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15 Aug 25. South Korea to enhance armoured vehicle performance. Under the KRW47.6bn (USD34.3m) project DAPA said it will install on unidentified vehicles a series of new systems and technologies by 2029 that will “increase the mission performance and survivability” of its troops. DAPA said it agreed to move forward with the project following talks with Hyundai Rotem, one of South Korea’s primary manufacturers of military vehicles. The project outlines the integration on the vehicles of systems including an unspecified remote controlled weapon station (RCWS), Tactical Multiband Multirole Radio (TMMR), omnidirectional surveillance cameras, and new screen displays. DAPA did not confirm but the RCWS is likely reference to the family of remotely operated weapon stations produced by Hanwha. The TMMR is likely reference to LIG Nex1’s product of the same name that enables real-time information sharing and command-and-control engagements. DAPA said installation of these systems, and particularly TMMR, will enable the armoured vehicles to better share information with the RoK Armed Forces’ battalion-level battle command system. In a press release DAPA cited General Koh Hyung-seok, the head of its battle manoeuvrability unit, as saying that the project “takes into account technological advancements such as the mounting and operation of [the] RCWS on domestic and foreign combat vehicles [and] is expected to enhance the survivability and striking capabilities of infantry units”. For more information, please see Hyundai Rotem to build third batch of K806 and K808 combat vehicles for RoKA. (Source: Janes)
13 Aug 25. US Army, Clemson University unveil upgraded Deep Orange semi-autonomous vehicle. Sponsored by the Army, Deep Orange is a vehicle prototype program in which Clemson students design, engineer and build a new ground platform each year. GVSETS 2025 The US Army, in partnership with Clemson University, recently revealed the Deep Orange 16 semi-autonomous vehicle, the latest upgrade over previous Deep Orange vehicles designed to work in support of emergency response in extreme conditions. The vehicle was on display Tuesday here at the GVSETS Conference in Novi, Mich. Deep Orange 16 was developed by the university’s graduate automotive engineering students to provide an optionally manned capability for deployment in challenging scenarios. Sponsored by the Army, Deep Orange is a vehicle prototype program in which Clemson students design, engineer and build a new ground platform each year. After passing through a series of tests within the university, the systems have been delivered to the branch for conducting man-unmanned experimentations, identifying new user cases and supporting the refining doctrine deployment. Speaking to Breaking Defense, Robert Prucka, director of the Virtual Prototyping of Autonomy-Enabled Ground Systems Research Center (VIPR-GS) at Clemson, stressed that several improvements were added to the vehicle’s architecture compared to Deep Orange 15.
“We went through it and redesigned its rear to significantly add more space. We also cut about 10 percent of its weight,” Prucka said. “Through that process, we made a much simpler litter loading mechanism than what we showcased last year.”
Other Deep Orange 16 enhancements include a new thermal management system, better powertrain capacities and software upgrades to increase maneuverability. With a range of 350 km (217 miles), its weatherproof exterior has been engineered for operation in a variety of challenging environments, including off-road conditions and unpredictable terrain.
“We have a system on the vehicle that can look ahead, scan the road profile and then adjust the suspension to make the ride smoother,” Prucka claimed.
Additionally, the university says Deep Orange 16 is equipped with a 360-degree camera system with tire-level views for obstacle detection, an AI-powered heads-up display to alert drivers to hazards up to 100 feet away and onboard medical monitoring to track patient vitals in real time during transport. Accommodating six people, its interior has a rotating passenger seat to support multiple operational roles. Its MOLLE storage system, in turn, has been designed to enable secure, modular organization of rescue and medical gear. In the case of its rear hatch, it fits a standard pallet of supplies, while its exterior compartments can transport fire rescue equipment. This year, instead of being delivered to the US Army, the Deep Orange platform will be kept with Clemson to be deployed as a research platform. The vehicles will support future experiments with new methodologies and capabilities to be developed under the Deep Orange program and as part of other projects within the university.
