The Austrian 4K 7FA G Infantry Fighting Vehicle is the successor to the 4K 4FA. Both vehicles look very similar, but there are some easy ways to tell the difference. Both have their engines mounted in the front of the vehicle, so access is at the front. The 4FA has two hatches which are hinged on the sides with a handle in the middle of each (two in total), where as the 7FA is hinged at the top and has a total of three handles along the bottom.
How to spot The Austrian 4K 7FA G Infantry Fighting Vehicle
The air in take vents are on the front sides of the hull. The 7FA has seven equally spaced slots, where as the 4FA’s are the same but have a larger bar in the middle of the slots.
If you look at the tracks you will notice that the 7FA has three returning rollers (the smallest of all the wheels) and the 4FA only has two.
The Austrian 4K 7FA G Infantry Fighting Vehicle
The vehicle entered production in 1977 with a new 320hp diesel engine giving better power to weight ratio (21.62hp/ton) for improved acceleration, thicker steel armour and NBC protection for the crew and infantry.
Driver sits front right and has passive night vision equipment, with the commander behind him with a shielded cupola mounting a .50cal MG. The rear section carries the 8 infantry troops who sit in the centre back to back and can fire their personal rifles through firing ports and aim using periscopes. They also have two roof hatches and two rear doors.
Other variants include an ambulance, command and control and 81mm mortar carrier.
The vehicle is in service with Bolivia, Cyprus, Greece (licensed manufacturer) Macedonia and Nigeria.