Sponsored by TEK Military Seating Limited
http://www.tekmilitaryseating.co.uk/
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10 Jun 24. NP Aerospace, the global vehicle integrator and armour manufacturer, has today announced the acquisition of certain assets of Jankel Armouring Limited – in administration. Jankel Armouring Limited entered administration on 27 February 2024 and Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP were appointed as Administrators. NP Aerospace has now acquired assets which include Jankel Armouring Limited’s intellectual property, patents and inventory and the right to transfer, assign and/or novate existing contracts. The acquisition will allow NP Aerospace to integrate a globally proven and successful vehicle product and support line into their already strong portfolio, which will now include Jankel Armouring Limited’s tactical vehicles, civilian armoured vehicles (CAVs), armour technologies, seating systems and through life support services. Having received UK National Security and Investment Act (NSIA) approval, NP Aerospace can formally engage with key customers, including the Belgian MoD (BeMOD) and UK Ministry of Defence (UK MoD) regarding the delivery of former Jankel Armouring Limited contracts. With an existing pedigree of successful defence vehicle production, integration and support activities, NP Aerospace is ideally positioned to deliver on customer requirements, bringing production programs through to successful conclusion, onshore in the UK. NP Aerospace has been successful in securing talent from the original Jankel Armouring Limited staff including pivotal engineers and critical executives with the required knowledge of the acquired assets. In addition, it is expected that the acquisition will create and/or sustain around 60-70 skilled jobs. The acquisition does not include any aspect of, or formal relationship with the US based Jankel business, including Jankel Tactical Systems and does not include any liability to former creditors, which sits in the hands of the joint administrators, Alvarez and Marsal.
James Kempston, NP Aerospace CEO, commented: “The announcement of the acquisition of Jankel Armouring Limited’s assets marks a significant phase of growth for the company, creating additional value for customers through new business synergies.” He added: “Our immediate priority is to push forward with existing customer contracts and deliver successful programmes to a global customer base. Beyond that, this announcement is good news for the defence industry, enabling continuation of capability, products and supply, whilst enhancing a very strong global defence export line, under the NP Aerospace brand”.
Mike Denny, Joint Administrator, Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP, commented: “The completion of the sale of certain assets of Jankel Armouring Limited to NP Aerospace will provide continuity to its customer base and create new opportunities for some of its skilled workforce. We are confident that the business will thrive under the ownership of NP Aerospace”.
BATTLESPACE Comment: This is good news for the UK defence and police light vehicle industry as it preserves the considerable expertise in armouring and conversions built up by Andrew Jankel and his team over may years. It also sees NP emerging as a major force in the UK and International defence vehicle segment.
07 Jun 24. Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks expands its defence portfolio: four-axle Zetros with all-wheel drive on show for the first time at Eurosatory
- Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks completes the Zetros product family with the new Mercedes-Benz Zetros 8×8 truck
- In future, the Zetros will be available as a two-axle, three-axle or four-axle truck and, on request, with a protected cab from a single source
- With the new Zetros 8×8 and the likewise new protected cab ex works, Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks is expanding its portfolio in the field of military logistics and support vehicles
- On show at Eurosatory: Zetros 8×8, Zetros with protected cab, Zetros 4×4, Arocs, Unimog troop transporter and FGA chassis
Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks will be offering the Zetros off-road truck with four axles and all-wheel drive (8×8) in two variants from 2025 onwards. The Zetros will then be available in various configurations from a two-axle to a four-axle model. The Zetros 8×8, which Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks will be exhibiting at Eurosatory, is the result of a major order from the Canadian Ministry of Defence, under which more than 1500 Zetros vehicles will be delivered over the next few years. Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks will also be presenting a Zetros with a protected cab at Eurosatory. From now on, the vehicle with a protected cab can be delivered directly from the Wörth plant. Further, Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks will be able to offer the entire product range of the high-terrain Zetros from 4×4 to 8×8 with and without a protected cab from a single source. Visitors to stand D127 (EXTPe6b Outdoor) will also find other vehicles for military use: a Unimog U5000 with a flatbed and tarpaulin as a troop transporter, an Arocs 6×6 with a double winch as an armored tractor unit, a Zetros 4×4 and the variable FGA chassis as a tactical chassis for armored personnel carriers (APC).
