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11 Dec 23. On Tuesday 05 December a few invited companies took part in a closed event Light Mobility Showcase for UK MoD at Defence BattleLab in Dorset.
Formally announced by the UK MoD on 18 May 2022, the Defence BattleLab is a “hub designed to spark innovation and push the boundaries of technology used by UK Armed Forces”. Part of the government National Strategic Technology and Innovation Exchange (NSTIx) programme, located at Dorset Innovation Park, BattleLab is a joint venture between UK Ministry of Defence, Dorset Council and Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership.
In mid-November the organiser of last week’s Light Mobility Showcase announced via social media: “We are a running a closed event for UK MoD at Battlelab to showcase innovation and product development in the Light Utility Vehicle space, up to 6500kgs GVW. A superb line-up of companies are attending with an array of 4×4 & 6×6 LUV, all converted for specialist and general utility roles. In addition there are hybrids Quads / Side-by-Side and E-Bikes Together they tell different parts of the same connected story.” [LUV = Light Utility Vehicles]
After hearing other parties interested in attending the showcase to present their potential Light Mobility / GSUP solutions to UK MoD had been informed access was ‘By Invitation Only’ and as such they could not attend, curious specialist defence media contacted a representative of the organisers who, the evening after the event was over, provided this response: “It was a closed event to MoD, we promised them no industry and no press. That is how we got such good attendance and very few people outside of MoD / DSTL / QinetiQ got wind of it. The cat is out of the bag on what we are doing to prepare for GSUP / LMV and it is down to the partners we are now working with to push that message out.”
In response to a subsequent enquiry from JOINT-FORCES asking who “we are doing to prepare” referred to and if a consortium had been formed, the simple one-line response received was “ProSpeed with others.” Fortunately, however, both MoD personnel and company employees in attendance subsequently publicly posted about the Light Mobility Showcase and from simple research we have been able to glean clues as to a few of the partners aligning themselves:-
- ProSpeed: Yorkshire company ProSpeed Motorsport Limited is best known for producing after-market roof racks and accessories for Land Rover Defender and Discovery models and the Toyota Hilux, but has also developed the HILOAD 6×6 conversion to increase the payload of the Toyota Hilux; they exhibited a Double Cab 6×6 Hilux prototype at the Light Mobility Showcase.
- Babcock Land: The Land division of Babcock International displayed three of their GLV (General Logistic Vehicle) conversions of the Toyota Land Cruiser LC70, which on the company website they claim is “replacing the Land Rover Defender” and “builds upon the characteristics, performance, and core architecture of the iconic military Land Rover”; in addition to a five-door hard top version, as unveiled at DSEI 2023, they also exhibited four-door double cab (with ring mount over rear load bed) pickup and two-door pickup versions at the Light Mobility Showcase.
- ACS: German conversion specialists ACS (Armoured Car Systems GmbH) who are probably best known for their ENOK range of in-service Light Armoured Patrol Vehicle conversions, presented a lightweight open-topped rapid response vehicle based on a Mercedes-Benz G-class at the Light Mobility Showcase; the upper framework of this vehicle is reasonably similar to the in-service Defender 110 WMIK and could be adapted for the Toyota-based Babcock GLV.
- Electric Motion UK: EM UK, the British distributor of the French Electric Motion bike range, displayed two of their electric-powered off-road cycles at the Light Mobility Showcase.
It is also understood that Babcock presented an armoured Toyota Land Cruiser with ECM suite outside the building and it has been mentioned that a hydrogen-powered INEOS Grenadier was present, though we have not yet been able to confirm the latter.
We feel sure our readership would have been very interested to see what at least one segment of industry is proposing as potential replacements for the lighter end of the UK Forces’ ageing light and medium utility vehicle fleet, the OSD (Out of Service Dates) of which cannot really be extended very much further, but regrettably these days opportunities to provide independent first-hand reportage seem to be exceedingly rare.
