including DeLoroza's counter-offensive against the demilitarized zone and the Siege of Dekkar. While the armor helped stop Lollohian disposable rockets, they were still vulnerable to tank shells and anti-tank guns. The IAV-95M3 debuted in 2009, featuring improved ERA; however, most heavy fighting had ended by that phase of the war.
Variants
IAV-90 APC/IFV
The standard, "turret-less" grandfather of the IAV-90 family. Armed with a single .50 caliber (12.7mm) machine gun, this basic version can hold up to 8 passengers. Armor packages vary across unit and over time, but the most common armor package is either basic slat armor or ERA paired with Hailstorm APS.
Sub-variants:
- IAV-90M: Added slat armor and night vision to the IAV-90.
- IAV-90M2: Modern version with ERA & Hailstorm APS.
IAV-95 "Gila II" IFV
Armed with an Entengo Arms 57mm "Enforcer" autocannon, a coaxial 7.62mm FN MAG mount, and an RWS .50 caliber machine gun, this variant fills the needs for a frontline heavy IFV. The IAV-95 is the more common lineage of the IAV-90 family tree, finding preferential use in Inyurstan Army armored units where it's armament gives it a lethal edge over its more troop-carrier based cousin. Additional Steel-Syndite plating ups frontal protection, side protection and a turret-side protection to 30mm. Non-explosive reactive armor (NERA) was favored over the more common explosive armor due to the likely presence of troops taking cover behind the Gila. Because of its heavier armament, the number of troops the IAV-95 can carry is reduced to six.
Sub-variants:
- IAV-95M: Fitted with slat armor and basic night-vision equipment.
- IAV-95M2: Improved survivability variant adding Hailstorm APS and AN/VLQ-6 electronic counter-measures to the M-models.
- IAV-95M3: Mainline variant fitted with non-explosive reactive armor (NERA) and Hailstorm APS. Improved night vision optics, FLIR gunsights, and
- IAV-95XM4: Model under development/testing with a 57mm RWS and Maelstrom AEPS.
Other Variants
IAV-95HS "Watchdog" Security Vehicle
Limited production variant for security of heavily-guarded and/or high-threat facilities. Armed with twin GE-3 14.5mm HMG instead of 57mm cannon & coaxial 7.62x51mm MG. Topside RWS replaced with 7.62x51mm MG. Sold both abroad and domestically to several private military companies (PMC's).
YT-1 "Caiman" Light Tank
Main Article: YT-1 Caiman Light Tank
As a supplement to the YT-3 Crocodile MBT, the YT-1 Caiman was developed from the chassis of the IAV-90. PavCo added an additional layer of welded steel and syndite plating to the chassis in order to increase protection; at a cost to weight and speed. Further ceramic applique bumps the protection up to a claimed 30mm from the sides and >40mm from the frontal arc. Gun turret protection from the top is roughly 25mm. This light tank features a Mericki 6 Frag (111mm) rifled gun as its main armament with a coaxial FN-MAG 7.62mm MG and .50 caliber MG turret.
IAV-90AT "Varano" ATGM Carriage
The IAV-90AT is a specialized ATGM carriage, dubbed a "tank hunter" by the Inyurstan Army. It carries a dual tube-launcher for the GPM-K Pacarána, an advanced high-velocity, high-penetration missile capable of engaging modern MBTs from the frontal arcs. A self-contained tracking beam and millimeter microwave radar are mounted on the vehicle, allowing up to two enemy tanks to be targeted by a single IAV-90AT.
This variant is one of the few in the IAV-90 series to see use outside of armored formations.
MAA-95-SA "Aranya" SHORADS
A quad-mounted ADM-12T Éscouta SMDA paired with a RK-23 "Venom" 23mm gatling gun on the chassis of an IAV-90. Includes a self-contained tracking & fire control radar in addition to a FLIR gunsight. Radar range is roughly 18-25km for detection of 3m2 aerial targets with a tracking & lock-on range of roughly 8km for similarly sized targets. The MAA-95-SA serves as the primary forward-area air-defense (FAAD) in Inyurstan armored brigades.
Others
YT-2 Gavial Tank Destroyer
Type-44 SPG
HEV-92 Engineering Vehicle