Sponsored by TEK Military Seating Limited
http://www.tekmilitaryseating.co.uk/
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
21 Nov 24. Australian Government announces next-gen Army Landing Craft Heavy. Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy has announced the selection of the preferred option for the Australian Defence Force’s Landing Craft Heavy under a program that will bolster national defence by establishing a new littoral fleet.
Defence Connect can reveal the selection of the Damen Shipyards Group LST100 design as the Australian Army’s new littoral manoeuvre fleet, which provides the mobility essential to the restructure and reposture of the Army.
This announcement is a significant step in the establishment of a littoral fleet, which is expected to create 1,100 direct jobs and more than 2,000 indirect jobs under the Albanese government’s plan for continuous naval shipbuilding in Western Australia.
Eight Landing Craft Heavy vessels, based on the LST100, will be built by Australian ship designer and builder Austal at the Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia, subject to acceptable commercial negotiations and demonstrated performance.
These vessels, along with Landing Craft Medium, designed by Australia-based ship builder and designer Birdon Marine, and amphibious vehicles, will support a strategy of denial, which includes deploying and sustaining land forces with long-range land and maritime strike capabilities in littoral environments.
Minister Conroy said: “Importantly, these vessels will be built in Australia, from Australian steel. This not only underscores the Albanese government’s commitment to keep Australians safe but also to a safer future made in Australia.”
The LST100 vessel design has a 3,900-tonne displacement and is 100 meters long and 16 meters wide. The vessel will be capable of operating with other vessels to undertake a range of tasks, including troop insertion and extraction, logistics movements and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
This includes being capable of carrying more than 500 tonnes of military vehicles and equipment – it is intended to carry six Abrams tanks,11 Redback infantry fighting vehicles or 26 HIMARS – and will be fitted with self-defence weapons systems and Australian military communications.
“This project is an important part of our plans for continuous naval shipbuilding in both South Australia and Western Australia, which is creating thousands of well-paid and high-skilled jobs,” Minister Conroy said.
Funding for new littoral manoeuvre vessels is part of the Integrated Investment Program (2024–34), which is helping to grow the Australian industrial base and supply chains and create highly skilled, well-paid jobs.
Construction of the first Landing Craft Heavy is expected to start in 2026. (Source: Defence Connect)
21 Nov 24. Milrem Robotics Has Selected Texelis as a Strategic Supplier for the Development of Next-Generation Robotic Combat Vehicles. Milrem Robotics, the world’s leading robotics and autonomous systems developer, has selected Texelis, a global supplier of advanced mobility systems for defence and security, as a strategic supplier to manufacture mobility subsystems for a new generation of robotic combat vehicles (RCVs) Milrem Robotics is developing.
Texelis will supply Milrem Robotics with a cutting-edge Tank Electrified Drivetrain to assist in creating highly capable, modular, 12+ ton robotic platforms designed to meet the demands of modern warfare. The new RCVs will be tailored to enhance the operational capabilities of armed forces, providing unprecedented mobility, protection, and advanced technological integration on the battlefield.
“Selecting Texelis as our strategic supplier of mobility subsystems is a crucial step in developing our next-generation robotic combat vehicles. Their proven expertise in delivering advanced mobility systems will ensure our platforms are unmatched in their ability to traverse complex terrains and operate in the most challenging battlefield scenarios,” said Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics.
“Milrem has excellent cooperation with the French defence industry already, and cooperating with Texelis will enhance this further,” Väärsi added.
“Texelis is thrilled to have been selected by a company such as Milrem Robotics, the undisputed world leader in robotics and autonomous solutions. Working on their new generation of combat systems is a fantastic opportunity for us to keep growing as a partner of choice for mobility. Getting aboard is a huge strategic step to see us getting into the tracked vehicle market, a new universe to add to our core expertise. Alongside a customer like Milrem, mobility has no limit!” commented Jean Vandel, CEO , Texelis.
Texelis will provide a high-performance Tank Electrified Drivetrain based on its extensive experience producing drivetrains and suspension solutions for armoured vehicles. This drivetrain will enable the new RCVs to operate in highly challenging terrain with superior endurance and manoeuvrability.
