MAN AT DVD 2012 – ON TIME, ON COST AND ON QUALITY
20 Jun 12. MAN Truck & Bus UK is ahead of schedule to complete the 7,400+ vehicle contract to renew the British Armed Forces Support Vehicle fleet. The contracted completion date of the project is December 2013 and the original order should be delivered by the end of the second quarter of 2013.
Speaking about the achievement Bill Farrell, Head of the Military Sales operation at MAN in the UK, said: “We are very close to completion of all scheduled deliveries, and the British Armed Forces now has what must be the most modern fleet in the world for armed services of comparable size. What has made it all work has been the outstanding teamwork between all the staff on the MOD side and MAN.
“It’s been a tremendous performance all round and everyone involved should take a very real pride in what has been achieved. That very high level of close cooperation proved to be particularly beneficial to the project time and time again, especially in the light of recent armed conflicts that have called for sudden changes of requirements in key aspects of the contract.” Farrell added.
Alongside successful completion of the main contract, MAN has also kept pace with significant UOR demands from the MOD, with the final armour kit being delivered early in 2012. MAN is also working with the MOD on a project to explore the possibility of converting existing HX77 Cargo vehicles to HX77 EPLS capability – as and when they prove affordable. The project is under active consideration, with MAN working on the technicalities of a single vehicle conversion trial.
Elsewhere, the performance of the MAN military team under its new Rhinemetall management has attracted the attention of Armed Forces around the world, with preferred bidder status awarded against the Australian Land 12 requirement and bids submitted to meet Singapore and Scandinavian requirements. Meanwhile a submission for the Canadians MSVS requirement is expected in the coming weeks. British Commonwealth countries in particular continue to take a keen interest in both vehicle and supplier performance.
MAN on Parade
MAN Truck & Bus UK Ltd displayed a significant range of trucks at DVD 2012, demonstrating its ‘strength-in-depth’ Support Vehicle line-up for current operations in Afghanistan and elsewhere.
Models from the MAN and Rheinmetall stables were present – many for ride and drive, and most with EGR ‘Add Nothing’ engine technology. Ride-and-drive vehicles included a range of 8×8 and 6×6 Improved Medium Mobility and a new short-wheel-base Medium Mobility 4×4.
Rheinmetall BOXER Command Vehicle
Weighing in at 32 tonnes, the Boxer armoured transport vehicle is a highly mobile, wheeled vehicle with state-of-the art protection, whose modular design offers a wide variety of mission-specific system versions. The BOXER’s key features include Protection, Payload, Performance and Modularity. The flexibility of the Modular design allows the BOXER to be easily adapted to a wide range mission requirements through the ‘click and drive’ concept. Specifications are:
– 8×8 Utility Vehicle
– Engine performance 530 kW
– Climate Zones A1 through to C3
– 360 degree traverse
– Air con and NBC protection
– RCWS 0.50 cal, 40mm AGL with partners
– Crew 2 + 3
– Gradient ability 60%
– Turret Elevation -10 to +45º
– Highest Protection level in class
– 8 tonne payload
The Rheinmetall AMPV Type 2A
This 4×4 Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle is an ultra-modern command and multi-purpose vehicle combining high mobility and best-possible protection, based on operational experience of the Bundeswehr. A self-supporting steel armour hull with composite armour provides best-in-class protection. Automatic transmission and automatic slip differential management ensures optimum handling and mobility in the field. A robust chassis with single-wheel suspension allows maximum mobility across all types of terrain. Specifications are:
– Crew