A quick glance at a new class of armored vehicle.

Otokar Arma 8x8 with Cockerill 105mm gun.

The Arma 8x8 with the Cockerill 105mm gun is the latest in a line of armored vehicles that is deserving of a new designation.

The US Army probably got it right when they called their big gun Stryker a Mobile Gun System...they set a trend but it was by accident.  The goal for the MGS was to make all associated weapon systems fit on the Stryker platform..finding the best vehicle to provide infantry support was a distant second or third thought.  But the Stryker MGS wasn't the first bite at the apple that the Army had for a MGS....

The Cadillac Gage LAV-600 was an independent venture that would have made a formidable gun system.  Mobility would have been outstanding and the 105mm, manned turret would have been a war winner.  Unfortunately this vehicle was developed before its time and despite the acclaim it found with armor enthusiast never found a buyer.

Many people overlook the South African Rooikat but its proven itself to be a powerful performer.  It has true out the box anti-mine protection and showed itself capable of traveling long distances in the S. African wilderness patrolling against marauding terrorists.  On this list it is probably the most proven vehicle in its designated role.  Additionally it's also one of the few on the list that is designed solely for its intended mission of highly mobile firepower...in other words its not a big gun wedded to an APC chassis.

The ERC-90 has seen a revival in its fortunes due to its performance in the French Mali Intervention.  Its extremely lightweight and mounts what amounts to be a medium caliber gun but its strategic mobility and firepower against fortifications and infantry have made it relevant again in French formations.

The AMX-10 is another of those classic French recon vehicles that is finding its true calling to be a fire support vehicle.  Like the ECR-90, its finding new found fame in the Mali Intervention and with a series of upgrades having recently been done, it looks like its role into the future is secure...perhaps more secure than the LeClerc which has been noticeably absent from the fighting.

Unknown to many but the Russians haven't been left out of the mobile gun parade.  The above vehicles are BTR-60PBs.  If you ever served on Gitmo you got a brief on these vehicles.  Not too impressive unless you're part of a rifle company and you realize that you have no armor and help is hours away at best.

China isn't to be left off this list and although they list the PTL-02 as a wheeled tank destroyer, I feel comfortable labeling it a fire support vehicle.  The Chinese have too many frontline main battle tanks with the means to get them to any theater they're needed quickly to think that these wheeled beast will be out hunting our armor.  It follows conventional thinking and is simply a large caliber gun on an APC chassis.

Last but definitely not least is the Centaur.  Its big, its fast, its heavily armored and armed.  Of all the vehicles on this list, the Centaur is the one that would make me pause.  Its being upgraded (armor) and shows all the hallmarks of being able to slug it out in a gunfight.  Again, its listed as a tank destroyer but (again) I think its calling is as a real deal, 100% fires support vehicle.  Have a bunker you can't crack?  Air support hours away due to weather?  Regiment is screaming like a banshee because you're holding up the advance?  Roll up the Centaur and let the YAT-YAS (or whatever the Italians call there guys) boys take care of it.

The future is really clear.  A JLTV will cost 250,000 dollar a copy.  An IFV costs (if you're talking about a German Puma) about 10 million dollars per.  With those prices I don't want to even contemplate the cost of a NEW BUILD main battle tank with the latest tech.

I've talked about the end of the tank in Marine Corps service due to strategic mobility concerns.  The real threat to the tank (at least in the future) might well be cost.  Infantry Support Vehicle. I like the sound of that.  Get used to it.  From the look of things that's the new trend in armor.