M113 Armoured Personnel Carriers Accepted Into Service

Tenix Aerospace and Defence, The first four M113 Armoured Personnel Carriers (M113AS4) built by Tenix Aerospace and Defence have been accepted into service with the Australian Army’s 7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (Mechanised Infantry), during a ceremony in Darwin today. 
 
These are the first of 350 vehicles procured under Project LAND 106 which is aimed at upgrading the Army’s in-service M113A1 vehicles. The upgrade provides significant enhancements in protection, firepower and mobility while also providing improved supportability. 
 
There are seven variants of the M113AS4 being produced. The first four are the Armoured Personnel Carrier (M113AS4 APC). The designation AS4 (Australian Version 4) refers to the upgraded capability of the vehicle to the Australian standard as well as its increased carrying capacity. 171 APC variants will be upgraded to the 18-tonne M113AS4 standard. 
 
“Tenix is proud to have built these vehicles and we are committed to ensuring the remaining vehicles are delivered to the Australian Army on schedule by 2010,” said Tenix Aerospace and Defence’s Executive General Manager Mr Ian Sharp. 
 
“Delivering this project has not been without its challenges. It is testimony to the DMO’s strong relationship with industry and Tenix that these challenges were resolved in a co-operative and professional manner,” he said. 
 
“I also want to recognise the sterling efforts of everyone from Industry working on this project – both the Tenix employees and the major sub-contractors who will deliver the project including these vehicles,” Mr Sharp said.  
 
M113 (AS4) – FACT SHEET 
 
The M113A4s will have greater firepower, protection, mobility and habitability than the existing M113A1 fleet. This will be achieved through the following: 
 
— A powerful EURO III four-stroke DaimlerChrysler-MTU engine coupled to a six-gear ZF automatic transmission will improve speed and mobility. 
–Yoke steering with true pivot turn and natural steering input in reverse. 
–Upgraded vehicles will have base-level protection enhanced by external appliqué armour and spall curtains for increased vehicle and crew protection 
— A new Tenix-designed and manufactured turret will provide a platform to ensure superior firepower. 
–Day/night sight, including a unity vision periscope channel. 
–New electric powered turret drives with stabilisation as a future growth capability. 
–New M2 HB QCB 12.7mm machine gun. 
–Revised seating and stowage layouts in the M113AS4s providing improved habitability for crew and passengers. 
–Hull reinforcement to improve mine-blast protection.  
 
The fleet will comprise seven vehicle variants: armoured personnel carriers (APC); fitters track; recovery; mortar; command; ambulance and logistic vehicles.