Plasan Sand Cat
Encyclopedia
The Sand Cat is a composite armored vehicle
designed by Plasan
of Israel
. It is based on a commercial
Ford F-Series
chassis
shortened to a 2.84 m (112 in) wheelbase
by Ford
Qualified Vehicle Modifier, Manning Equipmenthttp://www.truckequip.com/ of Louisville, Kentucky
, United States
. Originally designed as a potential replacement for the AIL Storm
jeeps of the Israel Defense Forces
(IDF
), they have since developed numerous versions of the vehicle from 4 to 6 tons to transport up to 8 soldiers. Examples have undergone trials by the IDF in Israel and the US Army at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland
.
It was first shown publicly as the Caracal at the AUSA
show in October 2005. It has since been presented at various shows including the 2005 Milipol law enforcement show in Paris
, the 2006 Mid-America Trucking Show, and 2006 Eurosatory
under the name "Sand Cat".
A heavily armored version of the Sand Cat featuring ceramic body parts was presented to the US Military at the Platform System Demonstrator event in August 2006. At the 2008 Eurosatory, the Sand Cat was shown branded as an Oshkosh Corporation product.
The design
was described by Israeli car magazine Hegeh as being "as sexy as a female air-force commander". The trapezoid shaped side windows are designed to reduce the weight of transparent armor
without adversely affecting the field of vision.
The fully armored body utilises a combination of armored steel, ceramics, and composites to provide a field replaceable modular armor package at various threat levels.
The Sand Cat is reported to have excellent handling
and acceleration for an armored vehicle. The interior can accommodate an open stretcher.
style body and 8 seats it was designed as a low-profile vehicle for use by elite units
. In contrast to the military Sand Cat, the Plus is fitted with full side body mouldings and is painted in civilian colors. Despite the SUV appearance it still has a high level of armor as well as NBC
and fire suppression systems. It has a very small turning circle and has been described as surprisingly quick for a 7 ton vehicle.
In June 2008, the Sand Cat was relaunched as a product of Oshkosh Defense. Now based on the 9-ton F550 chassis, it is being pitched to fill the gap between the armored HMMWV and the anticipated JLTV. The Oshkosh Sand Cat includes lessons learned from MRAP
and features impact-absorbing suspended seats and a V-hull
to add underbelly armor protection. In 2010 the SandCat was upgraded with twice the underbody blast protection of previous versions.
and an Heckler & Koch GMG
automatic grenade launcher. This version is assembled by the Mexican Defense Secretariat.
Vehicle
A vehicle is a device that is designed or used to transport people or cargo. Most often vehicles are manufactured, such as bicycles, cars, motorcycles, trains, ships, boats, and aircraft....
designed by Plasan
Plasan
Plasan is an Israeli owned vehicle manufacturer established in 1985...
of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. It is based on a commercial
Commercial off-the-shelf
In the United States, Commercially available Off-The-Shelf is a Federal Acquisition Regulation term defining a nondevelopmental item of supply that is both commercial and sold in substantial quantities in the commercial marketplace, and that can be procured or utilized under government contract...
Ford F-Series
Ford F-Series
The F-Series is a series of full-size pickup trucks from Ford Motor Company which has been sold continuously for over six decades. The most popular variant of the F-Series is the F-150...
chassis
Chassis
A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...
shortened to a 2.84 m (112 in) wheelbase
Wheelbase
In both road and rail vehicles, the wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels.- Road :In automobiles, the wheelbase is the horizontal distance between the center of the front wheel and the center of the rear wheel...
by Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
Qualified Vehicle Modifier, Manning Equipmenthttp://www.truckequip.com/ of Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Originally designed as a potential replacement for the AIL Storm
AIL Storm
The AIL Storm is an Israeli manufactured off-road vehicle and the workhorse of the Israeli Security Forces. The series of Jeep Wrangler based vehicles have been produced by Automotive Industries Ltd. in Upper Nazareth under licence from Chrysler since 1990...
jeeps of the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
(IDF
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
), they have since developed numerous versions of the vehicle from 4 to 6 tons to transport up to 8 soldiers. Examples have undergone trials by the IDF in Israel and the US Army at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
.
