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The PLFS (Poids Lourd Forces Spéciales - Special Forces Heavy Weight) is a wheeled armoured vehicle designed and manufactured by the French Company ARQUUS formerly Renault Trucks Defense, based on the tactical requirements of the French Special and the DGA (French Army Procurement Agency). The PLFS is based on the chassis of the Sherpa Light Special Forces also manufactured by Renault Truck Defense. The PLFS is lighter than the standard Sherpa and the crew compartment has been adapted to carried armament used by the French Special Forces including 12.7mm heavy machine gun, 7.62mm machine gun, anti-tank missiles AT4CS or Milan. In 2015, the French Army has ordered a total of 202 PLFS. The DGA (French army procurement agency) has certified the vehicle on January 30, 2017, to provide a new generation of combat vehicle especially dedicated to perform overseas operations and replace the old vehicle in service with the French Special Forces units as the Acmat VLRA and the VPS Panhard. On February 1, 2017, French Company Renault Trucks Defense has delivered the first batch of 25 PLFS vehicles to the French Special Forces units.
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| Armament |
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The PLFS Special Forces vehicle is fitted with a circular ring mount located in the center of the vehicle which is armed with a 12.7mm FN M2 heavy machine gun. There is three more swivel stations mounted on the vehicle, one at the front right side near the door of the commander and two at the rear of the vehicle that can be armed with 5.56mm or 7.62mm machine gun. The PLFS can be also armed with 40mm automatic grenade launcher or M134 MiniGun, a 7.62×51mm NATO, six-barrel rotary machine gun with a high rate of fire (2,000 to 6,000 rounds per minute).
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| Design and protection |
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The PLFS is based on the Sherpa Light Special Forces manufactured by the French Company Renault Trucks Defense, it uses an open top architecture to enable incremental improvements in modular armor, subcomponent size, weight, power, cooling and maximum situation awareness. The front of the vehicle is protected by a two parts windscreen that can be folded forward flat on the bonnet. There is one single door without window on each side at the front and one more at the rear. The PLFS can carry a total of 5 military personnel with two seats at the front, the gunner position in the middle and two seats at the rear. The PLFS has a mine protection Level 1 STANAG 4569, it can be fitted with additional armour to offer ballistic protection against firing of small arms 7.62 and 5.56mm calibers.
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| Mobility |
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The PLFS is motorized with a Renault Trucks Defense engine developing 265 ch., it can run at a maximum speed of 110 km/hr with a maximum cruising range of 1,400 km. This vehicle is able to negotiate 60% gradient and 40% side slopes. It can cross a trench of 0.9 m width and a vertical obstacle of 0.4 m. It can ford to a depth from 0.75 to 1 m.
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| Accessories |
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Standard equipment of the VLFS includes one self-recovery winch mounted at the front of the vehicle, storage boxes on the left side, one spare wheel on the right side, and rigid metal plates for recovery from sand and mud. The standard PLFS is fitted with two radios. To be airlifted by helicopter, each side of the PLFS are fitted with four anchoring points.
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| Specifications |
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Armament
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One 12.7mm heavy machine gun and three light machine guns 7.62 or 5.56mm caliber.
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Country users
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France
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Designer Country
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France
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Accessories
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Self-recovery winch, spare wheel.
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Crew
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5
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Armor
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Level 1 STANAG 4569 mine protection, additionnal armour for ballistic protection
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Weight
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11,000 kg
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Speed
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110 km/h
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Range
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1,400 km
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Dimensions
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Length: 5.43 m; Width: 2.35 m; Height: ? m
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