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28 Nov 24. USMC approves design for autocannon recce vehicle. The US Marine Corps (USMC) has approved the prototype design for the Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) 30 mm autocannon variant, a spokesperson told Janes on 27 November.
Initial contracts for the prototype development were awarded to Textron Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems in March 2024. A contract modification for Textron worth more than USD10 million was awarded on 25 November, and General Dynamics is expected to receive a “similar” contract, USMC spokesperson Morgan Blackstock said on 27 November.
Taking place in Hunt Valley, Maryland, work on the prototype is expected to be completed by January 2026, according to the 25 November press release.
The original contracts awarded indicated that prototypes would be delivered by fiscal year (FY) 2025. However, there will be no delay in prototype activity because of the way the initial contract was designed, Blackstock told Janes .
“The contract was always structured with a design component as a base effort, with the build option to be exercised once the design was approved,” she said. “The effort is on schedule to meet its objectives.”
The design was approved “recently”, she noted.
The contracts’ funding comes from FY 2025 research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E), according to the press release.
Marines want the prototype to combine the turret and weapon system found on the amphibious combat vehicle (ACV), officials have said. The ACV-30 – designed by BAE Systems – is equipped with the Mk44 30 mm automatic cannon inside of the Kongsberg stabilised, medium-calibre remote turret system, according to the USMC. (Source: Janes)
28 Nov 24. Netherlands and Sweden receive new bridging systems. The Netherlands has received the first of three IRBs ordered from GDELS on 30 June 2023. (GDELS)
The Netherlands and Sweden have received their first new bridging systems from General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS).
The Dutch Ministry of Defence announced on its website on 25 November that the Royal Netherlands Army’s 105 Bridge Company in Hedel had received its first bridging system, which the Dutch Engineering Training Centre’s Engineer and Pontoon School will include in training courses for the first time in January and February. This will be followed by the introduction of the bridging system into the first platoon in May. Two more bridging systems are scheduled to be delivered by the end of June 2026.
The Netherlands signed a contract for three new Improved Ribbon Bridges (IRBs) with GDELS–Bridge Systems on 30 June 2023. The procurement of a wet wide-gap crossing capability for the Dutch Engineer Corps consists of pontoons, bridge erection boats to move the pontoons and keep them in position in the water, WLS trucks to transport the pontoons and boats by land, and bridge adapter pallets to launch and recover them from the water. The contract comprises IRB sections with a total length of 225 m and bridge erection boats from US company Birdon.
GDELS said in a press release on 19 November that it had handed over the first M3 amphibious bridge and ferry system to the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (Försvarets materielverk: FMV) on 14 November at the company’s Kaiserslautern site in southwestern Germany where it is being built. (Source: Janes)
28 Nov 24. On November 27, 2024, Otokar signed the agreement through which Romania’s Ministry of National Defense awarded the company the supply of the 1,059 COBRA II 4×4 light tactical armored vehicles at a value equivalent to approximately 857m euro (excluding VAT). Within the scope of the contract, the first 278 COBRA II 4×4 tactical light armored vehicles will be manufactured in Türkiye while the rest will be manufactured in Romania. The deliveries are planned to be initiated in the last quarter of 2025 and be completed in batches over 5 years. The tender also includes some integrated logistics support services in addition to 1,059 4×4 Light Armored Tactical Wheeled Vehicles. On March 20, 2024 Otokar had submitted its bid for the tender for the purchase of 4×4 Light Armored Tactical Vehicles initiated by C.N. Romtehnica S.A., as a representative of the Ministry of National Defense. Following the successful completion of the technical evaluation, field tests and financial evaluation phases, on October 4, 2024 Otokar was informed that it had been declared as the winner of the tender.
COBRA II IS ACTIVELY USED IN 13 COUNTRIES
The COBRA II 4×4 tactical armored vehicle, produced by Otokar, is actively used by more than 20 users in 13 countries.
