The Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV) is an
armoured fighting vehicle
An armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) is an armed combat vehicle protected by armour, generally combining operational mobility with offensive and defensive capabilities. AFVs can be wheeled or tracked. Examples of AFVs are tanks, armoured car ...
(AFV) developed by
ST Engineering
Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd, doing business as ST Engineering, is a Singaporean multinational technology and engineering group in the aerospace, smart city as well as defence and public security sectors. Headquartered in Singapore, ...
of Singapore and
Timoney Technology of Ireland, and produced by
ST Engineering Land Systems (a corporate subsidiary of ST Engineering) for the
Singapore Army
The Singapore Army is the land service branch of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). The largest of the four branches of the SAF, the Singapore Army traces its origins to the 1st Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (1 SIR), which was formed i ...
as well as by Turkish auto-maker
Otokar
Otokar Otomotiv ve Savunma Sanayi A.Ş., also known simply as Otokar, is a Turkish bus and military vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Sakarya, Turkey. Otokar is a subsidiary of Koç Holding.
History
Otokar was founded in 1963 as Turkey's ...
(manufacturing it under a license) as the Yavuz (AV-82) for the Turkish military.
The Terrex's mass is approximately 25 to 30 tonnes and the vehicle is built on an 8x8 wheeler chassis with modern military vehicle armour. Multiple-type weapon platforms are supported on the vehicle, including both remote-type weapon systems and overhead weapon stations (OWSs).
ST Engineering Land Systems is marketing the Terrex to potential buyers in Asia, South America and the Middle East.
Production history and development
![Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicle side profile AOH 2022 300522](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/Terrex_Infantry_Carrier_Vehicle_side_profile_AOH_2022_300522.jpg)
The Terrex project started off as a government funded project to help develop a new generation of armoured personnel carriers for the Singapore Armed Forces. Singapore Technologies Kinetics, a subsidiary of Singapore Technologies Engineering, was chosen to design and manufacture the vehicle. The prototype Terrex AV81 armoured fighting vehicle was exhibited for the first time at
DSEi 2001. The initial AV-81 design utilised conventional coil-spring
shock absorber
A shock absorber or damper is a mechanical or hydraulic device designed to absorb and damp shock impulses. It does this by converting the kinetic energy of the shock into another form of energy (typically heat) which is then dissipated. Most sh ...
s but later variants introduced of hydro-pneumatic struts with real-time damping control. An electric-hybrid drive system was also developed. Designed with a modular protection system it is one of the latest and most advanced APCs with an all round protection against 7.62 mm NATO rounds and artillery shell splinters, front arc withstands 12.7 mm armor piercing-rounds at the most basic armor package.
Ceramic-composite armor package are available for a higher level of protection. Maximum level of all-round protection is against 14.5 mm armor-piercing rounds. The vehicle has a double V-shaped hull, which deflects mine blasts and withstand up to 12 kg TNT explosion under the hull with the vehicle still able to move. Vehicle is fitted with NBC protection system and battlefield management system for better awareness.
Terrex AV81 APC variant is armed with a remotely controlled 40 mm automatic grenade launcher and coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun. Its modular top-deck system means it can be fitted with remotely-controlled 12.7 mm machine gun, 20–30 mm cannon or anti-tank guided missile to a 105 mm cannon. This armored vehicle is also available in various turret-mounted armament configurations, but number of personnel carried is reduced. The Terrex can be airlifted by a C-130 Hercules or similar cargo aircraft.
By mid-2004, one prototype and one pre-production model had been built and both were evaluated throughout Asia and Europe, where the vehicle was offered for a number of emerging wheeled armoured vehicle requirements. This was further influenced by the emerging United States'
Interim Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) concept, which called for the need of wheeled armoured fighting vehicles (AFV) as opposed to tracked AFVs.
