General Specifications
The vehicle is intened as a lighter weight, cheaper alternative to the more technologically advanced and expensive armored personnel carriers, costing only approximately 120,000 dollars (vs. 1.5 million) and providing more space for cargo and soldiers (15 soldiers vs. 9), but providing less protection than standard APC's. Using between 1/2 and 3/4 of an inch of AR500 steel, which is bolted together and held together on a light frame (with the frame being monicque in design, but partially supported by a frame), the vehicle is capable of stopping a .50 caliber round or 14.5mm Russian round, but little over this in terms of power. Due to the SLAT armor, it can prematurely detonate the warheads of shaped charges, and thus offers some protection against RPG's and armor piercing grenades however this is only for a few shots and the SLAT armor is not completely reliable making it only possess limited effectiveness against these types of rounds. The vehicle's design is based on the M3 and M5 halftrack, and can carry up to 15 soldiers, having a slightly extend cargo hold. However it differs in a number of ways, having a different engine and suspension system, improved non-inflatable tires, and being a hybrid electric. The vehicle is much more fuel efficient, and can carry a large amount of cargo or troops, but only provides moderate protection against most types of enemy fire, although it is generally effective against small arms fire. The 1/2 inch of AR500 steel is sufficient on it's own to stop a standard .50 caliber armor piercing round, or a 14.5mm, but is susceptible to damage with repeated shots in the same spot. The armor does not typically incorporate additional features such as explosive reactive armor tiles, ceramics or spaced armor, and instead relies entirely on standard, steel armor. It is much stronger than RHA, or rolled homogeneous armor, however, but provides limited effect against anti-tank and vehicle weapons. The armor is slightly, but not significantly sloped, except at the bottom which has as v-shaped hull to deflect the blast of high explosives, such as from IED's or mines. The vehicle only provides minor protection, but is much better than walking on foot for soldiers. The hybrid electric engine also produces sufficient electricity to power soldier's electronics, the 40mm chaingun and the magnetic assisted mortar launcher, serving as a sort of mobile generator for the crew.
The AR500 steel constitutes the bulk of the vehicles weight and design. The vehicle's cargo bay is approximately 18 feet long and 7.3 feet wide, as well as 7 feet tall. This takes up approximately 600 square feet of area, and with the half inch AR500 steel being approximately 20 pounds per square foot, makes this part of the vehicle 12,000 pounds alone. The cabin for the crew, as well s the engine and slat armor, make up the rest of the vehicle's weight, bringing the overall weight of the vehicle to approximately 18,000 pounds. The AR-500 steel is only 35-70 dollars per square foot however, being at maximum 50,000 to 60,000 dollars of the armor. A partially reinforced 3/4 inch AR500 steel variant also exists, which raises the weight of hte vehicle to 25,000 pounds. While a .50 caliber armor piercing round can typically pierce half an inch of steel, AR500 steel is much harder and stronger, and thus is equal to approximately 2-3 times as much RHA, or Rolled Homogeneous armor, the standard NATO comparison material for armor testing purposes. The steel, while much weaker than standard Chobham or explosive reactive armor, is much lighter weight than standard steel armor, especially for the time period in which the armor was built, and thus offers greater protection for it's overall size. Thus the vehicle is much more practical than in it's previous form, but is still unusually heavy. The vehicle is only 10 tons, in comparison to about 20 tons for most modern APC's, and around 120,000 dollars, compared to 1 million or more for most APC's. It also lacks other modern conventions, such as high end air conditioning. The vehicle is completely flameproof however, using twaron fibers over plastics and synthetic fibers, and using an organic fire retardant polymer for the stuffing.
The vehicle shares commonality with the Fed Bravo, using the same 268 horsepower hybrid engine and the airless honeycomb tires. The engine is 70% more efficient than a standard engine, and approximately 5 times more efficient than a standard Humvee. The vehicle's weight and size makes it less maneuverable than many other vehicles, but it is much more fuel efficient than the standard M3 Halftrack or Humvee. It also shares the same fire-proofing materials and design, being designed to combat fires inside of the vehicle through the use of foam and an organic polymer along with twaron fibers to replace all the flammable materials in the vehicle. It also uses the same ALON vacuum chamber glass, which can stop a 14.5mm or .50 caliber armor piercing round. The tires can survive over 40% damage, travel over rougher terrain, and if severely damaged enough can be jettisoned for the vehicle to drive solely on the AR500 steel hubcabs, although this severely wears down the hucabs of the vehicle. While around the same weight as the Fed Bravo and with greater cargo and transport capabilities, it is also weaker, using worse armor that is not as protective against higher end rounds; it also lacks many of the higher end, conventional electronics that make the vehicle more practical against modern threats, such as the iron curtain active defense system which shoots down missiles (although this can be added).