With Otokar’s nearly 40 years of defense industry experience and capabilities, COBRA II is designed as a modular platform which can be developed for different mission requirements. Added to the Otokar product range in 2013, COBRA II has been designed and produced in more than 30 different versions In line with the requirements and needs of its users. COBRA II, which was offered to the tender will be equipped according to the technical and tactical requirements of Romanian MoD.
In addition to its superior mobility, COBRA II provides high protection against ballistic, mine, and IED threats. With high power to weight ratio COBRA II delivers high performance. COBRA II is suitable for the integration of wide range of weapon and mission equipment options.
27 Nov 24. New Tanks Arrive in Townsville. Just three months after arriving on Australia shores, the first of the newly acquired M1A2 system enhanced program v3 (SEP v3) main battle tanks have been rolled out to 3rd Brigade. The 2nd Cavalry Regiment received four out of the regiment’s assigned 14 tanks on November 14, with the rest to be delivered by the end of 2025. The new tanks are essential for the Army’s combined arms fighting system and will enable land forces to control key strategic positions. Officer Commanding C Squadron Major Trent Lam said the new tank had increased firepower protection and mobility when compared to the M1A1 Abrams main battle tank.
“It has the ability to employ its weapon systems to a greater degree and provides additional weapon systems that can now fire on the move,” Major Lam said.
The tank also features a commander’s independent thermal viewer and improved situation awareness systems that provide the crew with enhanced visibility and threat detection.
“This enables both the commander and gunner to be looking in two separate locations,” Major Lam said.
It is also equipped with advanced fire control systems, including a digital ballistic computer, laser range finder and thermal imaging sights, allowing for effective targeting and engagement of enemy.
“The regiment now has additional ability to identify targets and then prosecute those targets in support of 3rd Brigade’s mission,” Major Lam said.
Major Lam said the tank’s capabilities made it a formidable asset on the battlefield, effectively combining fire power, protections and mobility.
“We’re feeling really positive. It’s sort of a new-car feeling; a new piece of equipment, which we can now use on exercise,” he said.
The tanks will be incorporated in field training early in the new year. (Source: ASD Network)
27 Nov 24. Project Hoefyster ‘deferred.’ Speaking to members of the media at Exercise Vuk’uhlome 2024, Lieutenant General Lawrence Mbatha, the Chief of the South African Army, revealed that Project Hoefyster has been deferred.
“Where we are standing with all the role players Hoefyster has been deferred in the simple terminology,” noted the Chief, but added “it has been paused, not stopped.”
Noting that “It is a quite long, outstanding project,” the Chief did not give a reason for the deferment, but stated “the need for a mechanized capability is still there.”
“That capability must be brought into place. So, where we are standing, what we face at this stage, it has been deferred,” said the Chief.
Project Hoefyster, which initially came into effect in June 2007, was aimed at developing a new generation of Badger infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) for the South African Army. The project focuses on creating a highly mobile, versatile, and modern combat vehicle designed to meet the evolving needs of the military in terms of protection, mobility, and firepower.
Phase one – for the design and development of five main variants – came into effect in 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.
Earlier this year, it was reported Denel was still busy “executing the outstanding development actions” for Project Hoefyster, with Armscor expecting “all issues for clarification and anomalies in the proposal will be resolved by the end of February 2024.”
By the end of April 2024, it was revealed Denel was still busy concluding development, but revised production costs saw the order decreased, with quantities only sufficient for a single battalion (88 vehicles) and not the three originally planned.
Further, Arsmcor noted it was executing a parallel study “into the possibility of performing a life extension of the Ratel infantry fighting vehicle.”
With the deferment of Project Hoefyster, a modernisation for the Ratel appears to be the South African Army’s only option to maintain its key mechanised capability.
At the African Aerospace and Defence Expo 2022, The OTT Group revealed the development of a “Ratel Service Life Extension Plan (SLEP) to keep these ageing vehicles in South African Army service for longer due to the non-delivery of the Badger vehicle under the Hoefyster programme.”
