| At the International Defence & Security Exhibition of Paris, Eurosatory 2012, the French Company Panhard Defense unveils a new concept of armoured vehicle, named CRAB (Combat Reconnaissance Armoured Buggy). Several ideas have governed the CRAB’s design. The first one consisted in putting forward a land weapon system onto the world market likely to favorably replace the thousands of light armoured combat vehicles procured in the 60s/90s from Panhard, Alvis or late Engesa. It mainly deals with the AML, ERC, Cascavel, Scorpion, V150, and even some very light tanks. The second one results from a doctrinal thinking that starts from a very worrying acknowledgement. With a budget devoted to nuclear deterrence that remains constant, and an overall defence budget that is inexorably decreasing, the share devoted to conventional capabilities is shrinking away. Yet, we replace the former generation of equipment with a more performing one, hence a much more expensive one. Therefore, it is a double penalty that mathematically leads to reduced sizes and a reduced procurement rate. Our perspective consists of a lot of samples that no longer act as an earth. However, area control, OBUAs (Operations in Built-Up Areas) and rapid movement to hot spots cannot be achieved with main combat vehicles in small numbers. These latter ones should be kept to carry out the major and critical manoeuvre that would have been prepared by lighter and more numerous vehicles. In the French Army, the CRAB may perform this crucial task. In April 2012, Panhard has presented to the French Army chief of staff and senior procurement officials the concept for a high-mobility armored vehicle with aggressive firepower, dubbed the Combat and Reconnaissance Armored Buggy (CRAB). The CRAB can be air transportable with three vehicles aboard a military transport aircraft A400M or 2 aboard C130J. |
| Armament | | With an appropriate weapon system (at first sight, a 12.7-mm remote-controlled cupola) and a coherent protection (level 2/3), with vehicles of the same category that are currently being procured (VLTP - Versatile Light Transport Vehicle), the CRAB would be an outstanding applicant to the commitment-support armoured vehicle program; it would also be the eyes and ears of Leclerc MBTs and AMX10RC wheeled armoured vehicles, and later on of EBRCs. To this end, Panhard engineers have scrupulously seen to keep a couple of basic qualities of the current LAV (Light Armoured Vehicle), agility and inconspicuousness. Weapons systems are fully remote-controlled, and they provide a very wide array of solutions, from a 7.62 machine-gun (WASP cupola) to a 25-137 (VBCI-type or equivalent) automatic gun, through ATk (Anti-Tank) missiles, the future NLOS (Non Line Of Sight) missiles, and guided rockets, and the new 12.7 PDG/Sagem cupola, known as HORNET trademark and registered model (Highly Offensive Remotely-controlled Neutralisation Turret). As far as remote-controlled weapon systems are concerned, the offer is quite sizeable: up to 20-mm calibre cupolas, ATk or anti-aircraft missile launchers, observations and EW (Electronic Warfare) masts, and eventually medium-calibre turrets, such as the Military Industries Cockerill project with a 25-137 Bushmaster 2 gun, enabling Panhard to offer numerous versions. | | Design and Protection | | The CRAB’s crew is normally a crew of three, though all the main functions of this vehicle can be implemented by two of them. It comes from the selected control system that relies on video screens and multi-function joysticks. Crew members sit on ergonomic seats, which provide them with comfort, mine protection and IED protection at the same time; it also provides them with holding when moving at high speed on all terrains as in a rally car. The CRAB provides a ballistic protection levels 2 to 4 and mine protection 2/3.
| | Propulsion | | The CRAB is characterized by an over-mobility gained with a very high motorization rate (37 hp/ton in the combat version equipped with a 25-mm gun), high suspension clearance, very well balanced weight on both axles, and large diameter tires. It will enable the vehicle to move on all terrains at very high speed, and to hastily cross some obstacles. The CRAB is a 4-wheel drive vehicle. In normal mode, the front axle is a steering axle. When reversing, the rear axle becomes a steering axle and operates as the front axle. It results into safety and comfortable driving. The CRAB can run at a maximum speed of 110 km/h. | | Accessories | | Systronics vetronic network designed by Thales is organized around computers that monitor the information flow between the weapon system (observation, aiming, shooting/firing), the chassis (GMP management, safety, energy) and the peripheral video cameras that provide the crew with an all-round sight. Several screens are available (three for the driver, two for the vehicle’s commander and the gunner/shooter), on which video camera images or thermal and day gun-sight images are displayed, as well as mobility and navigation data, the TIS (Terminal Information System) data, and the system control or the logistic status. The three workstations are interchangeable and the weapon systems can also be implemented from the driver’s workstation, where a fire-control handle is fitted. Thanks to the modularity and the reconfigurability of the Systronics networks, it is easy to shift from one version to another one without rebuilding an electronic network.
| | | | | | Specifications | | Back to top | | Armament | | 12,7 mm machine gun/LG 40 Hornet turret or NLOS missile or MBDA Mistral turret with 12.7 mm machine gun or WASP turret, or Gatling 12.7 mm turret | | Country users | | - | | Designer Company | | Panhard Defense
| | Accessories | | Day/night camera, thermal sight, fire control, navigation data system | | Crew | | 3 soldiers | | | Armor | | Ballistc protection levels 2 to 4, mine protection level 2/3.
a | | Weight | | 8,000 to 10,000 kg | | Speed | | 110 km/h | | Range | | ? km
a
| | Dimensions | | Lenght, ? m; Width, ? m; Height, 1,8 m | | | | | |