Sponsored by TEK Military Seating Limited
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13 Apr 22. Flyer Defense Begins Production on Multiyear Contract with United Arab Emirates Armed Forces. Flyer Defense, LLC is strengthening its reputation as one of the most reliable internally air transportable light tactical mobility vehicles on the market with the start of production on its single largest direct commercial sales contract to date. In partnership with the International Golden Group (IGG) in the United Arab Emirates, Flyer Defense completed initial shipment of its highly configurable Flyer 72 vehicle to the UAE Armed Forces and is set to enter full rate production by mid-2022. Billed as a replacement for the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (popularly known as the Humvee), the Flyer vehicle supports field-installable armor and is cutting edge in its design, capabilities and modularity. Selected for its uniquely adaptable platform, unmatched payload-to-weight ratio, and highly lauded maneuverability and ride quality, Flyer Defense will deliver its Flyer 72 vehicles to the UAE over a multiyear contract.
“We prioritize the user,” said Flyer Defense Founder and CEO Oded Nechushtan. “Our tailorable engineering yields a flexible product, bendable to the will and need of any customer. We are proud to offer our proven solution to the UAE as we simultaneously continue to grow our manufacturing capabilities with strategic partnerships.”
Flyer Defense is responsible for the design and sustainment of the successfully fielded USSOCOM Program of Record Ground Mobility Vehicle 1.1 (GMV 1.1) and directed requirement Army Ground Mobility Vehicle (A-GMV), with a combined total of more than 1,000 fielded vehicles now trusted and utilized by the U.S. Army and U.S. Special Forces (Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force).
The company has partnered with JWF Defense, LLC (JWF) to manufacture the Flyer 72 family of vehicles. Based in Johnstown, PA, JWF has nearly a decade of experience producing the body and chassis of Flyer’s fielded vehicles and will provide the capacity for growth for both current and future contracts.
“We have spent decades fielding a platform superior in every way that counts,” said Nechushtan. “We have the capability, experience and, most importantly, the product to meet the need of any military with a gap in light tactical mobility.”
About Flyer Defense
Flyer Defense, LLC was formed to provide mission-specialized, lightweight, high mobility, all- terrain tactical wheeled vehicles capable of internal transport in rotary and tilt wing aircraft. Flyer provides purpose-built vehicles and logistics support for U.S. Army, special operations forces and global allies. Always prioritizing the users and their missions, Flyer vehicles increase ground mobility, allow rapid deployment into contested areas, and enable military ground forces to move quickly for extended distances and over difficult terrain. The Flyer® family of successfully tested and certified vehicles are modular platforms, allowing rapid vehicle customization for immediate operation-relevant configuration. (Source: PR Newswire)
13 Apr 22. Indian Army inducts domestically developed specialist vehicles. The addition of these specialist vehicles will strengthen the operational capabilities of the Indian Army. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General MM Naravane during the induction ceremony. Credit: Press Information Bureau/ Ministry of Defence/ Government of India. The Indian Army has inducted the first set of domestically developed specialist vehicles into service, at a ceremony organised in the city of Pune. The ceremony was attended by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General MM Naravane, and other military officials. The vehicles that were inducted include the Tata Advanced System Limited (TASL) developed Quick Reaction Fighting Vehicle Medium (QRFV), the Infantry Protected Mobility Vehicle (IPMV), and the Ultra-Long-Range Observation System. The Indian Army also inducted Bharat Forge’s Monocoque Hull Multi-Role Mine-Protected Armoured Vehicle.
In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said: “The induction of these indigenously developed systems, by TASL and Bharat Forge, would greatly enhance the operational capabilities of [the] Indian Army in future conflicts.”
According to local news reports, the delivery made TASL the first private sector company to manufacture and provide the armed forces with wheeled armoured vehicles that are combat-ready.
The IPMV was co-developed with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The vehicles have undergone extensive field trials before their induction into the armed forces.
A team of scientists from the DRDO, the Indian Army, and the Indian Air Force (IAF) recently conducted flight tests of the helicopter launched, anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), called Helina.
The testing was conducted at high-altitude ranges as part of the user validation trials.