Funded internally and engineered by ADGM, the initiative aimed to provide maximum value for money and improve performance. The main upgrades focus on the engine and transmission, replacing the original components with a 360 hp commercial engine paired with a six-speed automatic gearbox and a new transfer case. A new cooling system protects these upgrades, resulting in a 30% increase in engine power, a lighter and smaller powerpack, and greater maintainability using readily available commercial parts.
In addition to the driveline improvements, the SLEP includes the addition of applique armour, upgrades to obsolete braking and pneumatic components, and new crew compartment insulation to protect against noise, heat, and fumes. The vehicle also receives new military-grade tires and an updated seating arrangement. The Ratel SLEP retains its 20 mm GI2 automatic cannon but introduces significant improvements in first-round accuracy through a partially stabilized and electrically assisted gun drive. Furthermore, a new day/night sighting system with a laser rangefinder and an independent commander’s sight enhances targeting capabilities, enabling both the gunner and commander to engage, observe, track, and designate targets effectively.
Although the SLEP is not considered the ideal approach for modernizing the South African National Defence Force’s (SANDF) capabilities, OTT sees it as a practical and viable solution to maintain combat readiness given the current limitations facing South Africa.
Other local companies offer similar capabilities, with Jorsin bringing its new Tau 4×4 armoured personnel carrier to Exercise Vuk’uhlome 2024 at the SA Army’s request. Jorsin has been working on Ratel maintenance and upgrades for decades, and is able to fit a modern engine, transmission and suspension to the Ratel, amongst others. Jorsin believes upgrading the Ratel would be a cost effective and capable solution for the SA Army.
(Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
26 Nov 24. No room for error: Ajax and Boxer must keep pace with timeline. Both armoured vehicle programmes are expected to arrive in the fourth quarter of 2025, a senior UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) official claims. If either one of the British Army’s armoured vehicle programmes slip this year, its capability gap will continue to run well beyond the early 2030s. In a parliamentary written response on 21 November, a senior MoD official laid out the planned operational structure. The Army will deploy four Heavy Mechanised Infantry Battalions across two Armoured Brigades. These battalions will be equipped and structured around the Boxer platform, with the first battalion due to reach Initial Operating Capability at the end of 2025. Likewise, the long-awaited Ajax vehicle faces a similar time frame. In the interim, the Army is left to operate the tracked Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle, which the Army has said the Boxer is not a direct replacement, and is a legacy platform approaching 40 years of service, according to GlobalData’s United Kingdom Defence Market report. Nevertheless, last month, the MoD indicated that Warrior will remain effective until new capabilities are introduced. Not only is the Warrior not designed to fit neatly into a new digitally connected network of land assets (Ajax, Boxer, Challenger, Apache), the UK Government says that its out of service date was in 2023, and that this was extended from 2014. Ahead of the Strategic Defence Review, which is meant to set out priority guidelines in the spring of 2025, the UK Government has acted without a discernible plan of action. Last week, the Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey, announced a new round of cuts for certain close-to-obsolete defence programmes. It has left the British Army without a tactical drone capability and the Royal Navy with fewer surface ships as part of a cost-saving measure for the department.
Clearly, the British budget, since the end of October, does not allow the government to make any promises when it comes to cuts to legacy programmes such as the Warrior.
“Getting Boxer and Ajax to the IOC stage is an important step to modernising the capabilites, interoperability and deterrence of the British Army. But these are drops in a very large bucket when we consider the rate of expenditure and the massive quantitative scale required to dominate on a high-intensity battlefield,” observed GlobalData defence analyst Tristan Sauer.
“The UK has nowhere near enough equipment, personnel and budget to make its force effective against a real threat (i.e. Russia).” This is particularly concerning given that some defence observers expect Britain to fight the Russians by 2028 at the earliest.