It was first shown publicly as the Caracal at the AUSA
Association of the United States Army
The Association of the United States Army is a private, non-profit organization that acts primarily as an advocacy group for the United States Army. Founded in 1950, it has 125 chapters worldwide. Membership is open to everyone, not just Army personnel, nor is membership mandatory for soldiers,...
show in October 2005. It has since been presented at various shows including the 2005 Milipol law enforcement show in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, the 2006 Mid-America Trucking Show, and 2006 Eurosatory
Eurosatory
Eurosatory is an International Defence & Security industry trade show that is held every two years in Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre, Paris, France. In 2006 it had over 1000 exhibitors and 46,000 visitors. It is organized by COGES in partnership with the French Ministry of Defense. The...
under the name "Sand Cat".
A heavily armored version of the Sand Cat featuring ceramic body parts was presented to the US Military at the Platform System Demonstrator event in August 2006. At the 2008 Eurosatory, the Sand Cat was shown branded as an Oshkosh Corporation product.
Design
Automotive design
Automotive design is the profession involved in the development of the appearance, and to some extent the ergonomics, of motor vehicles or more specifically road vehicles. This most commonly refers to automobiles but also refers to motorcycles, trucks, buses, coaches, and vans...
was described by Israeli car magazine Hegeh as being "as sexy as a female air-force commander". The trapezoid shaped side windows are designed to reduce the weight of transparent armor
Bulletproof glass
Bulletproof glass is a type of strong but optically transparent material that is particularly resistant to being penetrated when struck by bullets, but is not completely impenetrable. It is usually made from a combination of two or more types of glass, one hard and one soft...
without adversely affecting the field of vision.
The fully armored body utilises a combination of armored steel, ceramics, and composites to provide a field replaceable modular armor package at various threat levels.
The Sand Cat is reported to have excellent handling
Car handling
Automobile handling and vehicle handling are descriptions of the way wheeled vehicles perform transverse to their direction of motion, particularly during cornering and swerving. It also includes their stability when moving at rest. Handling and braking are the major components of a vehicle's...
and acceleration for an armored vehicle. The interior can accommodate an open stretcher.
Sand Cat Plus
In July 2007 Plasan released information about a new version of the Sand Cat, the "Sand Cat Plus". Featuring a station wagonStation wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
style body and 8 seats it was designed as a low-profile vehicle for use by elite units
SWAT
A SWAT team is an elite tactical unit in various national law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers...
. In contrast to the military Sand Cat, the Plus is fitted with full side body mouldings and is painted in civilian colors. Despite the SUV appearance it still has a high level of armor as well as NBC
Weapons of mass destruction
A weapon of mass destruction is a weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to a large number of humans and/or cause great damage to man-made structures , natural structures , or the biosphere in general...
and fire suppression systems. It has a very small turning circle and has been described as surprisingly quick for a 7 ton vehicle.
Oshkosh Sand Cat
MRAP (armored vehicle)
A Mine Resistant Ambush Protected is a family of armored fighting vehicles design led by the United States Marine Corps in use by the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, and Special Operations Forces with the goal of surviving IED attacks and ambushes - prompted by US deaths in Iraq...
and features impact-absorbing suspended seats and a V-hull
V-hull
The V-hull is a type of vehicle armor design used on wheeled armored personnel carriers , infantry mobility vehicles and infantry fighting vehicles...
to add underbelly armor protection. In 2010 the SandCat was upgraded with twice the underbody blast protection of previous versions.
Mexican Build Sand Cats
A slightly modified version of the version of the Sand Cat is made in Mexico for the Mexican military. Versions shown in service with the Mexican army have a remote operated turret on the roof armed with an unspecified model of minigunMinigun
The Minigun is a 7.62 mm, multi-barrel heavy machine gun with a high rate of fire , employing Gatling-style rotating barrels with an external power source...
and an Heckler & Koch GMG
Heckler & Koch GMG
The GMG is an automatic grenade launcher developed by Heckler & Koch for the German Army. It is also often referred to as GMW .-Design details:...
automatic grenade launcher. This version is assembled by the Mexican Defense Secretariat.