PARS III – 8×8 WHEELED ARMOURED COMBAT VEHICLE (WACV) Overview
The PARS III 8×8 combat weight is 30,000 kg, and the vehicle is powered by a diesel engine. The power pack consists of a water-cooled diesel engine, coupled to a fully automatic transmission, allowing a maximum road speed up to 100 km/h. The PARS III 8×8 can overcome a 60% vertical and a 30% side slope, climb 0.7 meters-high obstacles and cross 2 meters-wide trenches.
Thanks to its unique design with its powerpack location and optimal weight balance, the vehicle has an almost equal load on each axle. This design approach gives the vehicle the ability to move comfortably even on loose and soft terrain, providing maximum control at high-speed and short braking distances. The vehicle has 8×8 driving characteristics, and all of its axles can be locked when necessary. The central tire inflation system allows the driver to adjust the tire pressure to suit different terrain conditions.
The PARS III 8×8 all-axle steering system gives the vehicle the lowest turning radius in its class at 8 meters. The ability of gradual decreasing the steer-by-wire angle of the rear axles and their locking over certain speeds, together with the ABS system and the engine brake, all contribute to enhanced driving safety.
The two-man driver’s section is located in front of the vehicle, which offers more than 180° horizontal field of view and a high level of driving safety and comfort. Large glass periscopes, and front driving and manoeuvre cameras with thermal cameras located at the front and rear of the vehicle provide high-level situational awareness for the driver and commander. Thanks to ergonomic door design, personnel seats, rifle holders and interior lighting elements are all designed to ensure maximum crew comfort in the vehicle, which can accommodate up to nine dismounts. With a range of over 800 km, the PARS III 8×8 is fitted with safety fuel tanks against punctures and explosion, a reserve fuel tank under-armour being also available in emergency situations.
Thanks to the modular design of the PARS III 8×8 hull and to that of its armour package, the vehicle protection level, both against ballistic and mine threats, can be tailored to customers’ requests,
The hull shape, underbelly structure, base plates and specially developed mine-resistant seats are designed to protect personnel against high-level mine threats.
The PARS III 8×8 vehicle runs ahead of its competitors by offering ballistic and mine protection levels similar to MRAP vehicles while maintaining combat and mobility characteristics of modern armoured combat vehicles. The PARS III 8×8 has an integrated air-conditioning system, which keeps the vehicle’s internal temperature at +25 °C even in the hottest desert conditions.
The modular connection of the vehicle subsystems to the mine-resistant hull ensures ease of maintenance and replacement. This ease of maintenance and the easy replacement of moving parts and the power transmission systems in particular make the PARS III 8×8 superior to its counterparts. The powerpack architecture, which can be disassembled and reassembled in less than 60 minutes, gives the user the freedom to replace the engine while on the field, providing maximum readiness levels in combat situations.