Iveco LMV

Iveco LMV (Light Multirole Vehicle) is a 4WD tactical vehicle developed by Iveco, and in service with several countries.

After its adoption by the Italian Army under the name VTLM Lince (Lynx), it won the FCLV (Future Command and Liaison Vehicle) competition of the British Army as the Panther and has been adopted by the armies of Belgium, Croatia, Norway, Russia and Spain. The Italian Army took vehicles to both Afghanistan and Lebanon. In Afghanistan Lince vehicles have saved passengers' lives in several attacks with IEDs.

Design
The LMV uses modular armor packs to adjust its level of protection to its mission requirements. As regards mine protection the vehicle's height from the ground has been increased to 493 mm without augmenting the overall height (less than 2 meters); it uses also suspended seats of aeronautical derivation, v-hull under body, and a collapsible sandwich structure in the floor to deflect and absorb mine blasts. Its exhaust is piped through its C-pillars, and its turbocharger is located underneath the engine to reduce its thermal signature. Mobility is helped by a run-flat system, allowing the vehicle to move even with completely deflated tires.

Panther CLV
The Panther Command and Liaison Vehicle or Panther CLV is the British Army variant of Iveco LMV. The Panther CLV came from the "Future Command and Liaison Vehicle" (FCLV) project. Design modifications were made by BAE Systems to allow assembly at BAE Systems Land Systems' factory in Newcastle upon Tyne. The Panther seats 4, while the VTLM Lince seats 5. Over 400 Panthers are now being assembled at BAE Systems factory in Newcastle upon Tyne under a £160 million contract. It is intended that the Panther will replace vehicles including Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (tracked) (CVRT), FV 432, Saxon and Land Rover Truck Utility Medium (TUM).

The armour protection is tuneable by the replacement of armour packs within the vehicle's external skin. The basic add-on armour pack provides ballistic protection against small arms fire and a heavier kit provides protection against ambush including mines.

Panther Command and Liaison Vehicle (CLV) are equipped with Enforcer RCWS weapons stations which are developed by SELEX Galileo. The weapon station can be armed with a 7.62mm or 12.7mm machine gun or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher.

The first Panthers have been delivered to the 1st Mechanised Brigade (United Kingdom) and handfuls are undergoing hot weather trials in Afghanistan.

Other variants
The LMV is available in two different wheelbases, 3.2 m and 3.5 m. A two door, two seater is also available.

Operators



 * 🇦🇹 Austria: Austrian Army (150 Iveco LMV)
 * 🇧🇪 Belgium: Belgian Land Component (440 Iveco LMV + 400 on option + 120 up-protection kit)
 * Bosnia: Armed Forces of Bosnia-Herzegovina (12 leased for testing + 2 up-protection kit)
 * 🇭🇷 Croatia: Croatian Army (14 Iveco LMV)
 * 🇨🇿 Czech Republic: Czech Army (120 Iveco LMV)
 * 🇮🇹 Italy: Italian Army, Italian Navy, Italian Air Force, Guardia di Finanza (about 2,000 Iveco LMV in March 2013, planned 4,000)
 * 🇳🇴 Norway: Norwegian Army (170 Iveco LMV)
 * 🇷🇺 Russia: Russian Army (727 ordered. 57 in service in 2012, remaining to be assembled in 2013)
 * 🇸🇰 Slovakia: Slovak Army (40 Iveco M65E 4x4 LMV)
 * 🇪🇸 Spain: Spanish Army (270 Iveco LMV in March 2013)
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom: British Army (401 Panther CLV + 400 on option)