The
Singapore Armed Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) are the military services of the Republic of Singapore, responsible for protecting and defending the security interests and the sovereignty of the country. A military component of the Ministry of Defence (MINDE ...
will acquire at least 135 Terrex ICVs to replace its
V-200 armoured vehicles, with all active
Infantry
Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marine i ...
and
Guards battalions to begin training to operate from the vehicle in February 2010. The Second Battalion,
Singapore Infantry Regiment
Infantry is the main and largest formation of the Singapore Army, comprising seven active battalions—the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 8th and 9th Battalions, Singapore Infantry Regiment (SIR)—based in Clementi Camp, Kranji Camp III, Maju Camp, M ...
, recently acquired the Terrex as part of its shift into a motorised infantry battalion. The
Indonesian Army
The Indonesian Army ( id, Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Darat (TNI-AD), ) is the land branch of the Indonesian National Armed Forces. It has an estimated strength of 300,000 active personnel. The history of the Indonesian Army has its ...
has plans to purchase 420 units and has also expressed intent to produce the Terrex locally under license. Turkish automaker
Otokar
Otokar Otomotiv ve Savunma Sanayi A.Ş., also known simply as Otokar, is a Turkish bus and military vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Sakarya, Turkey. Otokar is a subsidiary of Koç Holding.
History
Otokar was founded in 1963 as Turkey's ...
has also joined with ST Engineering Land Systems to produce the Terrex AV-82 (renamed Yavuz) for the
Turkish Armed Forces
The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF; tr, Türk Silahlı Kuvvetleri, TSK) are the military forces of the Republic of Turkey. Turkish Armed Forces consist of the General Staff, the Land Forces, the Naval Forces and the Air Forces. The current Chi ...
.
Terrex AV-82
The Terrex AV-82 (Turkish Otokar variant) was developed in 2005 equipped with a more advanced driveline and hydro-pneumatic suspension system, and a number of changes from the AV81 including a flat underbody instead of a V-shaped hull, and revised rear suspension.
Terrex 2: MPC/ACV
In August 2012, the
U.S. Marine Corps awarded
SAIC a developmental contract for the Terrex for the
Marine Personnel Carrier
The Marine Personnel Carrier (MPC) is a wheeled armored personnel carrier under development for acquisition by the United States Marine Corps. The program was canceled in 2013 but resurrected in 2014 as part of phase one of the Amphibious Combat ...
program.
[Personnel carrier development contracts awarded](_blank)
- Militarytimes.com, 10 September 2012
On 18 July 2013,
SAIC, along with
ST Engineering Land Systems and Armatec Survivability Corporation, successfully completed two weeks of evaluations of the Terrex at
Camp Pendleton
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is the major West Coast base of the United States Marine Corps and is one of the largest Marine Corps bases in the United States. It is on the Southern California coast in San Diego County and is bordered by Oc ...
. The tests included a series of water performance demonstrations in various sea conditions and an evaluation of human factors and stowage capacity. The Terrex completed all required surf transit and ocean swim maneuverability tests at its fully loaded combat weight. It demonstrated load capabilities through successful stowage of gear and supplies that Marines would require for three days of operations, with space available for additional equipment. The human factors evaluation demonstrated the spacious interior by accommodating the specified number of combat-equipped Marines and enabling rapid tactical and emergency egress through a quick-release hatch. The Terrex repeated ocean swim and maneuverability results were achieved in a March 2013 rehearsal event. SAIC began ballistic and blast tests at the Nevada Automotive Test Center in May 2013, and was scheduled to complete all ballistic and mine blast demonstrations in July.
The Marine Personnel Carrier was put on hold in June 2013, restarted in February 2014, and then restructured as Phase 1 of the
Amphibious Combat Vehicle
The Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) is a program initiated by Marine Corps Systems Command to procure an amphibious assault vehicle for the United States Marine Corps to supplement and ultimately replace the aging Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV ...
(ACV) program, which includes the previous MPC competitor entries.
The Terrex 2 was publicly unveiled in September 2015 at the DSEI 2015 convention.
