Sponsored by TEK Military Seating Limited
http://www.tekmilitaryseating.co.uk/
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29 Aug 23. TEK Military Seating Launches New products at DSEI.
TEK Military Seating Limited, the UK based designer and manufacturer of ProTEK military vehicle seating is launching two new products at DSEI
Protek 5 Seat and Protek LTV Seat.
Protek 5 Seat
KEY FEATURES AND OPTIONS
Folds flat for medical evacuation
Heavy duty 100mm height riser
Quick release adjustable back rake
Fore and aft adjustment of 190mm
ProTEK SV shock pads and belt cutter
Height adjustable head rest
Fully integrated 4 or 5-point harness
Range of seat riser and suspension options
Removable back section for body vest/water pack
Blast protection to STANAG 4569 AEP55
Fully integrated 4 or 5-point harness
Vibration reduction seat foam
Range of trim fabrics to FMVSS 302, anti-bacterial, rot-proof, tear resistant and waterproofed
Tested to ECE 14, ECE 16/Def-STAN 25-9, ECE 17
Protek LTV Seat
KEY FEATURES AND OPTIONS
Quick release adjustable back rake
Folds flat for medical evacuation
Heavy duty 80mm height riser
Fore and aft adjustment of 160mm
Fixed head rest
Length adjustable seat cushion
Range of seat riser and suspension options
Removable back section for body vest/water pack
Blast protection to STANAG 4569 AEP55
Vibration reduction seat foam
Range of trim fabrics to FMVSS 302, anti-bacterial, rot-proof, tear resistant and waterproofed
Integrated Molle to back of seat
Removable back section
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
TEK Military Seating is on Stand H4-410
01 Sep 23. PT Pindad wraps up testing on Harimau medium tank. A collaboration between Turkey’s FNSS and Indonesia’s PT PINDAD has led to the development of the Modern Medium Weight Tank (MMWT) which is being considered for possible domestic production in Indonesia to equip a second tank regiment. Indonesian defence prime, a member of the state-owned consortium DefendID, announced on 23 August that it had concluded a series of final trials of the Harimau medium tank. The company stated that it had successfully performed live-firing testing to validate the capabilities of the Harimau tank at the Cipatat Pusdikif shooting range as well as other performance and functional tests the Pusdikkav Padalarang and PT Pindad test areas between 22 and 23 August.
According to PT Pindad, the test activities included firing of its 105 mm high-pressure main gun with high-explosive plastic with tracer (HEP-T) munitions as well as its 7.62 mm co-axial machine gun. Other events included turret testing, as well as validation of the tank’s key components such as its engine and powerpack, running gear, communication equipment, and its battle management system (BMS).
Director of Indonesian National Armed Forces Cavalry Weapons Centre, Brigadier General Augus Erwan, declared that the functional tests were the final step of the evaluation process before handing over any platform to the Ministry of Defense (MoD) and induction into the Indonesian Army.
The Harimau medium tank is derived from the Kaplan MT originally developed by Türkiye land systems prime FNSS, which subsequently evolved into the joint effort called the Modern Medium Weight Tank (MMWT).
FNSS earlier delivered Kaplan MT hulls to PT Pindad, which then performed integration of the CMI Defense Cockerill C3105 turret as well as associated equipment at the latter’s facility.
Unlike the Leopard 2RI main battle tanks (MBTs) used by the army, the Harimau’s combat weight of approximately 35 tonnes enables it to access less-developed road and bridge networks, potentially expanding its operating areas. (Source: AMR)
31 Aug 23. USMC overhaul approach to smart robots, eye new military job.
The Marine Corps has dabbled in drones for a while: It has invested in quadcopters for infantry squads, robotic mules that lug gear, even, earlier in 2023, its first MQ-9 Reaper hunter-killer unmanned aerial vehicle.
Now, though, Marine leaders want to bring all of the service’s unmanned systems efforts under one roof in hopes of developing sustainable career pipelines and catching up to the sprint pace of technology development.
