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30 Mar 22. The Ajax Lessons Learned Review – Terms of R The Ajax Lessons Learned Review – Terms of Reference.
To: Clive Sheldon QC
Aim
In light of the delay to date in delivering the Armoured Cavalry programme (Ajax), you are to conduct an independent focused review into the programme. You should identify lessons and make recommendations to help Ministry of Defence (MOD) deliver major programmes more effectively in future, with a particular focus on how MOD shares and elevates issues across the Department and the commands.
In order to encourage openness, evidence given during the course of the review will not be used in disciplinary proceedings unless there is evidence of gross misconduct, in which case, individuals will be subject to appropriate sanction.
Scope
The review should examine the following areas in light of the experience with the Ajax programme, identifying any lessons that can be applied more broadly across defence:
- how should the leadership, culture and governance in MOD (including in the armed forces and relevant arms-length bodies) relating to the delivery of future major programmes be improved to ensure timely and appropriate elevation of problems to the right levels within the department (including to ministers) and the commands
- you should focus on systemic and process issues as well as individual action and inaction. This should include looking at whether individuals are aware of how to elevate problems – informally and formally – and whether senior personnel are given appropriate training on acting upon the information received
The review should not examine or make findings on the accuracy of any complaints regarding:
- the existence of noise and vibration problems on armoured fighting vehicles
- military communication systems used in armoured fighting vehicles
The review should not consider the ongoing delivery of the Ajax programme. It is the responsibility of General Dynamics Land Systems-UK to deliver a vehicle that is fit for purpose and meets the contractual specification.
The review should seek to avoid making findings on issues which in due course may fall to be determined by other bodies, for example, contractual disputes and personal injury claims.
Resources
Dedicated secretariat support will be provided for the review. You should familiarise yourself with key documents setting out the MOD’s operating model and acquisition processes and evidence that informed major decision points on the programme.
Schedule/Reporting
You will report to MOD ministers through the MOD Second Permanent Secretary and provide regular updates on progress. You should advise ministers of the likely duration of your review within one month of starting. (Source: U.K. MoD)
30 Mar 22. DSA 2022: Malaysia showcases indigenous ‘Kawbra’ UGV. Malaysia’s Science and Technology Research Institute for Defence (STRIDE) has unveiled a new unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) it is developing for the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF).
A representative from STRIDE – an institute under the Ministry of Defence (MoD) – told Janes on 30 March at the DSA exhibition in Kuala Lumpur that the new ‘Kawbra’ UGV has been in development since 2019. According to the institute, the project is the first of its kind in Malaysia.
STRIDE’s work on the Kawbra programme has been undertaken in collaboration with local digital engineering firm DreamEdge. The partners plan to start MAF field trials of the UGV later this year. Further enhancements of the UGV are expected to follow.
“The aim of this programme is to develop and acquire unmanned vehicle technology locally,” said a STRIDE official. “This UGV will have capabilities for surveillance, reconnaissance, logistics, and possibly combat.” (Source: Janes)
30 Mar 22. DSA 2022: Cendana unveils new vehicles for Malaysian Army. Malaysian firm Cendana Auto has unveiled a range of new 4×4 vehicles that it is developing and building for the Malaysian Army.
The company said at the Defence Services Asia 2022 (DSA 2022) exhibition in Kuala Lumpur that all the vehicles have been designed and developed locally, with systems provided by a range of overseas suppliers.
The platforms include the SF-21X special operations vehicle, the ‘Artac’ armed tactical ground vehicle, the ‘Fitted for radio’ (FFR) signals vehicle, and the MT-815 tactical mortar transporter.
A company official told Janes that Cendana has been contracted to supply an initial 16 SF-21X vehicles for the Malaysian Army’s special forces.
He said trials have recently concluded and Cendana is preparing to build the vehicles, which feature a 7.62 mm machine gun, at its production facilities in Semenyih, about 40 km south of Kuala Lumpur.
