Sponsored by TEK Military Seating Limited
http://www.tekmilitaryseating.co.uk/
————————————————————————-
22 Jul 23. British Army ‘facing costly U-turn’ on Warrior armoured vehicle. The army could end up paying hundreds of millions of pounds more for a worse-protected armoured vehicle after a botched cost-cutting exercise at the Ministry of Defence.
The Warrior armoured vehicle is a 25-tonne light tank that runs on tracks, enabling it to carry infantry across different terrains and drop them in the midst of a battlefield. It originally entered service in 1988 and is designed to complement the British army’s main Challenger battle tanks.
In 2021 Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, announced plans to scrap the army’s fleet of 288 Warrior armoured vehicles rather than spend £1.4 billion on an upgrade that would prolong its life. The upgrade would have allowed the Warrior to fire on the move by overhauling the turret to give it a stabilised 40mm cannon. The hull of the 36-year vehicle would also have been refurbished.
Annual MoD accounts published on Thursday show that £473 million of taxpayers’ money spent on the upgrades was written off following Wallace’s decision to retire the armoured vehicles in 2025.
Amid concerns over the weaknesses of the army’s war-fighting strength, however, The Times has been told that the 2021 decision is now being revisited, potentially costing the taxpayer hundreds of millions of pounds more.
As part of the original decision, the Boxer armoured vehicle, which runs on wheels and is unable to travel across all terrains, was set to replace the Warrior from 2025. Now the Warrior’s life could be extended until as late as 2032 — but without the upgrade that would have improved its protection.
The Times has been told it will cost £136m to extend the vehicle’s life by just one more year and an estimated £200m every year thereafter to keep it going until 2032.
“We are paying more to get a vehicle that will go out of service in ten years when we could have paid less to get [an upgraded] vehicle that would have lasted another 30-40 years,” one defence source said.
MoD figures disputed the amounts and suggested it would cost just £81m to extend the Warrior’s life until later in the decade.
An army spokesman said: “These claims are wrong and misleading. The army made clear in 2021 that Warrior would leave service this decade and the first Boxer vehicles would enter initial service from 2025, which is still the case. There are no plans to extend Warrior to 2030.”
However, The Times understands that the costs for a partial U-turn on the future of Warrior are being worked through internally by the MoD, contrary to public assertions.
The row over the Warrior armoured vehicle comes amid army disappointment that the first major review of British defence since the Russian invasion of Ukraine included “no new commitments on platforms at all”. Instead, the refresh of the defence command paper from 2021 doubled down on plans to cut the number of tanks and troops in the British army.
General Sir Richard Barrons, the former commander of Joint Forces Command, said the failure to strengthen the army was a “gamble”.
He said: “The army could barely field a brigade and only then fight it for a week. These plans rely on what is happening with Russia or anything anywhere else in the world not getting any worse for 5-10 years — in my view that is a gamble not a risk, and out of step with our allies and partners.”
He added: “Keeping Warrior recognises the need for firepower, protection and mobility for the infantry. Not modernising it means our soldiers would fight with a 30-year disadvantage to a peer with modern kit. (Source: The Times)
BATTLESPACE Comment: The reopening of the Rarden 3omm ammunition line was a clear indication that Warrior’s life was going to be extended. (See: BATTLESPACE UPDATE Vol.25 ISSUE 11, 13 March 2023, INTERNATIONAL PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES, UNITED KINGDOM AND NATO,UK rectifies ammunition stockpiles?) The question is what work will be carried out to re-life Warrior, most likely by Babcock or possibly RBSL which operates from the home of Warrior, Telford. The reopening of the Rarden line suggest that a canon change is not on the cards. The most likely engineering change will be to re-hull a number of vehicles as proposed by BAE Systems in 2010 and rejected by the MoD to allow Ajax to proceed. Seasoned BATTLESPACE readers are fully aware of the view of the Editor that the wrong vehicle was cancelled. We won’t rehearse our vies on CT40!
20 Jul 23. Leveling Up Fuel Operations During QLLEX. Army Reservists took their training to the next level establishing real-world petroleum distribution support sites during the 2023 Quartermaster Liquid Logistics Exercise, June 12-24.
Fuel handlers and laboratory specialists from seven reserve battalions worked with Defense Logistics Agency Energy Americas teams to improve end-to-end readiness and efficiently deliver more than 1.6 million gallons of fuel to 21 Department of Defense installations across the nation.
“The exercise is not only an opportunity to test command and control, accountability, storage, and fuel distribution, but it’s also a way to showcase how reserve units can deploy to support real-world operations,” said DLA Energy Americas Director of Operations Support Ben Beadles.
During the exercise, DLA Energy’s Joint Reserve Force worked with DLA Energy quality assurance representatives to provide oversight of operations at six defense fuel support points: five along the East Coast and one at Point Loma, California. DLA Energy Americas Operations Officer Adam Minnich said embedding JRF personnel at the DFSPs during the exercise enabled critical real-time communication flow and was pivotal to the success of the operations.
DLA Energy supply planners worked with the DFSP terminal managers and downstream customers to substitute commercial supply chain transportation nodes with Reserve transportation capabilities.
“This exercise demonstrated the Army Reserve’s ability to sustain liquid logistics operations and be a viable bulk petroleum transportation capability for DLA Energy Americas in the event of a disruption in commercial transportation nodes,” said DLA Energy Americas Operations Officer Ray Jure.
DLA Energy Americas Commander Army Col. Josielyn Carrasquillo said exercises like QLLEX enable multifaceted teams from across the fuel supply chain to work together, train and prepare to ensure uninterrupted fuel sustainment to the warfighter despite possible real-time challenges or disruptions.
“Integrating joint, multi-service, combined and commercial partners into a single exercise enhances interoperability, builds strong relationships and fosters a comprehensive understanding of fuel contingency operations,” she said. “We capitalized on the full scope, scale and skills in fuel acquisition, storage, distribution and surge capabilities.”
Curtis Morgan with DLA Energy Americas East was the quality control lead for this year’s exercise. His team of QARs inspected 187 Army Reserve fuel tank trucks prior to the exercise, observed loading operations at DFSPs to ensure proper terminal procedures were followed, validated mobile fuel testing labs were suitable to test DLA Energy capitalized fuel and tested combat-ready battlefield quality control capabilities on over 318,000 gallons of aviation fuel.
