Ratel ZT-3
| Crew | 3 + 6 infantry |
|---|---|
| Main Armament | ZT-3 ATGW 3 Tube Launcher mounted on top of the turret |
| Secondary Armament | 1 × 7.62mm co-axial MG 1 × 7.62mm GPMG on commander’s cupola 1 × 7.62mm GPMG in AA mount on the rear of the vehicle 4 × 81mm smoke grenade launchers |
| Ammunition | 12 Missiles stored in the hull + 3 in the launcher 1200 rounds 7.62mm |
| Combat Mass | 18.5ton |
| Hull length | 7.21m |
| Width | 2.7m |
| Height | 3.11m |
| Engine | 12 litre six cylinder in line turbo diesel |
| Power output | 230kW |
| Fuel | 480 litres |
| Road Speed | 105km/h |
| Off Road Speed | 30km/h |
| Road Range | 1000km |
| Off Road Range | 600km |
| Gradient | 27º |
| Step | 0.6m |
| Trench | 1.15m |
| Ford | 1.2m |
Description
The Ratel ZT-3 is a dedicated anti-armor, support and reconnaissance vehicle equipped with a state of the art 127mm anti-tank missile system. Due to international sanctions, the SADF had no anti-tank missile which could effectively deal with modern main battle tanks. South Africa produced the Ingwe missile and launch system, which was developed to breach the said gap. The Ratel ZT-3 was the end result of the marriage of the Ratel chassis and the Ingwe missile system. This was the first truly modern anti-tank missile system in the South African military inventory which could engage and destroy modern main battle tanks. The Ingwe mounts a tandem warhead to counter explosive reactive armor and has a 5000 m standoff range making use of laser beam riding.
Length: 1.75m
Diameter: 0.127m
Missile weight: 28.5kg
Min Range: 250m
Max Range: 5 000m
Warhead: HEAT
Armour Penetration: 1000mm
Control: Semi-Active Laser Homing
The variant first saw combat during Operation Modular in 1987 when four pre-production variants were deployed with 32 Bn. Despite initial technical problems with the missiles, the variant proved itself capable of taking on Soviet armor at long ranges as the designers intended. During one notable engagement, one of the pre-production vehicles destroyed three tanks at ranges over 2000m within 10 minutes. The missile has been extensively updated and in its present configuration is capable of handling reactive armor.
