Armored Vehicles

FV107 Scimitar

Also known as
  • FV107
  • Scimitar
  • FV107 Scimitar Mk 2
  • Scimitar Mk 2
  • Scimitar CVR(T)
  • CVR(T) Scimitar
  • Alvis Scimitar

The FV107 Scimitar is a British CVR(T) tracked reconnaissance vehicle built by Alvis around a compact aluminum hull and 30 mm L21 RARDEN cannon. It filled the armed reconnaissance role for British cavalry units in the Falklands, Gulf, Iraq, and Afghanistan campaigns before upgraded Scimitar Mk 2 vehicles appeared in Ukrainian service during the Russia-Ukraine War.

FV107 Scimitar, Tracked armored reconnaissance vehicle, Armored Vehicles
Image source: FV107 Scimitar pic13.JPG

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United Kingdom
Built by
AlvisBAE Systems
Type
Tracked armored reconnaissance vehicle
Service note
Entered British service in the early 1970s; British combat use documented from the 1982 Falklands War through Afghanistan, with later Ukrainian service in the Russia-Ukraine War
Designer
Alvis Vehicles
Designed
Late 1960s to early 1970s CVR(T) development period
Produced
Accepted for service in the early 1970s; Scimitar Mk 2 upgrade work reported in 2010-2011

Specifications

Crew
3
Armament
30 mm L21 RARDEN cannon, coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun, and smoke grenade launchers
Baseline weight
8,070 kg in Army Guide data
Mk 2 weight
11,978 kg in Royal Tank Regiment data; Ukraine MoD describes about 12,250 kg combat weight
Baseline dimensions
4.9 m length, 2.24 m width, 2.1 m height in Army Guide data
Mk 2 dimensions
5.62 m length and 2.86 m width in Royal Tank Regiment data
Mobility
Tracked torsion-bar vehicle; Army Guide lists 80 km/h maximum road speed and 190 hp engine output
Mk 2 protection
Spartan-based hull with improved applique armor, mine-blast seating, revised driver controls, upgraded suspension, and fuel-system changes
Range
Army Guide lists up to 644 km baseline road range; Royal Tank Regiment Mk 2 data lists about 250 miles; Ukraine MoD describes up to 500 km
Ammunition stowage
Army Guide lists 160 rounds for the 30 mm main gun, 3,000 rounds for the auxiliary gun, and eight smoke grenade launchers
Family
Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked), sharing a common platform with Scorpion, Spartan, Samaritan, Samson, Sultan, and Striker
Design And Upgrade Notes

The Scimitar kept the CVR(T) family's compact tracked layout but substituted the 30 mm L21 RARDEN cannon for the 76 mm gun used on FV101 Scorpion. The Afghanistan-era Mk 2 update used a Spartan-based hull, added mine-blast seating, revised driver controls, improved applique armor, upgraded torsion-bar suspension, and fuel-system changes. Later Ukrainian service documentation identifies the Mk 2 alongside Spartan and Samaritan vehicles in a common CVR(T) support ecosystem.

Baseline role

Armed reconnaissance for Royal Armoured Corps and attached light-armor units.

Main weapon

30 mm L21 RARDEN cannon with coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun.

Mk 2 program

BAE Systems' Telford team developed, tested, and managed the Mk 2 upgrade, while DSG Donnington coordinated vehicle build for a 50-vehicle urgent operational requirement.

Sources: 14th/20th King's Hussars Scimitar; BAE Systems tougher recce vehicles; Ukraine MoD CVR(T) vehicles.

Variants

FV107 belongs to the British CVR(T) family. The Scimitar designation separates the 30 mm RARDEN-armed reconnaissance model from the 76 mm Scorpion and personnel-carrier or support variants using the same family architecture.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Scimitar Mk 2Up-armored Afghanistan-era modernization

BAE Systems describes the Mk 2 urgent operational requirement as a five-variant CVR(T) re-hulling and protection upgrade, with Scimitar Mk 2 using a Spartan-based hull and additional mine-blast protection.