06 Dec 23. The consortium between Arquus and Nexter, a company of KNDS; and the Organisation for Joint Armaments Cooperation (OCCAR) have signed the pre-design contract for the VBAE (Véhicule Blindé d’Aide à l’Engagement).
OCCAR, the European intergovernmental procurement agency responsible for cooperative defence contracts management, has been entrusted with setting up and managing the programme. This signing marks the first step towards converging of the operational requirements and architecture of this future armoured vehicle, whose development and production are expected within the French and Belgian armies as of 2030.
The VBAE is the result of a close collaboration between industry, OCCAR and the customer nations in order to replace, for France, the VBL (Light Armoured Vehicle) which is in service within the French forces since the late 1980s. For Belgium, the VBAE represents an additional step in the development of its motorised capacity by reinforcing its reconnaissance and command and control capabilities. The VBAE will be a versatile system suitable for many types of missions. A strong emphasis will be place on essential performances of mobility, stealth, protection, and fire function. It will combine compactness and optimised payload capacity.
The project’s realisation will be ensured by the Consortium consisting of the lead contractor Arquus and its co-contractor Nexter, which will subcontract some of its activities to the Belgian company John Cockerill Defense (JCD). This partnership, initiated from the pre-design phase, marks the desire for Franco-Belgian industrial cooperation on a major armaments programme.
The VBAE programme is perfectly consistent with the FAMOUS project sustained by the European Defence Fund (EDF) financed by the European Commission. FAMOUS (Future highly mobile Augmented ArMOUred Systems) covers the development of innovative technological blocks common to future European armoured vehicles. Arquus, Nexter, and JCD are major partners in this FAMOUS project.
The launch of the VBAE project marks the advent of an ambitious and innovative cooperation. The Arquus, Nexter and JCD teams are fully committed and confident in the success of this undertaking/project. (Source: www.joint-forcescom)
07 Dec 23. Launching of Pre-Design Phase of Véhicule Blindé d’Aide À l’Engagement (VBAE) Programme with Signature of VBAE Contract. OCCAR, the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation, has signed with Arquus, and Nexter, a KNDS company, the VBAE contract on behalf of the OCCAR VBAE Participating States Belgium and France. The VBAE Programme stems from the need of the French and Belgian armies for a modern, innovative light armoured vehicle, fully integrated into the battlefield information system and offering a high added value in terms of reconnaissance and combat. The VBAE Programme covers the preparation and definition phase anticipating further development, production and ISS contract in the near future. The overall value of this first phase is 15m € and it will last approximately two years. The VBAE Programme takes advantage from studies performed in the frame of European projects, such as EDIDP FAMOUS and EDF FAMOUS II, in which Arquus and Nexter are part of the beneficiaries. The Belgian company John Cockerill Defense (JCD), also member of the FAMOUS consortium, will be a major sub-contractor. (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ OCCAR;)
07 Dec 23. Russian MFA Questions Deal Between France, Armenia on Bastion Armored Vehicles. The Bastion armored vehicles that France will supply to Armenia will not help Yerevan, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing.
“As for France and these Bastion armored vehicles – they are illiquid. This is obvious even from the situation unfolding in the context of the special military operation, I commented on this in detail at the briefing on November 22,” she said.
“By the way, if a lot of mass communication and information media, close to the current authorities in Armenia, would not twist this information and would not engage in anti-journalistic activities, but would give an opportunity to the people of their country to see the quotes and the direct speech, it would be clearer that, unfortunately, the people of Armenia are being misinformed by the West. Why misinformed? Because this hodgepodge of military equipment produced by different countries has never contributed to improving defense capabilities. This is clear,” Zakharova added.
The diplomat also commented on the statement of the republic’s Deputy Defense Minister Hrachya Sargsyan that Armenia is not going to sue Russia for not receiving purchased weapons, as the two countries should work the problem out together. “Now regarding that statement of the Armenian Defense Ministry that you quoted about the need to solve problems in concert, we can only welcome this. As [we] understand, the Russian Defense Ministry has a similar mindset,” she said.
