Sponsored by TEK Military Seating Limited
http://www.tekmilitaryseating.co.uk/
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25 Feb 22. Military multi-tool: Rheinmetall presents HX 8×8 high-mobility multipurpose excavator system with CSM Industry of Slovakia. In cooperation with the Slovak company CSM Industry, Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) has unveiled a new high-mobility multipurpose excavator vehicle based on the HX 8×8. The new variant derives from RMMV’s tried-and-tested family of logistic vehicles, which are in service worldwide. It carries an UDS 214 excavator build-on, a proven system made by the crane and excavator maker CSM based in Tisovec, Slovakia. The HX 8×8 Excavator is specially designed for combat engineer operations and disaster relief missions. Able to pivot 360 degrees, the build-on features an extendable telescopic arm that attains a length of up 14.60 metres. It can use various tools: besides the excavator shovel, a hook or hydraulic drum cutter are possible. This universally deployable device can lift loads of up to 7.5 tons and can thus serve as an auxiliary crane. If desired, the excavator operator’s cab can be protected in accordance with common STANAG levels and fitted with a ventilation system. Like RMMV’s entire HX family, the HX 8×8 is a military off-the-shelf vehicle designed to withstand the most gruelling military conditions, assuring excellent mobility even in the toughest terrain. When ready to operate, the basic version of the vehicle weighs 28 tons. Its MAN D2676 diesel engine generates an output of 387 kW or 540 hp, giving the HX 8×8 a top speed of 90 km/h. The vehicle can handle inclines of 60 percent and wade through water up to 1.5 metres deep. If desired, the HX 8×8 can be equipped with Rheinmetall’s protected Integrated Armoured Cabin (IAC) or prepared for its optional use. The vehicle can also be fitted with a remotely operated weapon station for self-defence. Belonging to the HX family – of which more than 16,000 vehicles are now in service worldwide – offers advantages with respect to maintenance, repairs and training. Numerous NATO nations already own HX family trucks, resulting in synergy effects particularly during multinational operations. The HX 8×8 Excavator is another example of Rheinmetall cooperation with European and other international partners. Nor is this limited to technical teamwork. By cooperating with Rheinmetall, CSM stands to benefit from access to new export markets. Moreover, the Düsseldorf-based technology enterprise offers Slovakia additional options for cooperating with local industry. One possibility would be the production of infantry fighting vehicles in the NATO country. This relates to an offer to Slovakia by Hungary to produce the state-of-the-art Lynx KF41 family of tracked armoured vehicles developed by Rheinmetall. The Lynx family is a compelling choice not only on account of its performance parameters. It also sets a new standard when it comes to defence cooperation between NATO member states and other partner nations. Hungary opted to procure the Lynx in 2021, with a large share of the vehicles to be manufactured in Hungary in cooperation with Rheinmetall. If neighbouring Slovakia, also a NATO member, choses the Lynx, a large share of its new fleet of vehicles would also be produced locally, meaning that it would benefit from far-reaching cooperation in the defence technology domain, resulting in greater value added as well as safeguarding and expanding the country’s defence technology capabilities.
24 Feb 22. Serco, BenchOn launch AIC portal. The companies have collaborated to develop the Serco Australian Industry Portal, developed to maximise Australian industry opportunities. Serco has confirmed that it has partnered with BenchOn to create a new AIC portal, utilising BenchOn’s automated supplier matching capabilities to greater enhance Australian industry opportunities and build a stronger sovereign supply chain. The new product, dubbed the Serco Australian Industry Portal, has been designed to enable the company to better utilise local Australian industry expertise.
“As a national employer, Serco has operations in every state and territory, allowing the company to draw from a diverse community of suppliers across the nation, supporting a myriad of differing product lines and people centric delivery tasks,” Clint Thomas, managing director at Serco Defence, said.
“Working with local industry is vital to our Australian operations, the delivery of world-class services to our customers, and responding to Australia’s defence capability needs.
“In addition to enabling Australian suppliers to express interest in joining our supply chain, engaging organisations like BenchOn is a key outcome of our Veteran Support Strategy – something that is extremely important to me as a former serviceman and to Serco as an organisation.