“We will be integrating more of our advanced research, mostly algorithms around powertrain control and autonomous vehicle control, and test them more and more,” Prucka said. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Breaking Defense.com)
14 Aug 25. Australia gifts armoured LandCruisers to Papua New Guinea for security operations. Australia gifted Papua New Guinea 12 up-armoured LandCruisers during a ceremony at Murray Barracks in Port Moresby. Photo: Rodney Braithwaite. Australia has gifted 12 up-armoured LandCruiser vehicles to Papua New Guinea in a show of increasing interoperability between the PNG Defence Force and Australian Defence Force. The armoured personnel carriers, not affixed with armaments, were handed over during a ceremony at Murray Barracks in Port Moresby on 11 August. The ceremony was attended by Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles as well as Papua New Guinea Minister for Defence Dr Billy Joseph and military personnel. The vehicles are lighter than Bushmaster armoured vehicles used by the Australian Defence Force and are envisioned to be used by the PNGDF for internal security operations, according to comments made by Dr Joseph to local media. Delivery of the armoured personnel carriers had previously been announced by Minister Marles during the 30th PNG-Australian Ministerial Forum held in Port Moresby in 2024. At that time, it was also announced that Australia would fund the refurbishment of the PNGDF Air Transport Wing hangar at Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby to use as an operational space for both the PNGDF and ADF.
“Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles MP, and Papua New Guinea Minister for Defence, Dr Billy Joseph, reaffirmed our joint commitment for increasing interoperability of our forces while growing and strengthening PNGDF capabilities,” Defence said.
Earlier this month, Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 officially ended with a closing ceremony at Lae, Papua New Guinea, on 4 August. PNGDF and ADF personnel had taken part in the 11th iteration of the exercise among more than 40,000 military personnel from 19 nations. In addition, training exercises were held in PNG for the first time. The final activity of Talisman Sabre 2025 saw personnel from Australia, the United States and Papua New Guinea’s defence forces conduct a joint personnel recovery activity across several training locations between Lae and Wewak in Papua New Guinea.
13 Aug 25. Bundeswehr procures Wolf 2 offroad vehicles. The Bundeswehr announced on its website on 7 August that it has ordered 1,500 Wolf 2 offroad vehicles, with an option for up to 4,300 more. Planned to enter service in 2026, the Wolf 2 is the Bundeswehr’s first serial-produced vehicle equipped with a modular Digitisation of Land-Based Operations (D-LBO) digital command and communication system. The Wolf 2 is being tested at the Bundeswehr’s Trier-based Wehrtechnische Dienststelle (WTD) 41 technical centre. It will be test-driven during four cycles totalling 16,000 km on field and forest paths, gravel roads, a synthetic test track, sand, and cross-country by a WTD 41 test driver or remotely, carrying dummies, weights, and sandbags to simulate the Wolf 2’s maximum payload. Spare parts and maintenance intervals are based on damage and wear and tear during driving cycles, which will determine when serial production can begin. Testing also includes transporting the Wolf 2 underslung from a helicopter and by rail. It will also be tested in a climate chamber at temperatures ranging from -34 to 49°C in various climates such as moisture. The Wolf 2 is based on the off-the-shelf Mercedes G-class of the company’s latest 464 military series. (Source: Janes)
12 Aug 25. First Czech CV90 IFV to be rolled out end of August. The first Czech CV90 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) is to be rolled out on 28 August, an industry source told Janes on 11 August. The roll-out ceremony is to take place at BAE Systems Hägglunds in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, in the presence of Czech Defence Minister Jana Černochová and her Swedish counterpart, Pål Jonson, as well as BAE Systems Hägglunds project and production teams. On 24 May 2023, the Czech government announced it had awarded BAE Systems a SEK49.3bn (USD5.1bn) contract for 246 CV90 IFVs. The vehicles will be the main platform of the Czech Army’s 7th Mechanised Brigade, which currently operates obsolete BMP-2 IFVs. The order also includes 29 workshop vehicles, training, spare parts, and other accessories. The contract ensures at least a 40% share for the Czech defence industry in the order, according to the Czech Ministry of Defence (MoD). BAE Systems Hägglunds has signed contracts with Czech state-owned companies VOP CZ and LOM Praha’s VR Group and the companies Excalibur Army, Meopta, and Ray Service. The first few vehicles will be built by BAE Systems Hägglunds in Örnsköldsvik, after which VOP CZ will assemble the CV90s, with production running until 2030. VR Group is developing and producing the IFV’s simulation and training system. Meopta is producing more than 500 Saab Universal Tank and Anti-Aircraft System (UTAAS) sighting and fire-control systems for the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Sweden, and Denmark. The Czech MoD announced on 29 April 2025 that Meopta had delivered the first UTAAS for the Czech Army. (Source: Janes)
11 Aug 25. US Air Force eyes purchase of Tesla Cybertrucks to blow up. The U.S. Air Force is looking to add two Tesla Cybertrucks to its precision munition weapons testing program at New Mexico’s White Sands Missile Range, according to recently submitted contracting documents. The request, submitted by the Air Force Test Center, singled out the vehicle by name among a 33-vehicle procurement list while citing the Cybertruck’s unique design and growing relevance as a potential battlefield threat. While most of the listed vehicles are standard sedans, pickups and SUVs, the Cybertrucks, known for their stainless steel exteriors and sharply angular design, are the only brand-specified models requested for target practice. Military planners say the trucks could realistically be used by adversaries in future conflicts — and that training must reflect those real-world possibilities.
