Many armies are increasing their inventories and broadening the roles of their wheeled armored fighting vehicles - frequently at the expense of tracked armoured solutions. In some cases, the replacement is virtually total - as is the case in both France and Belgium. Many things have changed over recent years: the new generation of 6x6 and 8x8 vehicles looks very different from its predecessors. Current vehicles are much taller, far heavier, better protected and more heavily armed than in the past. Analysis of the so-called 'Iron Triangle' - tactical mobility, ballistic protection and firepower (or payload capacity), reveals distinct advantages accruing to today's operators. In terms of tactical mobility, the contemporary 8x8 APC and IFV has an off-road mobility comparable to main battle tanks, while offering higher road speeds than any tracked vehicle. In terms of strategic mobility, wheeled vehicles can self-deploy rather than relying on heavy equipment transporters (HET) - an increasingly scarce resource. Being more parsimonious as regards fuel consumption, they require smaller logistic trains. Many of these achievements are due to technology improvements: height-adjustable independent suspensions, central tyre inflation systems and lockable differentials enable high off-road performance. New engines provide the power required to ensure high performances, despite the sharp increases in weight. For instance, the ever-present General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) PIRANHA IIIH originally had a mass of 18t and was powered by a 350hp engine: the latest PIRANHA V has grown to 28t, with an engine delivering 550hp.
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