M113 armored personnel carrier, in service with numerous armies around the world, has been in service since the 1960s. To match the modern battlefield, it needs deep modernization.
One of the options for improving the combat characteristics of the vehicle was the recently introduced version, equipped with a CPWS tower from the Belgian manufacturer John Cockerill, which is capable of integrating various weapons systems.
It has high combat effectiveness, radically updating the firepower of the M113- says the publication Defensa.
CPWS can be equipped with guns of caliber 25-30 mm, such as ATK M242, Nexter M811 or Oerlikon KBA or M230LF. The tower has electro-optical sensors, allowing the use of weapons during the day, at night or in adverse weather conditions.
The kit may include coaxial machine guns of caliber 7,62 or 12,7 mm or automatic grenade launchers with the ability to reload from inside. The main implement can be equipped with a double feed system and have up to 155 ready-to-use shells. The elevation angle is from -10 + 60 °.
Adoption of a modern turret, such as CPWS, allows us to continue to use this reliable platform [M113 armored personnel carrier]- The author believes.
The CPWS is made from ballistic aluminum and has protection up to 5 STANAG level 4569 (must withstand a hit from a 25-mm armor-piercing sabot projectile). It can be equipped up to 8 smoke PU, panoramic sight.
The adoption of such a next-generation weapon system will allow the old one to continue to be used, but a reliable platform, regardless of, will other characteristics be improved?, such as protection or mobility- says the author.
