"The M981 FIST-V was used during the 1991 Gulf War but was eventually given up in favor of the Bradley and Stryker series."
Power & Performance Those special qualities that separate one land system design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the M981 FIST-V Laser Designator Battlefield Support Vehicle.
1 x Chrysler A-710-B V-8 engine delivering 215 horsepower at 4,000rpm. Installed Power
40 mph 64 kph Road Speed
199 miles 321 km Range
Structure The physical qualities of the M981 FIST-V Laser Designator Battlefield Support Vehicle.
3 (MANNED) Crew
15.9 ft 4.86 meters O/A Length
8.8 ft 2.68 meters O/A Width
11.2 ft 3.41 meters O/A Height
26,455 lb 12,000 kg | 13.2 tons Weight
Armament & Ammunition Available supported armament, ammunition, and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the M981 FIST-V Laser Designator Battlefield Support Vehicle.
1 x 7.62mm M60 Medium Machine Gun (MMG)
2 x 4 Smoke grenade dischargers
AMMUNITION: 8 x Smoke Grenades
Variants Notable series variants as part of the M981 FIST-V family line.
M981 - Base Series Designaion
M981A3 - Improved variant
The M981 FIST-V vehicle was developed as a derivative (and upgrade) of the M901 ITV Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) carrier. The FIST-V was used strictly for designating targets (via laser) for attack and did not take on targets directly as the original M901 ITV vehicle was designed to do. The FIST-V series was intended to be used as an artillery observation platform, its chassis based on the original ubiquitous M113 APC (detailed elsewhere on this site).
The complete M981 system was fielded with a Targeting Station Control Device (TSCD), a Ground Vehicle Laser Locator Designator (G/VLLD), a periscope and a single 7.62mm M60 machine gun (the latter for close-in self-defense or suppression of nearby enemy forces). Four SINCGARS radios were also showcased in the design as were 8 x smoke grenade dischargers (for self-screening). Much like the M901 ITV before it, the M981 FIST-V could extend and collapse the turret component for laser designation or travel respectively.
FIST-V vehicles were used during the 1991 Gulf War but their role was eventually overtaken by the M2 Bradley and Stryker family of vehicles.
Operators Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the M981 FIST-V. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national land systems listing.
Total Production: 550 Units Contractor(s): United Defense LP - USA
[ United States ]
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Image from the United States Department of Defense imagery database.
Going Further... The M981 FIST-V Laser Designator Battlefield Support Vehicle appears in the following collections:
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