The Ratel's ground clearance and cross-country performance are very good -certainly adequate for the generally rolling and arid terrain it usually operates in- and the vehicle has a ride which SADF crews often compared favourably to civilian cars. It is wheeled, with six run-flat tires for the long-distance speed, mobility, and ease of maintenance that tracked vehicles lack.įurthermore, unlike the United States Army's M2/ M3 Bradley or Warsaw Pact's BMP designs, the Ratel does not need to be transported long distances on trains or trailer trucks it can simply be driven to the destination.
Modern versions can therefore be considered to have evolved into multirole armoured vehicles from their original infantry fighting vehicle design. For example, it has considerably more firepower than most comparable infantry fighting vehicles-ranging from machine guns up to a 90-mm cannon.
The vehicle was designed with the South African environment and the combat experience of the South African Defence Force (SADF) foremost in mind. Land Systems OMC has developed the next generation iKlwa Multi-role Armoured Vehicle based on the Ratel's design. The vehicle will be replaced in the South African military by 264 Patria AMV vehicles in "Project Hoefyster". The Ratel-20 is the primary squad IFV, with the Ratel-60, Ratel-90, and Ratel-ZT3 (the anti-tank guided missile version) used primarily in anti-armour, support, and reconnaissance elements within a battalion. The Ratel was the first wheeled IFV to enter military service, and is generally regarded as an influential design a number of other countries have since produced vehicles similar to the Ratel, including the Sibmas from Belgium, which is all but a direct copy, How well they faired compared to the Ratel with the heavy gun and/or the missile launcher, I am not too clued up on. SA also had the Oliphant in the border wars, basically Centurion with a lot of modifications. So, can we conclude that wheels are not all bad? and that treads are not all superior? Ok, driving Rooikats against T80 may not be hugely appealing, I will also admit that. However, treads are not always superior to wheels and that was how it came out, so.
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