Iveco Medium Tactical Vehicle
The IVECO Medium Tactical Vehicle (MTV), also known as IVECO Manticore, is designed by Italian manufacterer IVECO Defence Vehicles as the future infantry mobility vehicle for the Dutch Armed Forces. The acquisition is part of the Joint Replacement Programme of Wheeled Vehicles of the Dutch Ministry of Defence, with deliveries planned from early 2023 until 2026.[2]
| IVECO Medium Tactical Vehicle | |
|---|---|
 Artist's impression of the MTV, November 2019 | |
| Type | Infantry mobility vehicle |
| Place of origin |  Italy |
| Service history | |
| In service | To enter service in early 2023 |
| Used by | Dutch Armed Forces |
| Production history | |
| Designer | IVECO Defence Vehicles |
| No. built | 1,175 on order |
| Variants | Hardtop Softtop Utility Ambulance Military police |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | ± 10,000 (kerb)[1] |
| Length | 5,760 mm[1] |
| Width | 2,430 mm[1] |
| Height | 2,760 mm[1] |
| Crew | Hardtop and softtop: 2 + 2 Utility: 2 Ambulance: 2 + 2 or 4 Military police: 2 + 6 |
Main armament | Remote controlled weapon station with M2 .50 heavy machine gun or H&K AGW 40 mm grenade launcher |
| Engine | NEF67 EUIII 6.7L six-cylinder diesel, turbocharged[1] 276 hp (207 kW)[1] |
| Power/weight | 23 hp/tonne[1] |
| Payload capacity | ± 2,000 kg[1] |
| Transmission | automatic |
| Ground clearance | 45° (approach angle) 35° (departure angle) 60% (gradient) 30° (side slope) 350 mm (vertical obstacle)[1] |
Operational range | 600 km[1] |
| Maximum speed | 90 km/h (limited)[1] |
Procurement
To revitalise the ageing fleet of wheeled vehicles within the armed forces, the Dutch Ministry of Defence launched the Defensiebrede Vervanging Operationele Wielvoertuigen programme (DVOW, Joint Replacement Programme of Wheeled Vehicles). The Iveco MTV has been selected for the 12 kN category, which indicates that the vehicle will be capable of carrying payloads of approximately 1,200 kilograms. The MTV will function in various roles and will replace multiple ageing vehicles, including variants of the M577 command post vehicles, YPR-765 armoured personnel carriers and Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen 'Wolf' off-road vehicles.[3]
On 15 August 2019, State Secretary of Defence Barbara Visser announced that the Ministry of Defence had selected Italian truck manufacturer IVECO to supply new light tactical vehicles to the Dutch Armed Forces. In addition, the prjoect includes delivery of remote controlled weapon stations (RCWS) which can be installed on the vehicles. The contract includes the development and provision of 918 vehicles and 120 RCWS, an additional 357 vehicles and 10 RCWS can be ordered through an option in the contract. This would bring the total to 1275 vehicles and 130 RCWS, while additional vehicles can be ordered within five years after the delivery of the final vehicle.[3] On 28 November 2019, the state secretary signed the contract with IVECO at the NIDV Exhibition Defence & Security, which took place in Rotterdam.[4]
In the Defensie Projectoverzicht (DPO, Defence Projects Overview) of September 2020, the Ministry of Defence announced that the order for an additional 357 vehicles was delayed. An examination of the project found that the current distribution of vehicles among the service branches was sub-optimal. Consequently, a requirement for 100 vehicles was removed from the project and transferred to a new project for amphibiously transportable vehicles for the Netherlands Marine Corps. The remaining 257 vehicles have been ordered through the existing option in the contract.[5]
Variants
Combat
The combat variant consists of a hardtop and softtop variant that have been optimised for tactical use. The hardtop variant can be equipped with the RCWS included in the contract and can host up to four occupants. The softtop variant will be uses by the Dutch special operations forces, KCT and NLMARSOF.[1]
Utility
The utility variant consists of a pick-up with a short two-man cabin, and various utility modules on the rear section.[1] 550 non-armoured logistic modules will be produced by Dutch Military Vehicles, a subsidiary of IVECO Schouten. DMV will produce cargo-beds in four different versions, including modules for mobile workshops and command vehicles.[6]
Ambulance
The ambulance variant consists of an armoured body that is optimised for casualty evacuation, and is capable of transporting two stretchers or up to four sitting casualties.[1]
Military police
The military police variant is designed for policing duties of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee.[1] The MTV will replace a part of the YPR-765 armoured personnel carriers in use with the Bijstandseenheid (BE, Support Unit).
References
- Valpolini, Paolo (21 February 2021). "First international appearance of Iveco DV's Medium Tactical Vehicle". EDR Magazine. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
- Brouwer, Evert (17 December 2019). "Veel nieuws op NEDS". Materieelgezien. 10. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- B. Visser, State Secretary of Defence (15 August 2019). "Verwervingsvoorbereiding (D-fase) van het project 'Voertuig 12kN overig en Remote Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS)'". tweedekamer.nl. Tweede Kamer. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- Peruzzi, Luca; Valpolini, Paolo (28 November 2019). "The Netherlands sign a contract for 918 12kN vehicles with Iveco Defence Vehicles". EDR Magazine. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- "Defensie Projectenoverzicht 2020". defensie.nl. Ministry of Defence. 15 September 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- Zonligt, Xander (24 November 2020). "DMV wins bodybuilding contract!". dmv4x4.com. Dutch Military Vehicles. Retrieved 17 February 2021.