Franziska Cusumano, Head of Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks: “With the expansion of our portfolio, we can now offer our customers the complete product range of the Zetros high-terrain truck series. With the new Zetros 8×8, customers get a robust and highly mobile logistics vehicle with a large payload for military use. In future, they will also benefit from being able to obtain the Zetros with a protected cab from a single source. And all of this made in Germany, of course.”
New Zetros 8×8 comes with more payload and larger body space
The new 8×8 vehicle variant offers a significantly increased payload of up to 25 tons with the usual high off-road capability. At the same time, the available body space is increased thanks to the longer vehicle frame. The Zetros can therefore be used for an even wider range of tactical and logistical requirements.
In any case, the series with an OM 460 in-line six-cylinder diesel engine, with 265 to 375 kW (360 to 510 hp) and a maximum torque of up to 2,300 Nm from 12.8 liters of displacement, is designed for heavy-duty use. Off-road, drivers benefit from the large slope and ramp angles and the fordability, while engageable longitudinal and transverse differential locks can increase traction and maneuverability depending on the driving situation. The Zetros 8×8 also retains full off-road capability while significantly increasing transport performance.
8×8 times two: two four-axle variants available in future
The new Zetros 8×8 will be available in two variants. The first variant has two axles at the front and two axles at the rear, with the two front axles being steered. In the second variant, there is one steerable front axle and three rear axles. The last of the three rear axles is steered in order to reduce the curve radius. Both variants will be available both as a tractor unit and as a carrier vehicle with a large body space.
All Zetros vehicles will also be available with a protected cab in future
The start of production of the new Zetros 8×8 follows the introduction of the likewise new option of a protected cab ex works. With the special cab armoring, the driver and crew inside the vehicle can be protected from ballistic fire or landmines. The protected cab is already available for the Zetros 6×6 and will be successively available to order on a project-specific basis for the entire product range of the Zetros high-terrain series from 2025 onwards. Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks is thus expanding its product portfolio and will in future be able to offer vehicle solutions including protected cabs from a single source, even for large orders. For customers, this means: one contact partner, one manufacturer, one complete vehicle with harmonized components, one invoice. Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks also ensures extensive service and spare parts availability. Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks will continue to collaborate with manufacturers of protected driver cabs and protected cells for military trucks and military chassis to realize specific customer requests and national requirements.
Eurosatory: The defence trucks that will be on display
The leading European trade fair for Security & Defence will take place in Paris from June 17–21, 2024. Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks will be exhibiting six vehicles at Eurosatory.
Zetros 8×8 with container from the major Canadian order
The new Zetros 8×8 is 11.15 meters long, 2.60 meters wide and 3.70 meters high. The vehicle is powered by the Euro V OM 460 six-cylinder in-line engine with a displacement of 12.8 liters. The diesel engine delivers 376 kW (510 hp). The Allison 4500 SP automatic transmission ensures high driving dynamics. When driving through sand and mud, the tire pressure can be adjusted on the move using the tire pressure regulation system. For water crossings and high off-road mobility, the Zetros comes with a 1.50 meter fordability as a special feature. A hook lift system with a front spreader is fitted for fast loading and unloading of containers.
Zetros 6×6 with protected cab and self-sealing tank
A Zetros with a protected cab from Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks will also be on display at Eurosatory. The exhibit has a tank from Lindner & Fischer, which was built in collaboration with WEW Westerwälder Eisenwerk GmbH and is self-sealing. This means that if liquid leaks out, it reacts with the coating and usually seals the damaged area again. The tank body can be fixed in place using an interchangeable frame with twistlock fasteners and can therefore be fitted and removed in just a few minutes.
Zetros 4×4 flatbed / tarpaulin
Another model in the Zetros series is the Zetros 4×4 with a Mercedes-Benz OM460 Euro III six-cylinder engine, which has a displacement of 12.8 liters and an output of 265 kW (360 hp). The vehicle on display has a low-torsion platform body with tarpaulin and benches for transporting personnel and materiel.