(Source: Janes)
30 Mar 22. Patria 8×8 vehicle selected by Slovakia. The Government of the Slovak Republic has announced Patria to be the winner of the tender for BOV 8×8 programme. Patria will supply Slovakia with armoured wheeled vehicles as well as contributes to the creation of new jobs in the regions with currently high unemployment rates. The government decision was based on bids submitted at the end of 2021, as well as vehicle and weapon system tests carried out in February 2022. Patria’s offer was the best match to the requirements.
“Patria is known for its successful technology transfer programmes and is fully focused on the security of supply and long-term cooperation with Slovakia. The Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic will get state-of-the-art, modular, high-performance and robust armoured combat Patria AMVXP 8×8 vehicles, which have been used successfully, already decades in different versions in several EU and NATO missions by many customers from NATO and non-NATO countries”, states Hugo Vanbockryck, Senior Vice President for Market Area Europe in Patria.
Through BOV 8×8 programme Patria will also contribute to development of the Slovak engineering and defence industry with top-notch experience and innovations. By involving Slovak industries locally in the programme, Patria will create new jobs, either directly in the partner companies or with their suppliers or subcontractors. BOV 8×8 programme will also influence in regions’ educational opportunities and economy.
29 Mar 22. USAF conducts hot pit refuelling with KC-135 in Pacific. The US Air Force’s (USAF) 18th Wing has conducted the hot-pit style refuelling with a KC-135 Stratotanker at Kadence Air Base in Okinawa, Japan. The hot pit refuelling exercise maximises agile combat employment (ACE). The event was conducted in the Pacific Air Forces’ (PACAF) area of responsibility for the first time, reported technical sergeant Micaiah Anthony. USAF’s KC-135 refuelling aircraft is capable of transferring up to 200,000lb of fuel in the air. The Stratotanker can completely refill aircraft such as 16.5 F-16 Fighting Falcons aircraft with two external fuel tanks.
USAF 909th Air Refueling Squadron evaluator and instructor pilot captain John Della Pia said: “Air refuelling a fighter aircraft allows them to maximize their capabilities over time as a force multiplier and to establish air superiority.
“Increasing the KC-135’s air refuelling capacity by hot-pit refuelling further enables the projection of airpower, the reach of air superiority and in doing so increases agile combat employment.”
The hot pit technique of refuelling also increases reliability by removing the downtime and reducing the aerospace ground equipment’s footprint.
During the hot pit style, fuel can be transferred without turning down the aircraft’s engine, which saves time between sorties by skipping post-flight and pre-fight inspections.
Della Pia added: “It maximises efficiency in man-hours to generate a sortie. The process enables a single aircrew to fly multiple air refuelling sorties on each duty day.
“Strictly with respect to a KC-135 sortie generation, it reduces the timeline by more than 69%.”
In 2020, the USAF installed Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Out (ADS-B Out) on its KC-135 Stratotanker fleet. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
29 Mar 22. DSA 2022: Malaysian firm Mildef unveils new 4×4 APC. Malaysian firm Mildef International Technologies has unveiled a new 4×4 armoured personnel carrier (APC) named Rentaka at the DSA 2022 exhibition in Kuala Lumpur. The company has outlined plans to upgrade the Malaysian Army‘s ACV‐300 ‘Adnan’ tracked armoured combat vehicles (ACV) and to lease its Tarantula 4×4 High Mobility Armoured Vehicle (HMAV) to the same customer. Mildef representatives told Janes on 29 March that the company has designed and developed its Rentaka prototype for military and paramilitary operations. Officials said the prototype, which incorporates systems from several overseas suppliers, is being trialled with a view to meeting local requirements.
