IMI Urban Fighter APC/IFV Out-MRAP’s MRAP for Mobile Anti-IED/EFP Protection

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by David Crane
defrev at gmail.com

September 5, 2007

Israel Military Industries, Ltd. (IMI) recently introduced it’s "Urban Fighter", which is an upgraded, up-armored and modified M113 Gavin APC/IFV (Armored Personnel Carrier/Infantry Fighting Vehicle). The goal of the Urban Fighter tracked armored vehicle (or, armored tracked vehicle), is to provide Israeli infantry warfighters with superior anti-IED/EFP and anti-RPG (Rocket-Propelled Grenade) protection to a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle in a mobile platform that, unlike a wheeled vehicle (like MRAP, Stryker, LAV or HMMWV a.k.a. Humvee), retains true cross-country/all-terrain (including deep water, since the M113 is amphibious)/all-weather mobility–which only a tracked vehicle–especially a lightweight tracked vehicle a.k.a. light tracked vehicle a.k.a. light tank–can provide. Both the Canadian military and U.S. military have re-learned this hard lesson over the last four (4) years, but it seems that as of this writing, only the Canadian military has really done anything about it.

Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)/land mines, EFPs and RPGs (or, what we like to call the lethal trifecta) are plaguing Coalition Forces–and primarily the U.S. Army and Marine Corps (USMC)–and two of those (IEDs/mines and RPGs) have been doing so since the Iraqi insurgency/guerilla war began. Explosively-formed penetrators a.k.a. explosively formed projectiles (EFPs) have been wreaking some serious havoc on Coalition troops, more recently. It’s this lethal explosives threat trifecta (IEDs/Mines + EFPs + RPGs) against which…


the Urban Fighter is designed to protect. However, instead of protecting U.S. troops (and other Coalition Forces like the Canadians), it’s going to protect Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers/warfighters in their own back yard against their immediate enemies, who also use land mines, IEDs, EFPs and RPGs (Rocket-Propelled Grenades).

In a nutshell, the IMI Urban Fighter APC/IFV is designed and developed to out-MRAP MRAP (DefenseReview’s phrasing), and do it in a low-ground-pressure tracked platform that can go anywhere, anytime, just like any other M113 Gavin (or any other light tank / tracked vehicle for that matter). The kicker is, the Urban Fighter does it for the low, low price of $100,000 U.S., or approx. 10% of the cost of an MRAP wheeled armored vehicle, which is, by its wheeled nature, relegated to road travel. This makes the MRAP vehicles more predictable, and thus easier (i.e. easier to target and track), targets than armored tracked vehicles a.k.a. tanks for enemy insurgents and terrorists.

The following comes to Defense Review from Defense Update:

"Encountering significant threats in its theatre of operations, the IDF formulated an armored vehicles roadmap that will secure its forces the levels of mobility and protection they require for counter terror operations. Some of the M113 operated by the IDF were installed with raised armored fighting positions (Kasman – shown on left photo). Improved protection suites were also designed for the vehicle and by IMI, utilizing the hybrid
(passive-reactive) armor
. This armor kit was selected by the IDF few
years ago but the program was later shelved due to lack of funding.

More recently, IMI’s Land Systems Division (Slavin) completed a more
radically configured version of the M-113, dubbed "Urban-Fighter",
optimized for Missions Others Than War and Low Intensity Conflict
(LIC), particularly in urban environment. The Urban-Fighter is
considered to augment and replace IDF unprotected or less protected vehicles currently operating in counter-insurgency operations in the West Bank. By the end of June 2007 IMI delivered the Urban-Fighter’s prototype to the IDF for testing. IMI expects the IDF to decide on potential procurements after the tests completion.

Unlike other M-113’s up-armoring projects, the ‘"Urban-Fighter"’ required only minor automotive upgrade, which further contributes to its cost effectiveness. Although this vehicle received a massive improvement in its armor protection, the conversion of a plain Gavin (M -113) into a fully equipped Urban Fighter using the Urban-Fighter kit is performed within days at a cost about 10 percent of the cost of a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) currently produced for the US Army and Marines. The vehicle’s protection was enhanced to stop heavy machine guns, shrapnel and most types of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) utilizing the Iron Wall technology armor suite developed by IMI, providing bulletproof armor as well as IED , including Explosively Formed Projectiles (EFP) and Explosively Formed Fragments (EFF) protection. In addition, the Urban-Fighter uses improved slat armor, protecting it from attacks by RPGs.

The new vehicle offers features hitherto unavailable to APCs, including armored transparent side windows, offering unobstructed visibility upwards and sideways. 360 degrees observation and firing capability is provided for the commander and another crewmember by a raised cupola fitted with transparent armor. Firing ports are imparted for warfighters in the front, sides and rear. The fighting compartment was has also been redesigned with the addition of blast-protected seats, improving the survivability of the crew to attacks by mines and IEDs.

The vehicle can carry eight fully loaded troops and a driver.
The driver’s position was greatly improved, compared to conventional M-113s and is now fitted with two windows and side and rear looking video cameras eliminating the ‘blind areas’ that necessitated direction by the commander. The new driver’s compartment ensures good visibility under most driving conditions, for safe driving on roads, dust roads and cross country. The current configuration retains the ‘steering sticks’ however the vehicle can be installed with an optional steering wheel to further simplify driving.

IMI’s Land Systems Division is Israel’s leading armor systems house, developing and producing advanced protection systems for heavy, medium and light vehicle applications. Among the company’s current programs is the designing and production of the special armor elements used on the Merkava tank, the development and production of the modernized Turkish M-60 tank and the design and production of protection suites for the IDF’s new armored infantry fighting vehicle (Namer)."

Company Contact Info (from DefenseReview):

Marketing Information Director
Israel Military Industries Ltd. (IMI)
POB 1044, Ramat Hasharon 47100, Israel
+972-3548-5118 Phone
+972-3548-5129 Fax
dzeevi@imi-israel.com Email
www.imi-israel.com Website

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IMI Urban Fighter APC/IFV Out-MRAP’s MRAP for Mobile Anti-IED/EFP Protection by

About David Crane

David Crane started publishing online in 2001. Since that time, governments, military organizations, Special Operators (i.e. professional trigger pullers), agencies, and civilian tactical shooters the world over have come to depend on Defense Review as the authoritative source of news and information on "the latest and greatest" in the field of military defense and tactical technology and hardware, including tactical firearms, ammunition, equipment, gear, and training.

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