Arocs 6×6 semitrailer tractor with a double winch
With heavy-duty drive components and a solid chassis and suspension design, the Mercedes-Benz Arocs is also suitable for off-road operations, even under challenging climatic and environmental conditions. At Eurosatory, Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks will be exhibiting an Arocs 6×6 with the same engine as the Zetros models: the powerful OM460 delivers 310 kW (421 hp). With twin tires and a double winch, the semitrailer tractor is suitable for heavy off-road transport, for example as an armored tractor unit. The double cable winch can be used to recover damaged vehicles and load and unload them onto the low-loader.
Unimog U 5000 flatbed / tarpaulin
Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks is also exhibiting a Unimog. This universal motorized vehicle has been part of the vehicle fleets of state armed forces for almost 75 years. The Unimog U 5000 on display is fitted with the Euro 3 OM 924 engine with 163 kW (222 hp). The body with a torsion-free flatbed as a troop transporter comes from EMPL Fahrzeugwerk GmbH.
FGA chassis
The “chassis for protected superstructures” is the basis for armored tactical military wheeled vehicles (Armored Personal Carrier, APC) with protected cells of 9.5 to 14.8 tons gross vehicle weight. Numerous international military special vehicle manufacturers build their products on this chassis derived from the Unimog. They benefit from the high off-road capability and robustness of the chassis, the extensive service and spare parts supply and the support and advice provided by Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks engineers.
The driveline of the 14.8 special chassis is equipped with the Euro III six-cylinder OM 926 LA diesel engine, which has an output of 240 kW (336 hp) and is coupled with the Allison 3500 automatic transmission with six gears. The chassis features mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic interfaces that are suitable for a wide range of superstructures.
04 Jun 24. Italy Prepares Europe’s Largest Land-Based Military Programme with More Than 1000 Armoured Vehicles. On Monday 3 June 2024, Italy announced its intention to replace its fleet of Dardo infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) with a new tracked armoured vehicle in a programme estimated to cost 5 bn euros. Italian companies Leonardo and Iveco Defence Vehicles (united in the CIO joint venture) are tasked with finding European partners who can offer expertise and platforms to accelerate the programme, without having to start from scratch. Italy is looking to replace its Dardo infantry fighting vehicles with the involvement of a European company such as KNDS, Rheinmetall or BAE Systems Hägglunds. According to information gathered by the US magazine Defense News, the plan is to have a finalised design by the end of this year. The specific objective of this programme, known as A2CS, is to manufacture 1,050 tracked armoured vehicles to replace the Dardo fleet, introduced at the end of the 20th century to replace the old M113s of American origin. This is the largest land-based military programme currently underway in Europe and, given the sought-after involvement of companies from other European countries, it could help to strengthen the European defence sector, notes the North American publication. Potential candidates for involvement include KNDS (formed by the merger of Germany’s KMW and France’s Nexter), which has the Boxer vehicle as the basis for the new design; Germany’s Rheinmetall, manufacturer of the Lynx; and BAE Systems’ Swedish subsidiary, BAE Systems Hägglunds, producer of the CV90. The planned timetable is for the new Italian vehicles to be delivered between 2029 and 2041, with around 20 prototypes of a platform to be produced between 2027 and 2028, from which 16 different configurations should be acquired. In addition to the A2CS programme, Italy also has an ongoing programme for the procurement and national production of Leopard battle tanks from German manufacturer. (Source: Paulo Dominonni via LinkedIn)
31 May 24. A lighter, high-tech Abrams tank is taking shape. The U.S. Army awarded the manufacturer of Abrams tanks a contract this month to begin the preliminary design of its new tank variant expected to be lighter and feature high-tech capabilities so it’s more survivable in battle, the service’s head of combat vehicle modernization told Defense News.
The contract allows the Army to work closely with General Dynamics Land Systems on shaping requirements for the new M1E3 Abrams tank. The hope, according to Brig. Gen. Geoffrey Norman, is to be able to bring the new variant into the force at a similar timeline to the M30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle, which is under development.
“I think that there would be real goodness for the Army if M30 combat vehicles and M1E3 tanks could be fielded simultaneously to an [armored brigade combat team],” Norman said. “I think the Army senior leaders are going to push us to try to align those schedules, and whether that can be done is an open question right now.”
Norman said factors like technology maturation budgets will likely dictate whether that is achievable.