“If Ajax does face delays, I can foresee Boxer being used to try and fill any capability gaps (wouldn’t be optimal, but make the best of a bad situation) because RBSL’s production is seen as reliable,” Sauer added. (Source: army-technology.com)
25 Nov 24. Czech Army tanks: T-72M4 CZ vs Leopard 2A4. The Czech Army will obtain an additional 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks, enabling it to decommission its remaining Russian-designed T-72s.
The Czech Army will grow its Leopard 2A4 main battle tank (MBT) fleet by 30% with the acquisition of 14 additional units in a move that paves the way for the retirement of the ageing, Russian-origin, T-72M4 CZ MBTs.
In a 20 November statement, the Czech Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated deliveries would be completed by the end of 2026, bringing the Czech Army’s future Leopard 2A4 force up to 42 MBTs, in addition to two Büffel 3 recovery vehicles.
The VAT-excluded CZK3.98bn ($165.3m) deal, which will be signed by the end of 2024, includes an initial supply of ammunition for the Leopard 2A4 120mm smoothbore main gun.
“We continue to modernise not only our tank army, but also the entire army. This is another step to get rid of old Russian armaments and at the same time to increase our capabilities,” said Defence Minister Jana Černochová.
The Czech MoD is also negotiating a service contract deal that will enable the Leopard 2A4s to be serviced in the Czech Republic by local defence companies.
At over $11m per tank, the price is similar to a 2023 deal that saw Denmark and the Netherlands acquire 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks for Ukraine, at a cost of $172.9m
Czech Army fulfills commitment to Nato
In acquiring 42 Leopard 2A4 MBTs, the Czech Army will be able to equip its 73rd Tank Battalion up to Nato standards as part of a national commitment to provide a heavy armoured brigade to Nato.
The delivery of the first batch of 28 Leopard 2A4s will be completed by the end of 2025, according to the Czech MoD. These first MBTs were provided free-of-charge by Germany after the Czech Republic’s earlier provision of between 90-105 T-72B/EA tanks to Ukraine.
“Although these are older versions of [Leopard 2] tanks, they clearly increase the combat capabilities of tank troops compared to the T-72s used. In addition, the 2A4 machines can be upgraded,” the Czech MoD stated on 20 November.
It is not clear what will happen to the remaining T-72s in Czech service once decommissioned, although a further donation to Ukraine is a distinct possibility.
Why go for the Leopard 2?
Operated by a range of Nato militaries, the Leopard 2A4 is a widely-used variant of the German-designed MBT. Distinguishable from the more advanced Leopard 2A5 models onwards through the vertical turret armour, the Leopard 2A4 tanks are still considered to be capable MBTs and are a step up from the T-72M4 CZ platforms.
Providing its reasoning for the selection of the 2A4s, the Czech MoD said the combat capabilities of the current in-service T-72s, both in terms of firepower and armour, was “very limited”, with lessons being gleaned from the Ukraine-Russia war emphasising the importance of crew protection.
In addition, logistical considerations and Nato fleet commonality drove the purchase of the additional 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks.