France will supply Armenia with a total of 50 Bastion armored vehicles manufactured by the Arquus company, while keeping the door open for a deal to supply Caesar artillery systems, the Armenian state news agency Armenpress reported earlier, citing an internal document from the French Senate. According to the agency, 24 armored vehicles have already been delivered to Armenia, 26 more are being produced and will be delivered later. (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/TASS;)
07 Dec 23. First Bradley M2A2 Infantry Fighting Vehicles Arrive in Croatia. The Procurement of Bradley Armored Vehicles is a Continuation of the Strategic Partnership between Croatia and the USA. Today, December 6, 2023, the first 22 of a total of 89 American Bradley M2A2 ODS infantry armored vehicles arrived in Rijeka as part of the procurement for the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia. This further strengthens the capabilities of the Croatian Army and increases Croatia’s contribution to the collective security of NATO allies, and the Croatian Army is offered even greater opportunities for training and partnership with the Armed Forces of the United States of America.
Bringing the armored vehicles to operationally correct condition will take place at the company auro lakovi Special Vehicles in Slavonski Brod, and the goal is to have all of them completed and brought to operational condition by 2026.
“The acquisition of the Bradley is a confirmation of continuous investment in the strengthening of all components of the Croatian Army. Through strategic partnership and cooperation with the USA, we are equipping the Croatian Army to be even more ready to fulfill its tasks, taking into account contemporary defense and security challenges. The government has ensured the growth of the defense budget, which has doubled in the past seven years and today exceeds one bn euros. We continue to improve the status and material rights of Croatian soldiers and invest in the equipment and modernization of the Croatian Army”, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovi said.
The Minnesota National Guard, with which cooperation has been ongoing for 26 years, will assist the Croatian Army in introducing Bradley armored vehicles into operational use, through the State Partnership Program (SPP), thereby further deepening the defense cooperation that remains the cornerstone of bilateral relations between the US and Croatia.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Ivan Anuši pointed out that the arrival of Bradley in the Republic of Croatia testifies to the successful dynamics of the implementation of the most important projects of equipping and modernizing the Croatian Army, i.e. the Croatian Army, and at the same time confirms the strength of the strategic partnership between the Republic of Croatia and the United States of America.
“Tomorrow, at the Government session, we will present the “Framework for defense cooperation between the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Croatia and the Ministry of Defense of the United States of America from 2023 to 2028″, which directs the relations of the two countries towards strengthening and deepening defense cooperation. In this sense, Bradleys will significantly contribute to strengthening the overall combat power and readiness of our Armed Forces. I am proud that part of the technique of the largest branch of the Croatian Army is becoming a tool that forms the backbone of American armored and mechanized units. I believe that Croatian soldiers with this powerful tool will be an even stronger guarantor of the peace and security of our Homeland and beyond,” said Minister Anuši?. (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Croatia Republic Ministry of Defence)
06 Dec 23. Jankel, a world-leader in the design and manufacture of high-specification defence, security and NGO protection systems, has announced the formal product launch of their new armoured Toyota Land Cruiser LC300 vehicle. Jankel is an exceedingly well-established supplier in the world of Civilian Armoured Vehicles (CAVs) and this new armoured variant of the latest Toyota Land Cruiser 300 model is claimed to be a “best in class” product.
Delivering unprecedented levels of protection, functionality and reliability based upon many years of user feedback, the new Jankel LC300 is already being sought after by a multitude of global defence ministries and Non-Government Organisations (NGO’s).
Having qualified the LC300 to the latest edition 3 of the international VPAM BRV and ERV (VR7) standards, Jankel has invested to ensure the developed platform provides the very best protection to its UK home market customers and maximises its export potential to the wider international user groups. Jankel is proud to be the very first to certify their VR7 vehicle with a 2m side blast in accordance with Edition 3 which uses biofidelic dummies to understand the true impacts to the vehicle occupants. The Jankel LC300 has been designed with a bolt in armour solution, electric systems modularity, and unique patented technologies to provide customers with a 10-year service life.
