Christopher F. Foss Jane's Land Consultant - Kuala Lumpur

Key Points

The Al-Hadeed Armoured Repair & Recovery Vehicle is the lastest addition to HIT's Talha-based series of armoured personnel carriers. Manufactured by Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT), it is based on APC-Talha, and it is equipped with a crane, all weather day and night fighting-capability, explosive reactive armour,15-tonne hydraulic winch, mill, lathe and complete mobile workshop with other tools to fix and recover vehicles in the field. It weighs 12,521 kg and has armour similar to that of the United States M113P

The Al Hadeed will be able to recover vehicles weighing up to 20 tonnes

Pakistan's Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) unveiled the Al Hadeed armoured recovery vehicle (ARV) - the latest addition to its Talha series of armoured personnel carriers (APCs) - during April's Defence Services Asia exhibition in Kuala Lumpur.

The Al-Hadeed ARV, which has yet to enter quantity production, is fitted with a roof-mounted hydraulically operated crane that can lift 3 tonnes.

A hydraulic winch is mounted in the rear of the vehicle leading out through the lowered rear ramp. It can be used to recover vehicles weighing up to 20 tonnes when the two rear hydraulic stabilisers are lowered.

There are at least two fire-support versions of the standard Talha APC. The Mouz is fitted with a pedestal-mounted Swedish Saab Bofors Dynamics RBS-70 laser-guided surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. This can also be removed from the Mouz and deployed on the ground. A roof-mounted 12.7 mm machine gun (MG) is provided for local defence.

The Maaz is armed with the locally manufactured 3,000 m range Baktar Shikan anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW) and a 12.7 mm MG for local defence.

Baseline Talha APCs entered quantity production for the Pakistan Army several years ago and a batch of vehicles has also been supplied to the Multi-National Security Transition - Command - Iraq, which were delivered in 2006.

The Talha APC is very similar to the now BAE Systems Ground Systems M113 series APC that was manufactured under licence at HIT. Many of these have been upgraded by HIT to the enhanced M113A1/M113A2 standard.

Also expected to enter production at HIT in mid 2008 or 2009 is the Saad APC. This is similar to the Talha but has a longer chassis and six road wheels on either side, giving it greater internal volume and payload.

While the M113 series and Talha are powered by a US Detroit Diesel 6V-63 series engine coupled to an Allison TX 100-1 automatic transmission, the Saad has a new German powerpack.

This consists of an MTU 6V TE20 V-6 diesel developing 350/400 hp, coupled to a German ZF LSG 1000 automatic transmission. This gives a higher power-to-weight ratio and increased top speed.

HIT has also proposed an armoured infantry fighting vehicle (AIFV) based on the upgraded M113 called the Al-Hamza. This has firing ports in the rear troop compartment and a roof-mounted Chinese WAT 314T turret, armed with a 25 mm cannon and 7.62 mm co-axial MG.

Finally, there is a stretched load carrier based on a modified M113 series chassis called the Al-Qaswa.

The HIT facility continues to upgrade current main battle tanks (MBTs) for the Pakistani Army as well as continuing production of new variants of the Al Khalid MBT, which was developed in association with China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO).

Further enhancements of the Al Khalid are now under way, including enhanced protection and the installation of a defensive aids system to enhance survivability against ATGWs.

COMMENT
The US-developed M113 series APC has been used in large numbers by the Pakistan Army for many years and is its standard vehicle in this class.

Further development of this vehicle by Pakistan has not only save valuable foreign exchange but also will allow the country to offer enhanced versions for the export market.

Disregard Default in title...

Source: Janes

All tanks are above 40 tonnes

Any pictures of this trucks?


Baktar Shiken range 3000m! I thought it could hit targets 5km away.

The sheer number of variants and applications shows that they now have total understanding over the M113's design and technology.

Its just excellent that HIT can create a customized vehicle for whatever role is required.

I think M113 is a terrible APC. It less lightly armored than a tuna can. HIT needs to build something with better protection for crew/soldiers inside. PA didn't have a good experience with these APCs in northern areas. They are a relic from Vietnam era.

So? Not all (armored) vehicles on the battlefield are tanks. They still need to be recovered, sometimes under fire.


There are different quotes out there. Though more modern, the Baktar Shikan missile is very similar to the Russian AT-3 'Sagger' but with a different launcher. Sagger has a 3km range. BS probably does 4km.


lightly armored ... right.

How many of these pictures are of M-113s in PA. None, maybe 1.

Watch this video of PA M-113s built by HIT in action in Swat. Notice the rigged armor on the side of the M-113s.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faRsfU74g9Q...feature=related

Pakistan better have some indeginous solution for recovering tanks also than using M48 chassis.

Rooh Afza you are wrong the APC's in Swat were probably acquired from germany.M113s made in HIT are M113A2P.They are of A2 standard and they have armored protection for the fuel tanks.Like this in the back.



While these are the older M113s without armor protection for fuel tanks.




P.S:There is a picture of older M113 in www.defence.pk, this guy took this image from a book called Pakistan Army green book but he has hidden the link as if it was he who took the picture.