Dingo 2
Place of origin	Germany
Service history
Used by	German Army, Austrian Army, Belgian Army
Production history
Manufacturer	Krauss-Maffei Wegmann
Specifications
Weight	8.8 - 11.9 t
Length	5.45 m (short) 6.8 m (long)[1]
Width	2.3 m
Height	2.5 m
Crew	5 (short) 8 (long)
Engine	Diesel 160 kW
Suspension	4x4
Operational range	1000 km
Speed	90+ km/h

The ATF Dingo is a German heavily armored military truck based on a Unimog chassis with a V-hull design, produced by the company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann. It is designed to withstand land mines, rifle fire, artillery fragments and NBC-threats. ATF stands for Allschutz-Transport-Fahrzeug, meaning all-protected transport vehicle in German. It is named after the wild dog dingo.

The ATF Dingo has a modular design of the following five elements: chassis, protection cell, storage space, engine compartment, and its bottom mine blast deflector. Its design is lighter and includes an armored chassis with a blast pan instead of the more common monocoque hull found in modern blast resistant vehicles. KMW's layered Modular Expandable Armor System (MEXAS) is used and the windows are angled to deflect blasts and bullets. A tarp is used over the back storage area instead of metal to save weight. A mechanical weapons station utilizing periscopes, borrowed from KMW's Fennek, is located on the top of the vehicle. The weapons station allows the operator to sit safely inside the cabin.

The ATF Dingo 2 is an advanced version of the Dingo based on the upgraded Unimog U 5000 chassis, that offers improved protection and more payload. It is offered in two versions with 3,250 (3.5 tonnes payload) and 3,850 mm (4 tonnes payload) wheelbase. The Dingo 2 can seat 8 personnel.

Currently KMW is developing the Dingo 2 GFF for the German Army with increased internal volume.

The Dingo's standard armament is a remote controlled Rheinmetall MG3 machine gun turret. The 7.62 mm MG can be replaced with a 12.7 mm MG or a HK GMG automatic grenade launcher.

Textron signed an exclusive deal to produce and market KMW's Dingo in the United States. However, Textron chose its own more expensive and heavier M1117 Armored Security Vehicle for the MRAP competition, which did not receive a contract. ^[2]

[edit] Operators

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•  Austria - 35 Dingo 2
•  Belgium – 220 Dingo 2 (+ 132 options)
•  Germany - 147 Dingo 1 and 240 Dingo 2 (deliveries until 2011), another 98 Dingo 2 (50 patrol vehicles and 48 battledamage-repair versions) were ordered in June 2008^[3], plus further 78 Dingo 2 were ordered as ground radar surveillance platform in Juli 2006
•  Czech Republic - 4 Dingo 2 in active service, 30 more ordered
•  Luxembourg - 48 Dingo 2 ordered (to be delivered between 2009 and 2010)

[edit] Gallery

An ATF Dingo of the German Army shown behind the Fennek in Afghanistan.

ATF Dingo 1 of the German Army deployed in Kosovo.

German Dingo 2

[edit] See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

ATF Dingo

• KMW Grizzly - Another new armored vehicle of the German Army
• Mungo ESK
• Rheinmetall YAK
• Boxer (Armoured Fighting Vehicle)
• AGF (Light infantry vehicle)
• LAPV Enok

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Krauss-Maffei Wegmann - Website of the manufacturer
• Dingo 2 in the Austrian Armed Forces