The service’s new catch-all term for the technology, “intelligent robotics and autonomous systems,” or IRAS, made its debut in June’s update to Force Design 2030. That document called on deputy commandants to build intelligent robotics and autonomous systems into the forcewide experimentation plan; streamline acquisition of the most rugged and highly demanded unmanned systems; and develop a strategy to “integrate robotics specialties throughout the total force,” among other taskers.
“Marines must fight at machine speed or face defeat at machine speed,” the design document stated, citing the pivotal role of drones in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war in Azerbaijan, and more recently in Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine.
The man at the helm of this effort to integrate drone ops fully into Marine warfare is Maj. Keenan Chirhart, head of the service’s new four-person intelligent robotics and autonomous systems office. The former executive officer of the Marines’ first Reaper squadron, Chirhart must bring organization to the tangle of unmanned and autonomous development efforts in progress around the service.
As Marine Corps elements raced to integrate unmanned technology to its operations, from aviation to logistics, he said, stovepipes developed, thwarting effective communication and planning.
One possible initiative under consideration, Chirhart said, is a common mission controller capable of -operating all unmanned systems, from small aerial drones to ground vehicles and even surface vessels.t told Marine Corps Times. “You’ve got this multifunctional, multidomain capability. And there certainly needs to be oversight, so that it’s not just being developed within one war-fighting domain.”
One possible initiative under consideration, Chirhart said, is a common mission controller capable of operating all unmanned systems, from small aerial drones to ground vehicles and even surface vessels.
“A modular controller would enable not only your decision-makers, at a strategic level, to see across all domains, but also allow, at the tactical level, multidomain control of different systems,” he said. “Those technologies exist right now; our [Marine Corps] Warfighting Lab has been experimenting with them.”
In the nearer future, Chirhart’s office will develop an experimentation road map that makes unmanned systems integral to overall Marine Corps technology experimentation efforts. The Force Design guidance lays the groundwork for the development of a dedicated unmanned experimental unit that can simulate multidomain operations featuring a range of intelligent robotics and autonomous systems.
Chirhart said his office is researching several privately owned range spaces where these experiments could take place and networking with commercial startups, think tanks and academic institutions as it determines that’s possible.
Marine leaders also are aware they need a stable career pipeline for unmanned systems. As the office collaborates with the Navy, which is developing a to strengthen its unmanned workforce, Chirhart said a similar Marine Corps military occupational specialty may be developed.
While the service already has a small unmanned aerial systems operator job and a dedicated job specialty for MQ-9 Reaper pilots, it lacks a cross-domain specialty to deliver expertise on autonomy and robotic warfare at large.
Discussions of a new military occupational specialty are “nascent,” Chirhart said, but added that the Corps is closely watching the Navy’s efforts to tackle the same career path problem.
“We’re not trying to replace the warfighter,” Chirhart said. “But we know that in the future, the warfighter is going to be augmented by teams of robotics and autonomous systems that operate in all domains. We want to understand what is the expertise needed to make sure that person is trained and equipped to be able to provide those functions for the Marine Corps in the future.”
Perhaps the most significant obstacle for the Marine Corps as it seeks to master smart drones and autonomy is the infamously sluggish acquisition process, built to take years, not months. Chirhart noted that any acquisition projects started today likely wouldn’t get funded until fiscal 2026.
“That is not going to allow the Marine Corps to keep pace with our adversary,” he said.
How to achieve rapid acquisition at scale is a problem that goes far beyond intelligent robotics and autonomous systems or the Marine Corps, but Chirhart said he’s optimistic that effective communication between Corps directorates, plus the unifying and specific directions within the Force Design update, will help the service move with speed and purpose.