“Tanker inspection was a great improvement from last year where the pass rate was 84%, to a 96% pass rate this year,” Morgan said. “The USAR established tiger teams this year that went out in advance of the exercise to do pre-inspection of the tanker fleet being utilized, which clearly contributed to improved operations.”
This year’s exercise, hosted by the 77th Quartermaster Group, also showcased the U.S. Army’s joint relationship with the United Kingdom’s Field Army Headquarters from Andover, England.
“Over the past 12-month planning cycle, the UK’s 9th Royal Logistics Corps participated in three planning workshops to develop joint operational capability with the USAR,” Beadles said.
The 9th RLC provided 32 petroleum troops and two support personnel embedded with the quartermaster battalions to observe Army petroleum doctrine in practice. This relationship is expected to grow for QLLEX 2024, where the RLC will field equipment and directly participate as part of the exercise, Beadles added.
For nearly four decades, the annual QLLEX exercise bridges the gap between training and realistic operations. While DLA Energy focused on fuel, the exercise also involved water distribution and handling offering Army Reserve soldiers the opportunity to hone their comprehensive liquid logistics skills in a demanding environment. (Source: U.S. DoD)
20 Jul 23. DCD launches new vehicle as it celebrates its 125th anniversary. DCD Protected Mobility launched a new weapons platform vehicle at its fourth military attache and advisory corps (MAAC) demonstration day, which witnessed its armoured vehicles fire weapons and take landmine hits during demonstrations at the Paardefontein test range outside Pretoria.
The 2023 MAAC Day, held on 19 July, celebrated the 125th anniversary of the establishment of DCD’s predecessor in 1898. The company began manufacturing armoured vehicles during World War II and now DCD Protected Mobility focusses primarily on its Husky route clearance vehicle and Springbuck armoured personnel carrier. Twenty-five countries are using DCD vehicles, including 15 for the Husky, which has survived some 7 500 mine/improvised explosive device hits without direct casualty.
The Springbuck is available in multiple configurations, including ambulance, command and control, explosive ordnance disposal, border patrol etc. Eight countries in Africa are using the Springbuck for African Union or United Nations missions.
The latest addition to the Springbuck fleet is a weapons carrier version, and this was unveiled to dozens of guests at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s (CSIR’s) Paardefontein range on Wednesday. Company officials said the weapons carrier will be able to fit 14.5 mm cannons or 60 or 80 mm mortars – at Paardefontein it was fitted with a ZSU-23-2 cannon.
Unlike unarmoured ‘technicals’ fitted with weapons on the back, the DCD offering has mine and ballistic protection. The company said it is a concept DCD will develop with its African partners. The Springbuck weapons carrier is presently fitted with a single cab, but in future will have an extended cab for the weapon crew.
DCD’s demonstration day ended with the launch of the new vehicle, but started with a showcase of its existing products. First up was a route clearance demonstration by a Husky 2G mine detection vehicle fitted with a Chelton AMULET vehicle-mounted explosive ordnance detection system. A Husky 3G fitted with an interrogator arm dug up suspected threats identified by the first vehicle. The arm can extend over three metres and can excavate and lift cached items weighing up to 70 kg.
The mobility of Springbuck and Sherp vehicles were demonstrated to assembled guests, with the amphibious Sherp 4×4 blasting through a pond – the go-anywhere vehicle inflates and deflates its tyres rapidly using engine exhaust gas, allowing quick adaptation to different terrain. DCD is marketing the Ukrainian-designed Sherp, which can carry up to nine passengers, excluding the driver, with a 1,200kg payload capacity.
Drones buzzed overhead to capture the action, or, in the case of Aquila Viour’s Alto unmanned helicopter, relay communications and command and control data. The helicopter was fitted with Global Command and Control Technologies’ Chaka command and control system.
Moving to the test range, the firepower demonstration portion of the day witnessed RPG-7s fired by SA National Defence Force Special Forces members, and the Husky and Springbuck demonstrate light and heavy machineguns from their weapons turrets (the Husky can be fitted with a defensive turret). Manned turrets can take machineguns from 7.62 to 14.5 mm or 40 mm grenade launchers while a remotely operated weapon station can accommodate a 12.7 mm machinegun.
The ability of DCD vehicles to withstand anti-tank and anti-personnel mines was demonstrated first by a Springbuck fitted with steel wheels detonating multiple anti-personnel mines – guests had the opportunity to ride inside while the vehicle went over a minefield. A 6 kg charge was then detonated under a Husky – the vehicle had almost no visible damage after the blast, and even the tyres remained fully inflated. Next it was the turn of a Springbuck, which had a 6 kg charge detonated under the left rear wheel to simulate an anti-tank mine hit. The wheel and rim were destroyed, but both the Husky and Springbuck were quickly repaired and driven back to the staging area for guests to inspect.
To highlight the damage mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) inflict on unprotected vehicles, DCD detonated a 6 kg charge underneath a commercial van to simulate an anti-tank mine – the vehicle was completely obliterated and literally torn to shreds.
As Paardefontein is a CSIR facility, the Council had a chance to expose guests to some of its detonics, ballistics and explosives research and testing capabilities – its facilities are regularly used to test and qualify armoured vehicles. On Wednesday guests had the chance to witness the detonation of a charge under its human response test rig (HRTR) – a reusable V-hull device fitted with test equipment inside.
Nearly two dozen DCD vehicles took part in what was DCD’s biggest MAAC day yet, growing on previous iterations in 2017, 2018, and 2019. The event was also well supported by DCD partners, including Tactical Defence Solutions, which supplied the weapons, Redeployable Camp Systems (field accommodation), Military Products (uniforms and equipment), Global Command and Control Technologies (Chaka command and control system and Impi tracker), Rajant (communications systems), TAU Aerospace and Advanced Technologies/Safomar Technologies (unmanned aerial vehicles), Bluvec (optical sensors), GEW (electronic warfare systems), and Chelton (antennas and avionics). (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
20 Jul 23. IFV cooperation tapped as cornerstone for upgrading Australia-South Korea strategic alliance.
South Korean and Australian government representatives and politicians spoke with one voice on 19 July in Seoul to further enhance economic and defence ties between the two countries. This forum comes in the wake of the common security and economic challenges in the Indo-Pacific region recently identified in Australia’s Defence Strategic Review (DSR).
Highlights:
- The ROK National Assembly held a forum on how to expand bilateral cooperation on economy and defence.
- Calls are growing that Seoul and Canberra further accelerate economic and security partnerships as major trade partners as well as military allies in the Indo-Pacific region.