“In the operating theater, it is likely the type of vehicles used by the enemy may transition to Tesla Cybertrucks, as they have been found not to receive the normal extent of damage expected upon major impact,” the service request states. “Testing needs to mirror real world situations.”
The testing falls under U.S. Special Operations Command’s Standoff Precision Guided Munitions program, which includes air-launched weapons such as the AGM-114 Hellfire, AGM-176 Griffin and the GBU-39/B Laser Small Diameter Bomb. These munitions are designed to strike vehicles and other ground targets with high accuracy while minimizing collateral damage. (Source: Defense News)
11 Aug 25. Mack Defense has been awarded a new five-year contract to continue production of the U.S. Army’s M917A3 Heavy Dump Truck (HDT) for up to 450 trucks with a total contract value up to $221.8m. This new agreement follows the successful fulfillment of the initial contract awarded in 2018 and comes after the company recently celebrated the production of its 500th M917A3 HDT in March 2025.
“This contract represents continued confidence in our ability to deliver mission-critical vehicles to the U.S. Army,” said David Hartzell, president of Mack Defense. “The M917A3 Heavy Dump Truck is a commercial-based truck modified to meet mission-critical functionality that directly supports the Army, Army Reserve and Army National Guard operations within the United States and around the world. This new contract award is a testament to the commitment of our team, which includes our supplier partners, as well as to the robust capabilities of this heavy tactical vehicle platform. We look forward to building and delivering more reliable, high-performance trucks that meet the demanding needs of our soldiers.”
The new contract, awarded June 24, 2025, will ensure continued production of the critically important M917A3 HDTs that support the U.S. military’s construction and infrastructure maintenance capabilities. These vehicles play a vital role in supporting construction and upkeep of airfields, roadways, landing strips, supply facilities, motor pools and in disaster relief for areas affected by severe weather. Based on the commercially available Mack® Granite® model, the M917A3 HDTs are manufactured at Mack Defense’s dedicated production line at the Mack Experience Center (MEC) in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The specialized production facility has been in operation since 2021 following a $6.5m investment to create a dedicated HDT production line, which leverages the capabilities and production work force of Mack’s main Lehigh Valley production operations located in Macungie, Pennsylvania.
“From day one, we’ve worked hard to foster a transparent, collaborative relationship – one that has helped ensure this program remains on track, on time and aligned with the Army’s evolving needs, said Derik Beck, senior director of sales, marketing and business development at Mack Defense. “We are also proud to continue working closely with U.S. Army, the U.S. Army Reserve and the various U.S. National Guard Adjutant Generals, whose ongoing support has been essential to the program’s success. As we move into the next phase, we’re committed to maintaining that level of engagement while also looking to our Congressional stakeholders for sustained support. This program is not only vital to Army readiness but also to preserving critical manufacturing jobs and capabilities within our U.S. industrial base.”
