Sponsored by TEK Military Seating Limited
http://www.tekmilitaryseating.co.uk/
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
20 Jan 26. US Army’s next-gen tank has ‘Formula 1’ cockpit, top general says. The chief of staff of the Army is celebrating progress on a new generation of Abrams tank that he said is lighter, more advanced and on track to be delivered years ahead of schedule. Speaking at an event hosted by the Association of the United States Army on Tuesday, Gen. Randy George touted the M1E3, which last week made its debut as a pre-prototype at the Detroit Auto Show.
“Obviously, not as fast as the Chevy ZR1,” George said, referring to the flashy Corvette also on display at the show. “But this is a tank that can also hit a target. So it won’t meet that quarter-mile speed, but I know it can hit a target in a tenth of a second at a quarter mile.
The M1E3 is reaching prototype stage six years early, George said, adding that new features are also coming to light.
The “Formula One cockpit” contains a driver interface that “looks like an X-Box controller,” George said, referring to the control device made by Fanatec – a company that designs F1 simulator controls and many popular video game cockpits.
“It’s modular, so it can be updated,” George added.
He also touted the engine made by Caterpillar, transmission made by Michigan-based company SAPA and software through “a bunch of tech companies” enlisted to increase the tank’s awareness and effectiveness. In a release published from the show, Army officials revealed that the M1E3 would feature GenAI among “a suite of AI-powered digital engineering tools” to help integrate other technologies more quickly and keep it up to date in a perpetually changing modern battlefield. Unlike the current Abrams, which has a four-person crew including a loader, the M1E3 will have a crew of three and an autoloader, which will help the notoriously heavy Abrams get 25% lighter.
“We’re very excited to get that out — and again, that’s the way of the future here. Nothing should take us five to seven years to produce,” George said. “And when we get an upgrade just like we have with the [infantry fighting vehicles], it should come naturally. We’ve had upgraded engines and upgraded transmissions, and we should expect that. And I know our soldiers expect that with the equipment that’s coming to them.”
While many details are still unknown, officials have also cited advanced protection that accounts for contemporary threats including enemy drones and long-range weapons. Michigan-based news site MLive reported that the turret on display in Detroit was remote, and featured a 120mm smoothbore main cannon — like the current M1A2 — as well as a Mk. 19 40mm grenade launcher and Javelin missile launcher.
“The crew compartment … it’s going to look a lot like a race car,” Brig. Gen. Troy Denomy, program executive officer for PEO Soldier, told the outlet.
Another new feature for the next-gen tank is a hybrid-electric drivetrain that will reportedly make the vehicle 50% more fuel efficient.
“The M1E3 Abrams represents a bold step forward in modern vehicle design, combining advanced protection, reduced weight and a smaller logistical footprint to meet the challenges of tomorrow’s battlefield,” Michelle Link, the deputy capability program executive, Ground-Combat Platforms, said in a statement.
While the M1E3 was originally slated to reach initial operational capability in 2030, officials said late last year that the first prototypes would be inside active Army formations sometime in 2026.
For George, the new tank program represents a new way of doing business in acquisition that evaluates tradeoffs and doesn’t get bogged down in developing a perfect solution. He described efforts to put more acquisition and contracting functions under a single individual, citing Maj. Gen. Frank Lozano, program executive officer for Missiles and Space, as an example.
“I think trades are critically important,” George said. “We may say, hey, it needs to go 100 miles an hour. It needs to do a certain number of things. … Frank can come back to us and basically say, ‘Hey, for 30% less cost, it can go 90 miles an hour, and you can have it in six months, or you can wait to do those things.’ And I think these are important things that were trades that we have not considered and that we need to, moving forward.” (Source: Defense News)
21 Jan 26. JLR re-enters military market. After over 10 years of absence from the military market following the end of support for the Wolf Land Rover fleet and the introduction of the new Defender Range in 2023, JLR showed off its new LWB militarised Defender offering fro the UK Light Mobility Programme. JLR told BATTLESPACE that the MoD is now confident of using a vehicle with a monocoque, not ladder chassis, which was the concern some years ago, due to armouring concerns. JLR tod BATTLESPACE that a lightly armoured police version has been produced and a heavier armoured version is in development with that Special Products in India. Given the long standing historical connection wit the UK MoD since 1948, this new offering should be a strong contender for the Land Rover Replacement for certain roles.
