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Iveco’s MLV – UK version
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DID reader Endre Lunde informs DID that Norway decided on the 24th of March to buy up to 72 IVECO vehicles, which are called the Panther by the UK and will also be fielded by the Belgian Army. The initial order is for 25 be delivered in 2006 (15) and 2007 (10), and there is also an option to buy a further 47 vehicles over a two year period. The contract is said to have a value of EUR 8 million ($9.64 million at that day’s conversion), and a contract of return purchases has already been made. The purchase is said to come as a reaction to experience in international operations where the current inventory, up-armored Mercedes “Gelendevagen” has been proved inadequate, especially after the events at Meymaneh, Afghanistan in early February.

Iveco’s MLV vehicle is similar to the USA’s Humvees in size, but unlike the up-armored Humvees still being purchased in numbers by the USA, the MLV has vastly improved protection against IED land mines. According to Army Technology, this is achieved through a number of design features…

• “The MLV’s wheel stations are located away from the crew cabin so that if a wheel detonates an antitank mine, the explosion is vented upwards, leaving the crew cabin undamaged.”

• “The bonnet is hinged to the chassis to reduce the shock transmitted to the cabin.”

• “The light alloy rear body is fitted with a canvas roof over a supporting frame. It is sacrificial and severs from the cabin in the event of a mine detonation under a rear wheel.”

• “The underside of the vehicle is v-shaped and the ground clearance has been maximised to allow maximum dissipation of the blast.”

• “The location of heavy components under the cabin floor has been avoided because they can be projected through the cabin floor by a mine blast.”

• “The lower part of the vehicle has a three-layer sandwich structure that collapses on detonation of a mine under the belly, absorbing a high percentage of the energy that has not been vented away laterally.”

Iveco MLV
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The overall MLV Protection system meets various levels, from STANAG level 1 to STANAG level 4. Defense Update’s profile notes that Italian MLVs use the latest version AMAP composite armor to get to STANAG 4, placing the applique armor panels in pre-set slots between the inner and outer hull. The armor protection of the MLV is concealed under the panels, and can be quickly changed to meet mission requirements, or to make use of better materials as they become available. The MLV can be fitted with a overhead weapon station equipped with day and night vision; the standard inclusion is a “Defender 7.62mm Self-Defense Weapon Station (SDW),” but other options like Recon Optical’s CROWS/Raven, RAFAEL’s OWS, or Thales SWARM would also be possible. Kongsberg’s Protector must be considered the local favorite, however.

At just under 500 cm/ 16’5” long, 205cm/ 6’9” wide, and 6500 kg/ 14,300 pounds, MLV is air-transportable in EH101 and CH-47 helicopters (2) and C-130 aircraft (2) once the SDW et. al. are moved. MLV’s engine is the Iveco F1C common rail Euro 3, variable geometry turbo charged engine; the vehicle has automatic transmission, hydrosteering, off-road ABS, a central tire inflation system, and independent suspension. Following brief preparation, it can ford depths of 1.5m/ 5 feet.

Iveco’s MLV has been procured under various designations by the UK (401 with options for 400 more), Italy (unknown), Belgium (440 + options), and as of January 2009, Austria (150), Norway (72) and Spain (120).

Why The Rush?

Meymaneh, Afghanistan
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Endre Lunde read the Norwegian newspaper “Dagbladet” article (in Norwegian) and tells us that the procurement process was conducted within only two months, which is quite fast by Norwegian standards. He adds that a report by the Auditor General of Norway last year criticized the general process of procurement by the armed forces, showing that they often were slow and inefficient.

Lunde speculates:

“Why they were in such a hurry now is not clear, but the events of Meymaneh in Afghanistan in early February probably played in, and created a momentum to speed up the process. In this particular event, the Norwegian led PRT base in the North-Afghan city was attacked and at least one of their vehicles burned. With Norway taking part in the current expansion and redeployment of the ISAF, defense officials probably saw a need to provide for better mine and small-arms protection, to avoid more pictures of burning Norwegian vehicles as seen in the February incident. Now it is only to hope that the process was conducted according to regulations… to avoid another Siemens-scandal and more parliamentary special committees.”

Additional Readings

• Forsvaret (March 24/09) – Forsvaret kjoper lettpansrede kjoretoy. This is the official Defense Press Release (In Norwegian)

• Dagbladet (March 29/06) – Dette er Forsvarets nye panserdoning This article appeared in the Norwegian newspaper “Dagbladet” (in Norwegian)

• Norwegian Armed Forces (Feb 28/06) – February: Norwegian soldiers attacked in Afghanistan (in English) with picture of a burning Norwegian vehicle

• UK MoD (May 12/09) – Panther arrives in Afghanistan. Details some additional modification to British vehicles, including a rear view camera, protected engine compartment, a 4th crew member, and theater-specific electronic counter-measures.