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 The Fighting Edge in Tomorrow's Battles |
FAST |
| An Introduction by others : | |
| The first Bionix
25 production vehicles were completed in September 1997 and, under the phase 1 production
contract awarded to STA, production will continue until 2001. While no details of the
quantity have been released, it is understood that the order is for at least 300 vehicles
and is valued at around US$596.5 million. Two main variants of the Bionix infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) are in production and service with the armed forces - the Bionix 25 and Bionix 40/50.The former fitted with a two person turret, armed with the combat proven Boeing 25mm M242 Chain Gun; the 40/50 has a latest version of the CIS 40/50 Cupola station, which has been built in large numbers for the M113 upgrade. The layout of the Bionix is conventional with the driver at the front left, the power pack situated at the front right and the turret in the center with the troop compartment at the rear. The driver enters via a roof hatch that opens to the left rear. When driving closed-down, observation is via three day periscopes, while the center periscope can be rapidly replaced by an image-intensification periscope for driving at night. The driver guides the vehicle using a small steering wheel rather than tillers and, as an automatic transmission is fitted, there are just two pedals - accelerator and brake. The instrument panel is mounted on the left, with the transmission selection box on the right. ( JDW - Equipment profile -10/1/1999 - Christopher Foss ) |
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| From the Brochure ( How It all Began ) : | |
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Along with the
growth and development of the Armed Forces, there was a need to top up the shortfall of
the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) in the current inventory. This prompted the
Ministry of Defence to source for a fleet of armored vehicles to operate hand-in-hand with
the current fleet of M113 and AMX13 SM1. DMO being the systems acquisition house, together with the participation of the Armed Forces, was appointed to conduct a technology study and recommend the direction ahead for this project. A market survey was conducted in which various armored vehicles including WARRIOR, BRADLEY, MARDER were evaluated. The findings from the market survey showed that none of the Off-the-Shelf vehicles met the unique requirement. Therefore, the decision that local development would be the path. |
| From the Newspaper and magazines : | |
| The new local
designed Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) is so simple to operate, anyone who can drive a
car can learn to drive it in 15 minutes flat. ( ST - 6 September 1997 ) A surprising appearance at IDET was the new Bionix armored infantry vehicle. This was the first public display, inspired by plans to demonstrate the vehicle to one of the armies in the region. The vehicle uses many western components, and so may be viewed as NATO compatible. It is smaller and lighter than comparable NATO vehicles such as the Bradley or Warrior, and a low price tag might make it attractive to the former Warsaw pact countries. ( Journal of Military Ordnance - Vol.9 No.6 ) One other vehicle on the Vicker's at DSEi 99, manufactured by STA, the Bionix is a compact design produced to meet the conditions of pacific rim countries where small size is a great asset when it comes to traveling among, say rubber plantations and over roads and bridges not designed for heavy vehicles. |
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| The vehicles is supported by a comprehensive support package called the Advanced Logistics Proactive System, using a palm top computer which is no bigger than a paperback novel, but still carries a full vehicle operator's manual and a fault-finding system which literally takes you on a guided tour of the vehicle to show where components are located and how to find and fix problems using animated displays, voice commands and even video. It is also integrated with a vehicle repair and upgrade logging system and a spares package which can be linked to a central location using standard Email and phone links. It doubles as a task trainer and all this is fully upgradeable via on-line links. ( MM - Vol.30 No.2 - Peter Brown ) | |
| Others : | |
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The two companies have
signed an agreement that will se the Bionix 25 being put through an intensive series of
battlefield day trials at Catterick, UK, in October The British Army has a future requirement for an armored Battle group support Vehicle (ABSV); a version of the Bionix could well be a contender for this requirement, perhaps in a stretched and wider configuration. The ABSV would have a possible in-service date from 2008 and would replace the remaining members of the FV432 family which are not being replaced by the MRAV (8x8) Multi-Role Armored Vehicle. ABSV would be armed with a machine gun for local protection and would not be fitted with a two-person 25mm turret as fitted to the Bionix. |
| The recent signed agreement between the two companies is a key part of the Vickers Defence System recently revealed strategy to move away from heavy tracked vehicles, such as the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank (MBT), and broaden its product line into lighter tracked and wheeled vehicles. ( DSEi - 99 - Christopher F.Foss ) | |
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| Introduction 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 | Bionix Specifications | Bionix Gallery 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 | Bionix 40/50 Gallery |
| ARV Spec and Gallery | AVLB Spec and Gallery | Primus Spec and Gallery | Other variants |
| IFV -others 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 | 1990 - 1992 | 1993 - 1995 | 1995 - 1997 |
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