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03 Aug 23. France receives last batch of VT4 vehicles. The Directorate General of Armaments (Direction générale de l’armement: DGA), the French armaments procurement agency, announced on its website on 27 July that it received its last batch of 10 VT4 4×4 Standard 2 tactical vehicles the day before.
This brings the total number of VT4 vehicles delivered to the three armed services, the Operational Energy Service (Service de l’Énergie Opérationnelle), and the Joint Munitions Service (Service Interarmées de Munitions) to 4,380, as foreseen by France’s Military Programming Law (Loi de Programmation Militaire: LPM) 2019–25 under the Multirole Light Tactical Vehicle (Véhicule Léger Tactique Polyvalent: VLTP) programme.
The 3.5 tonne VT4 can carry four personnel equipped with FÉLIN (Fantassin à Équipement et Liaisons Intégrés) soldier systems or five without it. The unarmoured vehicle is designed to rapidly deploy soldiers in all types of terrain on national territory for urgent interventions under the Operation ‘Sentinelle’ internal security mission and overseas operations.
The first tranche of 500 VT4 vehicles is in the Standard 1 configuration, with 250 modifications of a civilian Ford vehicle to improve its mobility and ergonomics. Delivery of tranche 2’s 1,200 VT4s with 350 further modifications began in 2019 under a contract awarded to its manufacturer, Arquus, on 7 September 2018. The DGA said Standard 2 offers numerous new functionalities, notably the integration of communication and information systems and air transportability. The agency added that the vehicle features improved all-terrain mobility, weapon mounts, and removable window protection. (Source: Janes)
01 Aug 23. IAI and Odysight.ai develop health monitor for UH60 helicopters. The visual based health monitoring system detects component degradation and malfunction before the rotorcraft is in critical condition.
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), a global defence supplier, and Odysight.ai, an Arizona-based predictive maintenance company, have developed a health monitor system for UH60 helicopters.
IAI and Odysight.ai develop health monitor for UH60 helicopters.
The system is based on a multi-camera system that provides real-time monitoring of the rotorcraft systems’ health, ensuring the safety of operators.
Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, is the original manufacturer of the UH-60M is the latest variant in the “Black Hawk” rotorcraft family of helicopters.
The UH-60M is a multi-mission helicopter that has been operational in the US Army since 1978. Sikorsky designates the UH-60 Black Hawk export version as S-70A. As of January 2023, Sikorsky has delivered 5,000 UH-60s to the US military.
Primarily, the Black Hawk provides transportation and logistical support. Operators can configure the rotorcraft to carry out medical evacuation, command-and-control, search-and-rescue, armed escort, electronic warfare and executive transport missions.
UH-60 health monitor system
The partners’ new visual health monitoring system provides a consumable view of the helicopter’s systems, detecting component degradation and early malfunction before problems become critical.
The health monitoring system uses Odysight.ai’s advanced visual sensing and video analytics technology. This includes multiple cameras, a processing unit, machine vision embedded software and Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML) models and algorithms to support a variety of predictive maintenance and condition-based monitoring solutions. The company strategically placed the cameras throughout the helicopter, capturing real time visual condition on various safety critical components.
IAI seeks to integrate and certify new capabilities in aerial vehicles, the company will incorporate this new technology into the UH60 as well as other improvements and systems that can be integrated in the avionic field.
