NIMROD 300 WEAPON STATION AND MORE DETAILS ON EODH’S LEONIDAS 300 UPGRADE

from Savvas de Vlassis

At the EODH stand at DEFEA 2023, that was the case as announced Modern design Remote Weapon Station (RWS) NIMROD 300 for the Slovenian company Valhalla. In cooperation with the German Rheinmetall and the Greek EODH, the NIMROD 300 is offered as a low-cost, high-performance solution for the upgrade of armored personnel carriers, currently limited in armament to a standard 12,7-mm heavy machine gun.

The specific RWS has been proposed as part of the general proposal for the modernization of TOM LEONIDAS submitted by EODH, with the main requests being for reinforcement in the areas of Firepower, Protection and Mobility – Support.

In terms of armament, the Nimrud 300/1 It carries an Oerlikon KCE 30 mm × 173 gun with 180 rounds of ammunition (gross weight 850 kg) and is armed with two Chaurades anti-aircraft missiles. To take advantage of the latter, a radar system with AESA technology is integrated, along with an advanced electro-optical sight and sensor to collect meteorological data.

the Nimrud 300/2 Shown at DEFEA 2023, it carries the ATK MK44 cannon, of the same caliber and with the same stock of ready-to-use double-feed ammunition, for the same total weight. A launcher (single or double) for an anti-tank missile or mobile ammunition can be mounted sideways. The station has a stable independent optoelectronic sight system, providing a dual electro-optical sight and meteorological data sensor.

With its 30mm cannon, the TOMP gains the ability to engage targets at ranges up to 2,500 metres. However, with the addition of anti-tank missiles or guided munitions, the armor engagement range increases to that of the specified weapon.

NIMROD 300 is protected according to STANAG 4569 Level 2 standards.

in his case leonidas 300, As the improved version of the 4K7FA (in Greek service LEONIDAS I/II) proposed by EODH was called, the armor was upgraded with a new generation of additional plates in the front and side sections. Laterally, “aprons” were added to protect the bottom of the boat and the wheels, as well as the crawler. In front, STANAG 4569 level 5 protection is guaranteed, sufficient to deal with 25 mm × 137 armor-piercing projectiles (APDS-T). In general, TOMP is protected against fragments of a 155-mm artillery shell (20-mm FSP) from a distance of 25 meters.

In order to overcome the problems of existing engine support and also to improve the mobility of the vehicle, this is suggested Installing a new CAT C7.2 diesel engine With new gearbox and drivetrain. Changes include installation of a battery management system, more efficient LED lighting, modernization of electrical and electronic circuits, installation of a digital control panel, improvement of the driver’s position, installation of an LCD screen on which an image can be projected from the front and rear cameras to facilitate the driver’s maneuvering, etc.

But there was also another interesting system besides the NIMROD 300, which went largely unnoticed. It was on the verge of Unmanned Aircraft Handling System (C-UAS) of an Israeli startup with which EODH cooperates. The operation of the system is patented and promises to interfere (spoof) the control signal of unmanned aircraft or other remotely controlled systems within a radius of 2 km. The system is installed on tanks and armored vehicles, as well as ships.

With the above, LEONIDAS 300 is basically a womb with TOMA’s firepower, which can technically stand on the battlefield (just as importantly) backed up logistically for decades. EODH confirms that the cost of the overall upgrade package is quite competitive and affordable, and is a recommended solution for maintaining the hundreds of LEONIDAS I/IIs owned by the Hellenic Army and the Cypriot National Guard, whose replacement with a more capable vehicle would require a much greater expense.

Upgrade of 100 LEONIDAS and 150 OPLITIS (4×4) vehicles proposed by Rheinmetall as provisions for the Hellenic Army