“We see an opportunity to produce and sell about 200 of these vehicles to military and paramilitary customers in Malaysia,” said a Mildef official. He added that the company sees a contract opportunity emerging in Malaysia in about two years. The platform will also be offered for export. (Source: Janes)
29 Mar 22. Pentagon budget 2023: Army moves forward with Infantry Squad Vehicle buy, postpones production decision. The US Army plans to continue buying its new Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) in 2023 but will delay a full-rate production decision until later in 2022 – a move the service had previously cautioned may occur because of the sequence of testing events. The White House delivered its fiscal year (FY) 2023 budget request to lawmakers on 28 March and the army included USD34m for ground mobility vehicles, also known as the ISV. If army leaders receive the full pot of money, it will be USD10m less than Congress approved in this year’s spending bill. However, lawmakers did exceed the army’s initial request by adding USD12m to the FY 2022 spending bill. (Source: Janes)
29 Mar 22. Otokar Aims to Strengthen its Presence in Asia-Pacific. Otokar, Turkey’s global land systems manufacturer participates in DSA (Defence Services Asia) 2022, on March 28-31, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. During the exhibition, Otokar will exhibit its ARMA 6×6 Wheeled Armored Vehicle and COBRA II Tactical Armored Vehicle. Stating that Otokar military vehicles are actively used in five continents, General Manager Serdar Görgüç, said, “As a listed NATO and UN supplier, Otokar’s military vehicles are actively in service in more than 35 countries and almost 55 end users in different climates and geographies around the world. Otokar also stands out with its technology transfer and local production capabilities. With this respect Asia Pacific region is particularly important for Otokar, where our wide range of vehicles operate successfully for many years. We aim to expand our activities in the region in order to meet the existing and future requirements of our clients. In this context, we focus on collaboration opportunities including local production models through transfer of technology at DSA.” Highlighting that in the last decade Otokar has allocated approximately 8 percent of its revenues for R&D expenditures Görgüç continued, “Otokar stands apart with its expertise in design, development and system integration of both combat proven wheeled and tracked platforms, where they are internationally known for their survivability, superior mobility and modularity in challenging terrains and extreme weather conditions. We continue to introduce innovative solutions in land systems by taking into account the current and future requirements of modern armies and security forces. We analyze the different needs and expectations of our users for land systems, simulate these requirements in house and develop solutions that meet these requirements in the fastest manner thanks to our excellence in R&D, engineering and testing.”
ARMA 6×6
Otokar’s multi-wheeled modular armored vehicle ARMA 6×6 offers superior mobility, high mine and ballistic protection, as well as medium and high-caliber weapon system integration options. Offering high tactical and technical features, ARMA comes with an optional amphibious variant for peacekeeping and humanitarian aid operations in the most demanding terrain and climate conditions.
ARMA 6×6 stands out especially with its high payload capacity and large interior volume. ARMA can be equipped with different weapons and manned / unmanned turrets according to the needs. The ARMA 6×6 can be used for various missions as surveillance, recovery, armored personnel carrier, armored combat vehicle, command control, reconnaissance, and CBRN reconnaissance vehicle while different weapon systems can be integrated into the vehicle.
COBRA II
COBRA II offers high level of protection, payload capacity, and large internal volume. In addition to superior mobility, COBRA II also comes with the capacity to accommodate 10 personnel including the driver and commander, offering high protection against ballistic, mine, and IED threats. Delivering high performance in the toughest terrain and climate conditions with high power to weight ratio, COBRA II is tested rigorously in different parts of the world, on toughest terrain and climate conditions, and made thousands of miles. Preferred especially for offering a wide range of weapons integration and mission equipment options, COBRA II is successfully in service of ambulance, command & control, reconnaissance, border protection, signal vehicle as well as internal security and peacekeeping missions. The modular structure of COBRA II also makes the vehicle a flexible platform for a personnel carrier, weapons platform, ground surveillance radar, and CBRN reconnaissance vehicle. (Source: ASD Network)
29 Mar 22. Turkey wants to buy up to 100 South Korean tank engines. Turkey is negotiating the purchase of up to 100 South Korean-made engines and transmissions to power its first indigenous tank in the making, the Altay. Turkey’s top defense procurement official, Ismail Demir, said negotiations with two South Korean companies are focused on the quantity of power packs (which the engine and transmission make up) that would be supplied for the Altay program.
