BOV (armoured personnel carrier)

The BOV (Борбено оклопно возило (БОВ)), is an all-wheel drive armoured vehicle manufactured in the former Yugoslavia and today in Serbia. The second generation BOV is currently in development.

Description
The BOV has a capacity of 10, including a driver, gunner and eight infantrymen. The vehicle has a four-wheel drive and is powered by the Deutz type F 6L 413 F six-cylinder diesel engine developing 150 hp (110 kW) at 2650 rpm.

Service history
The BOV was used for internal security and military duties. It was most commonly used by territorial defence units, in several variants equipped with machine guns, water cannons, smoke and tear gas dispensers for crowd control and riots.

BOV has a long combat use on the territory of the former Yugoslavia. At the beginning of the first riots in Slovenia and Croatia military police units of the JNA often used BOVs that have mainly served to protect convoys of the JNA. Also many airplanes were shot down over Croatia by self-propelled guns PSC BOV-3. Many BOV armored vehicles were lost mainly due to their weak armor protection. BOVs have also been massively used during the Kosovo conflict by the Army of Yugoslavia and the MUP of Serbia. In combination with T-55 tanks, M-80 infantry fighting vehicles and supported by infantry, mainly the AA version BOV-3 was used to clear villages of members of the KLA.

Today, the BOVs in the Serbian Army are used by the Military Police (BOV M-86), in army mechanized armor battalions (BOV M-83) and in a reserve artillery rocket battalion PVO (BOV-3). BOVs are also used by special forces of the MUP Serbia, Republika Srpska, Croatia and BiH Federation. The Slovenian and Croatian armies used the BOV during war in Afghanistan.

Variants

 * BOV-1 - anti-tank vehicle armed with 6x AT-3 missiles. Also known as POLO (protivoklopno lansirno oruđe) M-83.
 * BOV-3 - air-defence version with triple - barreled M55A4B1 20mm cannon housed in a rotating turret.
 * BOV-30 - prototype air-defence vehicle with twin mounted 30mm guns.
 * BOV-M - armoured personnel carrier for the Milicija. This version is armed with smoke-grenade launchers and a 7.62mm or 12.7mm machine gun.
 * BOV-SN - ambulance version.
 * BOV-VP - armoured personnel carrier for the military police. Also known as M-86.
 * BOV-M-86 - armoured personnel carrier, for a special police unit (SAJ) and a special Police/Military unit (Gendarmerie), modernized with additional armor protection like the M-15 model. But No RWS installed. Instead of RWS 12.7mm, vehicle has a turret with a 14.5mm heavy machine gun.

New developed from first generation

 * BOV M10 - armored vehicle for artillery systems command and control.
 * BOV M11 - armored reconnaissance vehicle.
 * BOV M15 - armoured personnel carrier for the military police based on BOV-VP with new engine, transmission, run-flat tires, remote controlled weapon station (RCWS) with a 12.7 mm machine gun and better armour protection.
 * HS M09 BOV-3 - hybrid air-defense system based on BOV-3 with 8 x Strela-2 SAM's mounted on turret.
 * MRČKB BOV-3 - mobile radio communication for battalion commander integrated in to BOV-3 vehicle.
 * BOV KIV - Command and reconnaissance modernized armored vehicle. First batch of 10 introduced in 2020.
 * BOV OT - armored personnel carrier, command and others. First batch of 10 introduced in 2023.

Description
Second generation BOV is currently in development with serial production planned for second half of 2018. New generation BOV vehicle has a new four-wheel drive and is powered by the Cummins diesel engine. It has weight about 11 tons, new transmission, new communications devices and protects crew against 12.7mm caliber guns and all anti-armor land mines. New generation BOV has integrated air-condition and independent battery power source that enables all functions working without engine turned on, thus enabling silent operation. It has few variants planned, including different commend variants, scout, armed, military police and as personnel carrier. Current known versions are armed with RCWS consisting of 7.62mm Zastava machine-gun and 40 mm grenade launcher or 12.7mm Zastava manned turret. Scout versions have mast with high-resolution day and night cameras, data link to transmit all information in real time to command center. Command versions have additional internal posts with displays for viewing tactical situation. It can carry up to six soldiers in scout and personnel carrier variant.

