Medium Turret Technology Demonstrator

Crew: 3

Combat Mass: 28.5 tons

Armament: 105 mm GT-7 Gun

Engine: Twin-turbocharged, water cooled, 10-cylinder diesel Atlantis engine fitted with an intercooler which can produce 563 hp @ 2400rpm. (20.1 hp/t).

Transmission: Hydro-mechanical, manual shift, drop-down gearbox. The gear selection range consists of six forward, a neutral and one reverse gear.

Suspension: Fully independent internally driven trailing arms, coil springs and shock-absorbers.

Fording: Without preparation: 1.2 meters

Speed: Road 120 km/h - Cross Country 50 km/h

Operating Range: Road 1000 km - Cross Country 500 km

The Medium Turret Technology Demonstrator (MTTD) was an independent project by the defence industry to develop and test the newest available technologies and the feasibility of a 105 mm high-pressure and 120 mm low-recoil main gun. The remote turret would feature an autoloading system and various other modern technologies for its time.

The loader (left side of the turret) and crew commander (right side of the turret) positions were moved into the hull giving rise to the depressions in the hull on either side of the main gun.

The MTTD also features a mockup of an Active Protection System (APS) launcher on the rear of the turret. The APS would have increased the survivability of the platform when facing anti-tank missiles. There are no currently known plans for building Rooikats fitted with this turret and gun.

Source: SOUTH AFRICAN ARMOURED VEHICLES: A History of Innovation and Excellence