- Cooperation on LAND 8116 self-propelled howitzer program is a “success story”, says top Australian diplomat in Seoul, expressing hope for further collaboration on infantry fighting vehicles.
- South Korea’s Hanwha has invested to build an advanced armoured vehicle production facility in Geelong, a commitment to contributing to the local economy as well as the defence capability of ADF.
Hosted by Representative Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the governing People Power Party (PPP), a parliamentary forum on Korea-Australia cooperation took place with the attendance of high-profile politicians and government leaders from both nations.
Among the participants were Representative Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the PPP; Representative Han Ki-ho of PPP, chairman of the Parliamentary Defense Committee; Her Excellency Catherine Raper, ambassador of the Australian Embassy in Korea; Oh Youngju, Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Lee Seung-beom, director of International Policy of the Ministry of National Defense.
A delegation of Australian parliamentary members, led by Labor MP Jerome Laxale, also joined the forum while visiting Korea as part of a parliamentary exchange program.
“Both South Korea and Australia are important trading partners and are both key allies of the United States,” Professor Kim Woosang of Political Science and Diplomacy at Yonsei University in Seoul said. Professor Kim served as Korean Ambassador to Australia from 2008–11.
“Cooperation between South Korea and Australia is a key to responding to the threats posed by China and North Korea,” Professor Kim explained, calling for plans to establish a robust defence and security framework between the two countries. He is a supporter of modelling these efforts on the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) operated by Japan and its allies, including Australia, to help facilitate shared military training and operations.
Keynote presenter Professor Park Jae-jeok from Yonsei University’s Graduate School of International Studies stressed Seoul and Canberra should expand and diversify cooperation further to a variety of fields such as natural gas, hydrogen, cyber security, science, and aerospace, leveraging the growing bilateral defence and security cooperation.
“As open, trading nations, both Korea and Australia face growing pressures to mitigate the geo-economic risks and challenges associated with their dependence on China,” Professor Park said. “In response, both countries should pursue an economic diversification strategy aimed at reducing their external economic risks from China.”
South Korea is Australia’s third-largest trading partner and an important provider of manufactured goods, such as electronics, machinery, and capital goods. Likewise, Australia’s major exports to Korea, such as energy, raw materials, and food products, are increasingly critical to the Korean economy.
SIGN UP
Participants at the forum paid close attention to the positive effects of construction of Hanwha’s Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence (H-ACE) in Geelong, Victoria. This facility is expected to serve as a cornerstone for upgrading the bilateral partnership to a strategic alliance in another level.
Hanwha Aerospace, a leading aerospace and defence manufacturer in Korea, through its local subsidiary Hanwha Defense Australia (HDA), has invested over $200 m in Australia already to support local production of self-propelled howitzers and hopefully, infantry fighting vehicles.
Built on a 150,000-square metre site near Avalon Airport in Geelong for completion in 2024, the H-ACE has a 32,000-square metre manufacturing plant; a 1.5-kilometre-long test-driving track, a firing range, EMI testing chamber, and an R&D centre.
The construction is expected to create about 600 jobs more, with greater job creation and economic ripple effects in the long run as the facility expands to work on both Australian and international programs.
“The need to work together in the region as liked minded partners is key, and to make sure that we have the capabilities to do so,” HE Catherine Raper, Australian ambassador to Korea, said.
“In that light, we very much value our relationship with Hanwha Aerospace.
“Their facility is in Geelong, which is being built for self-propelled howitzers and it’s coming along well as I understand. Production is underway at Changwon at the moment and will soon move to Geelong. This is a very important success story for Australia-Korea cooperation.”
HE Catherine Raper, Australian ambassador to Korea.
Asked about the prospect of the Land 400 Phase 3 program for next-generation infantry fighting vehicles, for which HDA’s Redback IFV is under consideration, the Australian diplomat expressed hope in working with the Korean defence industry despite the reduction in volumes in the wake of the DSR.
“Very happy to keep talking to Hanwha about that project going forward as we value that relationship highly,” she concluded.
Lee Seung-beom, director of International Policy at South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense, emphasised production of Redback IFVs in Australia would be a huge win for both sides.
“Since the signing of the AS9 SPH contract with Australia in 2021, construction of a Korean-invested production facility is underway,” Lee said.
“This is the first time overseas defence production base has been built solely by a Korean company outside of the country.
“We can achieve many things with this local production facility for Australia, such as technology transfer, continuous job creation, joint international marketing, and securing stable supply chains to support the defence capabilities of both nations.
“We are pursuing defence cooperation not just for selling weapons but for sharing our experience and knowhow of dealing with threats, trainings, operating weapons systems and others with partner nations,” Lee concluded.
Taking advantage of core technologies of the ROK K21 infantry fighting vehicle, the Redback was specifically developed to meet the operational requirements of the Australian Defence Force. The tracked vehicle features several innovative technologies such as the composite rubber track for better ride quality for soldiers and better through life support, Iron Vision 360-degree camera viewing systems, Iron Fist active protection system, the in-arm type hydro-pneumatic suspension unit to deal with high levels of armoured protection, the offboard Health and Usage Management System, and the Solar Sigma Shield technology from Tasmania’s CBG System. (Source: Defence Connect)
20 Jul 23. UK MoD to go fully electric with its white vehicle fleet in 2027. Most of the electric vehicles used by the UK military have been sourced from overseas, through the Phoenix II leasing contract, which supplies non-operational vehicles for military use.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is looking to go fully electric with its fleet of non-operational vehicles, with a plan to see 100% of its car and van fleet to be completely zero-emission by the end of 2027.
Known as the ‘white fleet’, non-operational vehicles are cars and vans under 3.5 tonnes in weight and currently provided to the Mod through a leasing agreement as part of the Phoenix II contract. Any vehicles not provided under the Phoenix II programme are deemed ‘operational’ and as such used in roles where full electrification is deemed “not appropriate”.
According to two separate written parliamentary responses, there are currently between 745-760 fully electric vehicles in the UK Armed Forces’ inventory, approximately 5.86% of the fleet.
The vast majority of these platforms have been manufactured and supplied from overseas, with an earlier written response stating, within only the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) fleet of civilian vehicles, 4.2% were fully electric and 4.6% being plug-in hybrid. There are currently no UK-built electric vehicles in the RAF’s vehicle fleet.
As of 27 June 2023, there are 39 plug-in hybrid vehicles in the UK MoD’s ‘white fleet’ and one battery electric vehicle that were built in the UK.
