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XA-180 (EST)
Encyclopedia
The Xa-180 is a six-wheeled armoured personnel carrier
(APC) originally designed for the Finnish Defence Forces
. The first version was produced in 1983 and serial production began in 1984. The basic design was based on easy usage, simple basic structure and low cost maintenance. The basic appearance and configuration is similar to most wheeled APCs. In 2005 Estonia
purchased a small amount of Xa-180s from Finland
.
XA-180EST is the Estonian model of XA-180. A total of 60 were purchased from Finland. There are 58 of them in service, two having been lost in Afghanistan. Altogether there were 51 APC units, two command and control units, three repair units and four medievac units. In 2005 there were delivered 30 APC configured units and four medievac units. The medievac units were equiped with air conditioning and floor heaters. The XA-180ESTs were equiped with Harris radios and 12,7 mm Browning machine guns. The XA-180ESTs had been manufactured in Finland in 1987-1989 and had between 10 000 km to 30 000 km. The engine will last about 120 000 km to 130 000 km before overhaul. Ten out of the sixty vehicles have taken part in peace-keeping operations and the others have been mainly stored or used in military training.
Estonia wanted to buy 30 more XAs from Finland in 2008, but as a part of agreement, Finland wanted them not to be used outside the territory of Estonia, ie. in international operations. Therefore Estonia purchased 81 units of XA-188 (similar to XA-180 but more heavily armored) from the Netherlands. It was one of the largest foreign military equipment purchases made by the Estonian army.
Armoured personnel carrier
An armoured personnel carrier is an armoured fighting vehicle designed to transport infantry to the battlefield.APCs are usually armed with only a machine gun although variants carry recoilless rifles, anti-tank guided missiles , or mortars...
(APC) originally designed for the Finnish Defence Forces
Finnish Defence Forces
The Finnish Defence Forces are responsible for the defence of Finland. It is a cadre army of 15,000, of which 8,900 are professional soldiers , extended with conscripts and reservists such that the standard readiness strength is 34,700 people in uniform...
. The first version was produced in 1983 and serial production began in 1984. The basic design was based on easy usage, simple basic structure and low cost maintenance. The basic appearance and configuration is similar to most wheeled APCs. In 2005 Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
purchased a small amount of Xa-180s from Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
.
History
Finland sold 60 APCs. 4 of them are medevac, 2 command and control and 3 communications vehicleshttp://www.janes.com/extracts/extract/ceursu/estns150.html.XA-180EST is the Estonian model of XA-180. A total of 60 were purchased from Finland. There are 58 of them in service, two having been lost in Afghanistan. Altogether there were 51 APC units, two command and control units, three repair units and four medievac units. In 2005 there were delivered 30 APC configured units and four medievac units. The medievac units were equiped with air conditioning and floor heaters. The XA-180ESTs were equiped with Harris radios and 12,7 mm Browning machine guns. The XA-180ESTs had been manufactured in Finland in 1987-1989 and had between 10 000 km to 30 000 km. The engine will last about 120 000 km to 130 000 km before overhaul. Ten out of the sixty vehicles have taken part in peace-keeping operations and the others have been mainly stored or used in military training.
Estonia wanted to buy 30 more XAs from Finland in 2008, but as a part of agreement, Finland wanted them not to be used outside the territory of Estonia, ie. in international operations. Therefore Estonia purchased 81 units of XA-188 (similar to XA-180 but more heavily armored) from the Netherlands. It was one of the largest foreign military equipment purchases made by the Estonian army.
External links
- http://www.sodur.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=82&Itemid=107 (in Estonian)
- http://www.mil.ee/?menu=tehnika2&sisu=pasi (in Estonian)