Sources: BAE Systems tougher recce vehicles

FV101 Scorpion light tank, Tracked light tank / reconnaissance vehicle, TanksFV101 Scorpion light tank76 mm gun CVR(T) family member

Ukraine's Ministry of Defence identifies FV101 Scorpion as a CVR(T) light reconnaissance tank and FV107 Scimitar as the 30 mm RARDEN-armed member of the same family.

Sources: Ukraine MoD CVR(T) vehicles

FV103 Spartan, Tracked armored personnel carrier, Armored VehiclesFV103 SpartanCVR(T) armored personnel carrier family member

Ukraine's Ministry of Defence lists FV103 Spartan with FV107 Scimitar Mk 2 among CVR(T) vehicles in Ukrainian service and notes the common platform and standardized components across the family.

Sources: Ukraine MoD CVR(T) vehicles

FV104 Samaritan, Tracked armored ambulance, Armored VehiclesFV104 SamaritanCVR(T) armored ambulance family member

Ukraine's Ministry of Defence lists FV104 Samaritan alongside FV103 Spartan and FV107 Scimitar Mk 2 in the CVR(T) family in Ukrainian service.

Sources: Ukraine MoD CVR(T) vehicles

Timeline

FV107 Scimitar Key Events

  1. Scimitar enters British service

    The 14th/20th King's Hussars history places Scimitar service entry in 1971 as part of the CVR(T) family.

    Sources: 14th/20th King's Hussars Scimitar

  2. Falklands War direct support

    IWM's Chaundler interview records FV101 Scorpion and FV107 Scimitar light tanks supporting preparations for the attack on Wireless Ridge.

    Sources: IWM David Chaundler interview

  3. Operation Granby combat use

    The 14th/20th King's Hussars history describes Scimitars serving with 16th/5th The Queen's Royal Lancers during the First Gulf War.

    Sources: 14th/20th King's Hussars Scimitar

  4. Operation Telic Al Faw deployment

    House of Commons evidence after Operation Telic describes Scimitars crossing onto the Al Faw peninsula and C Squadron QDG light armor supporting firepower, ISTAR, and reconnaissance tasks.

    Sources: House of Commons Operation Telic evidence

  5. Scimitar Mk 2 operational in Afghanistan

    The UK Ministry of Defence reported the enhanced Scimitar Mark 2 operational on Operation HERRICK 14 in Helmand province.

    Sources: MOD Scimitar Mark 2 Afghanistan

  6. Scimitar Mk 2 shipment to Ukraine reported

    The Defense Post reported 23 Scimitar Mk II reconnaissance vehicles being prepared for shipment to Ukraine, citing Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land support activity.

    Sources: Defense Post Ukraine Scimitar shipment

  7. SIPRI records UK-to-Ukraine Scimitar transfer

    SIPRI's public arms-transfer database records a 2024 UK-to-Ukraine transfer row for Scimitar vehicles, supporting the transfer context without by itself proving battlefield employment.

    Sources: SIPRI Arms Transfers Database

  8. Ukraine describes CVR(T) fleet in service

    Ukraine's Ministry of Defence identified FV107 Scimitar Mk 2 among CVR(T) vehicles in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

    Sources: Ukraine MoD CVR(T) vehicles

Media

FV107 Scimitar Videos

FV107 Scimitar Images

FV107 Scimitar, Tracked armored reconnaissance vehicle, Armored Vehicles - view 1
Source: FV107 Scimitar COLD WINTER '87.JPEG
FV107 Scimitar, Tracked armored reconnaissance vehicle, Armored Vehicles - view 2
Source: FV107 Scimitar Brussels museum image
Related Weapon Systems
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9A317M TELAR, Tracked Buk-M3 transporter erector launcher and radar, Air DefenseAir Defense9A317M TELARTracked Buk-M3 transporter erector launcher and radarThe 9A317M TELAR is the autonomous tracked firing vehicle for Russia's 9K317M Buk-M3 medium-range surface-to-air missile system. Open technical sources describe it as a six-canister, radar-equipped self-propelled firing unit able to receive target designation, track targets, prepare missile flight tasks, illuminate targets, and launch 9M317M-family missiles; Ukraine-war reporting and loss documentation identify Russian 9A317M TELARs and Buk-M3 launchers as battlefield air-defense targets.
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Sources