The formal product launch comes as a comprehensive development programme draws to a close. Understanding the requirement to deliver a future-proofed design from the outset inclusive of customer options, Jankel has taken time to develop and test their design with key differentiators, not wishing to rush to enter the market until absolutely ready to do so. As a result, Jankel’s new LC300 delivers ‘best in class’ protection, safety, capability and functionality including a protection certified for a third row of seats, allowing for 7 people.
Andrew Jankel, Chairman at Jankel Group said: “I’m very proud to be able to formally launch our new LC300 – it’s an exciting product that I have every confidence will meet our customers ever growing needs and expectations. Our development and testing programme has been careful, exacting and supremely comprehensive, delivering a vehicle that benefits from many years of user feedback leading to detailed and innovative product design. We have not rushed this, we’ve taken our time to get it absolutely right and provide a long lasting differentiated product offering”. He added: “As well as the more obvious targets of compliance, protection and safety, our new product is also very focused on through-life reliability and maintainability – essential for fleet managers and operators across the globe. We’ve not just aimed at passing the international standard protection tests, we’ve reached beyond that to enhance the overall performance and operability in every way possible. Our combination of production price and service life offer excellent value for money. I’m very pleased indeed with the team’s efforts and obvious results as we now present our new LC300 to the global markets”.
06 Dec 23. Airbus and BMW Group launch Quantum Computing Competition to tackle their most pressing mobility challenges
Submissions from students, researchers and professional experts in Quantum Technologies are welcomed through April 30, 2024
Airbus and BMW Group launch a global Quantum Computing Challenge entitled “The Quantum Mobility Quest” to tackle the most pressing challenges in aviation and automotive that have remained insurmountable for classical computers.
This challenge is the first-of-its-kind, bringing together two global industry leaders to harness quantum technologies for real-world industrial applications, unlocking the potential to forge more efficient, sustainable and safer solutions for the future of transportation.
“This is the perfect time to shine a spotlight on quantum technology and its potential impact on our society. Partnering with an industry leader like BMW Group enables us to mature the technology as we need to bridge the gap between scientific exploration and its potential applications. We’re seeking the best-in-class students, PhDs, academics, researchers, start-ups, companies, or professionals in the field, worldwide to join our challenge to create a massive paradigm shift in the way aircraft are built and flown.” Says Isabell Gradert, Vice President Central Research and Technology at Airbus.
“Following the success of previous editions of Quantum Computing Challenges by BMW Group and Airbus, we are gearing up for a new wave of innovation, exploring the technology capabilities for sustainability and operational excellence.” Said Dr. Peter Lehnert, Vice-President, Research Technologies at BMW Group. “The BMW Group is clearly aiming at positioning itself at the crossroads of quantum technology, the global ecosystem, and cutting-edge solutions. By doing so, we strongly believe in major advances when it comes to sustainable materials for batteries and fuel cells, to generate unique and efficient designs, or to enhance the overall user experience in the BMW Group Products”.
Quantum computing has the potential to significantly enhance computational power and to enable the most complex operations that challenge even today’s best computers. In particular, for data-driven industries like the transportation sector, this emerging technology could play a crucial role in simulating various industrial and operational processes, opening up opportunities to shape future mobility products and services.
Challenge candidates are invited to select one or more problem statements: improved aerodynamics design with quantum solvers, future automated mobility with quantum machine learning, more sustainable supply chain with quantum ptimization, and enhanced corrosion inhibition with quantum simulation. Additionally, candidates can put forward their own quantum technologies with the potential to develop native apps yet to be explored in the transportation sector.
The challenge Is hosted by The Quantum Insider (TQI) and divided Into two parts, a four-month phase where participants will develop a theoretical framework for one of the given statements, and a second phase during which selected finalists will implement and benchmark their solutions. Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides candidates with an opportunity to run their algorithms on the cloud quantum computing service.
