Iveco LMV

Iveco LMV (Light Multirole Vehicle) is a 4WD tactical vehicle developed by Iveco, and in service with several countries. After its adoption by the Italian Army under the name VTLM Lince (Lynx)(Veicolo-Tattico-Leggero-Multiruolo/Light-Tactical-Multirole-Vehicle),[3] it won the FCLV (Future Command and Liaison Vehicle) competition of the British Army as the Panther, but the fleet was put up for sale in 2018.

Iveco LMV
Belgian Army LMV during a parade in 2016.
TypeInfantry mobility vehicle
Place of originItaly
Production history
Designed1990s
Manufacturer
  • Iveco
  • BAE Systems (UK only)
  • MVPS (Russia only)
Produced2001-Present
Specifications
Mass6.5 tons (STANAG 4569 Level 3)
Length5,504 mm (216.7 in) (4,704 mm (185.2 in))
Width2,050 mm (80.7 in)
Height1,950 mm (76.8 in)
Crew
  • 1+4[1]
  • 1+3 (Panther)
  • 1+6 (Stretched Variant)
ArmorSTANAG 4569 Level 1-4[1]
Main
armament
Remote Weapon System
EngineIveco F1D Common Rail EURO 3
136 kW (185 PS; 182 hp)
Payload capacity1,200 kg (2,600 lb)
Transmission6 speed automatic[2]
SuspensionIndependent, Double A-Arm
Ground clearance473 mm (18.6 in)
Operational
range
500 km (310 mi)+
Maximum speed > 130 km/h (81 mph)

It has been adopted by the armies of Albania, Austria, Belgium, Norway, Russia and Spain. The Italian Army took vehicles to both Afghanistan and Lebanon. In Afghanistan, Lince vehicles have saved passengers' lives in several attacks with IEDs.

Design
Italian Army 3rd Bersaglieri Regiment VTLM Lince
Bersaglieri Brigade "Garibaldi" during exercise Allied Spirit IV at the Hohenfels Training Area
Norwegian Iveco LMV.
Panther CLV.
Russian Iveco LMV Rys'.

The LMV uses modular armour packs to adjust its level of protection to its mission requirements.[2] In regards to mine protection, the vehicle's ground clearance has been increased to 493 mm without increasing the overall height (less than 2 meters); it also uses suspended seats of aeronautical derivation, v-hull under body, and a collapsible sandwich structure in the floor to deflect and absorb mine blasts. Its exhaust is piped through its C-pillars, and its turbocharger is located underneath the engine to reduce its thermal signature. Mobility is helped by a run-flat system, allowing the vehicle to move even with completely deflated tires.

It is related to the Fiat Oltre concept car unveiled in 2005.[4]

The LMV was designed in the 1990s and the first LMVs were produced in 2001[5] while the British Panthers were produced between 2006 and 2009.[6]

Variants

Panther CLV

The Panther Command and Liaison Vehicle or Panther CLV is the British Army variant of the Iveco LMV. The Panther CLV came from the "Future Command and Liaison Vehicle" (FCLV) project. Design modifications were made by BAE Systems to allow assembly at BAE Systems Land Systems' factory in Newcastle upon Tyne. While the Panther seats four people, the VTLM Lince seats five.

Over 300 Panthers were assembled at BAE Systems factory in Newcastle upon Tyne under a £160 million contract. It is intended that the Panther will replace vehicles including Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (tracked) (CVRT), FV 432, Saxon and Land Rover Truck Utility Medium (TUM).[7]

The armour protection is tuneable by the replacement of armour packs within the vehicle's external skin. The basic add-on armour pack provides ballistic protection against small arms fire and a heavier kit provides protection against heavy weapons to including mines.

Panther Command and Liaison Vehicles (CLV) are equipped with Enforcer RCWS weapons stations which were developed by SELEX Galileo. The weapons station can be armed with a 7.62mm or 12.7mm machine gun or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher.

The first Panthers were delivered to the 1st Mechanised Brigade (United Kingdom) and a small number underwent hot weather trials in Afghanistan.[7] At end of April 2018, the UK Defence Equipment Sales Authority has put the entire Panther 4x4 fleet up for sale with 395 vehicles available.[8]

Other variants

The LMV is available in two different wheelbases, 3.2 m (126.0 in) and 3.5 m (137.8 in).[2] A two-door, two seater is also available.[2]

Since 2015, LMV production has featured a host of improvements: these include a more powerful 220 hp (164 kW) diesel engine coupled to a new eight-speed automatic transmission, an upgraded drive line for higher performance and a new air filtration system. The payload of the LMV has been increased by some 40 per cent and it is now fitted with new specially designed suspension units and recently developed all-terrain tyres for a higher level of cross-country mobility. A key feature of the latest LMV batch of improvements is that they can be backfitted to the entire legacy LMV fleet to enhance their capabilities. The internal layout of the LMV has also been redesigned for greater crew comfort, with new seats, a next-generation dashboard and an upgraded hardtop. The internal cab height has been increased by 100mm to create more internal volume and an electronic architecture has been fitted for easier upgrading in the future.

