In 1998,the Saudi National Guard adopted the "Al-Fahd" 8-wheeled Armored Fighting Vehicle (AFV) - based on a modified Canadian LAV-25 -making it the first such vehicle to be manufactured in the oil-rich nation. The vehicle has also joined the inventories of Kuwait and Pakistan with production numbers reaching at least 100 units overall through Abdallah Al Fairs Company for Heavy Industries. It serves the same battlefield role as the LAV-25 and is a versatile machine being offered in various configurations.
The Al-Fahd features a combination steel alloy hull with Kevlar spall liners for increased protection for the crew within. The vehicle is an 18-ton (short) beast with a hull length of 26 feet, weight of 9.6 feet and variable height due to optional armament installations (turret or no turret) and suspension settings. Depending on the internal configuration, the vehicle can be served by a crew of three or four with seating for eleven combat-ready personnel (dependent on seating arrangement). Power is through a Deutz 10- or 12-cylinder air-cooled diesel engine outputting between 400 and 550 horsepower and - again depending on the end-product - is seated at the front or rear of the hull. The engine is coupled to a Zahnradfabrik Passau ZF 6WG-200 transmission system while the hull sits atop an adjustable hydropneumatic suspension system monitored by the driver. Operational ranges can reach 500 miles with a road speed up to 56 miles per hour. An optional amphibious kit makes the Al-Fahd able to traverse water sources through use of waterjets.
The Al-Fahd is marketed across three distinct prefabricated configurations that includes the base "AF-40-8-2" Armored Fighting Vehicle (AFV) form. From this, the internal arrangement was changed to produce the "AF-40-1-1" Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) as well as the Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) forms. Depending on the configuration, a certain engine is fitted and its placement depends on whether the rear hull area is required for passenger hauling. In such a case, a powered ramp is added for use by the occupants to enter/exit the vehicle.
The versatility of the Al-Fahd design also spreads to the armament support - cleared to mount machine guns, autocannons and even a tank-killing 105mm main gun in a fully-traversing turret.
Power & Performance Those special qualities that separate one land system design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the AF-40 Al-Fahd AFV 8x8 Wheeled Armored Fighting Vehicle.
1 x Deutz 10-/12-cylinder diesel engine developing between 400 and 550-horsepower driving conventional all-wheel arrangement. Installed Power
40 mph 65 kph Road Speed
497 miles 800 km Range
Structure The physical qualities of the AF-40 Al-Fahd AFV 8x8 Wheeled Armored Fighting Vehicle.
4 (MANNED) Crew
25.9 ft 7.9 meters O/A Length
9.7 ft 2.95 meters O/A Width
8.9 ft 2.7 meters O/A Height
36,001 lb 16,330 kg | 18.0 tons Weight
Armament & Ammunition Available supported armament, ammunition, and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the AF-40 Al-Fahd AFV 8x8 Wheeled Armored Fighting Vehicle.
VARIABLE (Dependent upon Configuration):
1 x 40mm OR 105mm main gun.
1 x 7.62mm coaxial machine gun.
1 x 12.7mm Anti-Aircraft (AA) Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) (Optional).
8 to 12 x Smoke Grenade Dischargers.
AMMUNITION: Variable - Dependent upon armament.
Variants Notable series variants as part of the AF-40 Al-Fahd AFV family line.
AF-40 "Al-Fahd" - Base Series Designation.
AF-40-8-1 APC - Armored Personnel Carrier.
AF-40-8-2 AFRV - Armored Fighting/Reconnaissance Vehicle.
Operators Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the AF-40 Al-Fahd AFV. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national land systems listing.
Total Production: 100 Units Contractor(s): Abdallah Al Faris Company for Heavy Industries - Saudi Arabia
[ Kuwait; Pakistan; Saudi Arabia ]
Going Further... The AF-40 Al-Fahd AFV 8x8 Wheeled Armored Fighting Vehicle appears in the following collections:
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