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03 May 24. Armscor issues 6×6 Land Cruiser tender for Special Forces.
Armscor has issued a tender for the development of modified 6×6 Land Cruiser vehicles for the South African Special Forces to enhance their firepower during operational deployments.
The bid, EWSD/2024/18, for ‘Multi-Platform Vehicle (Procurement of Automatic 6×6 Toyota Land Cruiser)’ was issued on 30 April and has a closing date of 14 May. It was originally issued (as tender ESPD/2023/91) on 4 December 2023, with a closing date of 26 January 2024 and testing of vehicles at Gerotek scheduled for February, but was subsequently cancelled and reissued.
According to the latest tender document, Armscor is seeking “fixed cost for a Toyota Land Cruiser Single Cab converted to 6×6 with automatic transmission, fitted with front Bull Bar and rear flatbed load carrier capable of carrying 3.5 tons. Appropriate tie-down points must be fitted to the rear flatbed load carrier.”
Technical requirements include an automatic transmission; differential locks on each axle; ability to switch from 6×2, 6×4 and 6×6 modes; ground clearance of at least 235 mm; non-pneumatic suspension; and standard Toyota Land Cruiser V8 diesel engine. The vehicle will need to make use of new parts and not used or remanufactured items.
The modified vehicle should preferably be delivered on or before 31 July 2024, and testing and qualification is to completed on or before 30 August 2024.
Armscor specified that the request for bids (RFB) “is to place two orders with different bidders (one order per successful bidder for a maximum of two orders) to conduct OT&E [operational testing and evaluation] before progressing to further development phases.”
A separate request for bids will be issued following testing and evaluation, for the accepted/preferred platform to be integrated with an armoured cab and user-specific rear platform.
Then, Armscor will issue a bid for the procurement of 26 complete vehicle systems. “This phase will involve manufacture in accordance to the baseline approved for preceding phases, for the preferred platform. Including integration of the user specific rear platform variants in support of the operational system.”
The purpose of the 6×6 bid is to place two orders with different bidders (one order per successful bidder for a maximum of two orders) to conduct testing and evaluation before progressing to further development phases. “In the event more than two bidders comply to all critical criteria, then the preference points system will apply and the top two will be selected.”
If only one bidder complies with all criteria, then only one order will be placed with the successful bidder.
Operational testing and evaluation “is subject to test conditions specified for Gerotek evaluation.” This will include rollover angle evaluation, side slop verification, step climb capability, incline capability, overcoming suspension track obstacles, and sand trail testing.
The bidder should be able to support the modified Land Cruisers for at least ten years and provide the necessary spares.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is already a big user of Land Cruisers, particularly for border patrols. The Special Forces several years ago took delivery of modified Land Cruisers fitted with armoured cabs and weapons platforms on the back – notably ZU-23-2 cannons. These were supplied by SVI, which has also developed a 6×6 Land Cruiser and will most likely compete with Armormax Defence for the new Armscor tender, as Armormax also offers a modified 6×6 Land Cruiser (TAC-6) that can be armoured.
In February, SVI delivered two 4×4 and four six-wheeled Max 3 armoured vehicles to the SANDF. They were fitted with armour and modified cabs on their load beds. The Max 3 is based on the proven Land Cruiser 79 chassis. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
02 May 24. Mobile EV Charging Solutions for Defense Sector. Solus Power is designing a cutting-edge mobile electric vehicle (EV) solution for fleet charging and infrastructure, working alongside QinetiQ to offer sustainable energy applications in the global defense and security industries. Innovators of electric vehicle (EV) charging, Solus Power is working with global defense and security company QinetiQ to advance EV solutions for fleet charging and infrastructure.
Solus Power is developing a cutting-edge mobile EV charging solution centered around modular, stackable and easily transported power units, each of which is the size of an attaché case and can be easily deployed and shared between users.
In parallel, QinetiQ has been working with operators in the defense and security industry to understand the challenges, threats and opportunities posed by climate change. One such challenge is how to flexibly charge EVs across diverse locations and infrastructural settings, in some aspects mirroring challenges experienced in high demand civilian applications such as airport parking, car hire management and the general operation of car parks.
The collaboration between the two companies sees QinetiQ supporting Solus Power to understand the needs of defense and security customers globally, in addition to providing their expertise in power sources and electrification. Through the companies’ signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the strategic partnership also aims to meet the specific needs of the Ministry of Defence (MOD).
Solus Power assert that the collaboration underscores QinetiQ’s ongoing efforts to partner with SMEs and academic institutions to tackle pressing user challenges, including those related to climate change and energy transformation. The focus on mobile EV charging highlights the evolving landscape of defense and security infrastructure, recognizing the importance of sustainable and adaptable energy solutions.