The Army is running a competition between two American Rheinmetall Vehicles and General Dynamics Land Systems to build the XM30 vehicle that will replace the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle. The service plans to select a winner in late fiscal 2027 or early fiscal 2028, Norman said.
The schedule for the M1E3′s preliminary design and what follows is under review within the Army’s acquisition branch, Norman said. In the meantime, the Army and GDLS will begin working through what the service wants in and can achieve with a new Abrams variant. A firmer timeline will likely take shape by the fall, he added.
The Army last fall decided to scrap its upgrade plans for the Abrams tank and instead pursue a more significant modernization effort to increase the tank’s mobility and survivability on the battlefield. As part of the decision, the Army ended its M1A2 System Enhancement Package version 4 program.
The M1E3 “from a requirement standpoint is an engineering change proposal,” Norman said, but with “a different design approach to meeting existing requirements. It’s going to be a very differently configured Abrams than what we currently have.”
Over the next 18 months, Norman said the Army will work through a series of technology maturation efforts to include autoloader capabilities, aides “to enable a crew to operate fully buttoned up [inside the tank],” alternate power trains, and active protection systems.
“Those are the types of things where different systems are being competed to pick the best of the breed that then will be integrated into an [engineering change proposal] prototype,” he added.
The Army plans to bring the weight of Abrams under 60 tons. The current variant is roughly 73 tons, according to Norman.
“That might be a little aggressive, but we’re pretty ambitious,” he said of the goal. “In order to do that, we anticipate having to change the crew configuration, potentially looking at opportunities to go to a remote turret or an optionally manned turret in order to save the space under armor.”
Power trains that include hybrid capability will also undergo examiniation in order to achieve both reduced fuel consumption as well as the desirable silent watch and silent drive capabilities to better avoid detection. The power train must still be able to reach high dash speeds, Norman noted.
The M1E3 will also have an integrated active protection system “that’s part and parcel to the vehicle survivability, profile and design. That’s one of the things that we know absolutely will be integral to the program,” Norman said. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)
31 May 24. Babcock seeks solutions to UK Land Rover Wolf obsolescence.
Teaming with Hobson Industries, Babcock is looking to increase availability for Wolf 4×4 and potentially other vehicles in British Army service.
UK defence prime Babcock has signed an agreement with Hobson Industries to work together with an aim to resolve obsolescence in UK military Land Rover Wolf 4×4 vehicles, which first entered service in 1994.
According to GlobalData’s 2023 inventory of UK military equipment, the British Army operates 6,609 Land Rovers of variant configurations, which will include the Wolf light utility vehicle. The UK has dispensed with the short wheelbase ‘90’ Wolf variant, with the long wheelbase ‘110’ still operational.
In a 30 May 2024, release Babcock stated that the agreement would have an initial focus on the Land Rover Wolf to provide technical solutions in the areas of design, manufacture, remanufacturing, and repair, intended to increase availability and reliability of assets for front-line commands.
Jon Morley, director of Material Availability Services at Babcock, said that determining “sustainable solutions” to existing “long-standing challenges” would enhance operational capability of the British Army.
Hobson Industries specialises in the through life support of the Land Rover Wolf vehicle, while Babcock provides through-life support and management for 60% of the British Army’s vehicles.
Will the Land Rover Wolf remain in British Army service?
The British Army is seeking to replace and reduce the 16 designs currently utilised in the mobility fleet down to around five designs, emphasising commonality, through the Land Mobility Programme (LMP).
(Source: army-technology.com)
03 Jun 24. Australia deploy mobile surgery near frontline at Exercise Rhino Run. The new facility fits inside two 6m containers, and can deliver nine types of damage-control surgeries.
The Australian Ministry of Defence (MoD) disclosed details on 3 June 2024, of the deployment of a use manoeuvrable surgical medical treatment centre that was used in Exercise Rhino Run in May, before its scheduled completion in 2025.
The new Role 2 Basic facility allows treatment of personnel closer to the frontline, active “as far forward as a combat service support team”. The concept came online two years early by assembling new and legacy equipment.
According to Nato’s details on medical support from Nato’s logistics handbook, Role 2 support is normally provided at a larger unit level, usually of a Brigade or larger size, operating between Role 3 support, which functions at a Division level, and the medical support of a small unit conducted by a Role 1 unit. The new containerised treatment facility deployed at Rhino Run appears to retain the complex survey capability of a Role 2 unit, but at a scale and immediacy closer to a Role 1 facility.