“By connecting the power of cutting-edge video-based sensors and AI algorithms, this innovative solution will provide real-time insights into the health of safety critical aviation platforms,” Odysight.ai’s CEO, Yehu Ofer, stated. “This partnership highlights the potential of health monitoring systems for aerospace & aviation markets.” (Source: army-technology.com)
28 Jul 23. First new LCT 200-70 landing craft arrives in Angola. The first of two new 70m landing craft being built by French shipbuilder Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie (CMN) in Cherbourg for the Angolan Navy has arrived in Angola, a CMN source confirmed to Janes. RA 4 de Abril (ND 15) arrived at the Angolan port of Luanda on 19 July onboard the Dutch-registered heavy-load vessel MVYacht Express, completing a near month-long journey from Cherbourg. The 70 m-long roll-on/off-type ships are based on CMN’s new LCT 200-70 design that enables landings in very shallow water and are the largest amphibious landing craft built by the shipbuilder. Two diesel engines driving two fixed-pitch propellers enable a speed of 16 kt with a full load and a range of around 2,200 n miles. Their military lift capacity includes either up to 200 tonnes of cargo, 260 fully equipped troops, three battle tanks, or eight heavy or 30 light vehicles. The foredeck provides space for up to 12 20 ft TEU containers. RA 4 de Abril. (Source: Janes)
01 Aug 23. L3Harris, Team Lynx Partners Win Contract for Next Phase of US Army’s Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle Program. L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) and its Team Lynx partners, led by American Rheinmetall Vehicles (ARV), won a contract to design and prototype the U.S. Army’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle, now the XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle.
The Lynx team also includes Textron Systems, Raytheon, Allison Transmission and Anduril Industries. Team Lynx will produce a vehicle design then build and test prototypes to increase mobility, lethality and safety for future warfighters. The Army awarded contracts with a value in excess of $700m to two groups with a final contract expected in 2027.
“We welcome the opportunity to continue working with our partners to produce the most advanced and most secure vehicles for our warfighters,” said Ed Zoiss, President, Space and Airborne Systems, L3Harris. “We are developing innovative technologies that will pave the way for future battlefield dominance. This includes a vehicle with superior protection, unsurpassed firepower and unbeatable mobility that features L3Harris third-generation sights to identify threats better and earlier.”
L3Harris is providing digitally engineered mission systems that adhere to a modular and open-systems approach to lower lifecycle costs. The systems enable battlefield awareness for faster identification and targeting capabilities as well as secure, high-capacity communication systems and data links to improve command and control for collaborative targeting.
The XM30 will replace the M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle and is the Army’s first ground combat vehicle designed using modern, digital engineering tools and techniques. XM30 is part of the Next Generation Combat Vehicle initiative, which is one of the Army’s top six development and modernization priorities. (Source: ASD Network)
01 Aug 23. IDEF 2023: FNSS displays Pars Scout 8×8 for first time. FNSS exhibited its Pars Scout 8×8 special purpose vehicle for the first time at the 16th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) held in Istanbul from 25 to 28 July.
The vehicle was developed in response to the Turkish Armed Forces’ Special Purpose Tactical Wheeled Armoured Vehicles project and is the first 8×8 to enter service with the Turkish military.
The Pars Scout 8×8 has been designed for reconnaissance and internal security duties. It houses a two-person driving compartment that replaces the vision blocks of the standard Pars 8×8 variant with armoured ballistic glass windscreens and slat armour. This is intended to offer increased situational awareness for the crew through a wider horizontal field-of-view combined with day and night cameras at both the front and rear of the vehicle. (Source: Janes)
31 Jul 23. IDEF 2023: TDU Defense Systems presents Kirpi armoured vehicle decoy. TDU Defense Systems presented an inflatable Kirpi armoured vehicle decoy at the 16th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) held from 25 to 28 July in Istanbul. TDU decoys like this are being used by the Turkish Armed Forces, a company representative told Janes.
Asked what air threats Turkey employs decoys against, a company representative replied that there had been instances in which Turkish decoys had been hit by ground fire. TDU also makes tank decoys.
To deceive air threats, the company makes inflatable air-defence systems and aircraft, including the F-16 and hangar decoys.
The company’s inflatable decoys have a low thermal and radar signature and can be moved with an unmanned ground platform. The lightweight decoys are designed for easy installation and folding and do not have to be 03 Aug 23. =03 Aug 23. 03 Aug 23. The company also makes mobile camouflage systems for real armoured vehicles and multispectral nets that can be erected over vehicles or tents in the field. (Source: Janes)
31 Jul 23. Units Conduct Complex Logistics Operation at Talisman Sabre 23. Units participating in Exercise Talisman Sabre 23 have cleared a key milestone as part of a large-scale, joint logistics operation to bring ashore heavy military equipment from ships stationed off the coast of central Queensland, Australia.