DRDO also announced this month that it had carried out a series of flight tests of an upgraded version of the Pinaka rocket system. (Source: army-technology.com)
13 Apr 22. DSA 2022: Deftech showcases AV8 mortar version. Malaysian firm Deftech showcased an armoured mortar carrier (AMC) version of its 8×8 AV8 armoured vehicle at the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2022 exhibition held in Kuala Lumpur from 28 to 31 March. An AMC prototype displayed at the exhibition was fitted with a 120 mm rifled recoiled mounted mortar and a 7.62×51 mm machine gun. A Deftech official told Janes that the AMC has undergone extensive testing, including weapons evaluations, before its induction into the Malaysian Army later in 2022. The AMC has a power-to-weight ratio of 18.7±0.2 hp/ton per combat weight and incorporates a nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) protection system. The vehicle has a combat weight carrying capacity of 29.2 tons. The AMC has NATO Standardization Agreement (STANAG) 4569 Level 2 ballistic protection overhead, and mine protection at STANAG 4569 Level 3a and 2b. The vehicle is also fitted with an anti-mine blast seat and is able to sustain a speed of 30 km/h up over a range of 50 km with flat tyres. (Source: Janes)
13 Apr 22. Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON), Barzan Holdings and Gulf Helicopters Company (GHC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish dedicated F-15 sustainment services in Qatar. The plan is to build new capabilities within GHC facilities currently used to provide leading defense and commercial aviation services to operators from Europe and Asia.
The MOU includes provisions covering sustainment solutions for Honeywell made F-15 wheels and brakes and the secondary power system on the aircraft. Additionally, the aim is to work towards a full range of sustainment solutions to be established now and completed within two years. This MOU also envisions opportunities to promote technological advancement and knowledge transfer within Qatar, reduced operating costs, and increased sovereignty in Qatar’s defense and security sector.
“Honeywell is proud to work in collaboration with the government of Qatar through Barzan Holdings and Gulf Helicopters Company,” said John Guasto, vice president, International Defense and Space, Honeywell Aerospace. “This is a critical milestone for Honeywell in establishing relationships with an important allied force in the region.”
“This is a win-win relationship for all of us — Honeywell, GHC and Barzan Holdings,” said Hamad Al-Abdullah, engineering director, GHC. “Once established, the F-15 facility will create a new era of technological advancement and expansion of the talent pool in Qatar. Most importantly, this is a step further toward indigenization and excellence that leads to self-reliance.”
“Honeywell is an important and long-term partner for Qatar,” said Abdullah Al Khater, vice president, Barzan Holdings. “Our collaboration with Honeywell will help us strengthen Qatar’s sovereignty by building indigenous sustainment capabilities for the F-15QA and help boost areas such as research and development, knowledge transfer, and defense capabilities aligned with the country’s long-term goal.”
13 Apr 22. Officials fear delays to EU unmanned ground vehicle project. Officials from some EU member states are concerned that the follow-on to the Integrated Modular Unmanned Ground System (iMUGS), the European Defence Fund (EDF) project to develop a common unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), is liable to be delayed by at least a year, Janes has learned.
Speaking to Janes following the SMi Military Robotics and Autonomous Systems 2022 (SMi MRAS 2022) conference in London, Martin Jõesaar, chief of project office – iMUGS with the Estonian Centre for Defence Investment, confirmed that EU officials discussing the allocation of funds for the EDF’s 2021–27 budget are considering pushing back the next phase of the EU’s UGV project in favour of work on a new main battle tank (MBT). (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Jane’s)
11 Apr 22. SYPAQ opens new autonomous systems facility. The engineering and systems integration company has officially unveiled a new government-backed defence facility in Victoria.
SYPAQ Systems has opened its new Defence Autonomy Centre of Excellence (DACE) – a Victorian government-backed facility designed to support the innovation and manufacturing of small autonomous systems for defence intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR).
The facility, located at the Fishermans Bend precinct, is tipped to generate 280 new jobs over the next five years and generate an estimated $45m of annual expenditure when fully realised.
The opening was attended by Martin Pakula, Victorian Minister for Industry Support and Recovery and Minister for Business Precincts, who witnessed a demonstration of SYPAQ’s Corvo product line in the DACE’s indoor flight test facility.
Following the opening, SYPAQ CEO Amanda Holt sad DACE would contriute to Australia’s sovereign industrial capability.
“The capabilities our team is developing in the Fishermans Bend precinct are genuinely world leading, and we’re proud to continue to grow our team in Australia’s aviation heritage precinct.”
