The Wildcat AA System
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The following post presents the reader with two documents – a three page brochure and a 91 page presentation – on the Wildcat
Air Defense System/Anti-Aircraft Armored Truck. The turret, chassis, and overall system integration were the work of Krauss-Maffei,
with the Radar/IFF, Optronics and FCS, and armament being provided by Siemens, Signaal, and Mauser respectively.
The Wildcat was, briefly, a twin 30mm cannon system and radar system mounted on a modified TPz-1 “Fuchs” 6x6 chassis. Alternatively, the Mauser Model F MK 30x173mm cannons could be replaced by Stinger missiles. The system could also be mounted on the MOWAG Shark 8x8.
Regrettably, neither document has a clear date marking, though at least with the presentation, we can somewhat guess. On page 9, it is stated that the “Wildcat dates back to 1979 where the demand for a rapid deployment and leightweight [sic] air and ground defense system was born.“ Page 15 further states the “Wildcat exists now since nearly 5 years”, dating the document to 1983 or perhaps 1984.
The brochure is somewhat more difficult to date, but it does not seem to be from 1983/84.
Between the two documents, some specifications have changed, most notably the amount of ammunition per gun. In the brochure, the amount of AA-ammunition is given as approximately 250 rounds per gun, with a further 10 rounds of AP-ammunition. In the presentation, these are given as 171/20 ready rounds of AA/AP-ammunition per gun, with a further 350 rounds of AA and 50 rounds of APDS stored in reserve.
As the brochure’s figure are an approximation (and for that matter a lower figure), it’s quite possibly dated earlier than the presentation.
In any case, as the documents are in English, they speak for themselves below.
Wilcat Brochure, circa 1979-1983 (Also available below)
Wilcat Presentation, circa 1983/84 (Only as PDF)
| General | |
|---|---|
| Combat weight | 17.5 t (approx.) |
| Length | 6.88 m |
| Width | 2.98 m |
| Overall height (search radar in lowered position) |
2.74 m |
| Ground clearance | 0.40 m |
| Engine output | 235 kW (320 HP) |
| Max. speed | 100 km/h |
| Operating range | 800 km (approx.) |
| Turning circle | 17 m |
| Search Radar | |
| 360° scan with simultaneous target tracking | |
| Outstanding clutter suppression through MTI | |
| Search on the move | |
| Searchable altitude under ECM conditions | |
| Built-In-Test-Equipment (BITE) | |
| Rugged, compact and modular design | |
| Optronic Tracker | |
| Miniaturized, daylight television camera | |
| Clear, grey, vertical polarized filters | |
| Video controlled automatic aperture range | |
| Solid state Neodymium-Yag laser transmitter | |
| Fire Control Equipment | |
| Search Radar | |
| Type | Digital MTI |
| Frequency band | X-band |
| Peak Power | ≥200 kW |
| Range | 18 km |
| Data rate | 1 Hz (60 r.p.m.) |
| IFF unit | Integrated |
| Optronic Tracker | |
| TV-tracker | Video format to CCIR standard (625 lines, 25 frames/s, 2:1 interlace) |
| Tracking system | Field-of-view: 2.4° Azimuth 1.8° Elevation |
| Laser range finder | 1.06 µm wavelength, max. Repetition frequency 10 Hz, Beam divergency 1.2 to 1.5 mil |
| Computer | Military, micro programmed, general purpose, micro computer, word length 24 bit. |
| Periscope | |
| Fixed binocular eyepiece | |
| Magnification | 2x 8x |
| Field-of-view | 30° 8° |
| Azimuth coverage | n x 360° |
| Elevation coverage | -10° to +85° |
| Optical Target Indicator | Mountable on the periscope for optical acquistion |
| Radar and TV-Displays | |
| PPI | 25 cm diameter, virtually clutter free picture |
| TV-monitor | 18 cm for presentation of TV picture and for display of alphanumeric data. |
| System Reaction Time | 6 s (typical) from moment of detection to moment of firing |
| Gun Aiming Drives | |
| Gun laying | Azimuth n x 360° Elevation -5° to +85° |
| Slewing speeds | Azimuth 2000 m/s Elevation 1600 m/s |
| Armament and Ammunition | |
| Cannon | |
| Type | Mauser MK 30-F, Automatic belt fed |
| Caliber | 30 mm |
| Rate of fire | 800 rounds/min. |
| Effective range | 3 km |
| Ammunition | GAU 8/A |
| Muzzle velocity | 1050 m/s (1150 m/s) |
| AA-ammunition | 250 rounds per gun (approx.) |
| AP-ammunition | 10 rounds per gun (approx.) |
| Power Supply | |
| Generators | |
| Voltage | 3 x 115 V / 200 V |
| Frequency | 380/400 Hz |
| Power | 20/5 kVA |
| Battery | 24 V DC |
| Chassis | |
| Hull | armor-steel plates, welded, monocoque construction. |
| Engine | 235 kW (320 HP), exhaust turbo-charged diesel |
| Gearbox | 6 speed automatic with torque converter |
| Tyres | 14.00 x 20 "run-flat" or radial ply |
| Steering | power assisted, re-circulating-ball. Front and centre axles steered. |
| Optional Equipment | NBC-Protection unit, vehicle navigation system |