“We value the unique skills and experience that our veteran community possess and as a leading member of the Industry Advisory Committee (IAC) on Veterans’ Employment, supporting veteran-owned organisations is a natural evolution for Serco.
“Serco understands the core role of industry in delivering ADF Capability and the BenchOn portal will allow us to harness the full potential of Australian Industry, bringing local expertise to the forefront of our operations.”
Tim Walmsley, chief executive of BenchOn, explained that the new product would better support industry collaboration.
“Partnering with a leading brand such as Serco is a huge step towards our goal to make Australian industry connected, resilient and agile. The Serco Australian Industry Portal (AIP) will provide direct access for Australian businesses looking to work with Serco on their various programs while also connecting all businesses in the Serco supply chain to each other for greater opportunity and collaboration,” Walmsley explained.
“The live Business Intelligence dashboard is also an evolutionary step towards better AIC reporting and decision-making. Understanding, in real time, the depth of local industry capability, their local industry spend by business category and more will not only de-risk future Serco programs, but also promote greater local content and participation.
“We are excited to be working with Serco and look forward to seeing the benefits this portal will create not only for Defence, but all complementary industries that Serco works with.” (Source: Defence Connect)
23 Feb 22. Avalon Airport to host new armoured vehicle facility. The greater Geelong area has been selected as the site for a new $170m armoured vehicle manufacturing hub. Hanwha Defense Australia has announced plans to construct its specialist armoured vehicle manufacturing plant on a 20-hectare site at Avalon Airport in the Greater Geelong precinct, 60 kilometres west of Melbourne’s CBD. The plant has been designed with multiple assembly lines, a 1,500-metre test track, a deep-water test facility, and an obstacle course to test capability. The site will be leased from Linfox, an Australian-owned logistics and supply chain management company. The $170m project is scheduled to commence in the second quarter of 2022, spanning approximately two years. Construction of the new 32,000 square metre facility is tipped to generate an estimated 100 local jobs. Once completed, the plant is expected to house the manufacture of 30 AS9 self-propelled howitzers and 15 armoured ammunition resupply vehicles — referred to as the Huntsman family of vehicles — as part of Hanwha Defense Australia’s $900 million-$1.3bn LAND 8116 contract, awarded by the Commonwealth government in December. The facility may also support the production of up to 450 Redback infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) if Hanwha secures the $18-$21bn LAND 400 Phase 3 project.
“The selection of this site in a strategic growth corridor of Victoria is a very significant step in further establishing Hanwha’s defence business in this country,” Richard Cho, managing director of Hanwha Defense Australia, said. “We will build a modern facility here in Victoria to manufacture armoured vehicles and utilise the skilled and experienced workforce available to us in Geelong. (Source: Defence Connect)
23 Feb 22. Allison Transmission Grows Presence in Defense Forces Around the World. Allison’s focus on the global defense market delivers results. Allison Transmission, a leading designer and manufacturer of conventional and electrified vehicle propulsion solutions for tactical wheeled and tracked defense platforms, and medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles is achieving unprecedented growth in the global defense market. Both tracked and wheeled vehicle OEMs from Germany, South Korea, Turkey, France, Canada, Israel and the United States, powered by Allison transmissions, have won multiple defense contracts in 2021 across Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
“Teaming with global OEMs offers significant opportunities for our global defense business,” said Dana Pittard, Allison Transmission’s Vice President for Defense Programs. “Allison’s commitment to developing products based on customer needs, market demand and technical innovation, along with our ability to provide localized service and support via Allison’s network of more than 1,400 Authorized Dealers and Distributors world-wide is enabling our increased presence around the world.”