There are a further 1,414 hybrid vehicles deemed as being Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEV) in accordance with the Greening Government Commitment to Zero emissions by 2027, according to the UK Government.
Official figures state that from 1 February 2021 to 1 November 2021, the UK leased 353 internal combustion vehicles, 16 fully electric, and 277 hybrid vehicles. From November 2021 to 31 December 2023, it leased a further 1,193 internal combustion vehicles, 387 fully electric, and 965 hybrid vehicles for its white fleet.
The MoD’s big green machine
The UK MoD is keen to demonstrate its green credentials, with ESG programmes deemed critical even as the country’s military is squeezed by structural changes, financial and budgetary pressures, cuts to personnel numbers, and criticism of the standard of military housing.
The RAF has been a particular advocate of zero-emission and other ESG programmes, pledging to be net-zero by 2040, far ahead of its service counterparts.
Aviation makes up a significant proportion of UK defence emissions, at over 30%. The RAF also plans for its first net-zero airbase by 2025.
Also, at the recent Royal International Air Tattoo, UK Defence Procurement Minister, James Cartlidge, signed the Defence Aviation Net Zero Charter, as part of the MoD’s “contribution to the Government’s Net Zero by 2050 goal”.
(Source: army-technology.com)
19 Jul 23. GM Defense tackling battlefield power for Marines through DIU effort. GM Defense is working with the Defense Innovation Unit on two projects aimed at bringing electric power to the battlefield — and potentially paving the way for the U.S. Marine Corps to feel comfortable fielding an all-electric vehicle down the road.
The company, a subsidiary of General Motors, is leveraging battery technology investments from the commercial automobile sector and applying it to the defense space, Paul Beaker, GM Defense chief engineer and director of advanced product development, told Defense News.
GM Defense first won a contract with DIU in September for the Jumpstart for Advanced Battery Standardization program. JABS will test and analyze a handful of mature battery packs from industry, and create standards that can be used in future defense programs.
Noting that these battery packs could help turn any ground vehicle into a hybrid vehicle, Daphne Fuentevilla, the deputy director of the Navy’s operational energy office, said in a February DIU news release that “our strategy is to learn how large of a building block we can leverage, how to package the commercial technology into non-proprietary defense interfaces, and how to integrate batteries evolving at the speed of industry into defense platforms with static structures.”
GM Defense’s testing will begin late this year and run through 2025. Early testing will focus on a single Ultium battery, which runs GM’s electric cars and trucks. The testing will progress to include larger battery packs and, eventually, the company’s four-seat Infantry Squad Vehicle outfitted with a battery module that would power communications systems, counter-drone weapons and other energy-hungry tools in the field.
Last month, GM Defense won a second contract with DIU to take on expeditionary power.
The Marine Corps envisions sending out small groups of Marines to remote locations on beaches, islands and more without much infrastructure. These units would have to pack everything they need, including power.
Beaker said today’s remote command posts and expeditionary camps might receive power from a tactical microgrid that includes six diesel generators and a power distribution system. The generators each make 60 kilowatts of power, which is three times more than many whole-house generators make — but they’re either fully on or fully off, and so Marines could waste a lot of diesel fuel powering big generators during times they only need a small amount of power.
Instead, through DIU’s Stable Tactical Expeditionary Electric Power program, or STEEP, Beaker said the company wants to replace one or two of the generators with large battery packs that could store the extra electricity. In this way, users wouldn’t waste energy, and Marines could draw from that stored energy if they need to keep a low signature or power a small system that doesn’t necessarily require turning on a big generator.
Beaker said the addition of the Ultium batteries would reduce the overall fuel consumption and therefore the need for resupply, as well as reduce wear and tear on the generators and extend their lives.
“We’re finishing up our design on this, and we’ll build seven prototypes and deliver those for testing by DIU and the Marine Corps early 2025,” he said.
Though the battlefield electricity issue will become increasingly important as the Marines continue to embrace concepts like Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations, Beaker said the firm hopes the battery performance in JABS and STEEP will convince Marine Corps leaders to take the plunge on putting all-electric vehicles into the field.
“As our military talks about electrifying their fleet, we started down a journey to learn,” he said.
The company first created an Electric Military Concept Vehicle based on the commercial Hummer EV design, but it was clear the service wasn’t comfortable with it yet — particularly due to concerns about where in a battlefield the EV batteries could recharge.
Beaker said the company evolved its design, adding a 12-kilowatt diesel generator and a fuel tank to the vehicle so operators would essentially haul around their own recharging capability. That still wasn’t enough to ease concerns, he explained.
So GM Defense now has a family of Next Generation Light Tactical Wheeled Vehicle designs that hew more toward a traditional hybrid vehicle, creating a lot of energy from the diesel engine and storing some of that power for times when the vehicle needs to remain off to limit its heat and sound signature.
Beaker said GM Defense will offer one version of this platform for Canada’s light utility vehicle competition, and another version for the U.S. Army’s Electric Light Reconnaissance Vehicle program.
The company is also designing an autonomous version of this vehicle that could haul electronic warfare, short-range air defense, reconnaissance or logistics payloads into the battlefield.
Though the Marine Corps doesn’t have any upcoming competitions for a hybrid or all-electric vehicle, Beaker said the work with DIU could give the service the confidence in battery technology to pursue an EV.
He said it was a matter of “not if, but when” the Marines have to replace the Humvee. And GM Defense wants to have its Next Generation Light Tactical Wheeled Vehicle matured and ready to compete at that time.
Additionally, “in our conversations with Marine Corps leadership, there seems to be a recognition that there needs to be a platform between the [ultralight tactical vehicle] that can fit in an Osprey, and the [Joint Light Tactical Vehicle]. It seems like there’s a need for something in between, and we think that’s where either the [Infantry Squad Vehicle] and/or the next-gen tactical vehicle fit in,” Beaker said.
(Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)
18 Jul 23. Australian Amphibious Force Ready for More. The Australian Amphibious Force (AAF) is one step closer to certification after completing Exercises Sea Explorer and Sea Raider.
Conducted over four weeks at sea and ashore near Bowen and Shoalwater Bay, Queensland, the Sea Series of exercises builds the readiness of the AAF by integrating units from across the ADF to conduct large-scale amphibious operations.
The series began with Exercise Sea Explorer, during which more than 1200 personnel, four helicopters, 101 vehicles, including a troop of M1A1 tanks, and three military working dogs embarked in HMA Ships Adelaide and Choules.
