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Monday, June 24, 2013

Philippine Marines locally-made combat vehicles

MX-1 Kalakian

Developed in the early 2000s as a joint project between Philippine Army's Light Armored Brigade (later Light Armored Division) and Steelcraft Industries, Incorporated of Manila, Philippines, the MX-1 Kalakian (Water Buffalo) was very similar to the GKN Simba armored car/APC in service with the Philippine Army. The MX-1 was also very similar to the Hari-Digma armored car/APC, another indigenous development, over which the Simba had been selected in the 1990s.

The prototype vehicle, presen-ted to the Light Armored Brigade in December 2002 featured a one-man turret and rear gunner's position. The vehicle used a commercially available transmission and other commercial vehicle compo-nents, all intended to reduce unit cost. The vehicle had an armored hull with the same thickness as the Simba (12mm).

The turret was a modification of the Cadillac Gage 1-meter turret found on V-150 armored cars also in service in the Philippines. This turret was also produced in a modified form in the Philippines by the Floro International Corporation. The major difference was the incorporation of an additional element allowing for the turret to be armed with a .50 caliber machine gun, 40mm automatic grenade launcher, and 7.62mm machine gun. The Cadillac Gage turret could only be armed with 2 of those weapons at any time. On V-150 and Simba vehicles the 40mm grenade launcher was often added to the top of the turret. This required the gunner expose themselves. The modified turret allowed all the weapons to be fired from within the turret.

Some 20 vehicles were said to have been purchased for evaluation, and it was unclear whether these vehicles entered service. The prototype vehicle was said to have cost the Philippine government 8 million Philippine pesos.

MX-8 Barako

The MX-8 Armored Escort Vehicle (sometimes referred to as the Barako, or Wild Boar) was developed by Steelcraft Industries, Incorporated of Manila, Philippines in the mid-2000s as a low cost armored escort vehicle for the Philippine Army. The MX-8 was said to be a 100 percent Filipino design utilizing commercially available components. A 4x4 armored car with a 1-man turret armed with a 7.62mm machine gun, the was intended to escort motorized infantry convoys through hostile areas. This would free up heavier combat vehicles for other operations and reduce the dependance on improvised armored trucks then being used. The vehicle was said to cost around 6 million Philippine pesos, less than a third of the cost of the GKN Simba, one of the Philippine Army's primary combat vehicles. Steelcraft Industries had also reportedly suggested that the MX-8's roles and armament options could be expanded depending on what needs the Philippine Armed Forces identified. The initial prototype (later referred to as the Mk 1) had been tested with a .50 caliber machine gun or 7.62mm M134 "Minigun" in the turret, as well as unidentified "rocket launchers."

In 2008 a Mk 2 prototype was announced with a revised internal arrangement, a independant front suspension, and various other minor modifications. Run-flat tired were also installed as standard. The turret was modified to have vision blocks all around, providing 360 degrees of vision for the gunner. Perhaps the biggest change was the increased ground clearance and installation of a v-shapped hull design. The Mk 2 was developed as a private venture and the modifications were not requested by the AFP.

A further improved Mk 3 appeared in 2009. It featured another minor redesign of the hull shape. By that time the 4 (2 Mk 1, 1 Mk 2, and 1 Mk 3) prototype vehicles were already in service with the Philippine Army and Philippine National Police.

The MX-8 Barako armored vehicles were manufactured by Steelcraft Military Land Defense firm based in Balintawak, Quezon City. The project was the brainchild of a retired Army chief and was developed by the Philippine Research and Development Branch. The MX-8 prototype project started in 2005 and was carried out under the Self Reliant Defense Posture Law. Costing P6 million each, an MX-8 Barako has an armor level equivalent to the military’s Simba armored personnel carrier (APC) and mobility equal to a Humvee with short turning radius. The “Steelcraft Military Land Defense” agreement allowed 2 units of the MX-8 Barako armored vehicles, each mounted with a .50 caliber machinegun, to be purchased by a provincial government official. The armed vehicle consumes less fuel and is easy to maintain. The Army can buy spare parts from any auto supply store. Tune up and change oil would cost around P2,500, compared to the Simba. The prototype military vehicle would cost only some P6 million, which is more than 80 percent of the price of the British made Simba armored personnel carrier.

Marine Multi-purpose Vehicle (MMPV)

The Marine Multi-purpose Vehicle or MMPV uses independent suspensions and portal geared hubs similar to portal axles to make for a full 16 inches of ground clearance. The vehicle also has disc brakes on all 4 wheels, and 4-wheel double-wishbone suspension. The brake discs are not mounted at the wheels as on conventional automobiles, but are inboard, attached to the outside of each differential. The front and rear differentials are Torsen type, and the center differential is a regular, lockable type.Created by the Philippine Marine Corps to replace M151 MUTT jeeps in service as they are hard to maintain with problems concerning availability of spare parts.

The first prototypes are equipped with a 3.5L V6 en-gine, rated for 141 kW (189 hp/192 ps) and 306 Nm torque. diesel engine and trans-mission, 4WD and chassis. It is built around a tubular-steel frame safety roll-cage which protects the passenger com- partment if the vehicle turns over. This cage is covered by a heavy-gauge sheet metal. An electrical winch with a capacity of 5,000 kg (11,023 lb) can be mounted at the front of the vehicle if required, and the windshield can be removed. The passenger compartment is in the center of the vehicle with the driver on the left and two passenger seats to his right. There is space for 0.93 cubic metres (33 cu ft) of cargo behind the passenger seats. A full length skid pan protects the hull and allows the vehicle to slide over obstacles. The transmission is a Mitsubishi A-727 fully automatic with a torque converter, there are 3F and 1R gears - the Marine Multi-purpose Vehicle is in 4 x 4 drive all the time. Limited-slip clutches, in front and rear, and inter-axle differentials automatically distribute more torque to those wheels with the most grip. The independent suspension is of a double 'A' design with a torsion-bar spring and hydraulic telescopic shock absorber at each station. A stabilizer bar is provided for the rear suspension.