Variants
The BOV-M15 is primarily designed to perform both police and military tasks. Unlike its previous basic version BOV-M86 (BOV-VP) which was designed and constructed in the time of the former Yugoslavia, they were removed and through deep modernization almost all segments and characteristics of the vehicle were raised to a higher level, the main shortcoming of the BOV-M86 was armored protection that proved weak during the wars in the former Yugoslavia. The BOV-M15 remained on the same chassis as its predecessor, which is the chassis of the TAM-110 military truck.
 * BOV armored transporter - The BOV-M15 is an armored combat vehicle created from a significant modernization and modification of the BOV-VP (better known as the BOV-M86). This armored vehicle is mainly intended for all types of police, such as the Military Police, Gendarmerie and other types of MUP.

Protection The protection is significantly enhanced on the BOV-M15 in contrast to the basic version, and amounts to:

Armored protection: Front protection: STANAG 4569 level III+ (protection against 12.7mm armor-piercing bullet ammunition) Protection from all sides: STANAG 4569 level I (Protection against 5.56 mm caliber ammunition and all types of shooting ammunition with ordinary grains). Anti-mine protection: It enables protection of the crew in the event of an explosion of an anti-tank mine containing 2 kg of explosives under the floor of the vehicle. It enables protection of the crew in the event of an explosion of an anti-tank mine containing 4 kg of explosives under the wheels of the vehicle. Drive BOV-M15 is a 4 x 4 armored vehicle, it is equipped with a Cummins IBS190 engine (190 HP), the vehicle is characterized by a very good passability on and off the road. The tires are equipped for special purposes with (RUN FLAT), which enable the vehicle to be able to move up to 50 km in the event of a puncture and damage to the tire by some shooting ammunition or other types.

Armament It is equipped with a remotely controlled combat station (RWS), which consists of a 12.7 mm machine gun and a fire control system.

The fire control system consists of the main elements such as:

High magnification TV cameras. Thermal imaging camera. Laser range finder. The RWS is operated by the gunner, i.e. the operator who is in the passenger seat, among the equipment used by the gunner there is also a ballistic computer, a suitable display, as well as a joystick or control stick. The machine gun can be used in manual mode, in case of failure or damage to the automatic.

The effectiveness of the RWS, i.e. the effective range of the machine gun is: up to 1.5 km in the air, as well as 2 km on targets on the ground. The firing rate is about 600 rounds/min, while the capacity of the ammunition box is 180 rounds.


 * BOV scout vehicle - The BOV M11 is part of the BOV family of light armored vehicles. BOV M11 is a vehicle specialized for reconnaissance. This armored vehicle was produced in the factory "Složeni Borbeni Sistemi", Velika Plana, Serbia.

BOV M11 has a main role as a reconnaissance vehicle and a command-reconnaissance vehicle. If used in artillery, it can be used for observation and to direct fire. This vehicle has a crew of three, including a driver, a commander and a gunner. The car has wheels and is powered by a diesel engine, more specifically 190HP. It has many special reconnaissance systems and artillery systems, built for a specific mission or role.

Equipment for the artillery - reconnaissance vehicle includes:

Artillery Electronic Direction Finder (AEG) Communication equipment Artillery battery FCS computer Protection Armored protection is modular and made of armored steel.

Armored protection: Front protection: STANAG 4569 level III+ (protection against 12.7mm bulletproof ammunition) Protection from all sides: STANAG 4569 level I (protection against 5.56 mm caliber ammunition and all types of shooting ammunition with ordinary grains.) Anti-mine protection: It enables protection of the crew in the event of an explosion of an anti-tank mine containing 2 kg of explosives under the floor of the vehicle. It enables protection of the crew in the event of an explosion of an anti-tank mine containing 4 kg of explosives under the wheels of the vehicle. Drive The driving force is the Cummins IBS190 diesel engine (190 HP) and the ZTF transmission, which enables it to have very high mobility on off-road terrain.

Armament It is equipped with a remotely controlled combat station (RWS), which consists of a 12.7 mm machine gun and a fire control system.

The fire control system consists of the main elements such as:

High magnification TV cameras. Thermal imaging camera. Laser range finder. The RWS is operated by the gunner, i.e. the operator who is in the passenger seat, among the equipment used by the gunner there is also a ballistic computer, a suitable display, as well as a joystick or control stick. The machine gun can be used in manual mode, in case of failure or damage to the automatic.