Personnel practised the basic capabilities to manoeuvre, land and support forces from the sea to shore by helicopters and landing craft.
Providing realistic scenarios to certify and develop the ADF’s amphibious capability, the Sea Series ensures the AAF can provide the Australian Government with the ability to rapidly deploy forces in response to a range of missions.
Commander of the Amphibious Task Force Captain Phillipa Hay said it was important to maintain currency in such a complicated military environment.
“With such a large amphibious force being formed from across all three services, there are a lot of moving parts,” Captain Hay said. “The Sea Series of exercises allows us to continuously improve on previous years’ efforts, as well as continuing to sharpen our skills. Each individual plays a key role in the successful execution of amphibious operations, be they a sailor, soldier or aviator. I am privileged to co-command a force filled with the finest Australians who rise to the challenge.”
Exercise Sea Explorer was also the backdrop for this year’s major medical exercise – Hospex – which involved more than 40 clinicians, including doctors, surgeons, anaesthetists, dentists and pharmacists.
Hospex included multiple casualty transfers from ship and shore via landing craft and helicopters, major mass-casualty incident response training, and the embarkation of a veterinarian and robotic dog to familiarise medical specialists with the unique requirements of caring for military working dogs in the maritime environment.
Exercise Sea Raider exposed the force to a range of multifaceted challenges. The layered scenarios provided commanders and the task force with a variety of competing priorities.
Commander Landing Force Colonel Douglas Pashley said there were fundamental difficulties building and maintaining the skills to effectively fight in littoral areas. “This exercise has allowed us to build the readiness of the force – the latest chapter in the ADF’s amphibious journey,” Colonel Pashley said.
“We have formed a strong joint and multinational team that is capable of cross-domain operations in Australia’s archipelagic environment. Whilst we have achieved real progress over the past few years, it is demanding and it requires regular and focused attention.
“The Sea Series has been an opportunity for our people to come together, establish trusting relationships, learn from each other, gain an appreciation for the littoral environment and to understand how each element can contribute to the objectives of the force across air, sea and land.”
The force comprised various units and elements from across the Army, including more than 700 personnel and equipment from the 1st and 2nd Battalions, the Royal Australian Regiment, as well as elements from 17th Combat Service Support Brigade, and 16th Aviation Brigade.
The AAF now pivots to Exercise Sea Master, nested within the overarching multinational Exercise Talisman Sabre. (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Australian Department of Defence)
17 Jul 23. US Recon vehicle competitors maintain tempo, despite program uncertainty. The U.S. Marine Corps wants manufacturers to “go full speed” in developing a new reconnaissance vehicle, despite having no concrete quantity in mind and potentially needing fewer than anticipated.
But industry appears undeterred.
The service announced in its spring update to the Force Design 2030 modernization plan that it discovered a “requirement for littoral, multi-domain reconnaissance capabilities that our light armored reconnaissance (LAR) battalions do not currently provide.”
Future mobile reconnaissance battalions are expected to conduct littoral, multidomain missions with the Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle, a program in development to replace the legacy Light Armored Vehicle. General Dynamics Land Systems and Textron designed prototypes from scratch, and BAE Systems modified its Amphibious Combat Vehicle to meet mission needs. All three prototypes are in testing at Camp Pendleton, California.
But the battalions may also need light and ultralight tactical vehicles, small boats, and more to conduct multidomain operations, several force development leaders said while rolling out the Force Design update.
Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl, the deputy commandant for combat development and integration, said a mobile reconnaissance battalion might look different based on the geography to which it deploys. While something like an Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle, or ARV, could fit operational needs in the Middle East, Africa or Europe, he told Defense News, it may not do well in the Pacific region. This calls into question how many ARVs the Marines will ultimately buy, if only a subset of the Corps’ mobile recon teams will use the in-development vehicle.
Gen. David Berger, who spoke at the Modern Day Marine conference shortly before stepping down as commandant and retiring, told Defense News “we don’t know yet” what the change to the Mobile Reconnaissance Battalion concept will mean for the ARV program, nor how many the Marines might buy.
“What we do know is that the traditional ground reconnaissance, which I grew up in, and airborne reconnaissance and reconnaissance over the water or under the water can’t be three separate units,” he said. “So right now all three [Marine expeditionary forces] are working on multidomain reconnaissance” to determine what combination of land vehicles, boats and aircraft they’ll need.
Berger said he didn’t know what the right balance would be, but that the Corps would spend the next couple years working that out.
“But it’s not just one of them; it’s clear to us that capability has to be all three: aviation, ground, and some kind of [operationally manned] vessel,” he said. “Too early to tell what it means for the total number of ARVs that we might buy — way too early to tell. Right now, go full speed, but allow the [Marine expeditionary forces] to try to sort through how much of each are they going to need in the future organically.”
In a separate panel at the conference, Steve Bowdren, the Corp’s program executive officer for land systems, acknowledged that “we’re some time away from the requirements refinement” for ARV, given the newly released ideas about the mobile reconnaissance battalion.
ARV competitors
Despite uncertainty, industry heard Berger’s “go full speed” comment and intends to do just that.
Since BAE Systems, General Dynamics Land Systems and Textron Systems handed over their respective prototypes in December, the Marine Corps has put the platforms through land mobility testing at the Nevada Automotive Test Center; survivability testing at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland; open ocean and surf zone swim tests at the Amphibious Vehicle Test Branch at Camp Pendleton, California; and now electronics testing at the Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity at Camp Pendleton.
During these months of testing, some of the tiered requirements for the ARV prototype took on greater or lesser importance, David Phillips, the senior vice president for sea and land at Textron Systems, told Defense News.
Weight and size are not negotiable, with the Corps requiring four ARVs fit on a Ship to Shore Connector, he said. However, that led to a discussion about survivability and other requirements that ultimately affect the vehicle’s weight.
“We’ll come out of this knowing there’s things we’re going to have to go do as we look towards [the engineering and manufacturing development phase]” based on lessons that come out of the testing and changes to requirements.
Asked how the company views the uncertainty about the ARV program in light of the new Mobile Reconnaissance Battalion concept, Phillips said the Marine Corps continues to show “commitment to the program.”
“We’re confident we can deliver a vehicle that’s going to meet their top-tier requirements. We’re confident that things that exist right now cannot,” he said. “That’s how we’re emboldened and confident that ultimately this thing goes to that next phase.”
