Luftbeweglichen Waffenträger Demonstrator - The Wiesel's Quad-Tracked Replacement

[DMYEugen 688]

TL;DR: A quad-tracked, air-transportable light AFV armed with a 27mm autocannon.

 

History:

The Luftbeweglichen Waffenträger (LuWa) is an extremely recent German air-transportable AFV designed to replace the aging Wiesel 1 series of AWCs. With the demonstrator being first revealed on June 22nd, 2021, the LuWa was a project commissioned of Industrieanlagen-Betriebsgesellschaft mbH (IABG) by the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) of the German Army. The vehicle's development is a collaborative effort between many parties, including, but not limited to: ACS, IABG, FFG and Valhalla. The LuWa demonstrator features a rather unique quad-track layout utilizing a diesel-electric drive with four motors, with each sprocket having its own motor. This essentially means that if one or two of the LuWa's tracks are broken, the vehicle could still limp away to safety. The LuWa's crew consists of two men sitting in tandem with the driver having a clear 180° view through bulletproof glass and the gunner having access to a remote weapon station housing a Rheinmetall MLG 27mm autocannon. The Rheinmetall MLG 27mm autocannon is a navalized version of the Mauser BK 27 aircraft gun found on aircraft such as the Panavia Tornado and Eurofighter Typhoon. The basic form of the LuWa, the one we see here, is a reconnaissance and fire-support-vehicle, however, as it is meant to replace the Wiesel 1, the LuWa can been configured to fit a multitude of roles including, but not limited to: a Spike LR2 ATGM carrier, a mortar carrier, an ambulance, a radar carrier, and an air-defense-missile carrier. If the LuWa were to be accepted into service, most if not all variants of the Wiesel 1 would be phased out, however, the Wiesel 2 and its variants would be retained. On the 14th of October, 2021, the LuWa was presented to the German Ministry of Defence (BMVg) and BAAINBw and underwent driving and live-fire tests. A sample of the vehicle hull was also subjected to a blast test. The LuWa received high marks, however, its development will continue.

 

Place In War Thunder:

With the implementation of three Wiesel variants, seeing the LuWa is almost an inevitability. Despite its newness the LuWa would still struggle with frontal engagements, having to resign to a flanking similar to vehicle like the Type 87 RCV. On top of this, the MLG 27 has a magazine capacity of only 90 rounds. Shooting all of those off at 1,000-1,700rpm would take no time at all, so you'd have to be mindful of your shot placement. The LuWa's armor is pretty much negligible, so taking a hit isn't an option and you wouldn't want to chance sitting in an artillery strike. That being said, if you do take a hit to the track/s and survive, it's likely that you'd be able to slip away thanks to the LuWa's quad-track setup. This vehicle would fit best as a Rank VI/VII light tank, potentially after the Wiesel 1A4 or Wiesel 1A2, depending on the penetration of the MLG 27's FAPDS.

 

Specifications:

Spoiler

Armament: Rheinmetall MLG 27mm autocannon (1,000-1,700rpm)

 

Dimensions: 4.20m, 1.85m, 2.11m (L,W,H)

 

Weight: 6200kg

 

Armor: Only proof against small arms and artillery shell splinters.

 

Crew: 2 (Driver, Commander/Gunner)

 

Ammunition: HE, HE-SD, FAPDS

 

Speed: 70~kph

 

Horsepower: 270~hp

 

Pictures:

Spoiler

Suspension Close-Up:

 

LuWa during testing:

 

Being Inspected:

 

Interior of the LuWa trainer:

 

Turret Opened:

 

Being Showcased:

 

A CG Render of the LuWa:

 

A CG render of a LuWa being loaded off a plane:

 

Diagram showing involved companies and their respective contributions:

 

Sources:

Spoiler

https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_november_2021_global_security_army_industry/german_company_iabg_demonstrates_gsd_luwa_light_air-transportable_armoured_fighting_vehicle.html

https://en.topwar.ru/189301-demonstrator-tehnologij-gsd-luwa-perspektivnaja-bronemashina-dlja-bundesvera.html

https://inf.news/en/military/04eed8fd1b47404b6f49369adb343fa0.html

http://www.military-today.com/apc/luwa.htm

https://www.armyrecognition.com/weapons_defence_industry_military_technology_uk/germany_launches_the_development_of_new_airborne_tracked_armored_vehicle.html

http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNGER_27mm-145_mlg27.php

https://www.rheinmetall-defence.com/en/rheinmetall_defence/systems_and_products/weapons_and_ammunition/direct_fire/medium_calibre/index.php

https://weaponsystems.net/system/881-27mm+MLG+27

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauser_BK-27

Edited March 7, 2022 by DMYEugen

[leroyonly 4,311]

Open for discussion. 

[DMYEugen 688]

3 hours ago, leroyonly said:

Open for discussion. 

Thanks!

[eleks12 1,079]

+1 

[Milocat 4,857]

+1, we should get this eventually.  Really cool vehicle, I love it.

[Billygoatunicorn 178]

OOOOOOHHHH NOHOHOHOHO. Nothing wrong with the vehicle itself or anything, but FIRST UNVEILED THIS YEAR??? Big 'ol nope from me there's just an astronomical number of things classified about it, if not everything but the bare bones of gun caliber and shape. War Thunder I doubt will be around for long enough to ever see this vehicle have even half of it declassified. It's a nice and fun idea, but if its added anytime before 2030, most of the specs will definitely be guessed.