A jury composed of world-leading quantum experts will team up with experts from Airbus, BMW Group, and AWS to evaluate submitted proposals and award one winning-team with a €30,000 prize in each of the five challenges, by the end of 2024.
Registration opens today, and submissions will be accepted from mid-January through April 30, 2024 here: www.thequantuminsider.com/quantum-challenge.
06 Dec 23. Not just 155mm: US Army says it needs supplemental funds to shore up combat vehicle fleets.
The service has sent hundreds of ground combat vehicles to Ukraine since February 2022, and Maj. Gen. Glenn Dean warned that “sustainment challenges” abound without additional dollars.
US Army leaders have publicly clamored for lawmakers to pass the stalled supplemental spending bill, in part, to ramp up artillery production lines. But two senior service officials told Breaking Defense they need the money for another critical task: backfilling US stocks of ground combat vehicles.
“There’s definitely a little bit of a [funding] backlog there that we want to catch up on,” Army acquisition chief Doug Bush told Breaking Defense Dec. 2 on the sidelines of the Reagan National Defense Forum. The service needs those extra dollars, he added, in order to get replacement vehicles on contract.
The money would also help Ukrainian forces, who received fleets of ground combat vehicles from US stocks, to maintain and repair the ones they’re sending into battle, according to Maj. Gen. Glenn Dean, the Army’s Program Executive Officer for Ground Combat Systems.
When the White House sent Congress a $105 bn supplemental budget request in October to cover military investments for Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific, it included $18 bn [PDF], in part, to replace defense articles taken from US stocks and cover defense services. Part of those dollars are aligned to help the Army replace some of the Bradley Fighting Vehicles, Strykers and Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) already sent to Kyiv.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February 2022, Washington has sent Kyiv $44.2bn in military assistance to include an array of combat vehicles according to a Nov. 20 release
* 186 Bradleys
* four Bradley Fire Support Team vehicles
* 189 Strykers
* 300 M113 armored personnel carriers
* 250 M1117 armored security vehicles
A chunk of those vehicles came from existing Army stocks as part of presidential drawdown packages, and contracts have already been issued for either one-to-one replacements or a newer variant. In the case of legacy vehicles, like the M113 armored personnel carrier, the Army is opting to refill its stocks with a newer vehicle (i.e., the AMPV).
However, the service has not been able to get all those combat vehicle replacements on contract yet and will need an undisclosed potion of that $18bn supplemental pot. Dean said that the entire process is a bit fluid.
“There is equipment that has been provided to Ukraine that has not yet been resourced for replacement,” he told Breaking Defense during a Dec. 1 interview.
“Equipment is promised, for example, under a presidential drawdown directive [but] we are not allowed to request replacement until that equipment has physically been handed off to the Ukrainians,” Dean later added.
US stocks aside, the two-star general said supplemental dollars are also crucial for ensuring that the Army can continue delivering combat vehicle spare parts to Ukraine and keep the right people in place to fill those orders.
“There are people who work that process on the US side. It’s kind of a long, convoluted activity associated with reimbursing them for the work they do with Ukrainian-provided funds,” Dean added. “So, we can run into some sustainment challenges.”
Ground combat vehicle stock concerns are just one area to note as lawmakers decide the fate of the supplemental spending bill, a measure that some House GOP members have helped stall over concerns about the Ukraine-Russia war and a call to include additional dollars US southern border security.
For their part, Biden administration officials aren’t waiting to see how this shakes out and instead taking the dispute public. Last weekend, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that halting financial support for Ukraine will hinder national security and the United States’ standing with allies and partners.
Then on Monday, Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young sent top lawmakers a public letter warning if they don’t act now, funds for Ukraine will run out by the end of the month, “kneecap Ukraine on the battlefield” and hurt the US defense industrial base, including tactical vehicle and munition lines.
On Tuesday Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters roughly $4.8 bn remains in “restored” presidential drawdown authority (i.e., the authority to pull from US weapons stocks), and only $1.1 bn in place to backfill what is pulled.