Phillips added that it’s common not to know exactly how many vehicles the military might buy upfront. Despite that uncertainty, “we said years ago this is a very, very critical thing for us to go chase and to go win, so we’re committed to that.”
Phil Skuta, the director of strategy and business development for U.S. Marine Corps and Navy programs at General Dynamics Land Systems, said budget documents show a competition for the engineering and manufacturing development phase slated for fiscal 2025 — or two years from now. But what he wants sooner is a clear decision to move forward with the program despite Force Design’s changes to the reconnaissance community.
He noted congressional testimony and other statements this spring from Heckl and Assistant Commandant Gen. Eric Smith that showed support for ARV.
“We read that, we listen to that very closely, and it gives us optimism that we can anticipate continuing forward, at least in this competition, and working with the Marine Corps to meet the requirements on this capability,” Skuta said.
An Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle prototype built by BAE Systems undergoes Marine Corps testing in early 2023. (BAE Systems via U.S. Defense Department)
The Marine Corps envisions ARV as a family of vehicles, with a common chassis but different mission systems on as many as six variants:
- Command, control, communications, computers and unmanned aerial systems, or C4/UAS, represented by the three prototypes in testing.
- Logistics
- 30mm cannon.
- Recovery.
- Counter-drone.
- Organic precision fires.
Mark Brinkman, BAE Systems’ program director for the ARV effort, said his company is investing its own dollars to “try to stay half a step ahead of the Marine Corps” and help the service refine its requirements for these variants.
BAE Systems took its ACV baseline vehicle design and outfitted it with C4/UAS mission gear for its prototype. But the ACV program itself is a family of vehicles, and the company is already in the process of designing and testing a 30mm cannon variant and a recovery variant as part of the ACV contract.
Through its own investment, the company has drawn a concept of an organic precision fires variant and will mature an idea for the logistics version, leaving just one remaining.
“There’s a lot of goodness in commonality” between the ACV and ARV programs, he said, not least of which includes the ability to design and field the mission variants on a faster timeline.
A smaller vehicle option
The Marines are clear they’re committed to the ARV for some geographies. But Heckl said perhaps a large vehicle, and the maintenance and spare parts associated with it, may not do well for Marines flying from island to island in the Pacific.
One company that could benefit from this discussion is Polaris, whose MRZR Alpha light tactical all-terrain vehicle won a contract with U.S. Special Operations Command in 2020. That seven-year deal has helped the Marine Corps replace its old utility vehicles, with Polaris delivering its first vehicles to 1st Battalion, 5th Marines at Camp Pendleton in June.
Nick Francis, the vice president of government and defense at Polaris, told Defense News the company’s Minnesota production line could build as many as 1,500 vehicles a year, which leaves plenty of room for additional orders as the Corps reconsiders how to move around light reconnaissance forces.
Polaris is building a high-power variant of its MRZR Alpha to expand how operators could use the vehicle. This variant will have batteries that can run counter-drone systems, command-and-control technology, and other offensive and defensive systems that need a lot of power and may need to run even while the vehicle is off.
The high-power variant has been through several design reviews, Francis said, and must go through testing across the entire operating profile of ultralight tactical vehicles — including challenging terrains — to prove its reliability.
That validation testing will begin later this year and stretch into 2024, he said. Pending successful test results, Polaris will begin offering the high-power variant to the Marine Corps and Special Operations Command next year.
The company is also in the early phases of designing a hybrid and an all-electric variant of the MRZR Alpha, Francis added.
Mark Schmidt, Polaris’ defense programs manager, said the company hadn’t had “any deliberate conversations” with the Marine Corps about applying the MRZR Alpha to the mobile reconnaissance battalion mission, but he said the vehicle has a low signature and is mobile enough to be “a great fit for that.”
17 Jul 23. Saab Australia joins AMA’s team for LAND 8710 bid. Saab Australia has partnered with the Australian Maritime Alliance under Team Oboe for the LAND 8710 Phase 1A Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel – Medium program. Under the partnership, Saab Australia has been engaged to support the delivery of integrated logistics support for the Oboe amphibious vessel, Australian Maritime Alliance’s (AMA) solution for the LAND 8710 1A LMV-M program.
If successful, the company will also verify and validate the proposed capability through test and trial activities.
Saab’s pedigree in integration and verification will improve value for money for Defence, Andy Keough, managing director at Saab Australia, said.
“Saab’s reputation as an expert systems integration company in Australia has been built over 35 years of delivering innovative technological solutions,” Keough said.
“Our significant experience in ILS, systems integration and verification and validation will provide value for money, speed to capability realisation, maximum capability availability, and through-life sustainment.
“We look forward to working in partnership with the Alliance members to realise this important materiel capability for Defence.”
Speaking on the partnership, Serco Defence’s managing director, Clint Thomas, explained the engagement will streamline the delivery of the new capability into the hands of Australia’s warfighters.
“Partnering with the ‘best of breed’, the AMA brings together a powerhouse of Australian defence capability to ensure the Oboe exceeds Army requirements and operational criteria,” Thomas said.
“Working hand-in-glove with Saab and other Australian industry partners will enable AMA to de-risk delivery and facilitate operations independently of Australian Defence Forces bases with minimal friction during changeover from the LCM-8 landing craft to the new LMV-M capability.” (Source: Defence Connect)
17 Jul 23. Polaris pitching 6×6 light tactical vehicle to USMC, special operations forces. Vehicle specialist Polaris Government and Defense is developing a 6×6 variant of its MRZR Alpha light tactical vehicle (LTV) as it explores concepts to increase payload capacity for infantry, marine, and special operations forces (SOF).
Speaking to Janes, company officials described how the decision to start development of the 6×6 vehicle had initially been made 18 months ago. Since then, Polaris has modified a 4×4 Alpha into a 6×6 variant as an initial showcase for potential customers. A “more mature” technology demonstrator is expected to be displayed at Modern Day Marine and SOF Week 2024.
The new vehicle design was originally devised as a “fun, stretch project”, according to Polaris’s director of engineering Shane Novotny and Alpha’s lead engineer John LaFata. The engineering team wanted to expand the performance and payload of the platform, which Novotny said is already the “most advanced offroad military vehicle the company has made”. (Source: Janes)
17 Jul 23. Japan tests prototype of new reconnaissance vehicle. The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) is testing a new reconnaissance combat vehicle (RCV) prototype based on the Type 16 Mobile Combat Vehicle (MCV), a Japan Ministry of Defense’s (MoD’s) Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) spokesperson told Janes.