Solus Power CEO, Stas Leonidou, commented; “Solus welcomes the opportunity recognised in this MOU to collaborate with an organisation of QinetiQ’s standing and experience in the defence sector, and with its exceptional record of innovation and solutions development.”
Victoria Doherty, Head of Electrification, QinetiQ, added; “Enabling the flexibility to provide electric power wherever and whenever it is needed underpins future operational advantage. By working across sectors to transfer existing solutions, we will accelerate success in this area.”
In November, Solus Power showcased its technology at QinetiQ’s ‘Understanding Tomorrow’s Sustainability Technology Today’ event, highlighting its potential to contribute to a more sustainable, efficient and flexible energy future for defense operations. (Source: https://www.defenseadvancement.com/)
02 May 24. Germany joins CAVS vehicle programme’s research and development agreement. Germany has proceeded to the research and development agreement phase of the Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) programme. The agreement parties are the CAVS participant nations Finland, Latvia, Sweden and Germany, and Patria. Germany is the fourth country to join the research and development phase of this multinational programme, which was initiated by Finland and Latvia in 2020, and later joined by Sweden in 2022. By acceding to the agreement, Germany will have access to the results of the product development packages developed in the programme and will be in a position to co-define the requirements for future mission variants. Within the CAVS programme, the 6×6 armoured vehicle system development is led by Patria, that has more than four decades of experience in developing and delivering state-of-the-art protected troop transportation and system integration. Vast majority of supply of the vehicles is conducted by utilising the member nations’ local industry capabilities and every new nation is inherently reinforcing the security of supply for the whole collaboration system. The CAVS related Patria 6×6 deliveries are ongoing to Latvia, Finland and Sweden, and vehicles are in operational use. The programme is open to European countries with similar equipment requirements. “We are glad to welcome Germany into this agreement to share the results of the development made and benefiting from cooperation with other EU and NATO countries participating in the programme. We value the strength that Germany will bring into this programme, both as a respected military power as well as adding strong industrial versatility in it. Patria with its partners is ready to meet the needs of Germany within the programme”, says Hugo Vanbockryck, Head of Market Area Europe at Patria.
01 May 24. USMC test mixed reality ‘telemaintenance’ for battlefield repairs. Marines are experimenting with mixed reality to use “telemaintenance” connect expert technicians with Marines in the field fixing complex gear.
Brig. Gen. Michael McWilliams, head of Marine Corps Logistics Command, told the audience here at the Modern Day Marine Expo Wednesday that in March Marines at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, in the unit he commands, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, began the experimentation.
“The impacts that this can have across the force are tremendous,” McWilliams said.
The move comes as the Corps wants to push out small, self-sustaining teams across the Pacific and other regions. And if things break, it’ll be up to the Marines on hand to fix them.
McWilliams said that the plan is to push the telemaintenance work across units at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, through the summer and look to expand it across the Marine Corps afterward.
Maj. Gen. Keith Reventlow added that using depot-level experts on equipment such as weapons systems to work with Marines in the field keeps that gear operating where it’s needed most rather than having to be shipped back to the depot and repaired.
Marines are using mixed reality goggles worn by the maintainer and the expert technician. That way each can “see” the same view and the expert can walk the Marine through the procedures to troubleshoot or repair an item, Reventlow said.
But, Reventlow noted, Marines are not the first to conduct telemaintenance. The Army has been assisting Ukrainian maintainers during their war with Russia to fix systems on or close to the front lines using remote connections.
Also, the Navy began testing telemaintenance on its aircraft carriers in 2020, the U.S. Naval Institute reported at the time.
And, in the contested logistics environment where Marines expect to fight, sending stuff back may not be an option.
Getting repair parts and supplies to Marines is equally challenging.
In recent years, the Corps has shifted its targeting and striking methods from a “kill chain,” a linear step process to finding, tracking, targeting and destroying threats to a “kill web,” in which multiple shooters and sensors through a web-like network optimize the best weapon to strike the intended target.
“Kind of like Amazon on steroids and lethal,” said Brig. Gen. Phillip Frietze, assistant deputy commandant of combat development and integration
The logistics leaders are taking the same approach but with beans, bullets, bandages and blood.
In 2023, when Frietze commanded 1st Marine Logistics Group in the Pacific the unit set up a sustainment web that stretched from Darwin, Australia to the Philippines, using commercial, military, U.S. and partner supply points in the region.
The web now sources blood supplies for emergencies locally rather than shipping in from out of the region, Frietze said.
