AEV 3 Kodiak
AEV 3 Kodiak | |
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Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH and RUAG Defence; Krauss-Maffei Wegmann are technical design parent of the base platform | |
Designed | from 2002 |
Manufacturer | Rheinmetall (local assembly/conversion is an option if not new-build) |
Unit cost | Leopard 2A6 base platform: US$5.74 million (2007) |
Produced | 2007–present |
No. built | 42 (plus 44 on order 2021) |
Specifications | |
Mass | Military Load Classification (MLC) 70 |
Length | 10.2 metres (400 inches) |
Width | 3.54 m (139 in) (transport width) |
Height | 2.6 m (100 in) (without machine gun) |
Crew | 2 or 3 |
Armour | welded steel, with a package of spaced multilayer passive composite armour |
Main armament | a RCWS (Remote Controlled Weapon Station) with options ranging from 5.56 mm light machine gun to 40 mm grenade launcher can be fitted at the commander's hatch |
Engine | MTU 873 Ka-501 liquid-cooled V12 twin-turbo diesel engine 1,500 PS (1,479 hp, 1,103 kW) at 2,600 rpm |
Power/weight | 21.4 PS/t (15.7 kW/t) (approx. based on MLC 70 classification) |
Transmission | Renk HSWL 354 automatic with 4 forward and 2 reverse gears |
Suspension | Torsion bar suspension |
Fuel capacity | 1,100 litres (242 imperial gallons; 291 US gallons) in interconnected tanks |
Operational range | 500 km on roads (estimated) |
Maximum speed | 68 km/h (42 mph) forward; 31 km/h (19 mph) reverse |
The AEV 3 Kodiak is a
English nomenclature for the vehicle is now AEV 3 Kodiak, while German is Pionierpanzer 3 (PiPz 3) Kodiak. Depending on user or reference source the AEV 3 Kodiak may also be referred to as Gepanzerte Pioniermaschine Kodiak, AEBV (Armoured Engineering and Breaching Vehicle), Armoured Engineer Vehicle 3 Kodiak, Ingenjörbandvagn 120, or the L2-AEV.[1][3][2]
Development
Development of the AEV 3 Kodiak traces back to 2002 and the Swiss Army's Armoured Engineer Vehicle 3 requirement. As a technology partner of the Swiss Army, RUAG Defence entered into a consortium with Rheinmetall Landsysteme, Rheinmetall (with Krauss-Maffei Wegmann) joint-manufacturers of the Leopard 2 main battle tank (MBT) on which the AEV 3 Kodiak is based. The name Kodiak was adopted for the Armoured Engineer Vehicle 3 during development for future marketing purposes only.[1][3]
The first Armoured Engineer Vehicle 3 prototype for the Swiss Army was constructed using company funds and was based on a surplus Swiss Army Leopard 2 MBT, the Leopard 2 designated Panzer 87 by the Swiss. In the summer of 2003 the
On 9 January 2007, Rheinmetall announced a Swiss Army contract award for 12 Armoured Engineer Vehicle 3 valued at CHF 95 million (US$76 million). The twelve Leopard 2 chassis used came from Swiss Army stocks with turrets removed and construction occurred in Switzerland. By late 2011 the last example had been delivered and the vehicles are used by the Swiss Army's Panzersappeurbataillon 11.[3]
The next customers for AEV 3 Kodiak would be the Netherlands and Sweden in a joint purchase. Since 2001 and to reduce costs Sweden had attempted
Swedish vehicles are known as AEV 3 S (Swedish), or locally as the Ingenjörbandvagn 120, and are based on six Swedish Army Leopard 2 chassis (Stridsvagn 121 in Swedish service) chassis. The chassis were upgraded locally to Stridsvagn 122 standard and then transported to Germany for conversion.[1][3] The Netherlands vehicles are based on Leopard 2A4 chassis. These were overhauled locally before being converted in Germany. In service the Dutch vehicles replaced fourteen Leopard 1 engineering vehicles. Swedish and Dutch vehicles reportedly share 95%
Singapore has a total of fourteen AEV 3 Kodiaks (known locally as L2-AEV), these ordered and delivered in between 2014 and 2015. In service these are operated by the 38th Battalion, Singapore Combat Engineers (38 SCE), and replaced the US-built M728 CEV.[1]
The most recent user announced for the AEV 3 Kodiak is the German Bundeswehr. On 12 May 2021 Rheinmetall announced that the Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) had signed a contract for the manufacture and delivery of a 44 Kodiak, with a gross value of around €295 million. The first example will be produced in 2023, with deliveries to be complete by 2029. The order includes a number of additional support- and training-related services.[4]
Description
The AEV 3 Kodiak typically uses
Hull structure and layout
The fixed superstructure of the AEV 3 Kodiak is constructed from
If required, the vehicle can be line-of-sight remotely controlled.Located centrally between the crew compartment at the front of the vehicle is the excavator arm. When not in use this is traversed to the rear and locates between the crew compartment. The excavator arm broadly resembles that of a conventional
Also mounted at the front of the vehicle is a
Primarily for obstacle removal, two Rotzler hydraulic nine-tonne variable speed winches are fitted. These have 200 m of usable cable and can operate singularly or together at up to 90 m/minute, and are typically utilised to remove obstacles. The Kodiak can also provide electrical or hydraulic power for external equipment such as work lights and
For
Automotives
In common with the Leopard 2 MBT, the AEV 3 Kodiak is powered by a
The 47.6-litre MTU 873 Ka-501 develops 1,500 PS (1,479 hp, 1,103 kW) at 2,600 rpm1,500
Electrical power is provided to the vehicle by a 20 kW generator mounted to the bottom of the powerpack and powered mechanically from the main drive. The system runs at between 24 V and 28 V with a capacity of up to 400 Ah, divided into a low power circuit of 100 Ah and a high power circuit of 300 Ah. For extreme power usage systems such as engine starting both circuits can be connected. When the engine is not running power is supplied from eight batteries, mounted on each side of the hull at the rear in dedicated compartments that can be accessed from the rear deck. Two 12 V batteries in series provide power to the low power circuit, with four 12 V batteries in three series sets of two each provide power to the high power circuit. Slave starting using a second vehicle in the event of battery failure can be achieved using a connector in the rear of the hull.[3][1] An auxiliary power unit can supply 4.2 kW of electricity if required.