SYPAQ’s general manager, innovation and strategic programs, Michael Partridge, added: “The DACE will be a game changing capability for SYPAQ that will ensure we can continue to develop sovereign industrial capabilities for defence in Victoria.
“The support shown by the Victorian government has allowed SYPAQ to further invest in our own innovation and R&D programs and is enabling us to compete against international primes for defence contracts.”
The opening comes less than two weeks after SYPAQ hosted the Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price at its newly established headquarters in Port Melbourne.
Minister Price toured the SYPAQ Production and Research Centre (SPaRC) Labs, consulted with staff and witnessed a demonstration of the company’s “Corvo” family of autonomous systems in the CASA-certified indoor drone testing facility.
SYPAQ is promising its sovereign UAS solution for LAND 129 Phase 4B.
Dubbed the CorvoX, the system is designed to deliver ISR support to military commanders and provide “over the hill, down the road and around the corner situational awareness”. (Source: Defence Connect)
11 Apr 22. WFEL Hosts British Army Deputy Chief of General Staff to announce additional 100 Boxer Armoured Vehicles Contract. WFEL was delighted to host in Stockport the British Army’s Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Sir Christopher Tickell KBE, together with Chris Bushell, D.G. Land, Defence Equipment and Support and other senior industry colleagues from DE&S and RBSL, for the official announcement confirming a contractual extension with the ARTEC consortium worth several hundred million pounds, that will see the British Army receive an additional 100 Boxer Armoured vehicles.
The manufacture of wheeled Boxer vehicles for the British Army is already well underway at WFEL’s new Boxer vehicle facility in Stockport. This contract extension will include extra Infantry Carrier vehicles, Command & Control vehicles and Ambulances which will be used by the British Army’s new Armoured Brigade Combat Teams, as a first uplift to increase the Force Structure, as planned in the 2021 Defence Command Paper.
This latest contract for 100 vehicles is in addition to the earlier £2.8bn contract signed between ARTEC and UK MoD for more than 500 Boxer Mechanised Infantry Vehicles. The additional vehicles will be manufactured in both UK and Germany and will be delivered from 2024, whilst the original order for 523 Boxer vehicles will deliver from 2023.
Germany has supported the UK Boxer programme’s development, through the help of loan vehicles, data and collaboration, and transferring real production skills into UK industry and operating experience into the British Army.
Defence Procurement Minister, Jeremy Quin said: “This order will accelerate the delivery of the Boxer fleet to the British Army and increase its numbers.
“The land equipment upgrade is a vital element of the Integrated Review, on which we continue to deliver. Doing so, alongside our German allies, creates opportunities for both our Armed Forces.”
Following an extensive technology transfer programme from Germany, the UK Boxer Programme is creating 120 additional jobs at WFEL and sustaining a further number, in addition to creating a new, vibrant and robust UK supply chain to support the vehicles throughout their 30+ year life. Further UK job creation and sustainment is already being seen within WFEL’s growing UK-wide supply chain, which is set to further expand as the Boxer Programme progresses.
Chris Bushell, Director General Land, Defence Equipment and Support, the procurement arm of the Ministry of Defence, said: “This contract extension is great news for the Boxer programme and committing to buying an extra 100 vehicles demonstrates our confidence in the programme and the benefits of the capability.
Not only is this great news for the future of the British Army but it will also boost our commitment to investing in the UK’s defence industry and supply chains, meaning we can retain critical engineering and manufacturing skills in the UK.”