“The T-72M4 CZ also contains mostly technologies from the 90s of the last century and is not upgradable further,” the MoD added. (Source: army-technology.com)
22 Nov 24. NZFD contracts Spain’s UROVESA for 60 new utility vehicles. UROVESA is set to deliver 60 VAMTAC ST5 light and CK3 medium-sized unarmoured utility vehicles starting in 2027. The New Zealand Defence Force (NZFD) has finalised a contract with Spanish military vehicle manufacturer UROVESA for 60 new VAMTAC ST5 light and CK3 medium-sized unarmoured utility vehicles. Secretary of Defence Brook Barrington signed the agreement at Defence House, marking the first procurement from Spain in the Land Domain. It also marks the start of replacement of NZFD’s most frequently deployed operational utility vehicle fleet. The current fleet comprises Unimog and Pinzgauer vehicles, which are used by NZDF units for both domestic training and overseas operations. The Government has approved the first tranche of the Ministry of Defence-led project, with a budget allocation of NZ$100m ($58.38m) as part of Budget 24. This development is part of the Protected Mobility Capability Project (PMCP), which has already introduced Bushmaster and Polaris fleets to the New Zealand Army. UROVESA is set to deliver the vehicles in 2027. The first tranche includes 40 medium CK3 variants and 20 light ST5 variants, replacing 25% of the New Zealand Army’s Pinzgauer and Unimog vehicles in operational roles. This tranche covers the purchase of vehicles, spare parts, computing and communications equipment, support equipment, project costs, and introduction into service costs. The new vehicles will feature integrated rollover protection and a tyre inflation system for challenging terrains. The VAMTAC ST5 light utility vehicle has a maximum authorised gross vehicle weight of 6000kg, a payload capacity of 1,700kg, and a maximum speed of 110km/h. It measures 2.62 metres (m) in height and 5.68m in length. The VAMTAC CK3 medium utility vehicle has a maximum authorised gross vehicle weight of 9,950kg, a payload capacity of 4,000kg, and a maximum speed of 110km/h. It measures 3.03m in height and 6.34m in length. Earlier this year, GlobalData’s ‘New Zealand Defense Market 2023-2028’ report provided insights into New Zealand’s defence strategy. The report highlighted the country’s approach to increasing defence spending and addressing procurement challenges across the Army, Air Force, and Navy. (Source: army-technology.com)
22 Nov 24. March delivery of first new SANDF border protection vehicles “a stretch”. Twelve months after bringing their prospective vehicles to an SA Army exercise, and subsequently submitting bids for new vehicles, South African armoured personnel carrier (APC) manufacturers still await an Armscor successful bidder decision. In January 2023, Armscor issued a Request for Information (SA Army/R/403/6) for a 2+8 seat APC capable of counterinsurgency operations with variable ballistic and mine protection able to defeat an 8 kg mine. Sixteen local defence companies were invited to respond, with eight doing so. The intention was to evaluate the different vehicles along the South African borderline in operational conditions in October/November and afterwards demonstrate the vehicles during Exercise Vuk’uhlome in November 2023. However, this was postponed as Armscor revised specifications, reducing the combat weight specification as the original user requirement was mostly taken from that of the Badger infantry fighting vehicle for the SA Army, and this was not practical for the vehicles required for border patrol. A Request for Bid (RfB) (ELWS/2024/71) was issued in July this year by Armscor. A bidders’ conference for the no-name project took place on 8 August, postponed from 31 July with answers to questions supplied a mere two days before the 23 August submission date. Armscor extended the submission date to 13 September with one reason seemingly due to “significantly changed” vehicle system requirements, according to James Kerr of Orion Consulting. The tender, now long closed, is still under evaluation as of this month, according to Armscor. It is for the supply of 462 personnel carrier vehicles for use in counter-insurgency and other SA Army operations (210 Section variants, 144 Command variants, and 108 Ambulance variants.) The participation at last year’s division exercise Vuk’uhlome II was seen by some in the South African defence industry as indicating a change in approach with a potentially quicker turnaround time in the product evaluation and bidder decision process. This appears not to be the case, with bidders expressing frustration at Armscor’s delays, changing requirements, and short timelines. Kerr maintains the delivery dates set are “a stretch” with the first vehicles required two months after receipt of order to start testing. These, if approved, would provide a manufacturing baseline. Then, Kerr has it, 20 of each variant – 60 vehicles – are required by mid-March next year. That looks unlikely as the Armscor response to a defenceWeb inquiry this month states bids are being evaluated with “any interested person” to be informed “once the final procurement process has been concluded”. No date is given when the 11 bidders can expect to find out which of their submissions has been successful. The new APCs will replace the troop pack vehicles previously acquired for border patrol – over 400 Toyota Land Cruisers were originally bought for this purpose. National Treasury allocated R500m in 2024/25 for the procurement of vehicles to replace the troop packs. (Source: https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/)
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Contact: Paul Fleming
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