“We must set a quantity,” Demir said. “We are talking about 50 to 100.”
He added that an agreed quantity would be followed by setting a price. Turkey, he explained, wants to ensure the Altay has enough foreign-made power packs while the country makes its own version, dubbed Batu, to power the tanks.
“[The Korean solution] has components supplied from abroad [non-Korean sources]. We want to produce those locally for the Batu program,” Demir said.
In October, Turkey and South Korea signed a letter of intent under which two Korean companies would supply engines and transmission mechanisms for the Altay. Turkish armored vehicles manufacturer BMC, which makes the Altay, has been negotiating strategic agreements with two South Korean companies for joint work on a power pack for the new tank.
Doosan and S&T Dynamics were expected to supply the know-how for the engine and transmission mechanism so the power pack could be co-produced in Turkey. However, the co-production option did not go ahead as planned, and it appears Turkey will execute an off-the-shelf acquisition of the Korean power pack, Turkish sources said.
Under the Altay tank deal, the South Korean companies will supply the power pack and assist with integrating it into the new-generation tank. A test phase will follow. If all goes well, the Altays may be powered by the two firms within 18 months.
BMC won the multibillion-dollar Altay contract in November 2018. The contract involves the production of an initial batch of 250 units, life-cycle logistical support, and the establishment by the contractor of a tank systems technology center and its operation. As part of the contract, BMC will design, develop and produce a tank with an unmanned fire control unit.
The Altay program is broken into two phases: T1 and T2. T1 covers the first 250 units, and T2 involves the advanced version of the tank. Turkey plans to eventually produce 1,000 Altays, to be followed by an unmanned version. (Source: Defense News)
28 Mar 22. DSA 2022: Deftech, FNSS partner on Pars armoured vehicles for Malaysian Army. Malaysia’s DRB-HICOM Defence Technologies (Deftech) and FNSS Savunma Sistemleri are collaborating on positioning the Turkish company’s 4×4 and 6×6 Pars armoured combat vehicles for requirements within the Malaysian Army. The two programmes plan to build on Deftech and FNSS’s partnership on developing and building the Malaysian Army’s 8×8 AV8 armoured fighting vehicle, which is an evolved version of the FNSS’s 8×8 Pars platform. Deftech plans to conclude deliveries of these AV8s to the army by the end of 2022. Company officials told Janes on 28 March at the opening day of the Defence Services Asia 2022 (DSA 2022) exhibition in Kuala Lumpur that the 4×4 and 6×6 Pars vehicles are being offered to replace the Malaysian Army’s German-made Condor 4×4s and Belgian-made SIBMAS 6×6 armoured vehicles. Officials said the 4×4 and 6×6 Pars vehicles were trialled in Turkey and that “mobility evaluations” would continue in Malaysia from April. Janes. (Source: Janes)
25 Mar 22. USMC tests Arctic refuelling system during ‘Cold Response 2022.’ The US Marine Corps (USMC) is testing a new refuelling system during the ‘Cold Response 2022′ exercise hosted by Norway along its northern coast. Tasked with moving significant volumes of fuel for platforms and personnel over Arctic terrain during the exercise, 1st Lieutenant Benjamin Artime, the Combat Logistics Detachment (CLD) commander, and his team combined a road platform used by Norway and other nations for Arctic transport with a larger portable bladder, 1st Lt Artime said.
“In California, we used a Humvee to transport 500 lb fuel pods in the desert,” 1st Lt Artime told reporters on 19 March during a media tour of USMC ‘Cold Response 2022′ logistical operations at the Setermoen military camp in far north Norway. “Here we’ve applied the same concept, ‘borrowing’ the fuel pod and the fuel pump from the Norwegians.”
The bladder was initially developed to facilitate aerial refuellings of ground areas. The system being tested directly hooks hoses from the bladder to the platforms and other systems that need to be refuelled. (Source: Janes)
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TEK Military Seating Limited
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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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