(Source: Breaking Defense.com)
06 Dec 23. Otokar aims to grow with technology transfer and local manufacturing opportunities in Latin America. Otokar(BIST: OTKAR), Turkey’s global land systems manufacturer participates in Expodefensa 2023, the headline Latin American defense and security exhibition, between December 05-07, in Bogota, Colombia. During the three-day exhibition, Otokar will showcase its own design and production of armored military vehicles family along with its turret systems. Visitors will also be informed about Otokar’s distinctive capabilities in land systems such as expertise in technology transfer and local manufacturing.
Highlighting that Otokar is a listed NATO and United Nations supplier, General Manager Serdar Görgüç, said, “Today, nearly 33 thousand Otokar military vehicles are actively in service in more than 40 countries and nearly 60 end users in different climates and geographies around the world. Penetrating Latin American market is one of our top priorities. Therefore, Expodefensa is exceptionally important for Otokar in order to meet our current and potential customers and develop further and deeper relationships. Expodefensa is also an important event for establishing industrial cooperation opportunities in order to create local added value operations in the entire region where Otokar has a well-established and proven track record.”
Stating that Otokar is among the global players in defense industry Görgüç continued: “Otokar continuously strengthens its position in the international defense industry. We stand out with our ability to respond quickly to ever-changing requirements and needs of end users thanks to our design, test, and manufacturing capabilities. In the last decade, we had allocated 7% of our revenue for our R&D and testing activities. We reflect the experiences we gain in different climates and geographies around the world on our vehicle development activities. We analyze different needs and expectations of our users, simulate these requirements in house and develop solutions that meet these requirements in the fastest manner thanks to our excellence in R&D, engineering and testing.”
Otokar Wheeled Armored Vehicles
Otokar stands apart with its expertise in the design, development and system integration of all kinds of vehicles and platforms in the field of land vehicles for the defense industry. Otokar designs and manufactures a wide range of tactical armored vehicles including 4×4 COBRA, COBRA II, COBRA II- MRAP, AKREP II, URAL, ISV, ARMA 6×6, ARMA 8×8, and ARMA II 8×8. Otokar products are recognized for their survivability, superior mobility and modularity. Otokar’s combat proven wheeled vehicles serve in challenging terrain and extreme weather conditions, and demonstrated their performance in various operations.
Otokar Tracked Armored Vehicles
Otokar’s TULPAR tracked armored vehicle family is designed as a multi-purpose vehicle platform with its significant ballistic and mine protection and high payload capacity to meet the requirements of modern armed forces for all types of missions in the battlefield. TULPAR’s high power to weight ratio, all-terrain high-performance suspension and automatic track tensioning system offer superior mobility in diverse terrain and climatic conditions. TULPAR Medium Tank which is a part of the family is integrated with 105 mm weapon system and provides a state-of-the-art solution with high firepower.
04 Dec 23. Project Zeus: future of test and evaluation of autonomous systems. Industry and MOD recently teamed up to develop a future capability operating concept for the test and evaluation of autonomous military systems. The new approach – which is part of a much broader transformation programme for Ministry of Defence (MOD) test and evaluation (T&E) – blended live and synthetic evaluation techniques for the assurance of autonomous systems. Taking place at Radnor Range in Wales in October 2023, the demonstration successfully showed how a synthetic, multi-layered representation of a live range could be combined to generate evidence that is validated in live environments.
Radnor Range Ltd managed the collaboration of 10 specialised small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) working collectively as ‘Project Zeus’; together they presented a new fast and effective approach for the test and evaluation of autonomous systems. The group comprised:
- Ansys
- A-Tech SYN
- Atmosoar
- EES Solutions
- FlareBright
- GemaSecure
- IDV Robotics
- Nexus
- Risk Reasoning
- Cambridge Sensoriis
The investigation performed by Project Zeus both identified the capability requirements for a future enduring autonomy test bed and delivered a practical live demonstration.
