Armoured Amphibious Combat Earthmover (AACE)
During the river passage operations to be performed by the Armed Forces, the riverbanks are not always available for the entry and exit of amphibious vehicles to/from the rivers or the available riverbanks can be disadvantageous for the military operations. Being flexible in the selection of amphibious operation area is critical for the increase of Armed Forces’ mobility and operation capability.
In order for the amphibious vehicles having launched down to the water, the riverbanks (their slope, width, soil hardness, surface flatness and etc.) should be made available for the capabilities of different vehicles. There are standard military work machines used for this purpose but since they fail to float, their most disadvantageous aspect is not being able to make the opposite shore available similarly. For this reason, the transportation of these vehicles to the opposite side of the river is a must. The transportation requirement reduces the flexibility and success of the operation and at the same time affects the duration of mobility. Another restriction for the utilization of such standard work machines is that the need for another transporting vehicle in order for them to be transported to the mobility area.
In order to eliminate such vulnerability, an amphibious vehicle was needed to ensure the availability of both shores for the river passage operations of Turkish Armed Forces and Azmim project was developed for this reason. FNSS was the successful bidder in the tender opened as a local development model.
Initiated on June 15th, 2009, the project covers the delivery of 12 Azmim vehicles, its technical documentation and user manuals, spare parts and ancillary equipment/hardware within 42 months, which is deemed very short for the development of a military vehicle. Realized with fully local design and development, and with widely local production, FNSS’ structural design, product technologies, resource technologies and hydraulic electronic system design capabilities were used in the design studies of Azmim project. The modeling and simulation infrastructures of the universities were used and cooperation with universities and research centers was made.
Azmim basically is an amphibious, armored and a tracked fortification work machine that can be used 1 operator and 1 crew. As a work machine, it is able to make shoveling, flattening, transporting and plowing activities.
As compared to standard work machines, Azmim has the capability to take in ballast from the soil ground to its ballast canister when necessary and discharge it at the end of the operation. In standard work machines, the dozer blade is swinging while the vehicle is stable however in Azmim it is fixed to the vehicle. With its superior hydraulic suspension system, the front side of Azmim can be lifted down or up and by this way its blade or ballast canister can touch and access the ground. As a result, more efficient shoveling and plowing can be made. These activities can also be made while the vehicle is mobile.
Azmim distinguishes from M9 ACE of BAE Systems, with its new technology and advanced technical features.
One of the most important features Azmim has is that it is amphibious and has the capacity for 2 crews. Besides, Azmim has modern electronic systems like day and night cameras, multi-function LCD monitor and air-condition. The hull of Azmim was designed with aluminum material by taking into account its floating requirements. Its hydraulic, power and power transmission systems were equipped with modern equipment and tools and by this way the vehicle has higher maneuver capability and performance.
At Azmim’s power assembly, Allison full automatic transmission is coupled with Cat diesel engine. Azmim can move 45 km/h speed at land and can reach the operation area together with other military vehicles without need for transportation. It can travel in the flowing water with 360° high-maneuvered capability through its 2 water jets.
Azmim project is planned in three phases as design, prototype development and mass production. In design and prototype development phases, 14 wide range system and subsystem qualification tests were made with the detailed design of the product and one prototype vehicle developed.
The qualification tests were initiated with Mine Test which was performed in Konya Karapınar in 2011 and then with Ballistic Tests which were performed in internationally accredited laboratories. Through these tests, the endurance of Azmim against land mines and armor-piercing ammunitions is proven. Later, the operational performance test took place and its shoveling, flattening, ballast carrying and plowing capabilities as a work machine were approved by SSM and Turkish Land Forces committee.
The EMI/EMC compatibility tests were applied under the supervision of TÜBİTAK for the first time to a land vehicle at an open terrain and Azmim satisfied all EMI/EMC conditions that a land vehicle would meet. In June 2012, Water Performance tests were made for testing Azmim’s amphibious feature. Azmim accomplished the operation in the water with 1,5/sec flow speed and its maneuver capability was approved.
Other qualification tests that Azmim was subjected to are the Land Performance Test, Fuel Consumption Test, Cold Running Test and Cooling System Test.
In the mass production phase, the production, acceptance and control tests of 12 Azmim vehicles are planned to be completed until the end of 2012.