On 24 November 2015, the Marines selected the SAIC Terrex, along with the
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc (BAE) is a British multinational arms, security, and aerospace company based in London, England. It is the largest defence contractor in Europe, and ranked the seventh-largest in the world based on applicable 2021 revenues. ...
/
Iveco SuperAV
The Iveco SuperAV is an eight-wheel drive tactical vehicle developed by the Italian commercial vehicle company Iveco. A version made in collaboration with BAE Systems was selected by the United States Marine Corps for the Amphibious Combat Vehicle ...
, to move on to the engineering and manufacturing development phase of the ACV 1.1 program. SAIC was awarded a $121.5 million contract to build 16 vehicles by late 2016 for testing. The Terrex submitted for the ACV program, called the Terrex 2, was designed to enhance situational awareness, with the troop commander's station equipped with a screen covering all aspects outside the vehicle, also visible to the squad to enable them to see what they would be exiting to. The driver's station was equipped with several screens with obstacle avoidance, situational awareness sensor feeds, and other features. Although the Terrex is specialised in ground operations, it also meets the minimum requirements for safe sea operation. The Terrex has a
V-over-V hull that creates a crush zone to reduce the impact of a blast on the floor; this creates a spacious interior. Footrests attached to seats across the aisle keep the Marines' feet from absorbing blast energy. The vehicle uses a
central tire inflation system, can swim in water, and has excess buoyancy of 23 percent. It weighs 32.5 tons (), carries three crew and 11 embarked Marines, and can reach on paved roads.
In June 2018, the Marine Corps selected BAE Systems for the ACV program.
Terrex 3: Australian Army: LAND 400 Program
Referred in Australia as the Sentinel 2, it was specially developed by ST Engineering and
Elbit Systems of Australia (ELSA) to meet the
Australian Army
The Australian Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. The Army is commanded by the Chief of Army (Austral ...
's requirement for an armored reconnaissance vehicle. A further development of the Terrex 2, it is better protected and carries a much more powerful armament but lacks amphibious capability due to its 35 tonne weight. Designed with Elbit Land System's MT30 modular turret, the vehicle is operated by a crew of 2 and can carry 11 dismounts. It was outbidded by the Rheinmetall Boxer CRV in early 2018.
Design
As with a number of other recent wheeled armoured vehicles, the Terrex is of modular design with various levels of armour protection and weapon systems being marketed up to a gross vehicle weight of 24,000 kg. Despite its size, the Terrex is air-portable by
C-130
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is an American four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built by Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin). Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally desig ...
s or other similar cargo aircraft.
The Terrex's layout is conventional: the driver sits front left and the power pack is to the right.
This leaves the rest of the vehicle clear for the troop compartment, which is provided with a power-operated ramp and roof hatches.
Various weapon systems can be fitted on the roof, including a
remote weapon station
A remote controlled weapon station (RCWS), or remote weapon station (RWS), also known as a remote weapon system (RWS), is a remotely operated weaponized system often equipped with fire-control system for light and medium- caliber weapons which c ...
armed with a
40mm
40 mm grenade (also styled 40mm grenade) is a generic class-name for grenade launcher ammunition ( subsonic shells) in caliber. The generic name stems from the fact that several countries have developed or adopted grenade launchers in 40 ...
automatic
grenade launcher
A grenade launcher is a weapon that fires a specially-designed large-caliber projectile, often with an explosive, smoke or gas warhead. Today, the term generally refers to a class of dedicated firearms firing unitary grenade cartridges. The mos ...
and a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun or a complete stabilized turret armed with a
25mm M242 Bushmaster
The M242 Bushmaster chain gun is a 25 mm (25×137mm) single-barrel chain-driven autocannon. It is used extensively by the U.S. military, such as in the Bradley fighting vehicle, as well as by other NATO members and some other nations in ground ...
cannon and
7.62mm
The 7.62 mm caliber is a nominal caliber used for a number of different cartridges. Historically, this class of cartridge was commonly known as .30 caliber, the imperial unit and customary unit equivalent, and was most commonly used for i ...
coaxial machine gun. Additional 7.62mm machine guns can be mounted over the rear troop compartment. In addition, the vehicle can be configured to carry varying combat payloads, from turret-based weapon stations (including 105 mm tank guns) to
rocket launcher
A rocket launcher is a weapon that launches an unguided, rocket-propelled projectile.