Just after daybreak on Monday, Army Col. Samuel S. Miller, the commander of a joint task force comprised of U.S. Army, Navy and Coast Guard units escorted a large ferry that was shuttling heavy bulldozers and other equipment. The ferry carried equipment needed to make final preparations to the shoreline before the arrival of combat equipment and supplies.
As Miller stepped foot onto the sandy shore, the unit took a major step in a long journey toward accomplishing its mission.
“Joint logistics over the shore is one of the most complex operations being conducted as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre 23,” said Miller, who commands the Army’s 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) headquartered at Fort Eustis, Virginia. “The JLOTS operation is a great example of our U.S. and Australia partnership at work.”
Over the coming days, soldiers and sailors will make final improvements to the shoreline and complete construction of a modular causeway system linking the USNS Maj. Bernard F. Fisher, a Navy maritime prepositioning force ship, and the USNS Bob Hope, a vehicle cargo ship, to shore.
The capability provides a key logistic advantage for combat forces operating in areas lacking port infrastructure and can also be used to shuttle supplies to shore during humanitarian assistance operations.
“In this scenario, we don’t have access to a port, and so, essentially, we’re creating one,” said Army Maj. Ryan Campbell, supporting operations officer for the 7th Transportation Brigade and joint operations officer for the exercise.
Over the course of 10 days, the units assigned to the mission are building the causeway at sea from sections offloaded from the supply ships. They will piece together an 1,800-foot modular pier, known as a Trident Pier, to provide the final linkage to bring the equipment onshore.
Campbell said by demonstrating the capability, the task force is echoing the strategic message that the U.S. and its allies are committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
“We can kind of go and provide this capability at a time and place of the Army commander’s choosing without the typical limitations,” he said. “We’re not constrained to already built, fixed ports if we have to get closer to where a logistics capability is needed.”
Demonstrating the capability as part of Talisman Sabre also provides service members with the critical experience of carrying out complex operations in a joint environment and alongside U.S. allies.
This year marks the 10th iteration of Talisman Sabre, a biennial exercise designed to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific by strengthening partnerships and interoperability among key allies. The spelling of the name — sabre vs. saber — reflects which country is leading the exercise: Talisman Sabre when Australia leads and Talisman Saber when the U.S. leads.
Nearly 30,000 troops from 13 different countries are participating this year. Several Pacific Island partners — including Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Tonga — are participating for the first time.
The 15-day exercise includes a variety of large-scale logistics and amphibious assault training operations and multinational firepower demonstrations and field training exercises throughout Australia.
Several units from across the services form the task force assigned with the JLOTS mission for the exercise.
Soldiers from the 7th Transportation Brigade are joined by fellow soldiers from the 86th Engineer Dive Detachment, also based out of Fort Eustis, Virginia, and the and the 307th Expeditionary Signal Battalion – Enhanced, which is based in Anchorage, Alaska.
“This is the first mission I’ve been on where I’m supporting any type of videos or water movement,” said Army Spc. Cody Davis, an information technology specialist with the 307th Expeditionary Signal Battalion – Enhanced. “Usually, we’re supporting infantry units such as the 25th .”
“It’s very interesting to see how different pieces of the puzzle are coming together,” he said.
In addition to the Army units, sailors from the Navy’s Amphibious Construction Battalion 1, based out of Coronado, California, are providing construction and heavy equipment support for the mission. The Coast Guard’s Port Security Unit 312, based out of San Francisco, is also on hand to provide port security aboard patrol craft operating in the area.
“This is definitely the biggest scale project I’ve done in my seven-year career,” said Navy Petty Officer Jared Tyre, an equipment operator assigned to Amphibious Construction Battalion 1. “It’s cool to see how operates with their maritime operations. We’re able to learn some things and also able to teach others.”
