This is what I was talking about...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warrior_tracked_armoured_vehicle
FV 514 Mechanised Artillery Observation Vehicle. This is operated by the Royal Artillery as an Artillery Observation Post Vehicle (OPV) and is fitted with mast-mounted Man-packable Surveillance and Target Acquisition Radar (MSTAR) and Position and Azimuth Determining System (PADS) with Image Intensifying and Infra Red equipment. The only armament is the 7.62 mm machine gun as the 30 mm Rarden cannon is replaced with a dummy weapon. This allows space for the targeting and surveillance equipment while still keeping largely the same outward appearance of a standard Warrior in order to avoid becoming a priority target.
This is what I was talking about...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warrior_tracked_armoured_vehicle
FV 514 Mechanised Artillery Observation Vehicle. This is operated by the Royal Artillery as an Artillery Observation Post Vehicle (OPV) and is fitted with mast-mounted Man-packable Surveillance and Target Acquisition Radar (MSTAR) and Position and Azimuth Determining System (PADS) with Image Intensifying and Infra Red equipment. The only armament is the 7.62 mm machine gun as the 30 mm Rarden cannon is replaced with a dummy weapon. This allows space for the targeting and surveillance equipment while still keeping largely the same outward appearance of a standard Warrior in order to avoid becoming a priority target.
This is what I was talking about...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warrior_tracked_armoured_vehicle
FV 514 Mechanised Artillery Observation Vehicle. This is operated by the Royal Artillery as an Artillery Observation Post Vehicle (OPV) and is fitted with mast-mounted Man-packable Surveillance and Target Acquisition Radar (MSTAR) and Position and Azimuth Determining System (PADS) with Image Intensifying and Infra Red equipment. The only armament is the 7.62 mm machine gun as the 30 mm Rarden cannon is replaced with a dummy weapon. This allows space for the targeting and surveillance equipment while still keeping largely the same outward appearance of a standard Warrior in order to avoid becoming a priority target.
Originally posted by spencer99:Yeah... i think I read somewhere that the British Army's FO vehicle has a 'fake' turret so that it looked like a Warrior IFV.
The Bronco will really stand-out in combat environment, although the Singapore Army's operating enviornment will probably be more closed-up with urban buildings and vegetation... unlike Central Europe or desert warfare....
I think the main reason could be 'cost' and also the amount of equipment to be carried...
i am sure the BX2 cost much more then a Bronco...... Although i think if u utilize a 'fake' turret, the cost will be much lower.. the turret cost a lot.
Cost should be in the sense of fuel consumption
Assuming the same fuel tank, the Bronco is able to cover a longer distance than Bionix
Besides the Warrior FV514, other current forward observation armor vehicles include modified Bradleys and Strykers.
Basically, in this role, armies tend to use common front line AFVs supplied with appropriate equipment such as specialsed sensors & comms. Lots of effort is also expended , as much as possible, to ensure not to betray the true role of these vehicles - eg dummy Rarden gun on a Warrior.
As Bionix2 is very similar to Warrior or Bradley, I believe the Bionix2 has sufficient internal volume & other equipment to take on the STORM role with proper modifications.