After decades trying to design the perfect all terrain combat vehicle, IMI’s Combat Guard is a true monster machine.
Combat theaters across the globe are notoriously ill equipped for vehicles. For 80 years or so military designers have been thinking of new ways to move troops, artillery and other sundry goods without the hindrance of geography. While treaded vehicles, airdrops and other measures have been useful it appears that Israel’s IMI may have finally solved every quartermaster and commando’s biggest problem with its Combat Guard ATV.
Set atop hulking 137cm (54in) tires and balanced by an otherworldly suspension, the Combat Guard can traverse slopes that approach 70 degrees and can speed through boulder-strewn fields at blistering speeds.
Featuring a 6.5L GM Cobra Diesel engine IMI’s 4×4 produces 300HP, thrusting the off-road behemoth to a top speed of 153 km/h (95 mph).
As if speed and ruggedness weren’t enough, the transport is capable of fording water up to 1.5m (5 feet) deep. Additionally, the Combat Guard carries with it a multi-tiered, collapsible composite blast absorbing underbelly that offers the vehicle’s 8 passengers the best chance of escaping an IED attack alive.
Not to be a sitting duck, the Combat Guard is armed enough for any tussle. Principle among its armaments is the IMI/General Dynamics Bright Arrow remote controlled weapon system. Consisting of RPG intercepting grenades and either a medium or light machine gun, the Bright Arrow can be alerted to incoming fire by infrared, radio frequency or CCD sensors. Once on point the system can engage an enemy via operator controlled computers located within the safety of the Combat Guard. To further its combat readiness the Guard also comes equipped with an electro-optical jammer capable of frustrating enemy FLIR targeting systems.
Currently, IMI is still putting the Combat Guard through its paces. However, the Israeli army is said to have an interest in the vehicle, and given that most of its parts were built by American companies, the US military might be interested in the 4×4 as well. Whatever the case may be, I’m confident that IMI has created the world’s most formidable off road vehicle – at least outside of these two guys.
Images Courtesy of IMI