EUROPE
LAND
11 Jan 06. Systems engineering specialist Frazer-Nash Consultancy has won two contracts with the MoD’s General Support Vehicles IPT, as part of the continued growth of its land-based defence division. The MoD is looking to acquire replacements for the General Support Tanker and Light Equipment Transporter vehicles, both of which are nearing the end of their lifecycles. The existing fleet comprises commercial Seddon Atkinson Tractor units, and trailers with a 32,000 litre capacity tanker for the General Support Tanker and a 44 tonne capacity trailer for the Future Light Equipment Transporter. The replacement vehicles will deliver significant capability enhancement to the armed forces, with improved mobility, flexibility and protection levels over the existing fleet. Frazer-Nash has been selected to complete the user and systems requirements work for both vehicles which will feed into the MoD’s procurement process. This important work will help to define exactly what the armed forces require from the new vehicles, learning from end-users’ first hand experience gained on recent operations. It combines Frazer-Nash’s systems engineering disciplines with its vehicle engineering background and intimate knowledge of the MoD’s procurement processes.
12 Jan 07. On 21 December the Kreuzlingen based technology company MOWAG GmbH received an order from armasuisse for the re-role of 160 PIRANHA I 6×6 Panzerjäger (Tank Hunter) vehicles to protected command vehicles. These new command vehicles will enable command and control under the most difficult conditions and will be integrated in the Swiss Army’s new Communication and Battle Management System (FIS HE). As system integrator, MOWAG will be responsible for the conversion of the vehicles as well as for the logistic materiel. Delivery to the Swiss Army will take place between 2008 and 2010.
08 Jan 07. QinetiQ to administer MOD’s Battery Contracts. QinetiQ has been awarded a £4m / two year enabling contract by Combat Support Equipment IPT (CSEIPT) to manage the supply of a range of commercially available batteries providing an effective and cost saving service. The MOD has options to extend this for an additional two years subject to satisfactory performance against key performance indicators.
11 Jan 07. RAFAEL Armament Development Authority Ltd and General Dynamics Santa Barbara Systems of Spain have signed a substantial contract with the Spanish Army for the supply of SPIKE-LR missile systems. As part of the deal, valued at over $400m, 2600 SPIKE-LR missiles and 260 launchers will be supplied. Spain carried out a long and arduous evaluation process in which the SPIKE-LR was examined in various battlefield situations that included test firings by Spanish soldiers. RAFAEL’s system competed against other missiles (Javelin and Milan-ER) produced by European and American industry giants and in the end, the Spanish chose the SPIKE-LR for the Land Forces of the Spanish Army. As part of the agreement RAFAEL pledged to transfer missile production technology to Spanish companies.
09 Jan 07. Swiss Army orders new Armoured Engineer Vehicle from Rheinmetall. Rheinmetall AG of Düsseldorf has won an order from the Swiss Army for a new generation of armoured engineer vehicles, an important reference customer. Under the order, Rheinmetall will supply the Swiss Army with twelve Kodiak armoured engineer vehicles, known in Swiss military parlance as the “Geniepanzer”.
Based on well proven components from the Leopard 2 main battle tank, the Kodiak has clear market potential in all Leopard 2 user countries. A number of nations have already expressed an interest in this state-of-the-art system; some have launched procurement projects already. Apart from its role as a heavy-duty combat engineer tool – whether in military scenarios or disaster relief operations – the Kodiak can be used to breach lanes through minefields, crucial for assuring the mobility and safety of friendly for