31 Aug 05. ACS International Ltd, the UK-based defence and automotive engineering consultants, has been awarded the contract for the Design, Development and Production of a Troop Carrying Vehicle Enhanced Seating System (TCVES) for the UK legacy fleet of Bedford and Leyland-DAF 4 tonne support vehicles by the GSV IPT.
The contract will be for up to 500 vehicle sets, which accommodate 14 troops wearing full webbing, body armour, NBC suits and cold climate clothing. The system incorporates roll-over and crash protection features plus the patented ‘MouleTec’ â orthopaedic seat design. The TCVES seats have been developed from the ‘MouleTec’ â stadium seat design to give enhanced comfort and increases levels of blood flow to the legs of occupants sitting in them for prolonged periods.
ACS International Ltd is now working with Marshall SV to develop a similar system for the M.A.N. UK Support Vehicle (SV) programme.
The TCVES is only part of the military seating range ACS has been developing over the past three years. One example is the top of the range seat specifically designed for side facing applications in armoured vehicles only weighs 12 kg and can accommodate troops wearing full kit including ‘day sacks’. A special multi-density mine blast cushion is also being developed to enhance the capability of this seat. These seats are fitted to the Pinzgauer platform of the new Thales Air Defence Thor Starstreak missile launcher and can be seen on the Thales Stand 855 at DSEI 2005.
As well as entering the military seating market ACS International is maintaining its core business of vehicle legislation consultancy and associated engineering functions.
Recent engineering projects include a number of off-highway ABS and Traction Control development programmes for military and agricultural vehicles. In addition recent Type Approval and Homologation programmes encompass a wide range of vehicles from the Bentley Continental GT to the BAE SYSTEMS Hägglunds BvS10.”
ACS International is a UK-based defence and automotive engineering consultant, specialising in power-train & chassis development and vehicle legislation compliance.
Capabilities include:
Chassis Development: Brake Systems – ABS, Electronic Traction Control.
Power-Train Development: Emissions, Cooling.
Vehicle Build: Development Mules, Prototypes, Small Series
Legislation Compliance: Assessment, Design, Development, Validation
Vehicle Refurbishment & Upgrades: Brakes, Engines, Transmissions
Contact: Dave Burgess, Mob: +44 (0)7795 203811; .
DSEI: Thales Stand 855
05 Sep 05. EADS Defence Electronics has been awarded a contract worth more than € 10 m by the Australian Department of Defence for the supply of the MILDS (Missile Launch Detection System – AN/AAR-60) missile warning systems to protect helicopters and wide-body aircraft against missile attacks. As reported by the company during the Defence Systems & Equipment International fair DSEi in London, the missile warning systems will be provided for the SA70A “Blackhawk” and CH-47 “Chinook” helicopters for integration under the “Echidna” project in the helicopters’ self-protection suites. Similarly, standalone MILDS systems including cockpit control and display unit as well as an inertial navigation unit are being supplied to upgrade the self-protection capability of the Australian AP3C “Orion” Maritime Patrol Aircraft. MILDS is an advanced, passive imaging sensor which detects and tracks the UV emissions of approaching missiles including the most prevalent threat of heat seeking shoulder launched Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS). The system provides full coverage threat declaration, a low false alarm rate and maximum warning time to enable the deployment of countermeasures such as Chaff/Flares. MILDS is already in the Australian Department of Defence’s inventory on the ARH Tiger and soon on the NH90 (Australian designation: MRH90) helicopters. The sen