The Russian LMV is named Rys' (Lince Lynx) by MVPS, an Iveco Russia and Oboronservis LLC joint venture company,[9] and launched complete knockdown assembly of Ryses[10] on the premises of the 127th Wheeled Vehicle Repair Plant in Voronezh, Rys' supply chain by different plants firms provided around Russia.

Marketing

As of September 2015, Iveco Defence Vehicles had achieved sales of more than 4,000 LMVs Lince 4X4. Iveco LMV was authorized by the Italian government to sell to the Ukraine for 41 million Euros on 14 September 2014, but never confirmed delivery.

Operators
Map of Iveco LMV operators in blue

Current
 Albania
 Austria
  • Austrian Army operates 172 Iveco LMV[11]
 Belgium
  • Belgian Army operates 440 Iveco LMV[11]
 Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina Army
 Brazil
 Croatia
 Czech Republic
 Indonesia
 Italy
 Lebanon
  • Lebanese Army bought 25 Iveco LMV in 2014 and 20 Iveco LBTP in 2015[19][11]
 Norway
 Qatar
 Russia
 Slovakia
  • Slovak Army bought 40 Iveco M65E 4x4 LMV for Special Forces.
 Spain
 Syria
  • Syrian Arab Army operates Rys' variant supplied by Russia in 2017.[24]
 Tunisia
 United Kingdom
  • British Army received most from 401 delivered Panther CLVs. Additional 400 on option.[11][25]
  • Royal Air Force Regiment operates unknown number of vehicles.

Planned
 Netherlands

See also
  • Toyota Mega Cruiser – a Japanese four-wheel drive military vehicle, also similar in appearance and design to the US Humvee.
  • URO VAMTAC – a Spanish four-wheel drive military vehicle, also similar in appearance and design to the US Humvee.

References
  1. "Multi-Role Light Vehicle (MLV/FCLV)". Archived from the original on 2011-04-29. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  2. "Army Technology - British Army - FCLV (Future Command and Liaison Vehicle)". Archived from the original on 2007-08-24. Retrieved 2007-08-31.
  3. http://www.esercito.difesa.it/equipaggiamenti/Veicoli-blindati-e-corazzati-da-combattimento/Veicoli-tattici-protetti/Pagine/vtlm-lince.aspx
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-16.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-05-01. Retrieved 2018-04-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-04-29. Retrieved 2007-08-31.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Defence News : mod.uk". Archived from the original on July 14, 2008.
  8. Christopher, Foss (30 April 2018). "UK sells Panther fleet". Jane's 360. Retrieved 2020-01-06.
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-08-31. Retrieved 2017-08-31.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-07-25. Retrieved 2017-08-31.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. Foss, Christopher (16 September 2015). "LMV is much improved [DSEI15, D2]". IHS Jane's. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-02-23. Retrieved 2017-02-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. Bozinovski, Igor (4 October 2017). "Italy to gift rifles to Albania". IHS Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 4 October 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  14. Barreira, Victor (15 April 2016). "Brazilian Army selects Iveco LMV as its new 4x4 vehicle". IHS Jane's. Archived from the original on 2016-05-19. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  15. Barreira, Victor (1 September 2016). "Brazil to acquire 1,464 LMV protected vehicles". IHS Jane's. Archived from the original on 2016-09-04. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  16. Kominek, Jimi (2 March 2017). "Czech MoD announces plans to buy about 700 new light vehicles". IHS Jane's 360. Prague, Czech Republic. Archived from the original on 3 March 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  17. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2018-06-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-02-12. Retrieved 2017-02-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  19. Kington, Tom (24 December 2014). "Iveco Cuts 80-Vehicle Deal WIth Lebanon". DefenseNews. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  20. Giorgi, Francesco (7 February 2018). "Veicoli blindati leggeri LAV di Iveco: preferiti anche dalle forze armate norvegesi". Motori.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 7 February 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  21. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2018-06-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. Soper, Karl (13 November 2014). "Russia completes assembly of Iveco armoured vehicles". IHS Jane's. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  23. "Военная полиция пересаживается на безоружные "Рыси"" (in Russian). Izvestia. 3 September 2016. Archived from the original on 30 August 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  24. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-08-31. Retrieved 2017-08-31.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  25. Official British Army page UK Ministry of Defence (army.mod.uk), retrieved 20 November 2019
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