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10 Feb 22. Hanwha Defense Australia to support Oshkosh Defense OMFV Consortium. The Oshkosh Defense consortium, which includes Hanwha Defense USA, a division of Hanwha Defense Corporation based in South Korea, was recently selected to participate in the US Army’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) program Concept Design Phase. Hanwha Defense Australia (HDA), another division of Hanwha Defense Corporation, will also support the Oshkosh Defense OMFV consortium.
The Oshkosh Defense OMFV concept leverages the proven capability of Hanwha’s Redback chassis. The Redback is one of two contenders for Australia’s Land 400 Phase 3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) requirement, which is expected to be awarded in 2022.
“While the OMFV and Land 400 requirements are different in some elements, many of the advanced capabilities could apply to both programs,” said Richard Cho, Hanwha Defense Australia Managing Director. “Along with our Australian suppliers, we’ve learned a lot about the capabilities associated with a modern Infantry Fighting Vehicle. We look forward to working with Oshkosh Defense and Hanwha Defense USA and collectively leverage those insights as part of the OMFV program.”
Hanwha Defense Australia will also deliver a Redback to the Republic of Korea (ROK) Ministry of National Defense to undergo a performance evaluation that will inform the Korean future Infantry Fighting Vehicle program.
10 Feb 22. Turkish shipyard preps two landing crafts for Qatari Navy. Two landing craft mechanized ships built in Turkey for Qatar’s Navy was put to sea Feb. 8 at a Turkish port. The LCM vessels were constructed by a partnership of Turkish companies Anadolu and Barzan Holding.
Anadolu shipyard officials did not comment on the contract value. The ships were launched at the Tuzla shipyard in Marmara Sea, south of Istanbul. Anadolu officials noted the LCMs would be delivered to the Qatari Navy at an August ceremony and reach Qatar in September.
“That means the two ships will have been successfully launched in seven months and delivered to the end user in less than 12 months,” said Anadolu’s board chairman, Sualp Urkmez.
Urkmez described the two LCMs as the world’s fastest of their type with the biggest cargo capacity. The Turkish-made LCMs can carry up to 130 tons of cargo each.
“They are designed to have perfect maneuverability, especially in shallow waters,” he said.
Under an earlier contract, Anadolu build and delivered to the Qatari Navy a 2,250-ton training ship, the Al Doha. A twin ship, the Al Shamal, will be delivered soon. Urkmez said Anadolu wants to build three more LCMs for the Qatari Navy, starting in 2023. He said the company could also negotiate with Qatar the potential sale of its unmanned landing ships. (Source: Defense News)
09 Feb 22. Tyron delivers second batch of wheel assemblies for British Army Mastiff & Ridgeback vehicles. Tyron Runflat Ltd has begun delivery of the second batch of wheel/tyre/runflat assemblies for the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) Ridgback and Mastiff vehicle upgrade programme.Under the MoD’s Protected Mobility Engineering & Technical Support (PMETS) contract, NP Aerospace is re-engineering Ridgback and Mastiff vehicles to improve their off-road mobility performance, enhance safety and introduce new capabilities. Improvements being carried out on the fleet include installing an industry package of equipment: new independent suspension systems incorporating Ride Height Control; upgraded driveline, steering and braking systems; central tyre inflation systems; and increased diameter tyres. Tyron is responsible for delivering the entire wheel assemblies to NP Aerospace for the upgrade, consisting of its All-Terrain Rubber Multi-Piece (ATR-MP) runflat and the new Michelin X Force ZL16.00r20 tyre, which has a new deep, open tread pattern and shoulders to maximise traction. Tyron is the first company in the UK to take delivery of this new tyre and integrate it into the wheel assembly. The ATR-MP contributes to increased mobility and safety for the Ridgback and Mastiff vehicle fleet, while also supporting simplified logistics in the field. As a multi-section runflat, the ATR-MP does not require any special tools or a hydraulic press to insert and remove the runflat when replacing the tyre, as is the case with single piece alternatives. Tyron’s ATR runflats are designed to maintain vehicle mobility and safety during and after tyre deflation, whether due to ballistic attack, blowout, or puncture, allowing the driver and crew to continue the mission safely and return to base. The runflat guarantees beadlock, which prevents the tyre spinning on the wheel when deflated, enabling the vehicle to continue moving at speed in full compliance with on and off-road Finabel standards. The system is fully compatible with CTIS and standard wheels. The first batch of wheel assemblies were delivered for the programme in early 2021.