Leveraging Texelis’ technology, Milrem Robotics will utilize its established proficiency in developing unmanned ground vehicles to create a robust, scalable, modular, and mission-flexible RCV platform.
The cooperation allows Milrem Robotics to leverage France’s renowned vehicle mobility and engineering expertise. The cooperation will contribute to the European defence ecosystem, fostering greater industrial cooperation and ensuring the continent’s defence forces have access to state-of-the-art, homegrown robotic solutions. The collaboration aligns with broader European defence objectives, including autonomy in key technologies and increased regional security through strategic partnerships.
20 Nov 24. 1st M3 System Handed Over to Sweden. General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) – Bridge Systems has handed over the first M3 amphibious bridge and ferry system to the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (SDMA) at its Kaiserslautern site. A ceremony was held last Thursday with Brigadier General Jonas Lotsne as representative of the SDMA and Dr. Christian Kauth, Managing Director of GDELS – Bridge Systems, among others.
The amphibious rig now handed over is part of the first M3 batch for the Scandinavian country. With the delivery of all four contracted lots, Sweden will become one of NATO’s three major M3 users alongside Germany and Great Britain. It will operate a fleet capable of negotiating a total of 400 meters of obstacle width. Using coupling adapters, the M3 can also be used together with the IRB (Improved Ribbon Bridge) and SRB (Standard Ribbon Bridge) pontoon bridge system. Besides Sweden, other states such as the USA, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, Brasil, and South Korea are equipped with these systems. With the youngest NATO member upgrading its stock of fully interoperable gap-crossing means, the alliance will experience a significant increase in its overall combat engineering capabilities.
The amphibious bridge and ferry system M3 is the fastest available means for wet gap crossing within NATO. It can be used as a floating bridge or ferry to carry even the heaviest main battle tanks to negotiate wide wet gaps. The all-terrain M3 is ready for use within minutes – a vital factor on today’s transparent battlefield. The system has proven itself in use under a wide range of climatic and topographical conditions, from tropics to arctic. (Source: ASD Network)
18 Nov 24. Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) Programme Received Eur 60m in Funding from EDIRPA which Promotes European Defence Procurement
Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) programme, based on the Patria 6×6 vehicle and led by Finland, has received EUR 60 m in funding from the EDIRPA funding instrument that promotes joint defence procurement by European member states.
The announcement was published by European Commission.
In addition to Finland, the joint EDIRPA procurement proposal prepared by the Finnish defence administration includes Latvia, Sweden and Germany. The funding will be used for multinational cooperation between the CAVS vehicle user countries. The joint CAVS programme strengthens European defence and NATO cooperation.
“The CAVS programme has been moved forward quickly and promptly under the leadership of Finland and the excellent cooperation between Patria and the countries participating in the programme. The joint programme enables the development of the Patria 6×6 vehicle platform as well as the cost-effectiveness of life-cycle support, quick procurement and equipment compatibility, strengthening defense cooperation in Europe. The EDIRPA funding received now will promote the programme even further”, says Jussi Järvinen, Executive Vice President of Patria’s Finland Division.
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. Patria has already received orders for over 750 Patria 6×6 vehicles. (Source: ASD Network)
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
TEK Military Seating Limited
TEK Military Seating Limited is a UK based designer and manufacturer of ProTEK military vehicle seating which offer the highest standards of safety and protection. The ProTEK brand is well respected across the globe for its robust construction, innovative design, built in modularity and cost effectiveness. Our superior products are supported by our experienced team who endeavor to offer unrivalled service to our customers from enquiry, through design and acceptance, to through life support.
From its inception ProTEK seats have been designed around a family of innovative seat frames onto which tested and certified modules can be fitted to create a bespoke solution for the user. These include Blast protection to Stanag 4569 standards, vibration reduction, head and body protection, seat risers and turntables, fore & aft adjustment, and seat back rake along with viable seat dimensions without the need for additional tooling costs.
Contact: Paul Fleming
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————