AIFV

AIFV
YPR-765A1
Type	Armored personnel carrier
Place of origin	United States
Service history
Used by	Users
Wars	Yugoslav wars, anti-guerrilla operations in the Philippines, War in Afghanistan
Production history
Variants	Variants
Specifications
Weight	13.6 metric tons (combat load)
Length	5.26 m
Width	2.82 m
Height	2.62 m (to turret roof)
Crew	3+7
Armor	Aluminium hull with spaced laminate steel appliqué armor on the front and sides
Main armament	25 mm KBA-B02 cannon (180 rounds ready; 144 in reserve)
Secondary armament	7.62×51mm NATO machine gun (230 rounds ready; 1,610 in reserve)
Engine	Detroit Diesel Allison 6V-53T 267 hp (195 kW) at 2800 rpm
Power/weight	19.29 hp/t
Transmission	TX100-1A
Suspension	Torsion bar in tube
Operational range	490 km
Speed	61 km/h

The AIFV (Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle) is a tracked light armored vehicle that serves as an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) in the armies of several countries. It is a development of the M113A1 armored personnel carrier.

In 1967, funded by the U.S. Army, the FMC corporation produced two prototype vehicles designated as XM765 - these were based on their experiences with the earlier XM701 vehicle, developed for the MICV-65 program. The XM765 was based on the M113A1, upgraded with an enclosed turret and firing ports, so that the infantry could fight from within the vehicle. The army evaluated the vehicle, but decided that they wanted a better protected and more mobile vehicle, selecting instead the M2 Bradley.

FMC continued development as a private venture, resulting in the product improved (PI) M113A1 in 1970. The PI M113A1 had the driver and engine at the front, with an enclosed weapon station in the center of the hull and the commander seated at the rear. This arrangement meant that the commander had a very poor forward view. FMC went back to the drawing board and came up with a new design, which had the driver on the front left of the hull and the commander seated behind him. To the right of the commander was a one-man turret. The vehicle would later be designated the AIFV (armored infantry fighting vehicle).

While the US was uninterested in the design, a number of other governments were interested in the vehicle, which was simpler, lighter, and cheaper than the Bradley. After a series of demonstrations and the delivery of four evaluation vehicles in 1974, the Netherlands government placed an order for 880 of the vehicles in 1975, which were designated YPR-765 when they entered service. Some changes were made at the request of the Dutch government, including shifting the weapon station to the right side and moving the commander behind the driver. The Netherlands ordered 2,079, of which 815 were produced locally under license. Under the YPR-2000 program, virtually all Dutch vehicles were upgraded to YPR-765A1 standard and are easily identified by the 3-tone NATO camouflage pattern. During the war in Afghanistan, several vehicles were fitted with additional armour.

The Philippines also received 45 vehicles in 1979, these were intended to take 25mm cannons, although some were later modified to fit 12.7mm machine guns.