Denel Land Systems submitts a proposal to meet the South African Army's New Generation of Infantry Combat Vehicle requirement

The South African Army's has a requirement for a New Generation of Infantry Combat Vehicles, which were put out for open tender during February 2004 and only Denel Land Systems, a division of Denel (Pty) Ltd has responded by submitting a proposal.

According to the proposal which is currently under adjudication, Denel Land Systems will act as prime contractor, main system integrator as well as turret supplier for these vehicles. Patria Vehicles, Denel Land Systems' partner from Finland, will supply the platforms whereas EADS, Europe is Denel Land Systems' partner for the supply of command and control as well as self protection systems.

The total scope of this project entails the development, industrialisation, serial production and through life support of wheeled new generation infantry combat vehicles, in 5 different variants and will run over at least 10 years.
The significance of this program is not only the dramatically enhancement and modernization that it will bring to the South African Defence Force's ageing landward operational capability, but it will also strengthen Denel's position as the cornerstone and anchor in the South African defence industry and contribute to the sustainability of this prestigious industry.

The proposed New Generation Infantry Combat Vehicles is the culmination of the integration of Denel Land Systems' family of advanced and state of the art modular combat turrets, sporting Denel Land Systems' GI-30, 30mm gun and mounted 60mm long range mortar system, Denel Aerospace Systems' Ingwe anti-tank missile with the Patria AMV 8x8 armoured modular vehicle.

Patria AMV is technologically the most advanced 8x8 armoured wheeled vehicle platform that is in serial production and with close to 200 AMV's delivered by the end of 2006. Patria AMV 8x8 offers a unique possibility to unify customer's vehicle fleet, since the 8x8 version of AMV is a part of larger product family covering also 6x6 versions, system carrier version and a heavy weapon platform version.

The section variant of the new generation infantry combat vehicle, which makes up for the majority of the mix of vehicles, and will be equipped with a 30mm gun as primary weapon with a 7,62mm machine gun as a secondary weapon. With its fully stabilised panoramic sight, sporting day and night vision sensors, including a range finder as well as auto tracking, integrated with the Denel Land Systems Fire Directing computer and electric gun drives, this system offers a fire on the move (hunter killer) capability.

As survivability, especially that of the crew, is of utmost importance to Denel Land Systems and all users of such systems, the vehicle is equipped with NATO 81mm smoke grenade launchers, collective BC protection, armour and additional add-on armour, spall linings as well as provision for active self protection systems.

The 5 variants in which the new generation combat vehicle will be configured are:

1. Section Variant with the following features:
Main Weapon: 30mm X 173mm externally driven cannon

Secondary weapon: 7,62 X 51mm Machine Gun

Crew: 3 (Commander, Driver & Gunner) + section of 8

Sighting: Commander: Panoramic Optical Day with TV
- Primarily stabilised
- Displays gunner Thermal Imager

Gunner: Day (TV) & Night (Thermal Imager)
- Laser Range Finder
- Auto Tracker for gunner
- Data displayed on flat panel displays
- May input range manually
- All sights provided with battle range marks

Fire Control: Full solution fire on the move and moving targets

2. Fire Support Variant with the following features:

Same turret configuration and weapons as the Section Variant but carry ammunition in place of the section of 8.

3. Command Variant with the following features:
Main Weapon: 12,7mm Machine gun
Equipped and manned for command and control

4. Mortar Variant with the following features:
Main Weapon: DLS 60mm long range mortar
Ammunition handling: Yes
Fire Control: Yes

5. Missile Variant with the following features:
Main Weapon: Ingwe Anti Tank Missiles
Supplier: Denel Aerospace Systems
Ready rounds: 4

All turrets make provision for a crew of 2 persons, i.e. commander and gunner.