“This new batch of assemblies, incorporating the new Michelin tyre with the ATR-MP will deliver improved mobility and safety for the Ridgback and Mastiff vehicle fleet in support of Operation NEWCOMBE in Mali,” Peter Simson, Director, Tyron Runflat, said. “We are pleased to be part of this industry team delivering an improved capability for British forces operating the Ridgback and Mastiff vehicle fleet.”
09 Feb 22. Thailand receives THeMIS Combat UGV from Milrem Robotics. Thailand has received the THeMIS Combat uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV) from autonomous systems developer Milrem Robotics. The move will enable the Defence Technology Institute (DTI), in Thailand, and the Royal Thai Army to start the assessment of the robotic combat vehicle (RCV) soon.
The RCV includes the THeMIS UGV and the R400S – Mk2-HD remote weapon station (RWS). The RWS, which includes the Northrop Grumman M230 LF cannon, was delivered by the Australian space and defence company Electro Optic Systems (EOS). According to Milrem Robotics, the company was responsible for integrating the RCV system.
Milrem Robotics CEO Kuldar Väärsi said: “It’s our honour to be the robotic systems partner with the Royal Thai Army and DTI. This is a significant delivery and deployment for the Milrem THeMIS.
“It demonstrates that the THeMIS can master very challenging environments. Also, the successful integration of a 30mm weapon system brings THeMIS firepower to the next level.
“Cooperation with DTI will grow the local robotic technology capabilities in Thailand, in terms of the local assembly and system integration.”
The THeMIS Combat UGV is designed as a force multiplier, to provide direct fire support for manoeuvre forces.
It features an integrated self-stabilising, remote-controlled weapon system to operate over wide areas with high precision.
The UGVs can also operate with light or heavy machine guns and 40mm grenade launchers, as well as anti-tank missile systems.
To date, 12 countries have acquired the THeMIS UGV systems.
Last month, Milrem Robotics secured a multi-year contract to provide RAS concept development and experimentation (CD&E) services to the Italian Army. (Source: army-technology.com)
09 Feb 22. L&T ready to partner with Hanwha Defense on light tank offer to India. India’s Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has said it is prepared to produce light tanks with South Korea’s Hanwha Defense for the Indian Army. An L&T spokesperson told Janes on 7 February that the company plans to partner with Hanwha Defense on manufacturing light tanks for the Indian Army. The two companies have already partnered to produce the K9 Vajra-T self-propelled howitzer (SPH), a variant of the K9 Thunder SPH, for the Indian Army. However, the spokesperson added that the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has only released the request for information (RFI) for the light tanks and not the tender. The joint production of light tanks is uncertain at this stage since the tender’s categorisation will decide what direction the programme will take, the spokesperson added. This categorisation will determine whether and to what degree a foreign vendor will be involved in manufacturing the light tanks.
“Given this situation, I believe it is far too early for any global player to offer their product to India,” said the L&T spokesperson. (Source: Janes)
08 Feb 22. Shadow Secretary of State for Defence visits WFEL We were delighted to host John Healey, Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, at our Stockport military manufacturing facility, in the first week of February, accompanied by Stockport MP Navendu Mishra.
The visitors heard about the most recent developments in the rich history of WFEL, as both a world-leading supplier of Military Bridging Systems and as a key partner in the UK MoD’s Boxer Armoured Vehicle programme.
