Villkatt (AFV)

The Villkatt AFV is a tracked 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 Villhund AFV.

The Villkatt is well designed as a modular vehicle family, although it does not feature exchangable mission modules like the Villhund. Also it reuses many components of the Stridsvagn Løve, while the engine and the transmission are taken from the Villhund.

Development
The Villkatt AFV (Sannligs/Norsk: Stormpanservogn/Stormpanserfordon Villkatt) was developed by a ringeriker-sannlig joint venture of Stålgilde Heavy Industries and Sannsystems AB. It was intended to mostly replace the Stormpanservogn m/79 of the ringeriker and sannlig forces.

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 as well as the Villhund III AFVs. 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 Villhunds. 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.

While the sannlig government was satisfied with the results of the Villhund III Upgrade (later called Villhund XP³), the upgrades of the SPsV m/79 weren't satisfying both governments. In 2005 Stålgilde and Sannsystems were officially contracted with developing a new combat platforms by the ringeriker and sannlig governments. The contract also demanded the construction of a technology demonstrator and prototype in 2007 and 2008 respectively. The demonstrator was unveiled in late 2007, the prototype 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 the Villkatt. 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. The Villkatt was introduced into service of both armies by mid-2014.

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

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

PsIF X²/V:


 * The Panserinfanteriebil Villhund is one of the primary versions of the Villhund being in Service with the sannlig land forces. It regularly features a 25mm autocannon in a manned turret as armament.

PsLF X²/V:


 * The Panserledningsbil Villhund is a forward command post variant of the PsIB, armed with a manned 25mm turret. It has a crew of six, with a vehicle commander, gunner and a driver as vehicle crew and three radio operators for the command post duties.

PsRF X²/V:


 * The Panserrekonbil Villhund is a reconnaissance and observation variant of the PsIB, armed with a manned 25mm turret. It has a crew of three, and can carry a 4-man scout or forward observer squad for dismounted use.

Operators
 Sannlibo:
 * Sannlig Land Forces - 870 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.

 Ringerike
 * In service with the Ringerike Army (Ringerike Hær).