The steering is power-assisted and the tubeless tires have a high-pressure tube inner tire which provides a built-in spare for each tube as well as eliminating rim leaks during high speed cornering. The tires are self-cleaning and disc brakes are fitted on all four wheels. The electrical system is 24V DC and two batteries with a capacity of 45 Amp/Hr are provided. The alternator is of the integral rectifier and regulator type. The Marine Multi-purpose Vehicle is proved with a heavy duty towing pintle as well as a trailer wiring harness receptacle. It is air-transportable and can be air-dropped.

There are 3 major variants of the Marine Multi-purpose Vehicle: 
  • Anti-Armour: A recoilless 106 mm rifle mounted above the crew compartment and a total of thirty five rounds of ammunition. 
  • Reconnaissance: Fitted with a ring-mounted .50cal M2HB machine guns with a 360 degree traverse 
  • Convoy Escort/ Security Vehicle: This can be provided with a pintle-mount 5.56mm/7.62 mmCal GPMG's, M174 automatic grenade launcher's and various other similar weapons. These weapons can also be mounted on the reconnaissance model on the ring mount. 
The following kits are available for the basic vehicle: Crew compartment armor kit, consisting of a high-hardness steel doors, side body panels, toe panel, firewall, bullet-proof windshield and bullet-proof side windows. Armored radiator, Armored fuel tank, Top and door kit (water-proof fabric with plastic windows and hinged doors) Various communications installations, High output alternators, 100 and 180 Amp, Litter-carrying kit, Jump seat for two additional passengers., Explosion resistant reticulated foam fuel-tank filler, Radial ply tires or bullet-proof foam-filled tires, Extreme climate kits for winterization or desert temperatures, Tool kit and portable fire extinguisher.

Proposed Sub Variants: 
  • Troop transports 
  • Armament Carrier, Armored 
  • Ambulance 
  • Communications 
  • Command posts 
  • Military Police vehicles
Armaments: 
  • M2 .50 machine guns 
  • M240 machine guns 
  • Mk 19 or Mk 47 40mm grenade launchers 
  • M249 machine guns 
  • Smoke grenade launchers 
Sources: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/philippines/mx-1.htm

13 comments:

  1. all thumbs for one great site you got here. cheers and more power online!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sana todo support dito an gating pangulo.. No corruption please lalo na sa mga high ranking sa AFP.

    ReplyDelete
  3. pueda naman pala tayung gumawa ng sariling atin kung bakit kailangan pa natin bumili sa ibang bansa. ang pnoy talaga mdali masissilaw sa mga imported na bagay. sana bigyan ito ng pansin ng gobyerno. pnoy bgyan m naman ng pansin ang mga gawang pilipinas para hndi na tayo bili ng bili sa ibang bansa ng nga gamit para sa ating mga militar para mktipid ang pamahalaan. salamat and more power

    ReplyDelete
  4. di lang yan ang mga gawang pinoy Mr Anonymous from April 3, 2015. tignan mo... noong term ni President Marcos sa tulong nya. nakagawa ang AFP ng missile system with radar system and launcher trucks at sa tingin ko ang role nun ay shore based anti ship missile na kayang magpalubog ng barko. di lang yan may nagawa din silang "SUMPAK" barrage rocket system di ko alam kung anti aircraft or land strike rocket yung mga yun. may nagawa din silang jet "cali super pinto" at helicopter "hummingbird" kaya lang napasawalang bahala ang mga ito dahil napatalsik si Marcos. o kita mo?? kung natuloy ang lahat nang yan. tayo na siguro ang isa sa mga pinakamalakas na bansa. we need a president na kasing talino ni Marcos. kaya ngayong 2016 vote wisely. Pnoy did his best... but i think his best was'nt good enough...
    for more info search for Marcos on youtube its there.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ang probelema kasi sa bansa natin kulang sa supporta.at yung mga marunong gumawa ng armas at iba pang gamit hinuhili at kinukulong di tulad sa ibang basna binibigyan ng budget at pera para umimbinto ng armas

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  6. Gawa pa tayo ng marami nyan! sana battle tank naman ang gawin nyo para hindi na tayo bibili sa ibang bansa?

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  7. baka sa susunod, meron na tayong Philippine made na MBT.. magagawa natin yan KAPAG mayron itong 100% na support mula sa ating gobyerno.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hindi malayong mangyari, sa dami ng mga kabataang marunong mag-isip at mag disenyo ng mga sasakyan, posibleng magkaroon tayo ng MBT na mismong dito sa Pilipinas ginawa.

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  8. Previous presidents after marcos,never minds filipino ingenuity and relies heavily on kickbacks from foreign weapon manufacturers.

    ReplyDelete
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  10. Paanu po mag share ng Concept d2 ng Military Vehicles para sa Army meron po akong mga Concepts

    ReplyDelete
  11. Meron po pala mga ganitong project ang militar so dapat suportahan po ng phil. Govt. Ang mga ganitong research. mga may ideas ng military hardware developtment..

    ReplyDelete
  12. Maghanap po sila ng may mga malikot ang isip tungkol sa military hardware anything which can contribute to the improvement of our military..

    ReplyDelete