Allison is currently partnered with German-based Rheinmetall on multiple global platforms, including the Boxer multi-role armored vehicle, an industry leading wheeled infantry vehicle, achieving prominent wins in Germany, Australia, Lithuania and the U.K. For armored tracked vehicles, Rheinmetall’s advanced Lynx vehicle has outclassed legacy offerings having been competitively selected by Hungary, and advanced to final program selections in several countries, including the United States’ OMFV (Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle) program to replace the aging Bradley Fighting Vehicle. As a proud member of Team Lynx, Allison is developing the Next-Generation Electrified Transmission (NGET), an innovative and state-of-the-art electric-hybrid propulsion system for armored tracked vehicles. Allison also brings years of U.S. defense industry experience to this formidable team, while benefitting from the efforts and expertise of American Rheinmetall Vehicles, Raytheon, Textron, L3 Harris and a host of other industry leaders.
“Our relationships are as important as our products, being that OEMs and customers enter into a decades-long relationship with Allison when they select us to join their team,” said Jody Petery, Allison Transmission’s Director of International Defense Programs.
Allison’s relationship with Hanwha Defense of South Korea is another example of global OEMs producing world-wide sales. The K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzer is an extremely successful and advanced program which has been procured competitively in South Korea, Turkey, India, Norway, Poland, Australia, Finland, Egypt and Estonia with additional opportunities for sales in the U.K.
Allison and Turkish licensee HST Otomotiv’s efforts in Turkey with key OEMs, FNSS and Otokar have also yielded growth in both Turkish and export markets. Recent FNSS successes in the Kaplan-10 tracked and Pars 4×4 wheeled Weapons Carrier program; ZAHA Marine Assault Vehicle program; ACV-AD air defense platform serial production for Korkut and Hisar programs as well as in the Kaplan Medium Tank program highlight 2021 performance. Otokar has emerged as a key provider of wheeled and tracked vehicles and Allison and HST Otomotiv’s role as the Tulpar-S transmission provider marks both a significant growth program and enables future success in subsequent programs in Turkey. Additionally, FNSS and Otokar have also won wheeled and tracked vehicle export tenders globally. HST Otomotiv provides Turkish manufacturing of Allison tracked vehicle products growing Turkey’s defense capability while benefitting from Allison designs, quality standards and performance.
“Allison Transmission’s commitment to developing technically innovative products tailored to customer needs is evident in the reach these products are now establishing in the global market,” said Michael York, Allison Transmission’s Managing Director of Defense Engineering.
Beyond investment in advanced next generation propulsion systems, such as the NGET, Allison Transmission’s defense end market growth initiatives are also driven by the continued development of existing wheeled and tracked vehicle propulsion solutions. While product advancements often entail development centered on platform integration, Allison Transmission customers also benefit from coordinated evolution of core products and control systems.
Allison has been developing defense propulsion solutions that deliver in the toughest conditions since 1946. For fleets that are developing new wheeled or tracked vehicles, Allison can tailor a transmission specifically for that application. Allison engineers and manufactures reliable and fully customizable propulsion solutions, so customers experience reduced downtime and increased ability to accomplish objectives. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
23 Feb 22. Gripen support contract unaffordable. The latest support contract for the South African Air Force’s (SAAF’s) Gripen fighters that was offered by Saab is beyond the budget of the Air Force and Armscor is currently negotiating to reduce the price. In the meantime, the Gripen fleet remains grounded. This is according to Armscor, which provided an update on the status of the maintenance of the SAAF fleet in a presentation prepared for Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans. It stated that there is currently no product support contract for the Gripen and the type remains grounded.
“Armscor has been engaged with numerous contract negotiations. Due to changing SAAF requirements to suite the budget, the process is being restarted to ensure that the future contract will ensure operational aircraft.”
