AF-40 Al-Fahd AFV

History of the AF-40 Al-Fahd AFV

In 1998, the Saudi National Guard adopted the "Al-Fahd" eight-wheeled armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) - based on a modified Canadian LAV-25 - making it the first to be produced in an oil-rich region Such vehicle country. The vehicle has also been added to inventories in Kuwait and Pakistan, with Abdallah Al Fair's heavy industries producing a total of at least 100 units.

Fulfilling the same battlefield role as the LAV-25, it is a versatile machine that offers several configurations.

The Al-Fahd features a composite steel alloy hull and Kevlar shatter lining for enhanced protection of the crew inside. The vehicle is an 18-ton (short) beast with a 26-foot hull, 9.6-foot weight, and variable height due to optional weapon mounts (turret or no turret) and suspension settings.

Depending on the interior configuration, the vehicle can be operated by 3 or 4 crew members with 11 combat-ready seats (depending on seating arrangement). Power comes from an air-cooled 10- or 12-cylinder Deutz diesel engine that produces between 400 and 550 horsepower, and - again depending on the end product - is located in the front or rear of the fuselage.

The engine is mated to a ZF 6WG-200 drivetrain made by Getriebefabrik Passau, while the hull is mounted on an adjustable hydropneumatic suspension system controlled by the driver. The range can be up to 500 miles and the road speed is up to 56 mph.

An optional amphibious kit allows Al-Fahd to traverse the water source by using sprinklers.

The Al-Fahd is sold in three different prefab configurations, including the base Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) form "AF-40-8-2". As a result, the internal layout was changed, producing the "AF-40-1-1" armored personnel carrier (APC) and infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) forms. Depending on the configuration, specific engines are installed, the location of which depends on whether the aft fuselage area is required for passenger transport.

In this case, an electric ramp has been added for passengers to enter and exit the vehicle.

The versatility of the Al-Fahd design extends to weapon support - machine guns, autocannons and even lethal 105mm main guns can be mounted in a fully rotating turret.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

Armor

variable - depends on the weapon.

Changes