FV107 Scimitar

   The FV107 Scimitar is a British armored reconnaissance vehicle. It was developed by Alvis. It is based on the chassis of the FV101 Scorpion light tank and differs only in armament fit. The FV107 armored reconnaissance vehicles were usually deployed together with the FV101 Scorpion light tanks. In the early 1980s the FV107 Scimitar saw combat during the Falklands War. In the early 1990s this British reconnaissance vehicle was used during the Gulf War. When the Scorpion light tank was retired from the British Army, Scimitar took some of its roles. A total of 486 FV107 Scimitars were built for the Royal Army. In 2014 Latvia purchased 123 of these armored reconnaissance vehicles. In 2014, during the same year, the UK MoD ordered a total of 245 new reconnaissance and combat vehicles to replace the Scimitar. The new British reconnaissance vehicle is known as Ajax. It is planned to enter service in 2019 and will replace the Scimitars in service with the British Army.

   The FV107 Scimitar uses the same turret as used by the Fox wheeled armored reconnaissance vehicle. It is armed with a 30 mm Rarden cannon and coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun. The 30 mm cannon fires single rounds or in automatic mode. It has a maximum rate of 80 rounds per minute. This cannon features a dual-fed system and the gunner can instantly swap types of ammunition. The Rarden cannon is referred as a very accurate weapon. In the early 1990s, during the Gulf War, a group of Scimitars knocked out Iraqi T-62 medium tank, penetrating its frontal armor with an armor-piercing round. The Scimitar's 30 cannon can be also used against helicopters and even low-flying aircraft. It is claimed that during the Falklands War a Scimitar hit an Argentinean A-4 Skyhawk attack aircraft at a range of 1 000 m.

   The Scimitar has a thin aluminum armor hull. It provides protection only against small arms fire and artillery shell splinters.

   The FV107 has a crew of three, including commander, gunner and driver.

   This armored vehicle was originally powered by a Jaguar 4.2-liter petrol engine. It was a commercially available sports car engine. However later the Scimitars were refitted with Cummins diesel engines, developing 195 hp. This increased operational range and improved survivability.

   The FV107 is amphibious after being fitted with floatation kit. On water it is propelled by its tracks.

Variants

   Scimitar Mk.2 is an upgraded version of the Scimitar. In 2008 the UK MoD initiated a program to upgrade more than 100 Scimitar reconnaissance vehicles for use in Afghanistan. In 2010 a contract was awarded to BAE Systems to develop a modernized version of the Scimitar. Also upgrades would allow to keep these vehicles in operational service, until proper replacement is available. However the resulting Scimitar Mk.2 had that many modifications, that it could be seen as a new vehicle. The upgraded vehicle was rehulled for improved mine protection, had improved armor protection. It has a new aluminum armor hull, based on the hull of the FV103 Spartan specialist carrier vehicle. Internal layout of the vehicle was redesigned in order to provide improved protection and to improve crew comfort. Crew members were seated on blast resistant seats. The Scimitar Mk.2 is powered by a Cummins BTA 5.9-liter diesel, mated to an automatic gearbox. The new engine is more fuel efficient and extends operational range of the vehicle. Operational weight of the Scimitar Mk.2 increased to 12 000 kg. Eventually only 50 vehicles were modernized to the Mk.2 standard. In 2011 British Scimitar Mk.2 armored reconnaissance vehicles saw action in Afghanistan.