The M917A3 HDTs are spec’d with heavier-duty rear axles, all-wheel drive, increased suspension ride height and other ruggedized features to meet the unique requirements of the U.S. military. The vehicles also feature advanced technology including ABS, modern control interfaces and active safety systems. The M917A3 Heavy Dump Truck is an essential asset to the Army’s Engineer Regiment, providing the mobility and durability needed to complete critical construction and infrastructure missions in diverse operational environments. Mack Defense is committed to delivering a high-quality, mission-ready vehicle that meets the Army’s evolving needs. Since the initial contract award in 2018, which allowed for up to 683 trucks at a value up to $296m, the U.S. military has ordered 549 HDTs from Mack Defense, with additional orders coming from both the U.S. Army and U.S. National Guard. Mack Defense, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mack Trucks, is responsible for the sale of heavy-duty trucks to federal- and ministerial-level customers globally. For more information, please visit www.mackdefense.com.
08 Aug 25. Ratel revival: CSIR invites bids to modernise SA Army’s iconic infantry fighting vehicles. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is looking for service providers to examine the feasibility of extending the life of the South African Army’s Ratel infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs). In a request for information (RFI) issued on 18 July (RFI No 7042/04/08/2025), the CSIR said possible modernisation would address current challenges including component obsolescence, improve vehicle availability, and ensure operational performance. The RFI invites qualified bidders to propose suitable modernisation solutions, either through an upgrade programme and/or a life extension programme. The RFI is “an essential step” in strategic planning with regard to the Ratel’s life extension. “The information gathered through this exercise will enable an understanding of the available modernisation options, industry capabilities, cost structures, and implementation considerations relevant to addressing Ratel IFV component obsolescence and performance.” Input from bidders will contribute to shaping potential future requirements “and may inform the scope of any subsequent procurement activity.” The CSIR cautions that the RFI does not constitute a solicitation or commitment to contract, and that no contract or commercial relationship will arise from the submission of a response to the RFI. “Any future procurement activity, should it occur, will be subject to a separate and formal solicitation process.” The RFI will focus on life extension/upgrade of the Ratel, including addressing obsolete systems; improving availability and serviceability; standardising components; and potentially upgrading armour/protection without compromising performance. Vehicle focus areas include the powertrain, suspension and braking system, structural refurbishment, electrical system, communication systems, fire suppression, and other systems such as add-on armour protection. Bidders will need to provide a unit price for the proposed modernisation for an assumed quantity of 120 vehicles. Pricing must include engineering services, component procurement, labour, testing and certification, logistics and any other associated cost to the project. As part of an execution strategy, companies will need to propose a rollout plan for the proposed modernisation for an assumed quantity of 120 Ratels. Companies responding to the RFI will need to provide evidence of having worked with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and/or defence-related entities. Bidding closes on 11 August – the bid document can be found here.
Following years of delays, it is possible that Project Hoefyster to replace the SA Army’s Ratels will be shelved. Consequently, the SANDF has had to consider alternatives to the project to meet the Defence Force’s needs over the short to medium term. There has been growing speculation that the SANDF will embark on a major project to revitalise and upgrade the existing fleet of ageing and increasingly obsolete Ratels. Several local companies have already developed Ratel upgrade/modernisation solutions, such as OTT Solutions with its Ratel SLEP (Service Life Extension Programme). This upgrade is focusing on a new sighting system and engine and transmission. The new Cummins engine weighs half as much (586 kg) as the original (a 1 230 kg Bussing) and is 25% more efficient while developing more power (270 kW rather than 210 kW). As the engine and gearbox are now smaller and lighter, OTT Solutions was able to add more armour so the whole Ratel SLEP is now protected to NATO STANAG Level 2 (7.62×39 mm armour piercing incendiary) all round (at present not even Level 1). Frontal protection remains against 12.7 mm armour piercing from 50 metres. The Ratel SLEP’s new sighting system gives a full day/night capability. The stabilised commander’s sight incorporates a day camera, thermal imager, and laser rangefinder while the gunner’s sight comprises a day camera, thermal camera, and laser rangefinder. Other changes include a new pneumatic system, central tyre inflation system (CTIS), and fire extinguishing system. Jorsin, meanwhile, has extensive experience with maintaining and repairing Ratels, with the company’s personnel having experience working on the famous IFV since the 1980s. Consequently, Jorsin have been awarded numerous contracts from the SANDF for Ratel maintenance and repairs over the years. Jorsin has also already begun experimenting with upgrades to the Ratel, with a particular focus on reorganising the Ratel to allow for a mid-engined configuration, similar to Jorsin’s new Tau vehicle, with the aim of maximising reliability and ease of maintenance. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
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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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