It looks like USMC will soon enjoy new tactical vehicle similar to humvee - Shadow RST-V. The vehicle is now undergoing last tests.
It will be the first hybrid electric tactical vehicle - it incorporates a hybrid electric engine based on front mounted turbocharged, inter-cooled
common rail direct injection diesel engine, type 2.5 litre DI-4V rated at 114kW. The diesel engine powers a 110kW Magnet Motors permanent magnet
generator that drives four 50kW Magnet Motors permanent magnetic hub motors, mounted one in each of the Shadow's four wheel hubs.
The advantages of this solution are clear -
ability to run 20 miles on batteries only - that means it cannot by find by IR sensors and in
case of damage of diesel it is able to get to the safety. Also it's fuel economy is superior to the humvee - it has only half of it's fuel
consumption.
The stored power could be also used for various other purposes - for example energy weapons (lasers, microwaves).
Another features :
- fitted with a pneumatic suspension. It's dimensions can be reduced by allowing the tyres to be pulled in (from 79in footprint to 62in) and the
height can be dropped so the base of the vehicle is 0.1m off the ground.
That means it will be transportable internaly by Osprey or other heavy helicopter. (humvee is not transportable by Osprey)
- maximum road speed of 112km per hour. The vehicle has a capacity of 95 litres of fuel and an unrefuelled range of 758km at a speed of 50km per hour.
On battery power alone the vehicle's range is 32km.
- a 3m extending mast equipped with a suite of electro-optical sensors is fitted to the Shadow, including a dual field of view day and thermal imaging
sensor, operating at 3 to 5 microns wavelength, as well as a Northrop Grumman Lightweight Laser Designator and Ranger (LLDR).
- 7.62mm, 12.7mm machine gun, 40mm grenade launcher, Objective Crew Served Weapon (OCSW), Javelin or TOW anti-tank missile systems can be mounted on
the roof hatch. The Shadow can be fitted with a defensive aids suite including radar and laser warning receivers, and missile warners.
- it may be used for light strike duties, as a battlefield ambulance, for air defence, logistics, as a personnel carrier or as anti-armour and a
mortar weapons carrier.
link
[edit on 21-11-2004 by longbow]