14th/20th King's Hussars ScimitarPublisher: History of the 14th/20th King's Hussars | Note: Supports Scimitar identity, Alvis manufacture, RARDEN armament, CVR(T) background, British service context, and direct conflict-use context for the 1982 Falklands War, 1990 Gulf War, 2003 Iraq War, and Afghanistan. | Accessed: 2026-07-08IWM David Chaundler interviewPublisher: Imperial War Museums | Note: Supports 1982 Falklands War direct use: the interview content description records support from FV101 Scorpion and FV107 Scimitar light tanks during preparations for the attack on Wireless Ridge. | Accessed: 2026-07-08House of Commons Operation Telic evidencePublisher: UK Parliament | Note: Supports 2003 Iraq War direct use: Brigadier James Dutton described Scimitars being moved onto the Al Faw peninsula and C Squadron QDG light armor used for firepower, ISTAR, and reconnaissance. | Accessed: 2026-07-08MOD Scimitar Mark 2 AfghanistanPublisher: UK Ministry of Defence | Note: Supports 2001 War in Afghanistan direct use: the Ministry of Defence reported Scimitar Mark 2 vehicles operational on Operation HERRICK 14 in Helmand province, and supports Mk 2 upgrade context. | Accessed: 2026-07-08BAE Systems tougher recce vehiclesPublisher: BAE Systems | Note: Supports manufacturer and upgrade context for the Scimitar Mk 2 urgent operational requirement, including the Spartan-based hull, protection changes, BAE Systems Telford management, and DSG Donnington build coordination. | Accessed: 2026-07-08MOD Scimitar IED strikePublisher: UK Ministry of Defence | Note: Supports 2001 War in Afghanistan direct use: British soldiers used a Scimitar Mk 2 on a 2011 Nahr-e Saraj patrol when the vehicle was struck by an IED. | Accessed: 2026-07-08Ukraine MoD CVR(T) vehiclesPublisher: Ministry of Defence of Ukraine | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct use: Ukraine's Ministry of Defence identifies FV107 Scimitar Mk 2 among CVR(T) vehicles in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and supports CVR(T) family and Mk 2 specification context. | Accessed: 2026-07-08SIPRI Arms Transfers DatabasePublisher: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War transfer context: SIPRI's public arms-transfer database records a UK-to-Ukraine Scimitar transfer row in 2024; this supports transfer evidence, not battlefield employment by itself. | Accessed: 2026-07-08Defense Post Ukraine Scimitar shipmentPublisher: The Defense Post | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct transfer context: the report says the UK was sending Scimitar Mk II reconnaissance vehicles to Ukraine during the war. | Accessed: 2026-07-08Royal Tank Regiment ScimitarPublisher: Royal Tank Regiment | Note: Supports Scimitar Mk 2 vehicle specifications including crew, weight, dimensions, RARDEN armament, fuel capacity, and range. | Accessed: 2026-07-08Army Guide FV107 ScimitarPublisher: Army Guide | Note: Supports baseline FV107 Scimitar technical specifications, including dimensions, weight, speed, armament caliber, engine output, crew, ground clearance, and range. | Accessed: 2026-07-0830 mm L21 RARDEN CannonPublisher: Think Defence | Note: Supports the L21A1 RARDEN cannon as a British 30 mm combat-vehicle weapon used principally on Scimitar, Fox, and Warrior. | Accessed: 2026-07-08FV107 Scimitar pic13.JPGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and CC0 licensing page for the primary FV107 Scimitar photograph. | Accessed: 2026-07-08FV107 Scimitar COLD WINTER '87.JPEGPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and public-domain U.S. military media context for a British Scimitar during Operation Cold Winter 1987. | Accessed: 2026-07-08FV107 Scimitar Brussels museum imagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance and licensing page for a museum FV107 Scimitar photograph. | Accessed: 2026-07-08