Timoney (armoured personnel carrier)
BDX (Timoney Mk V)
### BDX (Timoney Mk V)

[thumb\|right\|BDX](/wiki/File:BDX_%28Beherman-Demoen_Engineering%29%2C_Gunfire_museum_Brasschaat.jpg "BDX (Beherman-Demoen Engineering), Gunfire museum Brasschaat.jpg")
In 1977 production began under licence of an improved Timoney MkIV (also known as the **MkV**) by Beherman Demoen Engineering of Belgium, following negotiations the previous year. The vehicle, named the **BDX** is very similar to the Timoney design but with some modifications to meet Belgian requirements. The basic BDX APC lacks a turret, and an NBC collective protection or air conditioning system can be installed. Some vehicles had a small dozer blade mounted for obstacle clearing. Similar to the base Timoney design it was also possible to install a turret on the forward hull roof to accommodate either one or two 7\.62 mm machine guns. Other armament options offered were a 20 mm cannon, a breech loaded 81 mm mortar or a 90 mm gun. Various other modifications have been proposed, including a turreted [MILAN](/wiki/MILAN "MILAN") anti\-tank missile carrier, an ambulance and a 51 mm multiple launch rocket system. A diesel engine was also tested as a possible customer option.

The first production order for the BDX was awarded by the Belgian government in 1977 and called for the delivery of 43 vehicles to the Belgian Air Force for airfield protection duties and 80 vehicles to the [Belgian Gendarmerie](/wiki/Belgian_Gendarmerie "Belgian Gendarmerie"). The air force vehicles were armed with a ring\-mounted 7\.62 mm light machine gun. The gendarmerie included 13 vehicles with a 81 mm mortar installed in the back of the hull, firing through a roof hatch. The first batch of production vehicles were presented in 1978 and production was completed for the Belgian government by February 1981\. BDX also delivered five vehicles to Argentina. All operable former Belgian vehicles were delivered to Mexico after they were phased out.


Who was awarded the first production order for the BDX?