During a tour of WFEL’s Military Bridging manufacturing centre, the Members of Parliament met with production staff who have developed technical and highly specialist skills over many years working at WFEL. The Bridging teams are currently working on a number of significant projects for both the British Army and for overseas military customers.
In WFEL’s Armoured Vehicle manufacturing facility, the MPs saw the £multi-million investment in brand new facilities and significant technology transfer programmes which have culminated in this new state-of-the-art production line, now producing Boxer 8×8 Armoured Vehicles for the UK MoD as part of a £2.3bn contract signed with the ARTEC consortium.
The MPs heard how WFEL is a significant employer in Stockport, offering long-term, secure job opportunities for an increasing number of personnel in a variety of disciplines.
The Boxer vehicle contract for UK MoD is creating new sovereign skills for the UK armoured vehicle industry, with further job opportunities currently available at WFEL and in our wider supply chains, as this project further advances over coming months.
05 Feb 22. U.S. Military Wants Its Vehicles to Go Electric — With Detroit’s Help. To combat climate change, boost U.S. industry and achieve operational advantages, the Defense Department has ambitious plans to transform its fleet of ground vehicles through the introduction of electric and hybrid-electric drive technologies. Automakers see major opportunities to help the military and win business.
Addressing what it calls the climate crisis is a top policy priority of the Biden administration.
“The department is committed to meeting the challenge by making significant changes in our use of energy and increasing our investments in clean energy technology,” Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks said in November during remarks at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.
The Pentagon is developing a “sustainability plan,” part of which will be focused on developing a zero emissions non-tactical vehicle fleet.
“Currently the Department of Defense has about 170,000 non-tactical vehicles — the cars and trucks we use on our bases,” Hicks noted.
“That’s the largest fleet in the federal government, next to the U.S. Postal Service. Our success in transitioning this massive fleet to zero emissions, most of which will be electric, will depend on America’s auto industry and autoworkers right here in Detroit.”
General Motors has committed to investing $35 bn in advanced vehicle technologies, to include power and propulsion systems for electric vehicles, noted Steve DuMont, president of GM Defense. The parent company plans to have 30-plus EVs in its product offerings by 2035.
“All of that has relevance to what our defense customers are looking at,” he told National Defense. “If you look at the non-tactical vehicles that are used in a [military] base or installation environment, to me that’s just low hanging fruit.”
DuMont has been talking with the brass across the services to discuss the way ahead.
“When I met with [Deputy] Secretary Hicks, she made it really clear. I mean, her vision is let’s start with the things that are easiest to do. And I put [electrifying the non-tactical fleet] in that category,” he said. “There are opportunities to work with the DoD in that first area.”
There will be some challenges involved, he acknowledged.
“There is infrastructure that needs to be put on the bases, there’s a whole rollover of acquisition of these vehicles. But it truly is what we’re doing today on the commercial side” of the automotive business, DuMont said.
GM is looking at creating microgrids to facilitate the transformation.
Army Lt. Gen. Duane Gamble, deputy chief of staff, G-4, said electrification of non-tactical vehicles and their deployment on installations will help inform how the Defense Department leverages EV tech for other elements of the future force.
“Building trust in our soldiers, our civilians and our leaders in our non-tactical wheeled vehicle fleet and the infrastructure that goes along with that … will help us transition and fully understand not only the technology, but the challenges associated with incorporating it into our combat vehicles,” he told members of the House Armed Services subcommittee on readiness during a December hearing on operational energy.
The bipartisan infrastructure deal that Congress passed last year includes large investments in electric vehicles, batteries and the creation of a national network of charging stations, Hicks noted.
“On the non-tactical [vehicle] side, it’s going to be all about the money and whether or not the money is really there,” said Sharon Burke, a fellow in the New America think tank’s Future of War project, and former assistant secretary of defense for operational energy.