21 Jan 26. Update: British Army’s Land Mobility Programme loses medium category. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed to Janes on 14 January that it has revised its Land Mobility Programme (LMP) for ground vehicle procurement, saying it has introduced a Heavy Protected Mobility (HPM) segment. This replaces the LMP’s original Medium Protected Mobility (MPM) requirement, the MoD said. The LMP is the latest MoD initiative aimed at replacing several vehicle types and subtypes that are approaching their out‑of‑service dates (OSDs) and facing potential obsolescence‑driven issues. It forms part of a broader ambition to modernise the British Army’s warfighting capability. The LMP’s Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) and Light Protected Mobility (LPM) categories remain within the scope of the programme. The LMP follows earlier efforts, most recently the Multi‑Role Vehicle – Protected (MRV‑P) programme, to replace vehicles in multiple fleets ranging from lighter utility vehicles such as the Land Rover and Pinzgauer to heavier tracked platforms such as the FV430 series.
Heavy protected mobility
The HPM category introduces a requirement for a platform with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of between 20 and 30 tonnes, said the MoD. In a parliamentary answer on 8 January 2026, the UK’s Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard, said, “The long-term replacement for the FV430 series Bulldog is being considered as part of the Heavy Protected Mobility sub-programme, within the Land Mobility Programme. The Heavy Protected Mobility sub-programme is in its Concept Phase and is currently evaluating the Finnish-led Common Armoured Vehicles System [CAVS] programme’s suitability in meeting UK’s Heavy Protected Mobility requirements. The programme is being considered and is part of the Defence Investment Plan.” (Source: Janes)
20 Jan 26. Challenger 3 reaches key milestone with first-ever crewed live firing trials. Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) has successfully completed the first crewed live firing of Challenger 3 – a significant step towards delivery of the British Army’s next-generation Main Battle Tank. The latest trials, held at a MOD Training Centre, marked the first UK firing of a newly developed Main Battle Tank in more than 30 years. Part of the progressive assurance of the tank’s capabilities and systems before it enters service, the trial followed a carefully phased programme, beginning with remote operation before progressing to crewed firing by Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land personnel. Challenger 3 is equipped with the 120mm smoothbore L55A1 cannon manufactured by Rheinmetall. It fires the latest kinetic energy anti-tank rounds and programmable multipurpose ammunition.
Rebecca Richards, Managing Director of Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land, said: “This is a hugely significant achievement for the Challenger 3 programme and a testament to the skill and dedication of the teams delivering it. Firing the vehicle first remotely and then with a crew in the turret reflects the enormous amount of work that has gone into ensuring the design is safe, robust and ready. This shows just how far the programme has progressed and marks a proud moment for UK armoured vehicle development.”
Army Senior Responsible Owner, Mark Colley, said: “This milestone reflects the benefits of the close collaboration between the Ministry of Defence and industry. The successful crewed firing of Challenger 3 demonstrates tangible progress in delivering the modernised, Main Battle Tank the British Army needs.”
Following this milestone, the tank will undergo further trials, as it moves towards operational service as the centrepiece of the British Army’s modernisation programme. The vehicles, designed and produced by RBSL from its Telford (UK) factory, are a leading example of advanced military vehicle production. They show great collaboration between Britain, her allies and respected vehicle systems suppliers across the UK and Europe.
