AS-21 RedBack IFV

[John Kettler]

This is a joint Australian, south Korean, Israeli and US entry in the current Australian IFV competition, with the finalists be the RedBack and Rheinmetall's Lynx. The baseline armor on the RedBack is, to me, farcical--protects vs NATO 7.62 mm AP, but apparently at least the front can be fitted to protect against Russian and similar 30 mm auto cannon. The RedBack will be be transportable on the Royal Australian Navy's amphibious warfare vessels, the Canberra-class LHDs (Landing, Helicopter, Dock), and the C-17, both for rapid movement to outer islands. As you can see, it's very high tech, including integral APS. It's designed to work with manned and unmanned turrets and can even be operated as a robotic IFV. It's armed wiht a 30 mm Bushmaster auto cannon and the Spike LR ATGM and has a 7.62 mm coaxial MG. As the second video indicates, The Royal Australian Army (RAA) is in the midst of a major recasting (ha!) of its armored force, with huge amounts of money in play for, not just a new IFV, but a new recon vehicle and SPH. RedBack IOC is expected to be 2023 and serial production in 2024. Baseline armor aside, I'm hugely impressed with what appears to me to be a highly capable and well thought out IFV with heavy armament and specifically built to demanding RAA operational requirements, requirements so stringent that two candidates were summarily dropped for not meeting them. While this has no immediate connection with CM per se, I think it's wise to be aware of such a major defense program, especially in the context of some future game BFC might decide to do involving the Chinese and a very large, mostly empty neighbor! For the RAA, getting RedBack or Lynx will be a tremendous jump, considering the current AFV in use is an M113 version.
 

 

Regards,

JOhn Kettler

Edited June 27, 2021 by John Kettler

[Combatintman]

It is the Australian Army, not the Royal Australian Army.  Certain corps and regiments in the Australian Army have the prefix 'Royal' such as the Royal Australian Infantry Corps (RA INF), the Royal Australian Regiment (RAR), the Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC).  People make the same schoolboy error with the British and other Commonwealth armies.

[Tduck01]

Hey John,

The baseline armour is deliberate - you want to run the vehicle in training at as light a weight as possible - it reduces running costs and wear and tear on the vehicle. You can electronically retard the engine so that it doesn't run like a racecar being so light. You then have a series of deployment armour kits tailored to the scenario you deploy to - high kinetic threat, high IED etc. You fit the right kit where required. Armoured Knights didn't wear all that plate armour all the time - only when required.

The other contender is the Rheinmetall Lynx - both vehicles are what the Army asked for way back in 2015 when they released the Request For Information - Hanwha and Rheinmetall both built brand new vehicles to what Army asked for. Either will be awesome compared to the M113AS4.