(Wheeled AFV)(UTN) AFV-4/F100 Coyote Light Combat Recon Vehicle

The AFV-4 Coyote was originally developed by the pre-fall Rockal Armaments Corporation for export to the newly annexed Phoenix Systems after the UTN intervention in 3776 A.D. A variety of paramilitary organisations and local system military forces sprung up in the years following the annexation, all potential customers for a multi-purpose wheeled armoured vehicle designed for patrol, force recon and personnel transport. Rolled out in 3780 A.D, the AFV-4 was an export success, replacing older CEG-derived models based on BTR-201 and BMP-8/9 designs from the 21st and 22nd centuries in use by the Phoenix Republic's former military forces.

Coyote's design emphasises high mobility in an urban environment thanks to the quad-wheeled drive train, but retains good off-road capability due to the large wheel diameter and powerful Dual-Cylinder Fusion Engine Powerplant. The vehicle can carry up to 8 fully armed medium-weight soldiers internally, along with their equipment, and additional equipment on external rigs. Armament is provided by a multi-purpose remotely operated turret able to carry the versatile FIMD/A-100, 100mm Kinetic Cannon developed for use by the UTN for its own ground forces, in anti-armour role. The Coyote was fitted with the A-100E export variant with slightly lower pressure tolerance and ammunition compatibility was limited to Impulse Dual Purpose instead of Kinetic Penetrators, but nevertheless proved highly popular among paramilitary forces operating planet-side in the Phoenix Cluster.

The vehicle's presence on Eridonia during the fall is largely due to the acquisition of large numbers of Coyotes from Rockal Armaments by the Eridonia Planetary Guard during the 41st Century to augment existing ARV fleets, reinforced by the looming threat of a ground-based invasion of Federal Worlds by Radacri forces. As such, these versatile light recon armoured vehicles are widely used by both sides in the Eridonian Civil war by 4512 A.D.

=========Characteristics=========

--Armour & Protection--
The Coyote's armour consists of light macropolymer arrays with composite inserts optimised for low mass and resistance to small and medium calibre FIMD munitions. Though the vehicle is resistant to most sub 10mm class FIMD projectiles, it is vulnerable to heavier 20mm+ Autocannon class FIMDs and thus relies on its speed to avoid direct confrontations with heavier vehicles. Coyote's turret is equipped with a pair of triple Active Countermeasure deployers on either side; able to deploy IR-masking smoke or EM chaff.


--Drivetrain & Propulsion--
Coyote features a quad-wheeled drivetrain with an independent hydropneumatic suspension, adjustable per-wheel for reducing the profile of the vehicle and assisting with platform stabilisation over rough terrain. The powerplant is provided by a Rockal Dual-Cylinder 150KW 2100 BHP Cyclic Fusion Impulse Turbine, distributed via an electronically actuated transmission with wheel independent gear ratios handled by the automotive computer, or based on predefined parameters set by the driver.


--Crew & Personnel --
The vehicle's internal compartment consists of a single, open-plan layout with a two-person crew minimum; driver and commander/gunner both seated on the front of the vehicle with the gunner located directly behind the driver. A third crew member is required (loader) for fast replenishment of the first stage ammunition magazine if the vehicle is deployed in a combat capability with the main gun. In an Armoured Personnel Carrier capacity, The Coyote has internal space with seating for up to six heavily armoured soldiers or eight lightly armoured soldiers and their associated equipment. Additional storage is present in internal bustles on either side of the fighting compartment, which can also be sectioned off to provide 'dry storage' magazine for the main armament at the expense of some internal cargo capacity.

Like most Aquarian armoured vehicles, the Coyote features a large rear access door which doubles as a loading ramp, with no hatches or additional doors; both the crew and mounted infantry must disembark via this rear door.

Like most Aquarian armoured vehicles, the Coyote is expected to operate in essentially any planetary environment, including a complete lack of an atmosphere. As such, it is equipped with a fully-featured internal life-support environmental system with air filtration (oxygen extraction and scrubbing) systems in addition to reserve pure oxygen supplies for use in completely toxic, or oxygen-free environments. The vehicle lacks an internal pressure door for the driver and gunner, however; meaning the crew compartment is not isolated from the troop compartment. This requires full depressurisation of the vehicle for soldiers to dismount. APC variants typically operate depressurised with all crew members wearing their own environmental protection suits - supplemented by the vehicle's large internal oxygen supply tanks.

The hull plating contains a dense macropolymer lead-like element designed to absorb charged, free particles and various radioactive energy types. The NBC protection element can provide effective protection for crew members in radioactive environments up to 28,000 Roentgens per hour for short periods of time with a passive protection capability reducing exposure dosage by around 75-90% while the vehicle has power.


--Armament--

Coyote is equipped with a remotely operated, autonomous turret with a multi-purpose weapons platform capability; the turret enclosure is able to accept a variety of different weapon systems that were originally designed to be tailored to a specific client's needs underscoring the export nature of the vehicle. The standard configuration, however, is a long-barrel medium-velocity 100mm Fusion Impulse Mass Driver, specifically, the FIMD/A-100E export variant of the highly successful UTN-designed and operated tank-gun. Coyote is configured to operate the main gun with Dual Purpose rounds using Explosive Fission Impulse Penetrators and tungsten fragmentation shells. Depending on the configuration of the shell set by the gunner, these munitions can either perform anti-armour or anti-fortification, or area-of-effect anti-infantry and light vehicle roles.

The 100MM main gun is supported by an autonomous 16-round auto-loading first stage magazine located directly under the turret, above the fighting compartment. Upon depletion of the first-stage magazine, a dedicated loader crewmember is required to manually replenish the rack with ammunition optionally stored in the forward cargo bustles (either side of the driver's position).

A co-axial 15mm FIMD Machinegun is present on upgraded models aligned below the main gun, or located in an independent weapon station on some versions, however the base model lacks any secondary armament.

--Optics & Electronic Systems--
All variants of the vehicle are equipped with a Commander Independent Optics System with a fully traversable swivel on top of the turret for enhanced battlefield visibility. The CIOS features built-in Variable Environment Enhancement including VLA and Thermal Imaging.

--Commander Independent Optics System--
The Main gun also features a multi-spectrum Imaging Sight with similar capability to the CIOS but with increased magnification for long-range engagements. There are two additional Optics Systems located above the driver's position with 180 degree field of view Image Enhancement for the driver; also featuring VLA and Thermal Imaging.

AFV-4 base variant is equipped with an environmental sensor with sensors such as wind direction, atmospheric composition and pressure. This data can be fed into the firing computer for increased accuracy in variable planetary environments.