Tyre said the opportunity to come to Australia has also been a dream come true.
“I’ve always wanted to come here,” he said. “It’s phenomenal.” (Source: U.S. DoD)
28 Jul 23. IDEF 2023: Otokar unveils Arma II IFV with Turkish powerpack. Otokar unveiled an Arma II infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), Turkey’s first 8×8 vehicle with an indigenously produced powerpack, at the 16th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) 2023 held in Istanbul on 24–28 July. The 720 hp Ecotorq powerpack was developed by Otokar based on a civilian truck engine from Ford Otosan, in which equal shares are held by Ford Motor Company and Koç Holding, which also holds most of the shares in Otokar. The 12.7 litre, six-cylinder turbo diesel engine produces a maximum speed of at least 105 km/h, with a range of 700 km. The IFV has an automated transmission with six forward and one reverse gears. It has an independent suspension system, run-flat tyres with a central tyre inflation system, and an anti-locking braking system (ABS). It carries 12 soldiers, including the commander and the driver. The IFV displayed at IDEF 2023 has a Mizrak 30 turret with OMTAS missiles. (Source: Janes)
01 Aug 23. IDEF 2023: FNSS lifts lid on Kaplan Hybrid power system. FNSS exhibited its Kaplan Hybrid vehicle powerpack for the first time at the 16th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) held in Istanbul from 25 to 28 July. Development of the powerpack commenced in 2021 through FNSS’ Hybrid Power Group project, and although work continues, critical verification tests are scheduled to begin at the end of 2023. FNSS hopes to integrate a bespoke hybrid solution in its range of tracked vehicles and as an upgrade package to others through enhancement and life-extension programmes. (Source: Janes)
31 Jul 23. Saab deployable health modules accepted by Commonwealth. Saab Australia has delivered 131 separate modules under JP 2060 Phase 3 to the Commonwealth and are now scheduled for testing by Defence.
Officially achieving Contract Material Release 1, the 131 separate modules which range from deployable surgical modules to training equipment, will be tested by Defence on the road to initial operating capability scheduled for late 2023, the company confirmed.
The modules are being delivered under JP 2060 Phase 3, valued at $384m.
Under the project, Saab Australia has been contracted to deliver over 550 NATO Role 1 to 3 categorised health modules to Defence.
These include surgery, medical imaging, trauma, and intensive care modules.
Saab Australia has confirmed that it will oversee and sustain the capabilities, as well as provide training, from their new Deployable Health Capability Support Centre in Ipswich, a copany spokesperson confirmed.
“I’m pleased the project has reached this important milestone and Saab looks forward to continuing to work closely with the Commonwealth to deliver the full JP 2060-3 capability,” said Saab Australia managing director Andy Keough CSC.
“The advanced deployable health capability that Saab is delivering will enable the Australian Defence Force to rapidly deploy lifesaving medical equipment, facilities, and services to locations across Australia and the world.”
While delivering the capabilities to Defence, Saab Australia has committed to further develop health solutions for Defence.
The company recently established their Deployable Health Capability Centre of Excellence in Melbourne, where they are expected to collaborate with industry and academia to provide advanced health solutions and are exploring export opportunities. (Source: Defence Connect)
31 Jul 23. NATO Support and Procurement Agency brief BOXER demonstration trials. NATO’s Support an Procurement Agency detail their briefing to the BOXER demonstration trials held at Millbrook. On 28 July, the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) announced its attendance at the two-day formal launch ceremony for the United Kingdom’s BOXER armoured vehicle fleet’s demonstration trials that took place on 12 July.
The project marked the delivery of the first prototype vehicles, the commencement of demonstration trials, and the opening of the facilities where the British Army would perform acceptance operations for the first batch of vehicles when they are delivered.
The scope of NSPA’s support for land systems has gradually expanded over the years, and it now encompasses the entire life cycle management of a system, from initial acquisition support (including project definition and design), through production, and on to in-service support (including supply, maintenance, and engineering services), culminating in phase-out and demilitarisation.
