Trading protection for speed and agility, this is one of the lessons coming from the most recent battlefields, Ukraine and Gaza, and based on those indications Plasan developed a new COTS-based light vehicle, the Stormer, which is being unveiled at AUSA in Washington DC
Lessons learned from Ukraine and Israel have shown that soldiers on the battlefield prefer speed and agility to armour when they become the prey of FOVs and attack drones.
Plasan of Israel decided to take the challenge and develop a vehicle heavily based on the latest product developed by Jeep, the Jeep Gladiator, the new product being unveiled at AUSA in Washington DC
“The initial requirement came from the troop in the field, which actually felt that due to the very complicated fighting arena of the past few years, they would like to have something very agile, very fast, that can move over rough terrain overcoming any obstacles. Therefore, they would like the vehicle to be as light as possible. And of course, it will have the ability to carry infantry squad, which is either nine or 12 people. Every time we mentioned armour, they just said, we rather move very fast, instead of being armoured and heavy,” Yaron, Plasan armored vehicle programmes Executive Director, told EDR On-Line.
When mentioning Plasan we tend to think protection, the company being historically one of the key players in the development of evolutive armour packages.
However, in its history Plasan already worked on light vehicle projects, one based on a Land Rover chassis, the second developing a special operations vehicle to answer a Dutch Request for Quotation; this saw an open-top version of the company SandCat, which was based on a Ford F-350 pick-up truck chassis.
To answer current requirement Plasan analysed several chassis options available on the market. “We found that the only suitable commercial off-the-shelf [COTS] chassis was the new Jeep Gladiator. This is already delivered from factory in cargo configuration, the front cabin features detachable doors and sides, which saves us a lot of work,” Yaron explained.
Keeping sides and doors in store allows customers to eventually have a closed cabin when operating in difficult conditions, Plasan also keeping the original heating and air conditioning system.
In cooperation with ASFIR of Israel, a company specialised in off-road solutions, Plasan fitted the Gladiator with minor modification that allowed to considerably increase the vehicle payload.
“We upgraded the vehicle’s axles using a patented system that we developed through the years, originally for our SandCat vehicles,” the Plasan representative told us, adding that this is visible in the form of a beam which is located below the axle.
Springs and shocks were also replaced, the vehicle having front coil springs and rear leaf springs suspensions; such a simple suspensions solution is another requirement that came from the field, end-users asking for equipment as simple as possible.
The commercial Jeep Gladiator has a 465 kg payload over a grow vehicle mass of 2,630 kg; the upgrade done by Plasan and ASFIR brings the latter up to 3,800 kg, the payload reaching 1,000 kg. In this configuration the modified vehicle is known as Stormer.
Should a customer require an even higher payload, the two Israeli companies have another solution ready; here they would replace the DANA 40 axles used on the Jeep commercial vehicle with DANA 60 upgraded axles, which would bring the gross vehicle mass up to 4,600 kg and the payload to 1,700 kg.
Original wheels are 315/70 R17, however EDR On-Line understood that the higher payload version has bigger wheels, possibly 40-inch ones. No official name was provided for that version, which we will call Stormer HD, for heavy duty.
Apart from the different axles, all remaining features remain common. Propulsion is provided by a Pentastar 3.6 litres V6 petrol engine ensuring a 285 hp output at 6,400 rpm and a maximum torque of 36 kg.m at 4,400 rpm.
The engine is coupled to an 8-speed automatic transmission, the Stormer being an all 4-wheel drive vehicle with a 2-speed electronically operated transfer case and Tru-Lok electronic differential locks. It is fitted with an 83 litres fuel tank which ensures an around 640km endurance at cruise speed.
Not many military vehicles are powered by a petrol engine; Plasan underlines that the Israeli Defense Forces use Jeep Wrangler, another vehicle fuelled with petrol.
Moreover, tests have shown that the Stormer engine is pretty silent at low revs, when the vehicle is used in a “mule” role, closely following the patrol on foot carrying ammunition and water supplies as well as rucksacks.
The standard version can reach a maximum speed on gravel of 120 km/h at full load; the HD version may have a reduced maximum speed and acceleration, however according to Plasan off-road mobility remain the same, also thanks to the fact that the Dana 60 axles have a different reduction ratio compared to Dana 40 axles.
Steering is hydraulic power assisted while brakes are vented disks on all our wheels, with Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake assist System (BAS).
The Stormer is 5,50 mm long, 2,600 mm high, and 2,040 mm wide with standard wheels, and has a 3,487 mm wheelbase and a 260 mm ground clearance. Considering the specified 2.29 metres internal width of the CH-47, when fitted with the 315/70 R17 tires the Stormer can be transported inside the Chinook.
The driver and commander sit in the front row, with three more military in the second row.
The rear flatbed can be fitted in different configurations; the typical one is with two benches on the sides each with two seats, which brings the total to nine military on board. Should the customer require a 12-seat configuration, benches will be fitted with three seats each, one extra seat being installed at the front of the compartment, looking backwards.
Passengers seated in the first two rows access the vehicle via the side doors, while personnel at the rear access from the back, two stairs allowing easy access.
In the pick-up version the rear flatbed can host a NATO pallet, two to four stretchers, or can be fitted with sensors or weapon system, providing the latter recoil forces are compatible with the vehicle suspensions.
The vehicle modularity allows to add an optional canvas for protecting the rear troop compartment, the cabin is usually fitted with a hard roof, Plasan having also developed an armour protection kit which is offered as option.
The vehicle developed by Plasan and ASFIR can climb a 60% gradient, can remain (static) on a 36° side slope (over 72%), and has a 7.5 metres curb-to-curb turning radius. Approach and departure angles are respectively 43.4° and 26°.
A nearly 100% COTS chassis, the Stormer can be serviced nearly anywhere considering the Jeep worldwide presence, the Stormer is proposed by Plasan as a cost-effective light vehicle capable to operate in difficult scenarios, without generating a heavy burden on military budgets.
The company carried out intensive mobility tests with fully loaded vehicles with the support of independent international laboratories, to verify durability, stability, and braking performances.
EDR On-Line understood that for major contracts the customer will receive the Jeep Gladiator directly from the vehicle producer in the US and will get a complete knock down (CKD) kit from Israel, Plasan transferring the know-how to allow the customer to carry out locally the upgrade and, in perspective, also maintenance and repair. Plasan is currently in discussions with potential customers, looking for a launch customer.
Photos and graphics courtesy Plasan
