Textron Systems Canada Inc., a Textron Inc. company, announced on August 19 the delivery of the first Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle (TAPV) to the Canadian Army. The Canadian Army is fielding the first vehicles to the 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown and the 2nd Canadian Division Support Base Valcartier.
The TAPV is a 4×4 wheeled armoured vehicle specifically engineered and designed to provide survivability, mobility and versatility over the full spectrum of operations. The comprehensive, modern design is aimed at shielding troops from ballistics and roadside blasts while providing large power reserves for future electronics enhancements, with an ergonomically designed interior for optimum comfort and payload.
«We believe the TAPV is the most mobile, survivable and reliable armoured vehicle in the world today», said Textron Systems Vice President of Land Systems Richard Valenti. «We are excited to start these deliveries to the Canadian Army and support the program through operational capability and beyond».
In April 2016, the TAPV completed a very rigorous Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Durability (RAMD) test program during which it faced multiple operational tests, including driving more than 130,000 kilometers/80,778 miles on challenging terrain representing operational profiles prescribed by the Canadian Army. The TAPV’s RAMD testing also included firing the remote weapons station and conducting more than 4,700 hours of remote weapons station usage, including 1,650 hours of silent watch operations. Testing was conducted over three months, day and night, six days per week. The final results showed that the TAPV exceeded the reliability and maintainability requirements of the contract.
Textron Systems plans to deliver at least 30 vehicles per month to the Canadian Army with all 500 vehicles scheduled to be delivered by December 2017. The fleet will be distributed across seven bases. The Canadian Army expects to declare full operational capability by mid-2020.
SPECIFICATIONS
| WEIGHT | |
| Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) | 40,700 lbs/18,460 kg |
| Curb Weight | 36,300 lbs/16,460 kg |
| PERFORMANCE (at 38,000 lbs/17,236.5 kg) | |
| Speed (level hard surface) | 65 mph/105 km/h |
| Range @ 50 mph/80 km/h | 400 miles/644 km |
| Gradient | 60% |
| Side Slope | 30% |
| Vertical Wall | 24 inch/0.6 m |
| Fording | 60 inch/1.5 m |
| TIRES | |
| Michelin 16.00R20 XZL with Hutchinson run flat inserts | |
| SUSPENSION | |
| Fully independent front and rear, upper and lower control arms | |
| POWER TRAIN | |
| Engine | Cummins QSL 365, 365 hp, 1,113 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 6-speed, Allison 3200SP |
| ARMAMENT | |
| Various (depending on customer needs) | |
| SURVIVABILITY | |
| Protects against direct and indirect weapons, mines and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) | |
| SITUATIONAL AWARENESS | |
| Unaided 360 degrees | |
| OTHER MISSION EQUIPMENT OPTIONS | |
| Add-on Armor | Customer specification |
| Turret Enhancements | Customer specification |
| Alternator | 400- and 575-amp alternator |
| Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) | Customer specification |
| NAV/GPS | Customer specification |
| Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) Individual/Overpressure | Customer specification |
| 360-Degree Situational Awareness (Night/Day) | Customer specification |
| SEATING | |
| With turret | 3 crew, 2 dismounts |
| With Objective Gunner Protection Kit (OGPK) or Remote Weapon Station (RWS) | 2 crew, 4 dismounts |
Textron Systems Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle (TAPV)