FFG from Germany to deliver Wiesel 1 airborne armored with CAMAC armour.

According to Janes Defence website, the German Company Company FFG could delivered the first prototypes of the Wiesel 1 fitted with CAMAC passive armour to the German army at the end of 2018. In November 2017, Morgan Advanced Materials has been contracted by FFG Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft to supply armour systems for the German Army’s WIESEL 1 Armoured Weapons Carrier (AWC) vehicle.

Wiesel 1 airbone tracked vehicle armed with 20mm automatic cannon (Picture source Army Recognition)

The contract requires Morgan’s Composites and Defence Systems business to initially supply its CAMAC armour and survivability package for three variants of the WIESEL 1 platform, as part of an upgrade program. The CAMAC armour is claimed to increase survivability for the platform and crew with minimal additional weight, allowing the Wiesel vehicle to maintain high levels of air transportability and ground maneuverability.

The WIESEL 1 was originally developed to meet an air-transportable light-armoured tracked vehicle requirement of the German Army.Used by German army airborne troops, the WIESEL 1 needs a lightweight armour solution that provides high levels of ballistic protection, without impeding maneuverability, Morgan stated.

There are two most main variants of the Wiesel 1 in service with German army including the fire support vehicle, armed with a 20-mm cannon and TOW ATGM (Anti-Tank Guided Missile) carrier.

The Wiesel 1 fire support vehicle is fitted with a one-man Rheinmetall Landsysteme (previously KUKA) turret E6-II-A1 armed with a 20 mm Rheinmetall MK 20 Rh 202 dual-feed cannon. The weapon can be elevated from -10 to +45º and traversed 55º left and right. Elevation and traverse are manual and the gunner aims the weapon via a Zeiss PERI-Z-16 periscopic sight. A passive night sight is also available. The Wiesel 1 fire support has a crew of two consisting of commander/gunner and driver.

The Wiesel TOW was built to meet the requirements of the German Army and is fitted with a Raytheon Systems Company TOW ATGW launcher on an elevating pedestal with a traverse of 45º left and right and an elevation and depression of 10º. Seven TOW missiles are carried of which two are for ready use. The Wiesel 1 TOW has a crew of three including driver, gunner and loader.

Wiesel 1 airbone tracked vehicle armed with TOW ATGM Anti-Tank Guided Missile  (Picture source Army Recognition)