The effectiveness of the DUBS, i.e. the effective range of the machine gun is: up to 1.5 km in the air, as well as 2 km to targets on the ground. The firing rate is about 600 rounds per minute, the capacity of the ammunition box is 180 rounds.

The vehicle has 4 permanent crew members, namely: the driver, the gunner, the commander and the loader, as well as 4 members of the staff (version for the Gendarmerie). The loader is able to use a manual machine gun due to automatic failure or damage, while being protected by (RCWS) ballistic protection. The driver is equipped with TV cameras as well as television front and rear, which allows him to drive undisturbed due to reduced visibility. The vehicle is also equipped with external folding lattice fences, it has the ability to transport additional members of the example for the Gendarmerie on certain external platforms on the vehicle. It also has a smoke box launcher system, for masking and other special purpose needs. The vehicle is equipped with sound and light signaling systems, air conditioning, radio connection, computer for command and information software. A box for spare parts and hand tools are placed on the outside.


 * BOV scout vehicle - BOV-KIV is a Serbian command-reconnaissance armored vehicle. The vehicle manufacturer is FAP.

The vehicle was created as a product of the BOV-3 modernization, and was developed by VTI. It is produced by FAP. It was presented in 2016, and in 2020 it entered the service of the Serbian Army.

The crew consists of six people, whose composition depends on the KIV variant. The basis of the BOV KIV vehicle is characterized by a high degree of ballistic protection, obtained by installing a new generation of modular armor.

The vehicles were also fitted with new undercarriages of increased load capacity with reinforced suspension. The platform is equipped with a weapons subsystem with a remotely controlled combat station (RCWS) 7.62/40 mm, which consists of a 7.62 mm machine gun and a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher.

For the purposes of command, the KIV is equipped with appropriate modern telecommunication and IT equipment, as a basis for the formation of command and information systems.

The vehicle is also equipped with a 5 kW diesel generator for powering the equipment and systems inside the vehicle. This independent power supply is used when the main engine is not running. Since the crew in KIV is exposed to long-term work, the improvement of the platform also provides an air conditioning and heating system, which enables the crew to work smoothly in conditions of high and low temperatures.

The system for improving the driver's visualization consists of two television cameras, a thermal imaging camera and an image display system. Television cameras project the image in the eyepieces and with their setting enable a 3D presentation, that is, the driver gets an idea of the depth of the scene.

Variants Command vehicle of the infantry battalion commander command-reconnaissance vehicle of the commander of the artillery division the command-reconnaissance vehicle commands the artillery batteries reconnaissance vehicle of the commander of the reconnaissance department.


 * BOV armored transporter - BOV OT is an armored transporter with anti-mine protection, intended for the safe transportation of 10 people on all types of terrain and in all weather and tactical conditions.

It is a vehicle created by extensive refinement of the armored transporter BOV, and the works are carried out at the FAP Factory.

It is armed with a mechanically operated 12.7mm combat station. With armored protection for the shooter, it also has 6 side loopholes for shooting weapons from the vehicle.

It has a Cummins ISB 6.7 EU 3 engine, with a power of 210 kilowatts (285 horsepower). The gearbox is Allison 3000, seven-speed (6+1), automatic. The drive of the vehicle is on all 4 wheels (4x4), and it is possible to block all 3 differentials.

The vehicle has ballistic protection that protects against projectiles 20 mm from the front, and 12.7 mm from the sides of the vehicle

Current operators

 * 🇧🇩 Bangladesh - Bangladesh Army operates 8+ BOV M11s.
 * 🇧🇦 - 32 BOV-1s.
 * - 33 BOV-3, 20 BOV-1 and 6 BOV-VP
 * 🇲🇪 - 8 BOV-VP, 9 BOV-1
 * 🇷🇸 - 51 BOV-VP, 48 BOV-1 with 9M14 Malyutka, BOV-3 70, BOV-OT 10+, BOV-KIV 20+, BOV M-11 20, BOV M-15 20.
 * 🇺🇦 - 26 donated by Slovenia from reserve (20 BOV-M, 6 BOV-3)

Former operators

 * - Passed on to successor states
 * - Passed on to successor states