Villhund (AFV)

The Villhund AFV is an 8x8 wheeled multi-role armoured fighting vehicle, developed by a joint ringeriker-sannlig consortium of Stålgilde Heavy Industries and Sannsystems AB, to replace older vehicles of the armies of Ringerike and Sannlibo. The development was performed parallel to the Villkatt AFV.

One of the most important features is the use of interchangeable mission modules, which can be separated from the driveline. The exchange of mission modules makes it possible to adapt the vehicle to any new mission in under one hour.

Development
The Villhund AFV (Sannligs/Norsk: Stormpanserbil Villhund) was developed by a ringeriker-sannlig joint venture of Stålgilde Heavy Industries and Sannsystems AB. It was intended to mostly replace the ringeriker Panserinfanteriebil m/82 as well as the Panserrekonbil Hyæn and the Panserinfanteriebil Kojot of the sannlig forces. The Villhund was developed parallel to the Villkatt AFV, a tracked platform set to mostly replace the aging Stormpanservogn m/79. The parallel development of both platforms also came with several synergy effects.

In 2000 the sannlig government was eager to introduce a new modernization plan for its land forces, which included a refit of the Stridsvagn Løve as well as a tracked and an 8x8 platform to replace the aging Panter IFVs, Hyæn CRVs and the Kojot APCs. In 2002 Stålgilde Armor Works and Sannsystems AB's S²Amours began to design heavily upgraded variants of said vehicles, while Stålgilde Kinetics began to develop a new weapon system to be potentially operated on the next vehicle generation.

Based on the upgraded variants, which were designed previously, Stålgilde and Sannsystems build upgraded variants of the SPsV m/79 as well as the Hyæn and Kojot. Also a new wheeled vehicle was designed, based on a Hyæn driveline, while being fitted with a lengthened Kojot belly. For the m/79, the belly was fitted with improvements, coming from the Løve MBT. Both designs were fitted with a stronger armour, including under-belly protection against mines and IEDs, as well as add-on side armour. By that time Stålgilde Kinetics has finished the first example of the new 40mm CTA main weapon, fitted into a new clean-sheet designed turret. The vehicles with their new main weapons were first unveiled and presented in 2004.

In 2005 Stålgilde and Sannsystems were officially contracted with developing two new combat platforms by the ringeriker and sannlig governments. The contract also demanded the construction of technology demonstrators and prototypes in 2007 and 2008 respectively. The demonstrators were unveiled in late 2007, the prototypes finished development in early 2008. This was followed by an intensive testing phase, which has been concducted until 2011. In early 2010 both governemnts contracted Stålgilde and Sannsystems to deliver over 1000 Villhunds and Villhunds each. In late 2010 the first pre-serial examples were built and and later delivered to ringeriker and sannlig forces for further testing, but as well for exercising and training. Serial production was then began in 2012, with the first deliveries taking place in January 2013. Both vehicles were introduced into service of both armies by mid-2014.

PsIB m/14 "Villhund"
The Ringeriker forces acquired the panserinfanteriebil to equip the Mechanised Infantry forces of the Ringeriker Army in auxiliary roles as well as fill multiple other roles, replacing the Panserinfanteriebil m/82 in most. The PsIB m/14 is armed with a 20mm autocannon mounted in a remote weapons station.

Panserjeger m/15V
The Panserjeger m/15V is the designation of the Villhund when fitted with a Panservernsystem m/15 remote weapons station armed with Non-Line of Sight anti-tank missiles based on the Panservernmissil m/85 with a range of 15km as well as standard m/85Fs and a 20mm autocannon for close in defense. It is employed by the Direct fire support weapons platoons of the Mechanized infantry.

Luftjeger m/18V
The Luftjeger m/18V is the designation of the Villhund when fitted with a Luftvernsystem m/18 SHORAD suite, consisting of a 40mm CTA autocannon and a box launcher for LvM m/2005 SACLOS Surface to Air missiles.

Panserbombekaster m/14V
The PsBK m/14 features a 120mm mortar, shared in design with that fitted to the Stormpanservogn m/79F4-BK.

Sannlig Variants
The Stormpanserbil Villhund is the sannlig variant of the Villhund. It features several subvariants, being fitted for a wide variety of tasks. Stormpanserbil is also the sannlig translation for "Armoured Fighting Vehicle", Villhund means "Wildhound".

The following variants have been introduced or are in development for the Sannlig Land Forces:

PsIB Villhund
The Panserinfanteriebil Villhund is one of the primary versions of the Villhund being in Service with the sannlig land forces. It regularly features a 40mm CTA autocannon in a remote controlled turret of the SFV40 type. The mission module also features space for up to eight dismounts.

PsIB-L Villhund
The Panserinfanteriebil-Lett Villhund is the APC variant of the Villhund. It features a 20mm Autocannon as armament. Like the PsIB, the PsIB can carry up to eight dismounts in its mission module.

PsRB Villhund
The Panserrekonbil Villhund is a reconaissance version of the SpB, also featuring a 40mm CTA autocannon, however the turret is a manned SBV40. It carries additional lenses, sensors and radars for recon duties and can also carry a recon troop of four soldiers in the mission module.

PsRB-L Villhund
The Panserrekonbil-Lett Villhund is variant of the standard PsRB with a 20mm RCWS similar to the PsIB. Like the PsRB, it carries additional lenses, sensors and radars for recon duties and can also carry a recon troop of four soldiers in the mission module.

PsLB Villhund
The Panserluftvernbil is the sannlig variant of the Luftjeger m/18V, fitted with a Luftvernsystem m/18 SHORAD suite, consisting of a 40mm CTA autocannon and a box launcher for LvM m/2005 SACLOS Surface to Air missiles.

PsJB Villhund
The Panserjægerbil Villhund is equipped with the Panservernsystem m/15. The sannlig version features the Panservernmissil 22 Anti-Tank/Anti-Structure Guided-Missile in the standard as well as the extended range and non-line-of-sight variants. In addition the PsJB are also adapted to launch loitering munition.

PsK15 Villhund


The Panserkanon 15 Villhund is a heavy wheeled howitzer, consisting of the Villhund driveline and a mission module fitted with a 155mm/L52 gun. The mission module is based on the gun module of the PsK98A2 and features an optional two man crew.

PsBK Villhund
The Panserbombekaster Villhund is the sannlig variant of the Panserbombekaster m/14V. It features a 120m mortar in the mission module, which fires through the opened roof.

IPsB15 Villhund
The Ingeniørpanserbil 15 Villhund is an engineering variant, featuring an excavation arm, obstacle markers as well as either a mine roller or a dozer blade in the front, used to remove obstacles and fulfill other engineering tasks.

BPsB15 Villhund
Bergningspanserbil 15 Villhund is an armoured recovery variant, featuring a crane arm, a heavy winch, towing goggles as well as a front-mounted dozer blade to stabilise the vehicle.

Operators
 Ringerike
 * In service with the Ringerike Army.

 Sannlibo:
 * Sannlig Land Forces - 1,320 Units have been ordered and delivered to the Sannlig Forces. Introduction into service between 2014 and 2020. The vehicles are to be used in the Land Forces' and will form the basement of up to four brigades.