“It [the RCV] was developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and is currently being tested by the JGSDF, but we cannot comment on the timing of introduction, the quantity to be procured, and the budget, as we will decide whether or not to introduce it based on the results of the tests,” the spokesperson said.
The RCV is designed to be used in reconnaissance units to gather information through rapid operations, the spokesperson added.
In June 2020 ATLA awarded a contract worth JPY2.35bn (USD17m) to MHI to build prototypes of three new variants based on the 8×8 Type 16 MCV – an infantry combat vehicle (ICV), an RCV equipped with sensors and cameras, and a manoeuvre mortar combat vehicle (MMCV).(Source: Janes)
17 Jul 23. Leonardo DRS eyes role in Bradley successor. Leonardo DRS is exploring a potential role in the US Army‘s future XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle, which will replace the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, according to the chief executive of the US-based company.
“We’re talking at this point” with American Rheinmetall Vehicles (ARV) and General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS), which are vying to be the XM30 prime contractor, Leonardo DRS chairman and CEO William Lynn told Janes on 14 July. “We’re working with [them] to get on their teams.”
The army announced in late June that ARV and GDLS will build XM30 prototypes and that it will select a winner in 2027. Leonardo DRS’s XM30 role would likely be similar to its involvement in other army vehicles, such as providing computers and sensors, Lynn explained.
While looking at the new programme, Leonardo DRS continues to support the legacy vehicle. It expects to benefit when the US Department of Defense (DoD) replaces the Bradleys it has provided to Ukraine’s armed forces. As of 7 July the DoD had committed 186 vehicles to Ukraine. (Source: Janes)
17 Jul 23. The Grizzly Parades for the First Time on July 14. On the occasion of the July 14 military parade, the 1st Parachute Hussar Regiment presented three of its new GRIZZLY tactical vehicles.
As part of the transformation of the Army and a balanced differentiation of its major units, the 11th Parachute Brigade will be provided with a new fleet of vehicles by 2030. The GRIZZLY has therefore recently joined the inventory of the 1st Parachute Hussar Regiment, where it will carry out reconnaissance and airborne vanguard missions alongside the Light Armored Vehicles (VBL) also produced by Arquus.
It is a great pride for Arquus to contribute to equipping and supporting a prestigious regiment whose operational know-how designates it for the most delicate engagements. At the service of the forces, Arquus measures the trust placed in it and ensures the full commitment of its teams to the user units.
A vehicle built for all terrainss
The GRIZZLY paraded on July 14 within the ranks of the 1st RHP. In total, there are about twenty vehicles which should be used within the regiment over the years to come, making it possible to consolidate the differentiation of the major units of the Army.
The GRIZZLY is a mount of choice for paratrooper units. Vehicle built for reconnaissance and intervention, it is capable of seeking intelligence and delivering effects in depth in complete autonomy thanks to its long range of action, its payload capacity and its reinforced firepower.
Built for all-terrain crossing, the GRIZZLY is a permanent 4×4, with significant ground clearance and angles of attack specially designed for the most rugged terrain and crossing trenches. Equipped with a 265 horsepower engine, coupled with an automatic transmission which allows them a top speed of 110 km/h, it is a very mobile, very modular vehicle, with a large payload capacity for a GVW of 11 tons. Nevertheless compact, the GRIZZLY is a vehicle built for stealth, infiltration and deep reconnaissance missions, as well as for air transport (C-130 Hercules and A400M Atlas).
It can carry a large variety of equipment thanks to its modularity. In standard configuration, it is equipped with a ring mount that can accommodate heavy weapons (M2HB 12.7mm or 40mm grenade MG), as well as three 7.62mm machine gun mounts covering all angles. These automatic weapons give the GRIZZLY considerable firepower, ideal for assault missions or force reconnaissance. (Unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com) (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Arquus)
17 Jul 23. UK Boxer Vehicles Commence Industry Trials in the United Kingdom. The OCCAR Deputy Director, Mr Denis Lizandier, and members of the BOXER Programme Division travelled to Millbrook, United Kingdom (UK), the site of a dedicated automotive testing facility in the South East of the UK. The OCCAR delegation joined a number of senior representatives from across the UK Ministry of Defence, the British Army and Industry to jointly celebrate the important Programme Milestone of UK BOXER vehicles commencing industry trials and to observe the impressive performance of the BOXER vehicle on the test track.
The OCCAR Deputy Director and BOXER Programme Manager, Ms Alexandra Alonzi, were invited to address the audience, which included the DE&S Chief Executive Officer Mr Andy Start, the DE&S Director General Land Mr Chris Bushell and the British Army Senior Responsible Owner Mr Martyn Williams. This event is an important step towards UK BOXER entering into service.
Major General Darren Crook, Director Land Equipment within DE&S, said: “This has been a memorable, hard-won, and well-deserved day. There have been some hard yards on the journey and some difficult moments, but we’ve overcome adversity through the selflessness of our people, the dedication of our collective teams, and purposeful collaboration between OCCAR, Industry, DE&S, and the British Army. Today is a significant milestone and a proud day for the Boxer programme.” (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ OCCAR)
17 Jul 23. Trials Begin for the Army’s New Heavyweight: The Boxer. The Army’s next generation all-terrain armoured vehicle will begin to be put through its paces this month in a series of special trials.
Boxer is a family of highly-mobile, protected and modular 8X8 wheeled vehicles which will deliver a variety of roles for the Army’s mechanised infantry.
The UK prototypes will begin industry trials ahead of Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) commencing its own customer trials in Autumn.
“It’s going to be an excellent addition to the Armed Forces. It’s low logistic need, reach and mobility ensure it’s relevant for any global scenario that requires rapidly deployable infantry mass,” said WO1 Gareth McQueen.
The Boxer vehicles will form part of the Army’s Armoured Brigade Combat Teams, set up to deploy rapidly over long distances and then operate across varied terrains.
Packing the punch of a Rolls Royce engine, the 38.5 tonnes Boxer vehicles will be used to transport troops to the frontline to perform a variety of missions, from low intensity peacekeeping to warfighting.
But the Boxer is not just an infantry vehicle, using a modular set-up consisting of a driving platform and different mission modules, it can be rapidly reconfigured to fulfil different roles on the battlefield.
The Army will receive four variants delivering four different roles – an Infantry Carrier, a Specialist Carrier, a Command Post Carrier and an Ambulance.