The live demonstration took place on behalf of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) over 3 days. It showed how a test bed capability might be created to evaluate uncrewed systems (including those with AI) in challenging scenarios and environments that considered the effects of global navigation satellite systems, weather conditions and terrain.
The demonstration illustrated how existing models and simulation can be federated, securely, within a synthetic range environment to provide assurance and evaluation evidence that could be validated through live trials.
Main successes of the demonstration include:
- rapid federation of MOD’s Test Bench (T-MASS) with existing system models
- generation and deployment of a multi-layered synthetic range environment for test and evaluation
- collaborative working within a test and evaluation environment, which encouraged enhancements to existing technology (as demonstrated by the increase in the radar and radio frequency (RF) sensing ranges)
The new approach is agile, adaptable and scalable. It can be used throughout the life-cycle of a capability, from the very first concept through to acceptance in service – as well as whilst in-service and even at end of life disposal. This should permit the latest autonomous technology to reach the hands of the military user faster.
Jarrod Cornforth, Dstl’s technical lead for the project, said:
The work demonstrated how autonomous systems T&E being integrated earlier in system development could enable quick delivery to the front line. The blended approach, of live range with a synthetic environment, enhances the system under test and delivers better capability.
By sharing knowledge and data, such as allowing industry partners’ access to our specialist Transportable Modelling and Simulation System (T-MASS) software, we were able to build collaboration and achieve our shared goal.
Gary Burton, Operations Director, Radnor Range, said: “Not only have we developed a new model for autonomous T&E, but also, through collaboration, we have demonstrated new autonomous systems capabilities.
We’ve achieved both technical and project success by involving the entire defence innovation chain and encouraging intuitive creativity through a flatter project structure whilst increasing a flow of cross communications between all parties. In an age of rapidly advancing technology, we need to find new ways of working to meet military capability needs.”
Project Zeus was funded by the MOD’s Test and Evaluation Transformation Programme. This programme is helping defence adopt new digital and deployable techniques, alongside increasingly capable live test ranges to assure and optimise military systems for the battlefield. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
04 Dec 23. Bulgarian Parliament OKs $1.2bn Purchase of Stryker Armored Vehicles. Minister Todor Tagarev: The Ground Forces Have Waited 35 Years for New Combat Vehicles. The Bulgarian National Assembly today, December 1, ratified the International Agreement (LOA) for the procurement of Stryker combat vehicles with 148 votes in favor, 54 against and 5 abstentions.
Defense Minister Todor Tagarev thanked the people’s representatives who supported the Investment Expenditure Project and the ratification of the contract. “Today you will hold a small celebration for the Ground Forces, who have been waiting for a new combat vehicle for more than 35 years,” he addressed the deputies.
The contract was drawn up in accordance with the requirements of the American military sales legislation under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program, which regulates the acquisition of American military equipment and technology.
During the debate, Minister Tagarev explained that the US government works in this way with over 60 countries in the world, in other words, almost the entire democratic world. He said that the contract, which is the first of the series of contracts under the Investment Expenditure Project, has specified quantities and terms and that it provides for significant industrial participation.
“We expect this to lead to a significant industrial effect not only in the execution of the contract for the supply of the vehicles, but also for their subsequent maintenance. As a result of this contract, we will provide work for decades to come,” emphasized Minister Tagarev.
Payments should be completed before the delivery of the last vehicles and specified that within this framework our country has chosen and agreed on the best option, taking into account the possibilities for annual payments and other expenses from the budget of the Ministry of Defense. (Unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com)(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Bulgarian Ministry of Defence; issued Dec. 01, 2023)
04 Dec 23. Delays in the Delivery of Modernized PUMA Infantry Fighting Vehicles. The Ministry of Defense is currently having the industry modernize the PUMA infantry fighting vehicles. This retrofitting of the first lot to the latest design level involves extensive improvements.
The first converted combat vehicles for the army should have been accepted by the Bundeswehr by the end of 2023.
