Fact file: Warrior

The Warrior is an armoured infantry fighting vehicle and plays a crucial role in military operations carried out by UK forces.

The vehicles, which were built by GKN Defence - which is now known as Alvis Vickers Ltd, have a strong and proven track record.

It carries a driver, commander, gunner and seven fully equipped soldiers.

The vehicle's main purpose is the transportation of infantry during patrols, or towards the frontline.

And its weaponry enables it to perform a dual role, as it can be used as a fighting vehicle.

It carries a 30mm Rarden cannon with a range of up to 1500m, as well as a 7.62mm Hughes Helicopter Chain Gun and smoke grenade launchers.

And the vehicle carries an electrically operated turret, which can turn through 360 degrees.

The Warrior was used in the Gulf War and in Bosnia

The Warrior has a nuclear, chemical and biological attack-resistant compartment for the crew. It also carries protection against mines.

The crew compartment has an air filtration system, in addition to a heating and cooling system.

The UK has 550 Warrior vehicles currently in service.

Most of them were delivered between 1987 and 1995 and have been used in the Gulf War and Bosnia.

Since their introduction, the armoury has been upgraded to deal with numerous threats, such as rocket-propelled grenades.

Warrior vehicles are powered by a 550 horsepower Rolls-Royce diesel engine, which provides a maximum road speed of 47 miles per hour (75 kph).

And it has a four-speed fully automatic transmission, in addition to hydrostatic drive steering.

The suspension system enables these vehicles to cross rough terrain at higher speeds than most battle tanks.