“It’s looking like … the administration and Congress together are setting up a situation where that’s going to be possible, where the investment is going to be there,” she said.
The Pentagon also wants to electrify its tactical vehicles — not just to combat climate change, but to achieve operational benefits as well, Hicks noted.
Gamble said the Army is at an “inflection point” for the tactical wheeled vehicle and combat vehicle fleets, largely because of technologies that have emerged from the commercial industry.
The initial push will be for hybrid-electric drive, or HED, because “full electrification for our complex weapon systems at the forward edge of the battlefield is a goal that we don’t believe that currently our technology will support,” Gamble said.
The main roadblock to full electrification is recharging in austere environments.
“How are you actually going to power these vehicles if you’re talking about a deployment far from home?” Burke asked. “You can’t run them off a grid if you’re on a battlefield, so … until you have an answer to that question, you’re not ready yet.”
Hybrid-electric architectures for tactical systems are expected to yield major operational benefits, officials and analysts say.
HED could reduce fuel consumption by as much as 35 percent, Gamble noted. Other advantages include: extended range and persistence; increased onboard power for capabilities such as directed-energy weapons, jammers and electrified armor; reduced maintenance costs and associated logistics footprint; silent watch and silent mobility; and reduced thermal and acoustic signature.
Marine Lt. Gen. Edward Banta, deputy commandant for installations and logistics, told lawmakers that the Marine Corps is also eyeing hybrid technologies for new platforms and as a possible retrofit on legacy fleets.
“There’s no reason not to look at that step right now,” Burke said of moving toward hybrid-electric platforms. It doesn’t add much additional cost compared with buying systems with internal combustion engines, and it provides performance gains, she added. “It’s a good thing.”
Jim Miller, BAE Systems’ director of business development for combat mission systems, said: “The time is now for hybrid-electric drive and … it’s one of those things we need to move fast on.”
BAE has been tapped by the Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office to integrate its HED tech into Bradley Fighting Vehicles for demonstrations.
The company has a long history of working on this type of technology, including for commercial buses, he noted.
“They’ve created this baseline of maturity that we’ve taken advantage of on the combat vehicle side and led us to this,” Miller said, adding that he’s “reasonably sure this is going to work out well.”
The contractor is wrapping up the integration work, and the first two vehicles are slated to be delivered to the military by June for testing, which will help inform the way ahead for the combat vehicle fleet.
In fiscal year 2022, the Army will also test hybrid-electric versions of Humvees and Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, according to Gamble.
Miller said the HED for the Bradley was designed to be a scalable system that could be installed in all the vehicles that are part of armored brigade combat teams except for the M1 tank and the M88 recovery vehicle. “We’re trying to make it as plug and play as we can.”
Retrofitting a variety of legacy platforms could soon be “in the realm of the possible,” he added, noting that the company recently held talks with the rapid capabilities office about potentially putting the system in the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle.
The contractor also plans to include HED in its offerings for new platforms including robotic combat vehicles and the Army’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle.
“We think that’s the wave of the future and where it’s going, and we’re building that way,” Miller said.
BAE has developed a robotic technology demonstrator with its own money that it has been showing off to military brass.
“We had all kinds of very positive feedback about moving in the right direction with hybrid-electric drive,” Miller said.
Gamble said the “hybridization” of tactical wheeled vehicle and combat vehicle fleets is achievable between now and the end of the decade.
The Army aims to acquire “full electric” complex weapon systems in the light and medium categories in the 2030-2035 timeframe. Service officials believe the technology required will be mature enough by then, Gamble told lawmakers. Heavy platforms would likely come later.
But DuMont believes all-electric tactical vehicles could be ready for warfighters much sooner than some are predicting.
“I see the hybrid as maybe a transitional stage that likely will be very short lived, in my opinion, because I think we’re going to be able to demonstrate the viability, the efficacy as well as the enhanced reliability … of having a single fuel source, a single power plant,” he said.