During the UK BOXER launch event, a representative from the NSPA System Management Group (SMG) presented a briefing on the agency’s current in-service support efforts for the existing BOXER customer countries: Germany; Netherlands; and Lithuania. The presentation also emphasised the substantial knowledge and lessons learnt from the preceding 10 years of BOXER assistance, as well as how this would be linked with the UK-specific BOXER ISS needs.
The United Kingdom is purchasing 628 BOXER armoured vehicles, five of which will be used for testing. This was the consequence of a November 2022 decision in which the Agency was entrusted with contracting Millbrook Proving Ground to provide the site and facilities for acceptance operations by April 2023.
The basic shell of the BOXER is made of high-hardness steel. Modular armour is sandwiched between the vehicle cell and the steel coat, with all three elements secured by fastening bolts. Currently the modular armour, which includes top attack protection, is a specialised ceramic mix.
The modular design of the BOXER allows future generations of armour technologies to be fitted in place of current designs by simple slab replacement. The hull is designed to beat blast mine attacks by shaping the blast away. In addition, a double-lined hull soaks up critical blast deformation.
The vehicle’s thermal acoustic and radar signature management capability is at the forefront of armoured vehicle stealth technology and provides a low signature.
The BOXER vehicle is fitted with a 530KW MTU engine, linked to an Allison automatic transmission. Permanent eight-wheeled drive, all-round independent suspension and central tyre inflation system (CTIS) gives an optimal road and cross-country mobility.
A road range of more than 1,000km, combined with a very smooth and quiet ride, provides an unaided operational deployability unmatched among in-service armoured utility vehicles. (Source: army-technology.com)
31 Jul 23. Rheinmetall showcases its world-leading autonomous technology during Unmanned Ground Vehicle Trials in Estonia.
After being put through a series of gruelling challenges during the Unmanned Ground Vehicle Autonomy Trials in Estonia, Rheinmetall has yet again positioned itself as a world leader in autonomous technology.
The trials, designed to test the limits of autonomy, were organized by the Estonian Military Academy and the Estonian Defence Forces. The event attracted a multinational audience of military and civilian experts from over 20 countries, all of whom were keen to experience for themselves the latest technological advancements in the field of UGVs. Rheinmetall was one of the 11 companies taking part in the trials.
From open fields with high grass to dense woodland, the Rheinmetall Mission Master SP’s on- and off-road navigation capabilities were truly put to the test as it tackled rough terrains with limited visibility. Though the trials were not designed to be competitive, Rheinmetall’s autonomous vehicle turned heads with its limited driver intervention, obstacle avoidance technology, and speed and manoeuvrability.
“These trials have shown just how far autonomous technology has come in recent years. We were proud to put our system to the test alongside some of the world’s most skilled developers. We are really pleased with our performance and look forward to seeing how our technology will evolve over the coming years” stated Alain Tremblay, Vice-President, Business Development, Innovation & Robotics at Rheinmetall Canada.
Rheinmetall Mission Master and PATH autonomy kit
The Rheinmetall Mission Master SP, which stands for “silent partner”, is a fully-electric autonomous vehicle. It was chosen for the trials due to its compact profile that can navigate through tight spaces.
Like all members of the Mission Master family of UGVs, the Mission Master SP is powered by the Rheinmetall PATH autonomy kit: an AI-powered navigation system. This agnostic suite of advanced sensors and perception algorithms enables the Mission Master vehicles to navigate through challenging environments, while keeping soldiers out of harm’s way.
In addition to autonomous navigation, the Mission Master can support crewed and remote teleoperation, and seamlessly transition between each mode. The vehicles can also be fitted with different modules, including logistic transport, fire support, and medical evacuation.
Rheinmetall produced a video during the trials in Estonia to showcase the capacities of its Mission Master platforms to a wider audience.
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Contact: David Parkman
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