DSA 2024 – MILDEF unveils three new 4×4 vehicles

At Defence Services Asia, DSA in short, the exhibition taking place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, MILDEF unveiled three new 4×4 vehicles aimed at different missions

Fully new, the Weapon Carrier Vehicle (WCV), is based on a rolling chassis with independent trailing arm suspensions, aimed at military units for support missions. At the exhibition it was fitted with rotary wing unmanned air systems (UAS) carried on the rear flatbed. With a 6.8 tonnes gross vehicle mass, it has a 900 kg payload and carries up to four personnel, who access the vehicle through two front-hinged doors per side. The crew cab is protected at STANAG Level 1. It is powered by a Cummins ISB 4.5 litres engine that provides 250 hp, hence a 41 hp/tonne power-to-mass ratio, with a 800 Nm torque at 1,500 rpm. This ensures high mobility in cross country and a top speed on road of 110 km/h, maximum range on road being 600 km. The WCV is 5.32 metres long, 2.2 metres wide and 2.2 metres high, and it can for a 1 metre deep water obstacle, overcome a 0.5 metres trench, climb a 60% gradient and move on a 30% side slope. The WCV has undergone first company tests, an undisclosed number of pre-production vehicles being planned for the full testing and qualification campaign.

The High Mobility Light Tactical Vehicle (HMLTV) is a monocoque vehicle based on axles developed by MILDEF in cooperation with another Malaysian company. The first prototype was produced in police configuration, discussions over a possible contract being still ongoing, while the vehicle exhibited at DSA 2024 was produced in a specific version according to Malaysian Army requirements, specifically for United Nation missions. Painted white, with typical UN markings on the sides, the HMLTV mass is similar to that of the WVC, 6.7 tonnes, has the same dimensions, the same Cummins engine, and identical dimensions, its performances being also very similar. The vehicle can carry a crew of two, plus five passengers and a gunner. The latter manages protected gun mount armed with a 12.7 mm heavy machine. The main difference with the WCV is that the HMLTV is provided in a 4×2 drive configuration, full traction being used by the driver only when needed, something that shows how the Army intends to use this vehicle mostly o roads or hard terrain. EDR On-Line understood that MILDEF has produced six vehicles for company trials.

Last but not least the heaviest and more protected of the three, the Tarantula, a 12 tonnes high protected armoured vehicle which first version was developed in 2021. This had a mass of 14 tonnes, however the Malaysian Army reviewed its requirements, the second generation Tarantula being lighter. The vehicle is 5.7 metres long, 2.5 metres wide and 2.5 metres high. Again a monocoque vehicle with axles as the HMLTV, it is powered y a Caterpillar C7 engine providing 340 hp, for a 28 hp/tonne power-to-mass ratio. Top speed on road is 120 km/h, with maximum range on road of 700 km, range cross country being half that on road, the vehicle carrying 300 litres of fuel. It carries a crew of three plus seven dismounts who access the vehicle via two front-hinged doors per side, firing ports being available for shooting from inside the vehicle using individual weapons. On top of the roof the Tarantula exhibited at DSA was fitted with a dual remotely controlled weapon station armed with a 12.7 and a 7.62 mm machine guns. Moreover four sets of four 76 mm grenade launchers were fitted at each corner of the roof. According to data provided by MILDEF, the vehicle is protected at Level 3 at the front, at Level 2/3 on the sides, depending of the zones, and has a mine blast resistance at Level 2b. Ballistic tests were already conducted on armour package samples. The vehicle seen at DSA was prototype n.2, the first of the second generation, EDR On-Line understood that three more Tarantula are being produced to carry o full qualification tests. Besides aiming the Malaysian Army, MILDEF considers that its vehicle has considerable export market, and is looking at areas such as South Africa, Turkey, the Middle East, and Malaysia neighbouring countries.

Last but not least, at DSA a refurbished ACV 300 tracked armoured personnel carrier was visible. This is the MILDEF proposal for a mid-life update of those vehicles. It features the same engine used on the Tarantula, coupled to an Allison automatic transmission. The MLU project was developed in cooperation with Chaiseri Defense. Another proposal is on the table, EDR On-Line understanding that the Malaysian Army has not yet fully decided if it will upgrade its tracked vehicles or not; currently it has in its inventory 196 tracked vehicles of that type.

Photos by P. Valpolini