Sponsored by TEK Military Seating Limited
http://www.tekmilitaryseating.co.uk/
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17 Jul 25. New Zealand seeks medium trucks to replace ageing fleet. New Zealand’s military continues to renew its disparate transport vehicle fleet under the Garrison and Training Support (GATS) programme, with the latest tender being published in late June. A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesperson told Janes, “The 2025 Defence Capability Plan outlines multiple indicative investments to refresh the fleet by purchasing up to 550 commercial vehicles in total. This will include on- and offroad vehicles, buses, vans, ambulances, and fire appliances.” The spokesperson added, “In addition, defence will replace critical support equipment including refuellers, vehicle transporters, heavy equipment transporters, trailers, and forklifts.” The current request for proposals (RFP) encompasses at least 45 medium-sized tactical trucks to replace remaining Mercedes-Benz Unimogs that have been operated by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) for more than 40 years. Described as Medium Class 2, the NZDF wants trucks for “cargo and personnel transportation across both formed and unformed roads”, the RFP said. Their acquisition was approved under the 2025 defence budget and this project marks the first tranche of GATS phase two. The MoD spokesperson said specifications and timelines would be finalised after Cabinet approves the final business case. These trucks will not deploy overseas. Sarah Minson, deputy secretary for capability delivery, said, “The NZDF will use the vehicles every day for training purposes and for the transport of people and equipment within and between camps and bases.” Domestic search-and-rescue and disaster relief missions also fall under their purview. (Source: Janes)
16 Jul 25. IDV secures NSPA contract to deliver integrated RAS capability. The project aims to merge UGVs and UASs within a unified, advanced C2 system. The Nato Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has awarded Iveco Defence Vehicles (IDV) a three-year contract to develop and test concepts for robotic and autonomous systems (RAS). The goal is to deliver an integrated RAS capability designed for complex, real-world combat scenarios. The overarching aim of this initiative is to craft a comprehensive RAS strategy and establish detailed implementation roadmaps for adopting RAS technologies in military service. IDV’s task involves integrating uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs) and uncrewed air systems (UASs) within a unified, advanced, interoperable command and control (C2) system spread across designated network nodes. The company will lead the programme, collaborating with a consortium of technology providers from Nato member countries that offer complementary RAS technologies. This team includes LEM, Siralab, and Rebel Alliance. IDV’s VIKING UGV and the optionally uncrewed light multirole vehicle are capable of manual operation, teleoperation, or autonomous driving, and are equipped with various mission payloads. This March, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration acquired the VIKING UGV from IDV. The procurement is part of the Autonomous Multifunctional Ground Vehicle Demonstrator Programme. The programme with NSPA will involve practical experiments with the Italian Army and other Nato forces to demonstrate how these systems can enhance operational advantage, mission effectiveness, and safety while informing military doctrine on the battlefield. Initial test scenarios will cover a range of operations such as resupply, casualty evacuation, forward medical evacuation, reconnaissance along communication routes, intelligence surveillance, and more. In May this year, IDV signed a memorandum of understanding with BAE Systems Hägglunds to collaborate on the BvS10 armoured all-terrain vehicle for the Italian market. The BvS10 is engineered to deliver comprehensive operational support and manoeuvrability across a wide range of challenging terrains. (Source: army-technology.com)
17 Jul 25. BAE/IVECO ACV For Spanish Marines. The acquisition by the Spanish Navy of the BAE Systems/Iveco Defence Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) first announced in March 2025 appears to have secured funding and will move forward. The plan is to procure thirty-four ACVs referred to as the VACIM to replace the nineteen AAV7 (Assault Amphibious Vehicles) currently in service since 1972. The ACV variants to be provided to the Marine Infantry Brigade “Tercio de Armada” (TEAR) will include twenty-eight troop transport vehicles, two command vehicles, two recovery vehicles, and two ambulances. The contract will also include initial logistical support, training programs, simulation systems, and the development supporting infrastructure. The ACV is currently used by the US Marines which selected the vehicle in 2018 following a competitive procurement. It has also been acquired by the Italian military as the VBA which committed to a purchase in 2023. The ACV is based on the Iveco Defence Vehicles SuperAV which is being manufactured by BAE Systems for the Marines. It is an 8 X 8 wheeled platform utilizing an innovative H-drive design and shrouded propellors for water travel. The vehicle has a land speed of 105 kmh (65 mph) and water speed of 11 kmph (6 nmph). It is able self-launch from an amphibious ship, transit to the shore and they execute extended land operations. The ACV-P infantry carrier variant has a crew of three and transports a squad thirteen Marines (although the Italian and Spanish may carry ten). It mounts the stabilized M153 Protector Remote Weapon Station (RWS), which can be fitted with either the M2 .50 Caliber machine gun or a Mk-19 grenade launcher. The Italian version mounts the Leonardo Hitrole Light remote turret with a 12.7mm calibre weapon.
