LAV-75; Stingray; M8 AGS

[boogiedowndonovan]

Originally Posted by Olefin

Just started posting on this forum. A question was asked a while back about what happened to the M8 AGS Prototypes. Well i can answer you on one. Its still at BAE Systems (ex United Defence) in York PA, still fully operational and is shown to potential customers from time to time.

And compared to the LAV-75 its definitely a weapon system that can take tanks and APC's on and kill them. They were due to go into production in 1996.

I am in the process of writing a Twilight 2000 Lions of Twilight module (using material posted on threads here) and the M8 AGS will make an appearance there as armor that was shipped out to Kenya in 1997 that came from the original production run.

re: M-8 AGS

there was a news article somewhere that four prototypes were deployed with the 82nd to Iraq. It can't seem to find it anymore, so it was probably just talk or wishful thinking.

Wikipedia article on the M-8 says that they tested a hybrid electric version of the M-8 AGS with 120mm gun. not sure about the availability of hybrid engines in T2k, but an upgunned 120mm AGS would be interesting.

[Olefin]

Yes they did - I know its here where I work and it looks like a tank killer to me

[Targan]

Welcome to the forums Olefin. I'm sure you have some very useful info for this forum (not sure how much you'll be allowed to tell us though!).

Originally Posted by Olefin

Yes they did - I know its here where I work and it looks like a tank killer to me

Are you referring to the hybrid electric version of the M-8 AGS with 120mm gun that boogiedowndonovan mentioned? And if so is it possible for you to post a photo? I for one would love to see such a vehicle, it sounds awesome.

[James1978]

Originally Posted by Targan

Are you referring to the hybrid electric version of the M-8 AGS with 120mm gun that boogiedowndonovan mentioned? And if so is it possible for you to post a photo? I for one would love to see such a vehicle, it sounds awesome.

It looks pretty much just like the baseline M8, but with a bigger gun. Just do a search for "Thunderbolt AGS" or "M8 Thunderbolt".

But I second the request for a current picture and any updates on the program.

[Sith]

The 120mm AGS was a proof of concept, and that's it. They just wanted to show that a 120 could work on a light vehicle. This knowledge went into the CV90120.

Also, the AGS was designed to be built on the Bradley production line. This was done to reduce cost and show the government that they had the capacity to mass-produce right away. With this in mind, I would think that Bradley production would have priority in the Twilight timeline.

Edit: Not sure if the Bradley production line is in York or not, something tells me that it's not.

[Sith]

To my knowledge, the AGS had it's last blast in 1999 with the PPD on Fort Knox that ultimately selected the Stryker. Since then BAE shows them off here and there with the hopes of a foreign sale, it's basically an off-the-shelf item. It's 1990s technology though, only a solid buyer would warrant an upgrade at this point.

I believe a few were loaned back to the Army at one point, mainly to test MGS tactical concepts before it's arrival. Not sure about this though.

[Sith]

Yeah, I figured you worked for BAE.

Thanks, Something in the back of my head was ringing California. Now I remember that they were using production on the Santa Clara line as a selling point in the early AGS material, changing to York later on.