At the same time, the web concept is being helped by connecting data across the inventory, Frietze said.
No longer is a Marine coming to a company gunnery sergeant in supply and listing off their supply needs, filling out requisition forms and going up the chain of command one unit at a time.
Now that gunny will have a tablet that automatically feeds in the supply items a unit needs and routes the request to the best supplier in the web, much like the “kill web” concept. (Source: Marine Corps Times)
30 Apr 24. Italy, France target land warfare in new industry partnership deal. Italy and France have committed to more closely integrating their land warfare firms as the former seeks to join long-awaited Franco-German tank program. A letter of intent, signed Monday in Corsica by the defense ministers of France and Italy, called for the creation of a “European industrial land hub” that would partner businesses from the two countries.
“It is fundamental to put the best European technologies together and create ever-stronger hubs,” said Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, who signed the letter with French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu.
Crosetto said the hub system is the only way to keep up with China. “Divided we are weak, but a united Europe can be strong thanks to its historical and cultural heritage, and its values based on centuries of history and the extraordinary industrial capacity and know-how of our countries,” he noted.
The deal named the Main Ground Combat System, or MGCS, as a focus for teamwork. Years in the works, the Franco-German MGCS tank program took a major step forward on April 26, when the two countries signed off on an industrial work-share pact, with Germany to award contracts for the first demonstrator phase by the end of this year.
Looking for a way to enter the program, Italy previously signed an action plan for broad cooperation with Germany in November, which mentioned the possibility of working together on the MGCS project.
A wide-ranging cooperation deal signed in December between Italian defense firm Leonardo and the European business KNDS, also cited cooperation on MGCS. This deal had also dealt with Italy’s purchase of Leopard tanks.
KNDS is a consortium of Germany’s Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and France’s Nexter.
“Italy considered entering MGCS two years ago, but there was no opening from France or Germany,” said Alessandro Marrone, who leads the defense program at the Italian think tank IAI. “The new deal with France mirrors the deal struck with Germany last year, and both are aimed at bringing Italy into MGCS. But to get Italy a seat at the table, it needs a trilateral deal, not bilateral deals.”
The Italy-German action plan also envisaged cooperation on a new €5bn (U.S. $5.4bn) Italian program, formerly known as AICS and since redubbed A2CS, to build up to 1,000 infantry fighting vehicles.
In February, Italy’s procurement office asked CIO, which involves Leonardo and local vehicle-maker Iveco, to conduct a feasibility study for the new vehicle. Work on that platform is currently underway, and CIO is now due to enlist partner firms to join the study. (Source: Defense News)
30 Apr 24. Oshkosh Defense Unveils Latest Technology Demonstrator at MDM 2024. Oshkosh Defense LLC, an Oshkosh Corporation [NYSE: OSK] business, is exhibiting at Modern Day Marine in Washington, D.C., from April 30 – May 2. In Booth #1915, Oshkosh will introduce its Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) 4×4 Technology Demonstrator and showcase the advanced autonomous technology of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Remotely Operated Ground Unit for Expeditionary Fires (ROGUE-Fires).
Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) 4×4 Technology Demonstrator
Oshkosh Defense is pleased to unveil the Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) 4×4 – Technology Demonstrator, a smaller, lighter version of the proven Oshkosh Defense MTVR. Purpose-built to maintain robust all-terrain mobility, the MTVR 4×4 Technology Demonstrator highlights the next-generation technologies, safety enhancements, and increased mission flexibility that is necessary for the evolving battlefield. As the premier provider of tactical wheeled vehicles for the U.S. Marine Corps and the MTVR program authority, Oshkosh is committed to the continued modernization efforts of the USMC.
Remotely Operated Ground Unit for Expeditionary Fires (ROGUE-Fires)
Developed for the U.S. Marine Corps, ROGUE Fires is an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) that leverages the JLTV’s extreme off-road mobility and payload capacity and Oshkosh’s advanced autonomous vehicle technologies to support Ground-Based Anti-Ship Missile (GBASM) operations. Designed to operate in both teleoperated and fully autonomous modes, ROGUE-Fires serves as a versatile launch platform capable of handling various weapon payloads. In April 2024, Oshkosh was awarded a delivery order valued at $40m for the procurement of ROGUE-Fires to be used in the Navy/Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System. Oshkosh announced the contract to begin low-rate initial production from the Marine Corps Systems Command in October 2023.
