Al-Fahd

The Al-Fahd is an armoured fighting vehicle used by the Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia. It was the first armoured fighting vehicle developed and built in Saudi Arabia. The vehicle is produced by the Abdallah Al Faris Company for Heavy Industries, which is based in Dammam.[1]

Not to be confused with Fahd, an Egyptian military vehicle or Al Fahd 300, an Iraqi surface-to-surface SRBM.
Al Fahd
TypeArmoured fighting vehicle
Place of originSaudi Arabia
Service history
In service1998-present
Used bySee Operators
Production history
ManufacturerAbdallah Al Faris Company for Heavy Industries[1]
Produced1998[1]
No. built240[1]
VariantsAF-40-8-1 Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC)
AF-40-8-2 Armoured Fighting/Reconnaissance Vehicle (AFRV)
Specifications
Mass16.3 t (18.0 short tons) (operating empty weight)[2]
Length7.9 m (26 ft)[2]
Width2.94 m (9.6 ft)[2]
HeightVaries by suspension setting[2]
Cruising: 2.065 m (6.77 ft)
Lurking: 1.81 m (5.9 ft)
Obstacle: 2.26 m (7.4 ft)
Crew1 (AF-40-8-1)
4 (AF-40-8-2)[2]
Passengers11 (AF-40-8-1 without turret)[2]
ArmourSteel alloy with Kevlar spall liners[2]
Main
armament
Varies by customer requirements
AF-40-8-1: Up to a 40 mm cannon[1]
AF-40-8-2: Up to a 105 mm low-recoil cannon[1]
EngineAF-40-8-1: Deutz 10-cylinder engine[1]
AF-40-8-2: Deutz 12-cylinder, air-cooled engine[1]
AF-40-8-1: 400 hp (300 kW)
AF-40-8-2: 550 hp (410 kW)
Payload capacityLand: 5.5 t (6.1 short tons)[2]
Water: 2.2 t (2.4 short tons)[2]
TransmissionZahnradfabrik Passau GmbH ZF 6WG-200 powered gearbox[1]
SuspensionHydropneumatic adjustable suspension
Ground clearanceVaries by suspension setting[2]
Cruising: 40.5 cm (15.9 in)
Lurking: 15 cm (5.9 in)
Obstacle: 60 cm (24 in)
Fuel capacity550 l (150 US gal)
Operational
range
AF-40-8-1: 800 km (500 mi)
AF-40-8-2: 600 km (370 mi)
Maximum speed Road: 90 km/h (56 mph)[2]
Cross country: 65 km/h (40 mph)[2]
Amphibious: 8 km/h (5.0 mph)[2]

The Al Fahd is available in three configurations: The AF-40-8-1; an armoured personnel carrier (APC) or infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) variant, and the AF-40-8-2; an armoured fighting/reconnaissance vehicle (AFRV).

Design

Mobility

The AF-40-8-1 and AF-40-8-2 are similar in terms of 8-wheeled hull configuration, suspension and transmission. Internally, however, the vehicles differ in both engine type and engine placement. The AF-40-8-2's larger, 12-cylinder engine is mounted at the rear of the hull, where the AF-40-8-1's 10-cylinder engine is mounted at the front to allow for the troop compartment, and rear troop ramp which are not present on or required for the AFRV version.

The Al Fahd uses a variable hydropneumatic suspension which allows the vehicle to adjust its ground clearance by a total of 45 cm (18 in) - between 15 cm (5.9 in) and 60 cm (24 in) - depending on need.

The vehicle is designed to be able to negotiate slopes of up to 80% (forward) and 55% (side), and cross trenches between 2 m (6.6 ft) and 2.5 m (8.2 ft).

There is also an amphibious version of the Al Fahd available depending on customer requirements. The hydraulic propellers are optional, so not all Al Fahd's are capable of amphibious operation.

Protection

The Al Fahd uses a high-hardness steel alloy to offer protection against 14 mm ammunition on the frontal arc at ranges of 300 m (980 ft) and greater, and 7.62 mm ammunition at ranges of 25 m (82 ft) and greater on the sides and rear of the vehicle.[2] The vehicle also incorporates multiple layers of Kevlar internally to protect the crew and passengers against spall.

Armament

The armament for both the AF-40-8-1 and AF-40-8-2 varies according to customer specifications. The AF-40-8-1 is capable of mounting anything up to and including a 40 mm cannon, and the AF-40-8-2 anything up to and including a low-recoil 105 mm cannon.

Operators
Map of Al-Fahd operators in blue

References
  1. "Al Fahd - Wheeled Armoured Reconnaissance/Personnel Carrier - Army Technology". Army-Technology.com. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  2. "Specifications: Al Fahd - Wheeled Armoured Reconnaissance/Personnel Carrier - Army Technology". Army-Technology.com. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  3. The Militarization of the Persian Gulf: An Economic Analysis by Hossein Askari, Amin Mohseni, Shahrzad Daneshvar, p.90.
  4. Singh, R.S.N. (March 2009). The Military Factor in Pakistan. Lancer Publishers. p. 379. ISBN 978-0981537894.


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