11 Apr 22. HAL, IAI to develop B767 multi mission tanker. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) have signed an agreement to transform passenger Boeing 767s to Multi Mission Tanker Transports (MMTTs). In a statement to Janes, IAI said that the MMTT is based on “pre-owned B767 aircraft”. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two companies on 6 April will cover not only conversion of the passenger aircraft to MMTTs but also conversion to freighters. According to IAI, “The MMTT conversion is based on long years of accumulated know-how and experience in aircraft conversions.” Boaz Levy, president and CEO of IAI, added in a statement that the project will utilise “local [India] resources to manufacture and market the platform”. HAL expects the project to provide India’s defence ecosystem with new capabilities and cost-effective solutions in the market. The company added that the project could bolster the ‘Make in India’ campaign. (Source: Janes)
11 Apr 22. Switzerland details recent robotic and autonomous systems programmes. The Swiss Federal Office for Defence Procurement (armasuisse) is trialling robotic quadruped, remote-controlled spider excavators and various drones. The Swiss Drone and Robotics Centre (SDRZ) are experimenting with robotic quadrupeds that combine both wheeled and legged locomotion, Mark Höpflinger, Head of the SDRZ told Janes at the SMi Military Robotics and Autonomous Systems 2022 (SMi MRAS 2022) conference, in London. An initial trial held in 2019 discovered that the system was slow and ineffective, even on flat terrain, Höpflinger explained. The locomotion concept was further developed, and in 2021, a research demonstrator discovered that the system was able to drive up to 40 km/h and had the capability to walk on rough terrain or stairs. SDRZ is also working with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology to increase the payload capability to 60 kg, Höpflinger noted. Possible future applications for such robotic systems include supporting search-and-rescue, MEDEVAC, CADEVAC, CBRNE operations, Höpflinger said. (Source: Janes)
08 Apr 22. 100 extra Boxer vehicles for the British Army. Boxer armoured vehicle programme boosted to 623 vehicles as joint UK-Germany production begins in Telford, Stockport and Munich
- Delivering on the Integrated Review and maintaining close UK-German defence ties
- Programme supports up to 1,000 UK jobs
The British Army will receive 100 extra armoured Boxer vehicles, ensuring more vehicles reach the frontline faster and bolstering the programme to a total of 623, as the UK maintains defence ties with Germany, the Prime Minister has announced today.
The modern digitalised armoured vehicles can be used to transport troops to the frontline and can be rapidly reconfigured to fulfil different roles on the battlefield.
The UK and Germany have worked closely together on the Boxer programme for the British Army, with the Boxer build in the UK benefitting from German expertise, data and collaboration.
Now boasting more than 400 Boxer vehicles themselves, Germany has had older variants of the vehicle in service for more than 10 years, including service in Afghanistan. Their success in the German Army means they continue to develop new variants of the vehicle.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “In these difficult times, our deep defence partnership offers reassurance to our people and the wider world, while also ensuring we are ready to respond to new threats.
This joint programme will ensure our militaries have state-of-the-art equipment as the invasion of Ukraine shakes the very foundations of European peace and security.”
Boxer production for the British Army is underway. The first 117 vehicles are being built on German production lines, as UK facilities in Telford and Stockport ramp up for the remaining 506 and begin manufacture.
The first Boxer vehicles will arrive in units from 2023, with the overall programme protecting up to 1,000 jobs nationally, enhancing skill sets and creating an ambitious UK apprenticeship scheme.
Defence Procurement Minister, Jeremy Quin said: “This order will accelerate the delivery of the Boxer fleet to the British Army and increase its numbers. The land equipment upgrade is a vital element of the Integrated Review, on which we continue to deliver. Doing so, alongside our German allies, creates opportunities for both our Armed Forces.”
As an addition to the £2.8bn contract announced in 2019, manufacture of the additional vehicles will commence shortly. UK production is focused in Telford through Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL), and Stockport through WFEL, with supply chain sub-contracts across the UK, including in Glasgow with Thales.
Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Sir Christopher Tickell KBE said: “This is a significant announcement for the Army in enhancing this key capability under the Integrated Review. Boxer will form the core of our modernised Armoured Brigade Combat Teams and it is great news for our service personnel getting more of these excellent platforms as part of delivering Future Soldier, whilst investing in the UK’s defence industry and supply chains.”
Enhancing and accelerating Boxer production ensures warfighting remains at the heart of the British Army and today’s announcement reaffirms our threat-led approach, as outlined in the Integrated Review.
Background
- The UK announced in 2018 that it would re-join the Boxer programme with OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’Armement / Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation) to explore options to modernise its vehicle fleet to meet the Army’s Mechanised Infantry Vehicle requirement.
- These extra vehicles will be produced in both UK and Germany whilst full production transfers to the UK. Production will source and sustain expertise and components from the already maturing and expanding UK supply chain, supporting the initial batch of 523 placed in 2019.
- The UK played a central role in the original design, development and testing of the Boxer, beginning in 1998. In re-joining the programme in 2019, the UK reassumed the rights it had as a project partner.
- The cost of the additional vehicles will not be published for commercially sensitive reasons. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
BATTLESPACE Comment: Good news and bad news! Good news for the extra Boxers, bad news that the majority of thi new order will be manufactured in the UK. AS BATTLESPACE has said before, like Ajax, there is scant proof of major Boxer orders for UK SMEs.
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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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