Oct 2012 Compendium 1 - Armada

This exploded drawing shows the modular
concept adopted by Supacat for its SPV400.
The vehicle has been constantly improved
and is now ready for production. (Supacat)
EAGlE: Although now part of General
Dynamics European Land Systems
portfolio, it is difficult not to consider the
Eagle a Swiss product. The early models
developed by Mowag in Kreutzlingen on
the shores of lake Constance were based
on the Humvee chassis and had a gross
weight of 5.1 tonnes. Various improvement
ensued, notably in the engine department
to cope with additional armoured
protection weights. A major change
occurred with the Eagle IV, which in fact
had radically different underpinnings
and was even “Swisser” since it was based
on the Swiss 4 x 4 Duro troop transport
designed by Bucher-Guyer for the Swiss
Army. This change of chassis was required
because of the escalating weight imposed
on the scout vehicle that finally emerged as
one of the most highly protected vehicles
in the light category.
EAGlE IV 6x6: The latest addition to
the family, announced two years ago and
unveiled at Eurosatory 2012, is the 6x6
version of the GDELS vehicle. In spite of a
gross weight of 15 tonnes it is among those
20 armada Compendium Light Armoured Vehicles 2012
This rear view of the SPV400 shows the
protection given to personnel leaving the
vehicle through the rear door. The cockpit
adopted by Supacat for the SPV400 is
based on colour displays that not only
shows the usual vehicle instrument data,
but also maintenance pages and situational
awareness images. (Armada/Paolo Valpolini)
systems that still find their place in this
Compendium mostly because they are
derivatives of a lighter version. Comparing
the 4x4 and 6x6 versions in the crew cab
configuration, which provides a 6 m3
protected volume hosting up to six people,
curb weight increases from 7 to only 7.8
tonnes while the payload allowance is
more than doubled, from 3 to 7.2 tonnes.
Both configurations are proposed with
two powerpack options, the standard one
being the 245hp Cummins ISB6.7 E3 245
Common Rail diesel engine, which gives
the Eagle 4x4 a power to weight ratio of
nearly 25 hp/t; however to provide the
Eagle 6x6 with sufficient mobility the
adoption of the ISB6.7 E3 285 with a 285
to 300 hp output is recommended (the
latter engine’s varying outputs result from
different electronic settings). While the
turning circle diameter wall to wall is
18 metres, the third axle steering option
reduces this to 16 metres. The two versions
maintain a 70 per cent commonality that
reduces the logistic footprint should a
service adopt both. The De Dion axles
allow to keep all wheels on the ground
ensuring maximum off-road mobility.
The stretched version of the Eagle sees
its overall length increased from 5.4 to
6.99 metres compared to the 4x4, has a
wheelbase of 3.83 metres between the
first and second axle while 1.3 metres
separate the hub centres of the second
and third axles. It is proposed in four
different versions, namely the abovementioned
crew cab, the armoured
personnel carrier, the ambulance and the
utility car. All have the same grow weight
of 15 tonnes, though payload, protected
volume and height vary according to
the type. Width remains the same as
The latest version of the Spanish Vamtac
developed by URO Vehículos Especiales S.A.,
has a gross weight of 8.5 tonnes. More than
1,000 Vamtacs have been sold, but not all
in the armoured version. Its main customer
obviously is Spain. (Urovesa).