[DMYEugen 688]

1 hour ago, Billygoatunicorn said:

OOOOOOHHHH NOHOHOHOHO. Nothing wrong with the vehicle itself or anything, but FIRST UNVEILED THIS YEAR??? Big 'ol nope from me there's just an astronomical number of things classified about it, if not everything but the bare bones of gun caliber and shape. War Thunder I doubt will be around for long enough to ever see this vehicle have even half of it declassified. It's a nice and fun idea, but if its added anytime before 2030, most of the specs will definitely be guessed.

I very much disagree with this opinion, however, I do see where you're coming from. You've not listed any examples of the "astronomical number of things" that may or may not be classified about this vehicle, so I don't have anything to refute. I also have no reason to believe that War Thunder won't be around when more details become public. I don't see a basis to that claim. On top of this, I don't see how guessed specs are still an issue. All top-tier MBTs have guessed specs and that's how it will stay. As long as these specs are educated guesses, I don't see a reason to dismiss vehicles using them as unfit for the game.

[Yontzee 1,676]

+1

[Ghostmaxi 873]

I wanted to to this :c i love the Bk 27

[DMYEugen 688]

59 minutes ago, Ghostmaxi said:

I wanted to to this :c i love the Bk 27

Oof sorry. I had this one on the back-burner for a while now just in case someone else wanted to do it, but I never saw one pop up so I just decided to finish it.

Edited October 23, 2021 by DMYEugen

[Insanerobert 307]

It's too modern and we may meet up issues with "Confidential" information.

[_Pixy 196]

+1

[Billygoatunicorn 178]

On 22/10/2021 at 17:40, DMYEugen said:

I very much disagree with this opinion, however, I do see where you're coming from. You've not listed any examples of the "astronomical number of things" that may or may not be classified about this vehicle, so I don't have anything to refute. I also have no reason to believe that War Thunder won't be around when more details become public. I don't see a basis to that claim. On top of this, I don't see how guessed specs are still an issue. All top-tier MBTs have guessed specs and that's how it will stay. As long as these specs are educated guesses, I don't see a reason to dismiss vehicles using them as unfit for the game.

MBTs in the game all originate from over 20 years ago, and the only thing that's really truly speculated is the 20+ years we've had to observe it's performance and that that isn't, is just the composite armor which already has pretty good publicly availible info on. I don't want a vehicle unveiled in 2021. The jets in game don't even go past 1980s in introduction, with the highest one we have in game is the Yak-38 which doesn't even incorporate any advanced tech for it's time aside from VTOL capabilities. Why do you think that Japan STILL doesn't have the Type 10 despite it's inherent similarities to the Type 90? 

The game's getting way to ahead of itself adding more and more modern tech that it's getting way to arcadey even in Sim, which is a huge problem because of the fact of any player actually wants to play an arcady tank game, WoT is a much better choice as it's far arcadier. There is no need for this thing that we will have no nowhere near enough information for an accurately performing performance model for possibly decades. And the number of classified information is quite obvious if you know the first thing about military classified information. What can you tell me about the performance of the T14? Or the Type 15? Or Puma IFV? Nowhere near enough info to accurately simulate its performance? 

It's a full on bad idea that would on the mountain of bad ideas in the game currently, and the "straw that broke the camels back" is a situation that's coming to war thunder very soon looking at what War Thunder's doing with their game.

[JTRRS 35]

why does it look so cool??

i want one

[KillaKiwi 5,478]

So basically a Wiesel 1 that can actually kill tanks from ambush

I mean I hope they got APFSDS ammunition for it and not just FAPDS

 

[Yontzee 1,676]

I'm looking forward to this and the Spike-LR Tank Destroyer version to be released.

[BagelIsMyWaifu 838]

On 22/11/2021 at 18:57, KillaKiwi said:

I mean I hope they got APFSDS ammunition for it and not just FAPDS

There was 27mm APFSDS developed at some point for an quadruple CIWS mount, but basically nothing is known about either the mount nor its ammunition. And its somewhat unlikely that the round would be digged back up now ... although not entirely impossible

[DMYEugen 688]

Updated with more recent pictures and information. Also changed the title to be more appropriate.

Edited March 7, 2022 by DMYEugen

[Lord_Prism 1,827]

Npw Imagine youre an Abrams or Leclerc, and see this angry cousin of the Wiesel skittering towards you after your engine and turret ring are deleted by a few bursts of the glorious Bk27

[hienapunk 1,065]

The. Spike atgm version could legit be Germany's 10.7-11.3 top tank destroyer.

[JamesPond1200@psn 299]

This thing is wild! I love it! The 27mm autocannon is such an oddball, and the quadruple-track design is awesome! Gimme gimme! +1

[Chris4win 366]

+1 we need more small tanks. I would like to see this and wiesel prototypes in the near future

[Faster_Boiiiii 753]

oh my god yes that looks so goofy

i love it

please

 

idk where you get the info that it only gets 90 rounds tho, i HIGHLY doubt that

 

Edited March 6, 2023 by Faster_Boiiiii

[Chris4win 366]

Is the penetration of the fapds still unknown? 

[DMYEugen 688]

42 minutes ago, Chris4win said:

Is the penetration of the fapds still unknown? 

I still haven't found explicit numbers regarding penetration, however, I think it can be reasonably assumed that it would be greater than 64mm (at 10m and 0 degrees) as that is the current penetration of the 27mm standard AP round found on the Tornado series of aircraft. (The BK-27 and MLG-27 are both 27x145mm and can fire the same ammunition.)

Edited March 13, 2023 by DMYEugen