Running gear consists of seven dual
Users
- Germany – The AEV 3 Kodiak was Rheinmetall's offer to the German Army in a program to replace its Leopard 1 based Pionierpanzer 2 Dachs armoured engineer vehicle.[1] In April 2021 the decision to procure 44 AEV 3 Kodiak was announced, this confirmed by Rheinmetall on 12 May 2021.[5]
- Netherlands – The Netherlands joined the Swedish program for an armoured engineering vehicle in 2006 and in January 2008 a contract valued at around €60 million was placed for ten AEV 3 Kodiak with delivery occurring between 2011 and 2012. Swedish and Dutch vehicles reportedly share 95% commonality.
- Singapore – Singapore ordered a total of fourteen AEV 3 Kodiak (known locally as L2-AEV) for delivery between 2014 and 2015. In service these are operated by the 38th Battalion, Singapore Combat Engineers (38 SCE).[1]
- Switzerland – The Swiss Army were the launch customer for the AEV 3 Kodiak, the vehicle designed initially for the Swiss requirement. The order for 12 examples was placed on 9 January 2007, this valued at CHF 95 million (US$76 million). By late 2011 the last example had been delivered and the vehicles are used by the Swiss Army's Panzersappeurbataillon 11.
- Sweden – Sweden formally launched the requirement that would procure six AEV 3 S (S – Swedish) with the local designation of Ingenjörbandvagn 120 in 2005. In January 2008 a contract valued at around €40 million was placed with delivery occurring between 2011 and 2012. Sweden's purchase was joint with the Netherlands.
Other operators of the Leopard 2 MBT that operate older armoured engineering vehicles (or in some cases no current vehicle of this type) include Austria, Chile, Greece, Indonesia, Poland, Portugal, and Turkey. With logistic, support and various other cost-saving commonalities factored in, these are considered by Rheinmetall to be possible future users for the AEV 3 Kodiak.[3]
Gallery
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Rheinmetall promotional image of the AEV 3 Kodiak.
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This hot climate optimised AEV 3 Kodiak is fitted with a Pearson Full Width Mine Plough.
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This AEV 3 Kodiak is using its front-mounted blade for dozing.
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The two pivot points on the excavator arm of this AEV 3 Kodiak are clearly visible as it digs.
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Front view of an AEV 3 Kodiak clearly showing installation of a mine plough.
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The AEV3 Kodiak is based on the Leopard 2 main battle tank.
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The AEV 3 Kodiak will likely complement and eventually replace Germany's Leopard 1 based Pionierpanzer 2 (Dachs).
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Leopard 2 (October 2019 update)". Jane's UK Ltd. 2019-10-16. Retrieved 2020-02-17.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c d e "AEV Kodiak". Online Tank Museum. 2019-07-18. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "AEV 3 Kodiak". Rheinmetall AG. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
- ^ "Rheinmetall Kodiak to be the Bundeswehr's new combat engineer vehicle". Rheinmetall. 2021-05-12. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
- ^ "Gepanzerte Pioniermaschine – Beschaffung des Pionierpanzer 3 Kodiak gebilligt". 14 April 2021.
External links
- Rheinmetall AEV 3 Kodiak page Very detailed; very informative
- AEV 3 Kodiak brochure (PDF)
- Rheinmetall official AEV 3 Kodiak video; mineplough
- Rheinmetall official AEV 3 Kodiak video; tools and quick-couple device
- AEV 3 Kodiak demo of digging/dozing
- Dutch AEV 3 Kodiak demo of excavator arm and dozing capability
- Dutch Kodiak demo (Dutch language but visuals are informative
- Dutch Kodiak launching a fascine