2017 editors’ choice for best new armored personnel carriers
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An armoured personnel carrier (APC) is a type of armoured fighting vehicle offer enhanced protection, enabling safer infantry deployment in high-threat areas.
Protection, mobility, armament, and cost are among the most important features that need to be evaluated when choosing the best APC in 2017.
Presenting our 2017 Editors’ choice of new APCs— these are the armoured vehicles we’d recommend. Our editors consider these vehicles to be the best new 8×8 wheeled armoured personnel carriers for 2017.
Here are the 5 best new APCs in the world, according to the results of the Defence Blog survey:
5 – the new Japanese 8×8 armoured personnel carrier (APC) developed by Defence Systems Division of Komatsu.
The new 8×8 wheeled armored personnel carrier will weigh 20 tonnes and be able to reach speeds of up to 90 km/h on paved roads. The crew consists of the commander, driver, gunner, and 8 dismounts who can rapidly enter and leave via a large power-operated ramp in the hull rear.
Protection: 2/5
Mobility: 2/5
Armament: 1/5
Cost: 1/5
The new-generation APC can be armed with a 12.7mm heavy machine gun to defeat enemy armoured vehicles, military installations, aircraft and buildings. The vehicle’s V hull is fitted with all-welded steel armour plates to provide increased protection against mine blasts and improvised explosive devices.
4 – the new Rabdan 8×8 armoured personnel carrier (APC) developed by Al Jasoor, a joint venture company between Tawazun (UAE) and Otokar (Turkey).
The Rabdan is a modified Emirati version of a Turkish Otokar Arma 8×8 fitted with the turret with 100mm 2A70 gun and two coaxial weapons, namely, 30mm 2A72 automatic cannon and 7,62mm PKT/PKTM machingun from Russian produced BMP-3 amphibious infantry fighting vehicles.
Protection: 1/5
Mobility: 1/5
Armament: 2/5
Cost: 3/5
The United Arab Emirates military announced during the IDEX 2017 defence show in Abu Dhabi that it had ordered 400 Rabdan 8×8 armored wheeled vehicles fitted with Russian BMP-3 combat turret.
3 – the new Ukrainian BTR-4MV1 armoured personnel carrier developed by “Kharkiv Morozov Machine-Building Design Bureau”, which is part of the Ukrainian “UkrOboronProm” concern.
The BTR-4MV1 wheeled APC offers significant improvements over the BTR-4 series. An advanced modular armour protection system provides the vehicle with NATO STANAG-standard from bullets, guns, and weapons. The BTR-4MV1, while having better armor protection than the BTR-4, adequate armor protection to withstand medium to heavy RPG fire.
Protection: 3/5
Mobility: 3/5
Armament: 4/5
Cost: 5/5
The new engineering solution offers a high level of protection for the vehicle’s occupants against improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and mine blasts. The BTR-4MV1 is equipped with a German Deutz engine and the American Alisson transmission. It is capable of sustained speeds of 110 km/h on level roads.
2 – the new Finnish AMV 28A armoured personnel carrier developed by Patria defence group .
The new Patria AMV 28A is an upgraded version of Finnish 8×8 multi-role military vehicle. The new vehicle has an elongated body and is equipped with enhanced protection , as well as remote controlled weapon station Kongsberg MCT-30 with 30mm Bushmaster Mk44, which is mounted on a lower unit, Protector M153 OWS with M2HB and Javelin anti-tank system.
Protection: 4/5
Mobility: 5/5
Armament: 3/5
Cost: 4/5
The AMV-28A is an innovative development of the firm’s proven eight-wheel drive AMV vehicle family optimising the design to provide swim capability in sea state three conditions, with waves up to 0.5 metres/m to 1.25m (1.8 feet/ft to 4.1ft) and surf.
1 – the new Israel’s Eitan armoured personnel carrier developed by the IAI, IMI and Rafael.
The new Eitan APC is an 8-wheeled APC weighing less than 35 tons and will be fitted with the Trophy active protection system. It is the first wheeled 8×8 APC, developed in Israel. The IDF plans to replace gradually its tracked M113 APCs with a new armored vehicle.
Protection: 5/5
Mobility: 4/5
Armament: 5/5
Cost: 2/5
Prototype of the Eitan is fitted with a remotely controlled weapon station, armed with a 12.7 mm machine gun. There is also a pintle-mounted 7.62 mm machine gun. Though most likely that other weapons, such as 30 mm or 40 mm automatic cannons, will be also available on production version of the Eitan.