Armscor said it is of concern that the current SAAF budget allocation has been inadequate since the inception of the steady state support contract. Of general concern is that the aircraft are ageing and require midlife upgrades, which are currently unfunded. The Gripen also needs to be equipped with a beyond visual range missile to be an effective air superior aircraft, but this is unfunded as well. Of the 26 aircraft in the fleet, 13 are unserviceable; two are beyond economical repair; and 11 are in long-term storage. It emerged in December last year that the entire fleet was grounded due to a lack of maintenance and support contracts not being renewed. Negotiations between Saab, the SAAF and Armscor over the support contract have taken longer than expected, resulting in the continued grounding. Most of the SAAF’s other combat jets are not flying either. A product system support contract for the Hawk lead-in fighter-trainers is in place and remains valid until 30 August 2024 – this is with BAE Systems and is worth R250 million. However, the current funding provided by the SAAF is to maintain nine aircraft – additional funding will be required to maintain the full complement of 24 aircraft that was procured. Of the 24, 12 are in long-term storage, three are beyond economical repair, two are grounded and seven are operational. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
22 Feb 22. HUUVER Drone Rolls and Flies. The project HUUVER (Hybrid UAV-UGV for Efficient Relocation of Vessels) develops a prototype UAV-UGV platform that combines two types of propulsion systems. This patented technical solution activates flying and driving capabilities in one compact and highly integrated autonomous drone. Drones are fast taking over our skies, with potential that is yet to be fully explored. They are applied in various contexts, however, coming up against their limits when applied, for instance in difficult terrain or indoor contexts. The HUUVER drone uses the Galileo precise positioning and authentication service, providing great value for high-quality positioning, navigation and documentation purposes. For interfacing with an end-user, the HUUVER solution also includes a core management system with features like mission planning navigation, guidance and control as well as an end-user mobile application enabling mission demand and launch control. The HUUVER platform is currently tuned to be successful operated in professional missions for Search & Rescue, Patrolling & Monitoring and Industrial Intralogistics. Following the successful development and technical validation of the HUUVER prototype, the solution will be subjected for farther field-testing in the application areas concerned, according to specific NSTS-02 EU category operations. Main aim of these tests is to proof operational abilities of HUUVER in both: flight and drive scenarios. For the Search & Rescue use case, HUUVER is deployed to locate missing persons in different challenging terrain settings as both a complementary and primary search solution in addition to human foot patrols. The Patrolling & Monitoring use case will be piloted also in the industrial sites and in high-security utility contexts. HUUVER is a co-funded Innovation Action under the topic “SPACE-EGNSS-2-2019-2020 – EGNSS Applications Fostering Digitisation”. The project team comprises seven organizations from five EU member states: Cervi Robotics (Dronehub group) (Poland), RECTANGLE (Poland), LUT University (Finland), everis (Spain), GINA Software (Czech Republic), BLADESCAPE (Austria) and Brimatech Services (Austria). The project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 870236. (Source: UAS VISION)
21 Feb 22. CMV-22B passes IOC milestone as first CVN deployment completes. The US Navy’s (USN’s) CMV-22B Osprey carrier onboard delivery (COD) aircraft achieved initial operational capability (IOC) following completion of the type’s first operational deployment as part of the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group (CSG), the USN confirmed on18 February. With the IOC confirmation, the USN is acknowledging the platform’s operational readiness. An initial USN declaration of IOC had occurred on 14 December 2021, aligning with the scheduled first-quarter fiscal year requirement. Selected in 2015 as a replacement for the USN’s legacy C-2A Greyhound COD aircraft, the CMV-22B is a variant of the Bell-Boeing MV-22 tiltrotor incorporating adaptations for the COD mission. Specific changes include: aft/forward external conformal fuel tanks on wings and sponsons for increased range, a public address system for use while transporting passengers, a fuel jettison capability, cargo bay and loading ramp lighting, and secure beyond-line-of-sight communications with a high frequency radio. (Source: Janes)
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TEK Military Seating Limited
TEK Military Seating Limited is a UK based designer and manufacturer of ProTEK military vehicle seating which offer the highest standards of safety and protection. The ProTEK brand is well respected across the globe for its robust construction, innovative design, built in modularity and cost effectiveness. Our superior products are supported by our experienced team who endeavor to offer unrivalled service to our customers from enquiry, through design and acceptance, to through life support.
From its inception ProTEK seats have been designed around a family of innovative seat frames onto which tested and certified modules can be fitted to create a bespoke solution for the user. These include Blast protection to Stanag 4569 standards, vibration reduction, head and body protection, seat risers and turntables, fore & aft adjustment, and seat back rake along with viable seat dimensions without the need for additional tooling costs.
Contact: David Parkman
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