ELBO Kentaurus Kentaurus is an Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle ( AIFV ) designed and developed by the Greek vehicle builder ELBO . Its history is connected with the need for an advanced AIFV by the Greek Armed Forces . The vehicle takes its name from the Greek word for Centaur the creature from Greek mythology . After aborted efforts including Leonidas - 2 variants and other attempted improvements and joint developments , ELBO worked entirely on its own , on a new design according to the specifications given at the time by the Hellenic Army . The resulting AIFV developed by the Greek company , named ' Kentaurus ' ( ' ΚΕΝΤΑΥΡΟΣ ' ) , was officially introduced in the " Defendory " Arms Exhibition in Athens in 1998 , and at that time was one of the most advanced AIFV ' s in the world . It features a 420 hp MTU Diesel engine , 30 mm EBO cannon and 7 . 62 mm machine - gun ( built on " Mauser " and " Rheinmetall " designs ) , Pyrkal smoke - grenade launchers , " Toxotis " computerized fire control system and " KUKA " turret . The crew is 3 + 8 , maximum speed ( street ) is 75 km / h and maximum weight is 19 . 8 tons . However , despite successful intensive tests by the Greek army , its approval , and an initial agreement in 2003 for an order of 140 vehicles , its fate is to this date uncertain due to subsequent cutbacks in relevant military spending , and evaluation of cheaper alternatives . Description . The hull is made of welded steel . The engine is placed in the front - right compartment , with the driver in the front - left . The turret follows and then the troop compartment . The driver accesses his position either from a roof hatch or from the troop compartment . The commander is situated in the E - 8 KUKA 1 - man turret behind the driver . The troop compartment is accessed from two rear - doors , as well as from two roof - hatches . The squad leader sits alone , with the rest of the men at the sides in a 3 - man and 4 - man rows . The troops have two optical periscopes for situational awareness . The interior of the vehicle has been designed to permit comfortable movement for men of up to 1 . 90m height . The vehicle has steel armor , concentrated mostly to the front arc . The front arc is rated as proof to APDS - T rounds of 30x173mm calibre at 1 , 500 meters , of 25x137mm at 400 meters and of 20x139mm at 30 meters . The sides are proof to 12 , 7mm AP rounds at 100 meters and fully proof to 7 , 62mm rounds . The vehicle is proof to artillery shrapnel at 15 meters , and against 2 , 5 kg mines . The vehicle is capable of taking additional passive and reactive armor , and is offered with the option of spall liners inside the vehicle . The MTU 183TE22 engine has a dry weight of 725 kg and requires 19 kg of oil and 15 kg of cooling fluid to operate . It can operate without problems at temperatures from - 46 to + 52°C . It can be accessed from a large hydraulic assisted hatch and be removed from the vehicle in 15 minutes . Attached to it is an ZF LSG - 1000 gearbox , with a RENK SU - 1201C final transmission . There are 6 forward gears and 2 reverse . The 1 - man KUKA E - 8 turret is made of welded steel and has a low profile . It weighs 1 , 585 kg . Initially it was offered with a Bushmaster II gun of 30mm calibre , but the Kentavros prototype had a licence - produced by EBO ( now EAS ) Mauser Mk30 , also of 30mm . There are 100 APDS - T and 100 HE - I rounds ready to use in the turret , with a further 196 stored inside the hull . The turret traverses at 30° per second , and the gun elevates from - 10° to + 45° , also at a speed of 30° / second . All movement is done electrically , with a back - up manual system also present . Secondary armament is a MG3A1 machinegun of 7 . 62mm . It can be replaced with a 12 . 7mm heavy machinegun or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher . The turret also has the provision for the addition of AT or AA launchers .