Solving the recharging challenge for battlefield systems with fuel cells or other technologies is “the last piece of the puzzle” and a major focus of GM Defense, he said.
When that happens, “I think the adoption of these vehicles is going to come very quickly, just because the operator is going to be so impressed with the performance of them,” he added.
GM has already proven it can create highly capable, fully electric tactical wheeled platforms, DuMont said.
The company built an all-electric military concept vehicle similar to the conventionally powered Infantry Squad Vehicle. Both systems are based on the Chevy Colorado ZR2, and the concept vehicle utilizes the same power plant as the Chevy Bolt.
“I’ve taken it out and demonstrated it with the Army. I’ve shown it to the Marine Corps. I’ve had Special Operations Command drive it,” DuMont said. There’s nothing the conventionally powered ISV can do that the concept vehicle can’t do, according to DuMont.
Additionally, GM’s Ultium technology, which is the foundation of the Silverado commercial EV truck that was announced in January, will be leveraged for GM Defense’s offering for the Army’s electric Light Reconnaissance Vehicle, which the service plans to pursue as its first fully electric tactical vehicle built from the ground up, he noted. Prototyping is slated for 2022.
Gamble said the Army is “thinking big but starting small” when it comes to these types of systems.
However, DuMont said the eLRV project could have outsized implications for industry teams that are eyeing future opportunities to electrify the military’s fleets.
“It’s tough to recover from a negative first impression,” he said. “If we were to deliver an eLRV … and it didn’t meet the expectations of the operator, that would be pretty tough and we would have to do a lot of work to overcome it. So, I am putting additional focus on making sure we get eLRV right.”
To achieve its vision for electric and hybrid-electric platforms, the Pentagon needs to ensure that energy performance and electrification have “real value” attached to them when it develops strategy, concepts, doctrine and requirements, Burke said.
“Until the actual process by which the department decides what the future threat is and what they’re going to build for it, until that includes a value for energy as a capability and a performance gain, then this won’t be real,” she said. “It has to get into the business of how the department builds for the future in order for this to actually happen.”
She continued: “You need to see it incorporated in a program of record in an authentic way, not just a sort of boutique or showcase energy project.” (Source: glstrade.com/Breaking Defense.com)
07 Feb 22. Patria and Pratt & Whitney to deepen their long-term cooperation. Patria and Pratt & Whitney have signed a Letter of Intent to deepen their ongoing long-term cooperation related to the F100-PW-220/220E and F100-PW-229 military jet engines operational in the F-16 and F-15 combat aircraft. The aim is to maintain and develop the existing relationship in support of maintenance, repair and overhaul logistics for worldwide F100 customers. In addition to this, there is a joint intention to further work toward Patria becoming a part of Pratt & Whitney’s F100 global sustainment network and become the best value logistic support supplier including F100 maintenance, repair and overhaul. The Parties have commenced a Working Group targeting a long-term co-operation strategy and agreement within 2022.
“Pratt & Whitney and Patria have had a successful cooperation model already for more than 40 years, and this is a natural continuum to that. With this Letter of Intent, we also want jointly acknowledge the aim to deepen and develop our operations. Being part of the Pratt & Whitney global F100 sustainment network and deepening our partnership support our growth strategy and provides us new opportunities together with Pratt & Whitney“, says Mikko Kilpeläinen, VP, Partnerships at Patria.
“Pratt & Whitney is excited for this collaboration opportunity with Patria. The Letter of Intent provides a solid foundation for our teams to define our future business arrangement as a participant in our sustainment global network,” says Kelly Young, Senior Director, F100 Pratt & Whitney. Patria is an international provider of defence, security and aviation life cycle support services and technology solutions. Patria provides aerospace and military customers with equipment availability, continuous performance development as well as selected intelligence, surveillance and management system products and services. Patria Belgium Engine Center, located in Liége area is today supporting some 15 air forces globally in their F100 needs.
