Armoured products specialist manufacturer SVI Engineering launched a newly designed concept version of its MAX 3-series of vehicles – the three-axle, six-wheeled armoured Toyota Land Cruiser MAX 3 Six Wheeler, at Africa Aerospace and Defence expo 2022 (AAD 2022) on September 21.

The MAX 3 is a 6X4 built on a Land Cruiser 79 Series chassis, powered by Toyota’s 4.5 ℓ V8 turbo diesel powertrain, and has the ability to carry more payload, as well as offer better flotation on soft, rough terrain surfaces.

Although the six-wheel concept is based on the MAX 3 double-cab body, the new three-axle configuration will also be available on SVI’s MAX 3 single-cab and MAX 3 Troopy armoured personnel carrier.

According to SVI, with the addition of a third axle, the MAX 3’s gross vehicle mass (GVM) can be safely increased to 5.5 t, thereby having the ability to be used in numerous military and security applications with the fitment of various weapon systems, cargo-carrying options or field ambulance concepts.

SVI chose not to power the third axle as a means to keep whole-vehicle costs down and maintain Toyota’s proven drivetrain reliability, as well as to simplify serviceability and the sourcing of spare mechanical parts.

The additional axle modification also includes a track-width correction to align the track of the rear wheels with that of the front – a Land Cruiser 79-series anomaly; as well as an upgrade to disc brakes on the two rearmost axles to improve the stopping performance at full GVM.

Meanwhile, the six-wheeled version of the MAX 3 double cab displayed at AAD2022 is fitted with an intelligent anti-drone solution that is operated from the front passenger’s seat.

In modern warfare, drones can be used not only for reconnaissance, but also as weapons capable of destroying key infrastructure or attacking soldiers on the ground, thus creating the need for an anti-drone weapons system.

The anti-drone system offered by SVI employs radar to locate, identify and track incoming hostile drones. The information is relayed to the battle management system (BMS) connected to the automated grenade launcher (AGL).

The BMS determines the trajectory of, and distance to, the drone, after which it intercepts and disables it through a close-proximity grenade explosion.

Any successful drone downing would require a means to retrieve the drone, and in this regard SVI equipped its MAX 3 six wheeler with an offroad motorcycle, enabling personnel to reach the wreck quickly over rough terrain.

The conversion process to create a MAX 3 entails removing the regular bodywork of a standard Land Cruiser 79, replacing it with a hull designed in-house and manufactured from armoured steel plate.

The construction of the multi-role vehicle provides a minimum protection level of EN1063 BR6, capable of withstanding most common assault rifle ammunition, with additional protection against anti-personnel grenades. The vehicle is also capable of being upgraded to a BR7 level.

Although the drivetrain is standard, the MAX 3 gains wheels and tyres with an improved load rating as well as upgraded suspension and an additional rear anti-roll bar.