The digitised armoured vehicle can reach speeds of up to 60mph on roads and is hardened to withstand the heat, shockwaves, and electromagnetic effects of a nuclear explosion.
It has a Nuclear Biological and Chemical protection system to detect and counter threats as well as a 360 degree Situational Awareness System.
The Specialist Carrier will be able to support all the weapon systems currently in service – the heavy machine gun, the general-purpose machine gun (GPMG), the grenade machine gun (GMG) and the JAVELIN anti-tank guided weapon station.
Future-proofed to operate in the digital age, its network-enabled communication systems will work with Bowman but has the capacity to work with future networks to provide secure communications to other combat vehicles within the Brigade Combat Team.
Boxer variants are already in service with various NATO countries including Germany, the Netherlands and Lithuania. In the UK, the Boxer is expected to be delivered to battalions within the Armoured Brigade Combat Teams.
Warrant Officer Class One Gareth McQueen who is one of the military personnel working on the Boxer project said: “It’s going to be an excellent addition to the Armed Forces. It’s low logistic need, reach and mobility ensure it’s relevant for any global scenario that requires rapidly deployable infantry mass. Everything is subject to trials conformation, but I am confident that it will deliver on mobility, capacity, and agility.” (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ British Army)
17 Jul 23. Emitech Group invests €10m in vehicle homologation and qualification of large systems. Emitech, a French key player in environmental testing to ensure
compliance with applicable standards and regulations, today announced the inauguration of its new test
centre dedicated to the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of electronic equipment, as well as vehicle
homologation and large system qualification.
A unique testing facility in Europe
Emitech Group laboratories are specialized in environmental testing, subjecting equipment to stresses
representative of real-world conditions such as extreme temperatures, high humidity, vibration, shock, dust,
corrosion and other environmental factors to assess their compliance.
The new test centre has the largest (27m x 18m x 10.5m) and most recent Faraday cage built in France. This
facility is dedicated to electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing to ensure that electronic equipment works
together without interference. It is used to meet the needs of homologation (UN ECE R10) of a wide range of vehicles, as well as for the qualification of large systems.
The centre has a 2 or 4 wheel drive chassis dynamometer for vehicles to be tested in running order, which can simulate speeds of up to 120km/h and wind speeds of up to 60km/h, with a wheelbase of up to 6 metres and a carrying capacity of up to 6 tonnes per axle, allowing test campaigns to be carried out on truck tractors or agricultural equipment.
The facility includes various easements to accommodate all current and future motorisations: petrol or diesel combustion engines, micro-hybrids, hybrids and rechargeable hybrids, electricity and hydrogen. It also has a heavy load area that can support up to 40 tonnes, allowing it to accommodate construction machinery and equipment of high tonnage and volume encountered in the various sectors of defence, aeronautics, rail, nuclear and industry. This new €10m investment is part of the Emitech Group’s strategy to support sustainable mobility. It reinforces the Group’s skills in the evaluation of anti-pollution devices with Euro6 and Euro7 measures to support manufacturers and equipment suppliers in their objectives of lowering pollutant emissions. The Emitech Group’s testing and engineering solutions also extend to vehicle sub-assemblies such as lithium-ion batteries, hydrogen fuel cells, powertrains, etc.
17 Jul 23. Mossel Bay Municipality acquires SVI armoured vehicles. The Mossel Bay Municipality in the Western Cape has put two new SVI Max 3 Troopy armoured vehicles into service to fight crime in the area.
The vehicles were officially taken into service on 12 July during a ceremony attended by Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and provincial Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen, at the Mossel Bay Town Hall.
“Curbing crime of all kinds is a critical priority if we are to grow our economy. High levels of crime are a major impediment to growth and economic development. Residents, business owners and rural communities deserve to feel safe. I welcome Mossel Bay Municipality’s efforts to enhance safety and security,” Winde said as he inspected the vehicles.
Each Max 3 Troopy can transport eight people and forms part of the municipality’s newly established K-9 Unit. They will be utilised in various crime-fighting operations, such as responding to illegal land occupations and protests, in partnership with the South African Police Service (SAPS). They will also be deployed to offer protection to secure infrastructure services in volatile areas, the Western Cape government said in a statement.
The municipality’s K-9 Unit – funded by the Western Cape Government – will soon be sniffing out crime when it is officially launched in the coming months. It consists of four Belgian Malinois dogs. Winde added, “fighting crime comes in many forms. From the use of armoured vehicles to man’s best friend, we have to use all resources at our disposal to make our communities places of hope and dignity.”
“I would like to congratulate the Mossel Bay Municipality for deploying these armoured vehicles. This is an exciting moment for the residents of the entire area, and they can be proud of their municipality,” Allen said. “It brings me great joy to note how our partners at local government level are also prioritising safety. In due course, the safety initiatives in the area will be strengthened when our K-9 Unit is also formally launched. This will provide yet another layer to creating a safer Western Cape where our people can live in dignity.”
The Max 3 is based on the popular Toyota Land Cruiser 79 platform. In addition to upgraded brakes and suspension, the vehicle is modified with an armoured cab with B6 ballistic level standard protection (against 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm assault rifles), but this can be upgraded to B7 and blast protection. The design is also resistant to riot-type attacks, as it has been designed for military and non-military roles, including armoured personnel carrier, ambulance, command and control, crowd control, special forces and police. The vehicle is available in single cab, double cab and as an armoured personnel carrier with an enclosed rear loadbed.
The Max 3 weights 3.8 tons with weapons systems – the vehicle is lighter than most armoured vehicles for high mobility and low cost. Engine options include a V6 petrol, inline six diesel and V8 turbodiesel, giving a top speed of 140 km/h with the V8 diesel.
As the Max 3 is based on the commercial Land Cruiser platform, no special license is need to operate it, making it suitable for non-military tasks such as mining security, riot control, civil security, anti-poaching and convoy protection (valuables in transit).
The original Max 3 was launched at the September 2018 edition of the Africa Aerospace and Defence exhibition, and has subsequently evolved with new variants, including a 6×6 option. The Max 3 can be fitted with a range of additional equipment, including the Thales Scorpion 60/81 mm automated mortar, 12.7 mm pintle mount or 12.7 mm Rogue Lite remotely operated weapon station. One customer has already ordered the Scorpion system for its vehicles. Other options are fire extinguishing systems, long range acoustic devices for crowd control, and less lethal solutions.
(Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
————————————————————————-
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: David Parkman
————————————————————————-