19 Jan 26. NP Aerospace enters full rate production with their Toyota Land Cruiser LC300 armoured vehicle. NP Aerospace, the global vehicle integrator and armour manufacturer, has announced the entry into full rate production, with their upgraded armoured Toyota Land Cruiser LC300 vehicle. NP Aerospace acquired the IP for this product, along with certain other assets of Jankel Armouring Limited from Administration, in 2024. Since then, NP Aerospace has applied their acclaimed vehicle engineering and integration, production and supply chain skill sets to this vehicle to reach this important production milestone. In October 2025 NP Aerospace launched their LC300 product as a significantly refined and upgraded NP Aerospace platform and having recently completed Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) they are entering their full rate programme, from January 2026. With the current contracted orders and the future product sales pipeline, NP Aerospace are expecting to produce over 100 LC300 vehicles over the next 12-18 months. This announcement coincides with the International Armoured Vehicles (IAV) Conference taking place in Farnborough, 20-22 January 26, where NP Aerospace will have a team in attendance. Delivering unprecedented levels of protection, functionality and reliability based upon many years of user feedback, the NP Aerospace LC300 is being sought after and contracted by a multitude of global defence ministries and Non-Government Organisations (NGO’s). Having qualified the LC300 to the latest Edition 3 of the international VPAM BRV and ERV (VR7) standards as well as PAS 300 ballistic and blast and PAS 301 vehicle performance criteria, NP Aerospace has ensured the platform provides optimum protection and remains road-legal for NATO and European-based NGO customers, maximising the export potential to wider international user groups. The vehicle was the very first to be certified to VPAM VR7 BRV and ERV with a 2m side blast with a third row of seats in accordance with Edition 3 which uses biofidelic dummies, to understand the true impacts to the vehicle occupants. As well as entire armoured vehicle products, such as the LC300, add-on or “applique” armour systems is a service provided by NP Aerospace. Integrated add-on armour systems include: internal spall liners; external applique; and seating systems to counter a range of ballistic and blast threats. NP’s survivability services are cross-OEM and global, ranging from Civilian Armoured Vehicles (CAVs) through logistic and utility vehicles to full armoured fighting systems. NP Aerospace has been selected as the armouring partner by a number of OEM prime contractors, globally, to design and deliver such add-on systems. In May 2025, NPA announced a contract for Armoured Personnel Transport Modules (APTM) being delivered, through Marshall Canada, to the Power Team for the Canadian LVM programme – Canada’s solution for logistic vehicle procurement. There is another significant vehicle armour contract due to be announced imminently – further underlining NP’s position as the survivability partner of choice.
David Petheram, MD & SVP, NP Aerospace Vehicle Systems, Services and Spares said: “we’ve worked very hard to ensure our newly upgraded armoured LC300 is suitably prepared in all regards to enter full rate production this month. Specifically, our integration, production and supply chain skill sets have been applied to this project to optimise the benefits to the procurer, the fleet manager and the user. What we now have is an excellent platform when viewed from all perspectives and we’re pleased to be able to offer it to global markets. The Civilian Armoured Vehicle (CAV) market offers great growth potential and is a significant area of focus for us as we continue to expand our team.”
19 Jan 26. GM Defense establishes UK entity and accelerates Team LionStrike delivery planning. GM Defense has launched GM Defense UK, creating a dedicated presence to support the UK’s defence priorities and strengthen sovereign capability. Operating from GM’s sites in Leamington Spa and Silverstone, the new entity will lead all UK Ministry of Defence engagement and anchor GM’s wider NATO and European defence activity—boosting UK industry and export potential. The launch comes as GM Defense intensifies its delivery and support planning for Team LionStrike, ahead of bidding for the UK’s upcoming Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) programme.
“Standing up GM Defense UK is a major milestone in our long‑term commitment to the United Kingdom,” said Bradley Watters, vice president of international business development. “Team LionStrike is different because GM—backed by more than a century of engineering excellence—is directly embedded as the vehicle OEM. That level of involvement delivers real capability, efficiency and long‑term assurance for the UK Armed Forces. Establishing a UK business is essential to providing that through‑life support.”
The announcement aligns with the International Armoured Vehicles conference and follows the UK MoD’s recent LMV Industry Day. It builds on a strong year of momentum for Team LionStrike, including the debut of GM Defense’s General Support Utility Platform (GSUP) at DSEI and a UK Ride & Drive event highlighting four proven COTS light and utility vehicles. Team LionStrike—composed of GM Defense with NP Aerospace, BAE Systems, and multiple UK-based subject matter experts—aims to deliver a modern, scalable mobility solution for the British Army while supporting the Land Industrial Strategy. The team is building a sustainable UK supply chain, backed by GM’s global parts distribution network, the new UK hub, and the experience of NP Aerospace and BAE Systems in sustaining the UK Military.
“We are fully committed to the UK LMV programme and to investing in British industry and communities. GM Defense UK strengthens our ability to fully support Team LionStrike and deliver exactly what the British Army needs—now and for decades to come,” Watters added.
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
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
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–