ACV
Additional future requirements for the Marine Infantry Brigade which might result in additional ACV orders are also a possibility. The brigade has thirty-nine MOWAG Piranha IIIC wheeled combat vehicles. These are reaching the end of their operational life by 2028. The retirement of these vehicles would leave the force short of the number of vehicles essential to fulfil their missions. Their current Piranha variants include infantry carriers with a 12.7 or 40mm automatic grenade launcher, reconnaissance with 30mm autocannon turret, recovery, ambulance, and command post. The ACV has already or could be configured of these roles with the US Marines having developed or fielded versions in the ACV-30 with an autocannon, ACV-C a command post, and ACV-R recovery. Having a common ACV fleet would offer sizable maintenance, logistics and training benefits.
ACV
The acquisition and fielding of the ACV would offer significant advantages to the Spanish Marines and benefits to local industry. It is expected thar the manufacturing would include participation by Spanish industry likely through existing IVECO operations and partnerships. In addition, the Marines would have state-of the-art proven amphibious vehicles with operational performance equivalent to that of the US Marines, as well as the Italian forces. This will offer commonality between the various nation’s amphibious forces which often perform together. (Source: Armada)
15 Jul 25. US, Australia and Japan sign trilateral naval logistics agreement. The agreement is a first under the existing strategic dialogue framework. The US Navy, Royal Australian Navy (RAN), and Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) have agreed to enhance their maritime forces’ logistics capabilities to improve cooperation. The trilateral logistics agreement, signed by senior US, Australian and Japanese flag officers, aims to strengthen maritime collaboration and uphold stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The signing occurred on the America-class amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) while docked in Brisbane. This pact is a first under the existing strategic dialogue framework that has facilitated bilateral collaboration between these nations on logistics and other matters for several years. OPNAV N4 installations and logistics deputy chief of naval operations vice admiral Jeff Jablon said: “Sustainment in depth is a primary objective.
“We have robust logistics partnerships with Japan and Australia to ensure we can provide the right material and services at the right place, at the right time to mutually support our maritime forces, from day-to-day training during peacetime through contingencies. This arrangement strengthens those commitments and allows us to more easily share information, technologies and processes for greater logistics resiliency.”
The agreement covers cooperation areas such as missile system reloading and flexible refuelling operations. Since 2019, Australian and US naval forces have provided mutual support for missile reloading activities in the Indo-Pacific. To expedite at-sea reloading, the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) is developing prototype systems compatible with both US and partner nations’ MK-41 missile launchers. These systems will facilitate missile canister transfers between ships under challenging sea conditions. Demonstrations of these systems took place in 2024, with additional demonstrations scheduled for 2025 and 2026 to highlight further capability enhancements and interoperability. Additionally, military oilers from the US, Australia, and Japan routinely conduct refuelling operations with vessels from partner countries during joint exercises and engagements. Since 2011, the Military Sealift Command (MSC) has been equipping leased commercial tankers with consolidated tanking (CONSOL) connections, allowing them to refuel military oilers at sea. The MSC has increased CONSOL operations and training with Australian, Japanese, and other partners since 2022. The US Navy is investigating how partner nation tankers might adopt CONSOL features. The signing event took place just before the start of exercise Talisman-Sabre 2025, where Australia, Japan, and other partners will engage in related activities as part of the exercise programme. RAN general logistics director commodore Catherine Rhodes said: “During Talisman-Sabre and beyond, we have clear opportunities to work trilaterally with our US and Japanese partners on logistics initiatives.
“These efforts facilitate our speed of response for the full range of naval actions in the Indo-Pacific, from routine sustainment through crisis.” (Source: naval-technology.com)
14 Jul 25. Denmark takes the final steps in CAVS programme and orders 129 Patria 6×6 armoured vehicles. Denmark has now completed the final steps in the multinational Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) programme by signing the last three agreements simultaneously: the R&D Agreement, the Frame Agreement, and the Life Cycle Management (LCM) Agreement. This follows the signing of the Technical Arrangement with all participating countries as recently as in April 2025. Following this, Denmark also orders 129 CAVS 6×6 armoured vehicles based on Patria 6×6 within the programme. The first vehicles will be delivered already this year. Denmark is the fifth nation after Finland, Latvia, Sweden and Germany to join the programme.
“Patria is very pleased to see that now also Denmark has moved to the serial procurement phase. The speedy and swift progress of Denmark taking all needed steps within the CAVS programme has been an excellent example of current multinational cooperation as it should be, targeting to increased interoperability and the security of supply between allied nations. CAVS programme continues to be a prime example for creating the desired common defence capabilities in a quick and cost-effective manner”, says Mats Warstedt, Vice President, Market Area Nordics of Patria.
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, delivering and supporting state-of-the-art protected troop transportation and system integration. The supply of 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 nearly 1,000 Patria 6×6 vehicles and has delivered more than 200. The programme is open to countries with similar equipment requirements, by mutual consent of the participating countries.
Patria will take part in Denmark’s largest defence industry exhibition DALO Industry Days in Bellerup, Denmark, on 20 – 21 August, 2025. The event is hosted by The Danish Ministry of Defense Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO). Also the CAVS 6×6 armoured vehicle will be displayed at the event.
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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: Paul Fleming
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