At the edition 2022 of the Annual Meeting and Exposition of the Association of the U.S. Army, American company AM General launched its new HUMVEE Saber Blade Edition equipped with a combat platform armed with Switchblade 300 and 600 loitering munitions and a remotely operated weapon station HORNET manufactured by the French company ARQUUS.
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AM General launches its new HUMVEE Saber fitted with ARQUUS Hornet turret and Switchblade 300 and 600 munitions. (Picture source: Army Recognition)
The AM General HUMVEE Saber is a completely new design of HUMVEE vehicle that increases survivability with 360-degree kinetic and blast protection in a true light tactical vehicle. The HUMVEE Saber is based on AM General 13-Series HMMWV 4x4 chassis.
Through continuous improvement, the HUMVEE Saber contains leap-ahead technology in a redesigned vehicle that offers increased levels of protection in a truly agile light tactical vehicle. The proprietary cabin design is redefining survivability that allows for 360-degree kinetic energy threat protection as well as blast threat protection. Built off the HUMVEE vehicle platform, the HUMVEE Saber offers maximum commonality, simplified maintenance, and streamlined fleet sustainment.
The HUMVEE Saber has a conventional layout for a modern 4x4 light tactical armored vehicle with a powerpack at the front, crew and troops compartment in the middle, and a cargo area at the rear. The vehicle is powered by a 6.5L V8 turbocharged diesel engine developing 205 hp coupled to a 4-speed electronically controlled transmission. The vehicle can reach a road speed of up to 90 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 402 km.
At AUSA 2022, AM General demonstrated that its new HUMVEE Saber could be a multi-role weapons platform. The vehicle exhibits at AUSA 2022, integrates AeroVironment's Switchblade® loitering missiles and a Hornet Air Guard Remote Controlled Weapon System (RCWS) with Counter-UAS solution by Hornet. The loitering munitions on the HUMVEE Saber Blade Edition include the Switchblade 300 and Switchblade 600 which provide rapidly deployable, loitering precision strike missiles for use against non-line-of-sight targets.
The Hornet Air Guard designed by the French company ARQUUS offers anti-drone detection & neutralization capabilities to the Hornet RCWS which provides surveillance, fire, and self-protection thanks the use of air-burst ammunition and the addition of an independent drone detection ring.
"We are extremely excited to participate in this year's AUSA, which is the perfect venue to introduce new and innovative products to support our most important customer – the Warfighter," said John Chadbourne, AM General EVP – Chief Business Development Officer. "With the HUMVEE Saber Blade Edition, we continue to push the boundaries of lethality and protection on the battlefield, and we're proud of the collective effort we fostered with AeroVironment and Hornet to bring this concept to life."