Due to necessary rework, particularly on the software, which, according to the industry, should be completed in February 2024, acceptance of these first vehicles will be postponed to the end of February 2024.
The ministry, the Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and Use of the Bundeswehr (BAAINBw) and the Army are in close and constructive exchange with the industrial partners.
The essential requirements for testing, training and exercise projects are currently met. (Unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com)
(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ German Ministry of Defense; issued Nov. 3, 2023)
03 Dec 23. The recently publicised AM General CHIEFTAIN is described as being the US company’s newest Extreme Tactical Security Vehicle or ETSV. Promoted as part of AM General’s Partner Vehicles range, along with the Arquus BASTION armoured personnel carrier, the CHIEFTAIN is a four-person double cab pick-up truck with an armoured crew cell which the company claims is both ‘Special Operations Ready’ and ‘National Guard Ready’.
With a GVW of 5670kg and kerb weight of 4626kg, including 130 litres (34.5 US gallons) of fuel, this armoured cab truck offers a potential payload in excess of one metric tonne, though with four 95 percentile males on board wearing body armour and combat helmets available cargo load would reduce quite considerably. Illustrated with 7th Generation Toyota Hilux bodywork, CHIEFTAIN is powered by a 4.5 litre Cummins turbocharged diesel engine through a 6-speed Allison transmission offering either 4×4 or 4×2 drive in high range or 4×4 low range through a transfer box and it has locking differentials on both axles. According to company publicity material, the vehicle has upgraded engine, torque, and braking system which offer key advantages over typical COTS (commercial-off-the-shelf) solutions. The company also states: “With nearly a decade of combat use, the proven chassis and armoured cell offer versatile, reliable design at the lowest sustainment cost in its class”.
Additional features include a heavy weapon pintle point, six light machine gun pintle points and internal personal weapon stowage. CHIEFTAIN is also pre-wired for five radios, ECM systems, and a FLIR tower. No dimensions are indicated but the company claims the vehicle has aggressive angles of approach and departure plus a high level of off-road capability. Validated operating temperature range is said to be from -32°C to +57.7°C. (Source: www.joint-forcescom)
01 Dec 23. Israel looks set to become latest JLTV operator. The US-designed Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) is used as a utility platform by operators. Israel looks set to become one of the latest operators of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), following details released during a contract modification by the US Department of Defense (DoD) of a $28.9m (NIS108m) deal for JLTV manufacture, parts, and services.
In the 30 November announcement, the DoD listed Israel under Fiscal 2023 Foreign Military Sales, along with the US Army, as procurement sources. The US Army was tasked with funding the entire $28.9m modification.
Reports in mid-November from Israel defence news outlet Israel Defense, citing Bloomberg, detailed that the US would provide JLTVs, among other equipment, to Israel.
In November Oshkosh Defense, designer and one of the manufacturers of the JLTV, announced that it had been awarded a $160m deal for additional JLTV for international allies that included Mongolia, Romania, North Macedonia, Slovenia, and Slovakia.
Earlier that same month, Oshkosh Defense received a $208m order from the US Army for additional JLTVs, JLTV trailers, and associated kits. Since winning the initial JLTV contract in 2015, Oshkosh Defense has received orders for over 23,000 JLTVs for the US Armed Forces and “Nato, Allied and Coalition” partners, the company stated.
JLTV: competition within a competition
In Q1 this year, Oshkosh Defense were supplanted by fellow US military vehicle manufacturer AM General as the provider of JLTV A2 designs to the US Army, subsequently awarded a $4.6bn contract for the delivery of the platform.
The two companies have a recent competitive history, with Oshkosh Defense’s JLTV selected as the replacement for AM General’s original HUMVEE vehicle, which became ubiquitous across the US military.
The Oshkosh JLTV is being offered in four variants, including a utility vehicle with two doors, a general-purpose vehicle, a weapon carrier for combat requirements, and a heavy guns carrier vehicle.
(Source: army-technology.com)
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