The new facility fits inside two 6m containers, and can deliver nine types of damage-control surgeries. It is able to receive patients within an hour of set up, and operate at full surgical capacity within three hours, putting it ahead of current facilities by an order of magnitude, as a Role 2 Enhanced facility can take up to four days to become fully operational.
The facility, comprised of four tents in a cross formation, has capacity for a number of patients: it can manage resuscitation for two priority-one casualties; has capacity to conduct surgery on a single patient at a time; monitor two patients in an intensive care unit ward; and support five patients in low dependency beds.
While this amounts to a multi-tiered array of support, the Role 2 Basic is meant for acute care, aimed at treating soldier as quickly as possible from a forward position, bringing a capability for crucial medical procedures to injured personnel as early as possible. These damage-control efforts are a stop-gap before prolonged preservation surgeries can be administered elsewhere. (Source: army-technology.com)
04 Jun 24. US Military in Poland receives 100 Bradley IFV variants.
US troops in Poland and Lithuania have received the Bradley armoured fighting vehicles from prepositioned supplies in Germany.
The US Army Field Support Brigade (AFSBn) Poland delivered 100 Bradleys from prepositioned stocks in Germany to soldiers from the 1st Armoured Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) in Poland and Lithuania between 20-31 May 2024.
The move was conducted to provide troops with advanced equipment during their 9-month rotation in Europe, and to support the army’s broader modernisation efforts.
The Bradleys were drawn from the Army’s Prepositioned Stocks-2 (APS-2) worksites in Mannheim, Germany. A release from the AFSB states that plans are ahead to move all Mannheim-based resources to a newly completed facility in Powidz, Poland, as part of a regional realignment strategy.
APS-2 had previously received 120 Bradleys in September 2023, after divesting another division, 2nd ABCT’s 1st Cavalry division (1st Cav), in anticipation of its rotation out of Europe.
The two Bradley variants delivered to the 1st Cav include the M2A3 Infantry fighting vehicle, capable of carrying six infantry, and the M3A3 Cavalry fighting vehicle, which is designed to carry two scouts and additional ammunition and communications equipment.
“We worked long hours, six to seven days a week getting these Bradleys ready,” said Maj. Steven Waugh, the support operations officer at AFSBn-Poland, “and the Cav soldiers said they are the best Bradleys they’ve ever used.”
Bradley armoured fighting vehicles are manufactured by BAE Systems Land & Armaments. Their intended battlefield roles cover infantry transport, providing covering fires for dismounted troops, and suppressing armoured platforms including opposing tanks and fighting vehicles. The main armament is an ATK Ammunition Systems 25mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun.
After 1st ABCT 1st Cav completes its rotation in support of US operations Europe and Africa, it will redeploy to Fort Cavazos, Texas, where the division will receive the newest M4A2 variant of the Bradley.
(Source: army-technology.com)
04 Jun 24. Oshkosh wins FMTV A2 contract with US Army and FMS partners. The US Army has ordered more FMTV A2 vehicles to meet demand in Europe, where partner nations undergo a considerable defence build-up. The US Army has placed an order with the Wisconsin-based land vehicles manufacturer Oshkosh, for more of its family of medium tactical vehicles (FMTVs) A2 and trailers. In a new order worth $109m the Army aims to modernise its own logistical and utility fleet besides supporting its foreign military sales partners around the world. Specific details of the agreement such as the number and type of vehicles to be acquired remains undisclosed. Oshkosh designed the FMTV to meet a range of different mission requirements for the army’s combat support initiative. These armoured utility vehicles can be used to transport troops and supplies, and recover disabled vehicles and weapon systems, as well as for line-haul operations. There are 17 different FMTV variants with the capacity to carry anywhere between 2.5 tonnes and 10 tonnes of cargo. The US Army began its procurement of the A2 version in February 2018 with no cap on the number of vehicles to be built. To date GlobalData intelligence says there are at least 17,000 FMTVs in active service in its inventory. (Source: army-technology.com)
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TEK Military Seating Limited
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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: Paul Fleming
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