03 Feb 22. US Army defends new squad vehicle after blistering combat review.
“The ISV is not designed to defeat or counter specific threats nor is it intended to operate as a combat fighting platform,” Steve Herrick, the senior program office official, told Breaking Defense.
After a scathing Pentagon report dubbed the US Army’s new Infantry Squad Vehicle “not operationally effective” for combat missions against near-peer threats, the program office responsible is defending the multi-million dollar program, saying that’s not what it’s meant to do in the first place.
“The ISV is not designed to defeat or counter specific threats nor is it intended to operate as a combat fighting platform,” Steve Herrick, product lead for ground mobility vehicles with the Program Executive Office for Combat Support and Combat Service Support, told Breaking Defense in a statement Wednesday. “The primary role of the ISV is as a troop carrier to provide ground mobility to designated Infantry rifles squads reducing their need to cover large areas of terrain on foot.”
Herrick’s statement came several days after the Pentagon’s director of operational test and evaluation published a harsh review of the ISV in its annual report, listing several vehicle shortcomings ahead of the program’s full-rate production decision in May — many related to combat scenarios.
For instance, during the initial operational test and evaluation in August, the Pentagon testers said that the rifle company using ISVs failed to avoid enemy detection, ambushes and engagements during the majority of its missions. The report states the vehicle lacked ballistic armor, that soldiers’ individual weapons weren’t easily accessible in the event of an attack and it was difficult to operate a mounted machine gun while on the move.
While the program office said it is addressing several issues detailed in the report, such as engine cracks and steering loss, the office said that others, especially combat-related features, weren’t among the vehicle’s original requirements. An Army vehicle profile says the ISV is meant to “modernize Army Infantry Brigade Combat Teams” and to allow “Soldiers to close on an objective with less fatigue and greater readiness.”
“As there is no requirement for protection or armor, the unit on the ISV is intended to avoid threats, where possible,” Herrick said. “If engaged, units are intended to disengage and when appropriate disembark.”
Herrick said, that the program office “is reviewing options for stowage of multiple locations to aid in the ability to ensure the weapons are stored safely and can be retrieved quickly if the need to disembark from the vehicle is required.”
Among the problems not related to direct combat, the DOT&E report found reliability issues in desert conditions that included broken seat frames, engine cracks and overheating.
According to Herrick, DOT&E recommended that the ISV program office improve reliability and conduct follow-on testing to show the vehicle meets its requirements, redesign the seats to improve soldier comfort and better accommodate solider combat equipment, integrate a mounted radio to improve command and control at far ranges, and find ways to improve the ISV’s carrying capacity.
“The Army is currently addressing or evaluating DOT&E’s recommendations,” Herrick said. “For instance reliability enhancements are already in process, and the Army will conduct follow-on testing to confirm these enhancements.”
The annual report also noted that the ISV’s lack of a requirement for mounted communications equipment on the ISV degraded the situational awareness of soldiers on 62- to 300-mile missions. In response, Herrick was less committal about the Army addressing that issue. He said the “the program office is considering investigating a kit to integrate a vehicle-mounted radio configurations on the ISV.”
Herrick told Breaking Defense that program office has “multiple” improvements that have been confirmed on the current vehicle baseline, including the cracked and bent seat frames. Additional fixes are currently being assessed, Herrick said, “with most to be assessed through system-level reliability testing back at Yuma later in FY22, to include the engine concerns.” The Army tests the vehicle in Yuma, Ariz. and Fort Bragg, N.C.
GM Defense won the $214m ISV contract in 2020 and delivered the first vehicle just 120 days after the contract award. GM previously referred Breaking Defense’s questions about the DOT&E report to the Army’s program office.
“We are committed to resolving issues — ensuring the ISV will provide an effective and reliable capability to the Soldier,” Herrick said.
(Source: glstrade.com/Breaking Defense.com)
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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: David Parkman
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