History
The earliest rocket launchers documented in imperial China consisted of arrows modified by the attachment of a rocket motor to the shaft a few in ...
s. The modular top deck allows for quick configuration changes to be carried out.
The Terrex AV-81 uses a patented independent
double wishbone suspension
A double wishbone suspension is an independent suspension design for automobiles using two (occasionally parallel) wishbone-shaped arms to locate the wheel. Each wishbone or arm has two mounting points to the chassis and one joint at the knuckle ...
, which greatly improves ground mobility and ride comfort over rough terrain. The use of automatic traction control and the capacity for large footprint off-road tires enables it to travel at unprecedented speeds in soft ground conditions.
The vehicle has a double hull with an external
V-hull
The V-hull is a type of vehicle armor design used on wheeled armored personnel carriers (APCs), infantry mobility vehicles, infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and MRAPs. The design originated in the 1970s with vehicles such as the iconic Casspir ...
that improves mine blast survivability.
Add-on armour provides further protection for troops. It is also capable of providing full NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) protection in extreme operational conditions.
The standard equipment includes a powered steering on four wheels at the front, a central tyre-pressure inflation system, an anti-lock braking system and an NBC defensive/protective system but there are also many other options for fitted equipment and vehicle gear available.
In its baseline configuration, the AV-81 Terrex is fully
amphibious
Amphibious means able to use either land or water. In particular it may refer to:
Animals
* Amphibian, a vertebrate animal of the class Amphibia (many of which live on land and breed in water)
* Amphibious caterpillar
* Amphibious fish, a fish ...
: two water jets mounted on either side at the back of the hull propel the vehicle through water at 10 km/h.
Variants
The following known variants are in service:
* Command Variant
* 40mm AGL/7.62mm Coaxial MG Variant
* .50 calibre HMG Variant
*
SPIKE
Spike, spikes, or spiking may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
Books
* ''The Spike'' (novel), a novel by Arnaud de Borchgrave
* ''The Spike'' (book), a nonfiction book by Damien Broderick
* ''The Spike'', a starship in Peter F. Hamilto ...
ATGM
An anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), anti-tank missile, anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW) or anti-armor guided weapon is a guided missile primarily designed to hit and destroy heavily armored military vehicles. ATGMs range in size from shoulder ...
Variant
* Pioneer Variant
* Medical Variant
* Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (RSTA) Variant
* STORM Variant
Incidents
On 23 November 2016, nine Terrex vehicles from the Singapore Armed Forces, which were used for a military exercise in
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
, were seized while in port at
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
, resulting in heightened political tensions between Singapore and
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
. They were initially impounded at an outdoor storage yard of a
Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department storage facility in Tuen Mun, but by 6 December, they had been moved indoors.
On 24 January 2017, the Hong Kong government stated that it would allow the detained Terrexes to return to Singapore.
The vehicles were returned to Singapore on 30 January 2017.
Operators
* - 19 Sentinel IIs. 6 Sentinel IIs in 8x8 equipped with Elbit Systems UT30 turrets with ten Sentinel IIs in 6x6 for recon missions.
* - 435
References
;Notes
External links
Official Site(Archive)
Otokar Yavuz online catalogue(Archive)
TERREX 2: From Ship to Shore - SAIC;Video links
*
{{Singapore-designed weapons
Armoured fighting vehicles of Singapore
Amphibious armoured fighting vehicles
Armoured fighting vehicles of the post–Cold War period
Wheeled armoured fighting vehicles
Otokar products
Eight-wheeled vehicles
Military vehicles introduced in the 2000s