“Our strategic partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps is crucial,” said Pat Williams, chief programs officer at Oshkosh Defense. “It enables us to better understand how we can adapt Oshkosh technology to tailor new and existing solutions to meet the evolving needs of the next-generation battlefield.” (Source: ASD Network)
30 Apr 24. Anduril Announces Menace-X for Mobile, Distributed Command and Control. Anduril Industries is thrilled to announce Menace-X, an expeditionary command, control, communications, and computing (C4) vehicle-based system that extends strategic and operational-level capabilities to the tactical edge. Built to operate in denied, disrupted, intermittent, and limited (DDIL) communication environments, Menace-X enables resilient command and control of complex mission sets, such as deep sensing and coordination of maritime surface fires, in a highly-mobile form factor.
Current C2 solutions require large logistical footprints, significant set-up time, and specialized training. With logistics and communications networks of forward-deployed and stand-in forces increasingly at risk of adversary targeting, warfighters need to quickly disperse, maneuver, and communicate across distributed forces to sustain operations at the edge while under multi-domain attack. This is where Menace-X comes into play.
Menace-X is easily transported by MV-22, CH-53, MH-47, C-130 and almost any other air and naval platform to provide on-demand C2 anywhere on Earth. It is designed with warfighters in mind, featuring an intuitive and ergonomic interface activated at the flip of a switch, allowing operators to easily observe and control power, communications, and compute subsystems. Operators can use government-furnished software or Anduril’s Lattice C2 suite for tasking live assets and workflows to generate effects on the battlefield, or use built-in applications for battle space analytics, collaborative planning, automated threat detection, and high-value targeting.
“Menace-X provides absolute situational awareness of friendly and adversary forces by bringing national, strategic and local sensor data and tracks down to the tactical level, allowing for the real-time tasking of assets and prosecution of targets,” said Tom Keane, Senior Vice President of Engineering at Anduril. “Fully operational within minutes of aircraft roll-off, Menace-X allows teams at the tactical edge to C2 forces, fires, and effects at the speed and scale necessary to achieve overmatch of the pacing threat.”
Menace-X features resilient, software-defined communications infrastructure that can be orchestrated on a user-defined basis, allowing operators to use the electromagnetic spectrum as a maneuver space. And with integrated mesh networking and Anduril’s AutoPACE™ software, Menace-X monitors the performance of network pathways and intelligently selects the optimal link with the ability to adjust based on mission requirements. Onboard communications include bi-directional data exchange across six pathways (PLEO, GEO, Cellular, UHF/VHF, HF/WBHF, Hardline, Link-16) and unidirectional receipt of three further data feeds (IBS, ADS-B, AIS). The open architecture of Menace-X enables operators to access joint sensor-to-shooter networks, ingress and hold custody of thousands of weapons-quality tracks, and if necessary, egress those tracks to weapons control systems for targeting and prosecution.
Menace-X expands the Menace family of expeditionary C4 solutions by delivering operational-level capabilities to the tactical edge, furthering the reach of the joint force inside contested areas. The system has been successfully demonstrated at several U.S. military exercises, including the Marine Corps’ Weapons & Tactics Instructor course and the U.S. Army’s Project Convergence Capstone event, and is deploying globally across 2024. (Source: ASD Network)
30 Apr 24. Progress, but no delivery date for Badger yet. The 2012 delivery date originally set down for the SA Army to receive its new infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), christened the Badger and given the Armscor project name Hoefyster, has long gone and there is still no clear date for the landward force to start retiring its Ratels ahead of Badger induction.
What is known, thanks to a Parliamentary question asked by Democratic Alliance shadow public enterprises minister Mimmy Gondwe, is six steps are in place “demonstrating a concerted effort to navigate past challenges and ensure the project’s successful continuation and completion”.
Gondwe asked the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) what steps Denel is or has taken to restart Project Hoefyster.
The response, signed off by outgoing Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan and Jacky Molisane, DPE Acting Director General, states there has been “significant progress”. This includes a project control board (PCB) which 12 months ago deemed the bulk of technical compliance issues could be waived, or were non-contractual, and allowed the development phase (Phase One) of the project to continue.
However, fifteen non-compliance issues were referred back to Denel for resolution. It was agreed that the production phase (Phase Two) of the first new IFV battalion could be initiated with appropriate Department of Defence and Military Veterans (DoDMV) approvals and contractual changes.
Since last April’s PCB, Denel Landward cleared remaining non-compliances against the lead Badger variant and submitted two contract variation orders (CVOs) to Armscor. (Denel Landward is a consolidation of the former Denel Land Systems [DLS], Denel PMP [Pretoria Metal Pressings], Denel Vehicle Systems [DVS] OMC and Mechatronic business units executed as part of Denel’s restructuring post State Capture.)
The phase one CVO re-aligns the remainder of the Hoefyster project taking into account its order, schedule and what is termed “commercial realities that have impacted the programme”.
The phase two CVO focuses on industrialisation and production adjustments in line with the PCB recommendations.
Further progress is noted in the response via integrated monthly programme meetings and creating a programme management steering committee. Armscor, Denel and the SA Army Directorate Acquisition (DAA) serve on the committee, which meets quarterly and met for the first time on 4 March with a further review meeting planned for later in April.
Nine of the 15 non-compliance issues referred to Denel are resolved and await formal reviews, Gondwe was informed in a reply dated 24 April, with the five still outstanding due to be cleared “shortly”.
“These steps, as supported by DAA and Armscor, underscore Denel Landward’s commitment to advancing Project Hoefyster, demonstrating a concerted effort to navigate past challenges and ensure the project’s successful continuation and completion,” the DPE reply concluded.
Denel is busy concluding development of the Badger, while revised production costs will see fewer vehicles manufactured for the SA Army.
Armscor earlier this year told Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans (PCDMV) the project had stalled since 2019, mainly due to deviations from contracted specifications and financial constraints within Denel.
Production quantities are now for sufficient for a single battalion (88 vehicles) and not the three originally planned.
Phase Two, for industrialisation and production, requires a “complete re-costing” due to the long delays experienced by the project. The outcome of this will then be submitted to the Army.
Last year, Armscor said Denel expected to establish a product baseline for the five main Badger variants by the end of 2025. Under the revised Phase One schedule, product baseline for the Section variant is expected in April 2024; the Fire Support variant in July 2024; the Command variant in December 2024; the Missile variant in March 2025; and the Mortar variant in December 2025.
Project Hoefyster phase one – for the design and development of five main variants – came into effect in June 2007 with delivery expected in May 2012. This was to be followed by phase two – industrialisation and production of 238 Badgers – with a completion date of November 2023.
As a possible alternative to the capability that is to be provided by Project Hoefyster, Armscor is in parallel executing a study into the possibility of performing a life extension of the Ratel infantry fighting vehicle. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
29 Apr 24. France, Germany sign MGCS phase 1A agreement. The agreement marks a significant step towards developing a new generation of combat tanks by 2040.
Defence ministers of France and Germany have formalised their commitment towards the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) programme.
The agreement for phase “1A” of the MGCS programme has been signed between French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu and his German counterpart, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in Paris.
This phase marks the beginning of a collaborative effort to develop a new generation of combat tanks by 2040.
The MGCS programme will go beyond an upgrade of existing tanks. It will be comprehensive overhaul incorporating advanced edge technologies, including new generation fires, artificial intelligence, and advanced electronic warfare capabilities.
French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu said: “We are not just developing the tank of the future, but the future of the tank that we want to imagine together.”
Co-funded by both nations and managed by Germany, the programme will see the involvement of KNDS, a joint venture between France’s Nexter and Germany’s Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann (KMW), the manufacturer of the Leopard tank, reported Reuters.
Industry giants Rheinmetall and Thales are also key participants in the project.
Furthermore, the signing of the agreement ensures an equitable distribution of manufacturing responsibilities between the two nations throughout the duration of the programme.
Lecornu was quoted by the news agency as saying: “There has been very important work which … enables us to say that in the 2040s, it will be time for two friendly neighbouring countries, members of the European Union and members of NATO, to have a completely functional and operational armoured cavalry.”
It is expected that the first contracts will be signed by the end of 2024.
In 2017, France and Berlin agreed to develop a new battle tank that would replace Germany’s Leopard 2 tanks and the French Leclerc main battle tank. (Source: army-technology.com)
29 Apr 24. Patria Enhances Product Development of CAVS Programme With Finnish Pre-series Vehicles. Patria will advance the product development of the Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) programme by acquiring three pre-series vehicles from the Finnish Defence Forces. Within the CAVS framework, Patria manufactured the pre-series vehicles that underwent testing in 2022 before the official serial order, which was signed in the summer of 2023. The Finnish Army got acquainted with Patria 6×6 vehicle, its usage and operating features comprehensively beforehand, thus ensuring the fluent and effective establishment of operational readiness.
“Patria plans to utilise these 6×6 pre-series vehicles for further development, testing and marketing within the CAVS programme. The programme has also raised interest from other countries and this procurement enhances Patria’s flexibility and enables a more rapid response to customer requirements and increasing demand”, explains Jussi Järvinen, Executive Vice President of Patria’s Finland Division.
In addition to Finland, the programme currently includes Latvia, Sweden and Germany. Notably, Patria has already received orders for nearly 700 Patria 6×6 vehicles. (Source: ASD Network)
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Contact: Paul Fleming
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