“I think it’s very easy for everyone to look at what industry is producing and say, ‘I want that thing, I want that bright, shiny object,’” he said. “But what is more important in my mind is that we have a road map that is capabilities-centric, not platform-centric. It’s not that I care necessarily about a specific, intelligent robotic autonomous system. I want to look at what is the long-term overarching capability that the Marine Corps needs to execute its missions.” (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
01 Sep 23. Rheinmetall supplies Norway with a Mission Master XT after demonstrating its capabilities in hostile Nordic conditions.
Rheinmetall has supplied Norway with its very first Rheinmetall Mission Master XT, an extreme-terrain unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) capable of thriving in sub-zero temperatures.
The Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (the prime institution responsible for defence-related research and development in Norway) awarded Rheinmetall the contract after it won a competitive bid with challenging mobility and schedule requirements.
A tried-and-tested solution for Nordic countries
This contract comes just months after Rheinmetall took part in the Artic Mobility Trials in Finland, where the autonomy and mobility of the Rheinmetall Mission Master XT were put to the test. Despite a challenging environment and -30°C weather conditions, the vehicle successfully navigated through icy rivers and climbed up slippery banks.
Link to YouTube video: https://youtu.be/xMTtOA-1ZAY
“We are proud to have developed systems that can withstand some of the world’s harshest conditions. These recent trials have proven that we are in a strong position to meet the needs of Nordic countries that face similar challenges to us here in Canada,” stated Alain Tremblay, vice president for business development and innovation at Rheinmetall Canada.
Rheinmetall Mission Master XT, an extreme terrain UGV
Developed by Rheinmetall Canada in 2021, the Rheinmetall Mission Master XT can tackle ice and snow, as well as sandy, rocky and mountainous topography. Its advanced amphibious capabilities allow it to float and swim while maintaining its full payload capacity. Weighing in at 2,217 kg, this powerful A-UGV can carry a 1000 kg payload, allowing troops to transport special equipment to hard-to-reach locations. The diesel-powered engine allows it to travel 750 km without refuelling, while internal batteries enable up to 6 hours of silent watch operations. Another key feature of the Rheinmetall Mission Master XT is its high-performance continuous tyre inflation system, which adjusts the tire pressure according to the terrain.
Like other platforms in the Rheinmetall Mission Master family, the XT vehicle is driven by Rheinmetall PATH, an AI-powered navigation system that can be installed on any vehicle. This agnostic suite of advanced sensors and perception algorithms enables Mission Master vehicles to navigate autonomously through challenging environments, while keeping soldiers out of harm’s way.
The Rheinmetall Canada team took part in the Norwegian Army Technology Days 2023 on August 23 and 24, where it has delivered a presentation on “How to speed up the adoption of and trust towards UGVs”.
01 Sep 23. Patria and Japan Steel Works Ltd. signed manufacturing license agreement for Patria AMV XP vehicles. Patria and Japan Steel Works Ltd. (JSW) signed on 31 August 2023 a license agreement on manufacturing for Patria AMV XP 8×8 vehicles in Japan. The agreement enables local production in accordance with Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s Wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier (WAPC) programme. In December 2022 Patria AMV XP 8×8 vehicle was selected by the programme to replace Type-96 8×8 Armoured Personnel Carrier vehicles that are currently in use. Neither the number of new vehicles nor the value of the agreement are disclosed at this stage. “Patria is fully committed delivering Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s WAPC programme as agreed and we are extremely satisfied to have JSW as our manufacturing partner in Japan. Both companies have over a hundred years of experience in providing top-of-the-line quality products for customers with the most demanding needs. JSW is a top-quality manufacturer locally and Patria foresees that JSW is an excellent manufacturing partner and will execute projects fully up to Patria and global standards. Together we create a strong team to manufacture and deliver the latest generation armored vehicles in Japan for years to come,“ says Janne Räkköläinen, Senior Vice President of Market Area World at Patria.
31 Aug 23. UK MoD eyeing purchase of 1,100 ‘tactical mobility’ vehicles. The two-variant Light Tactical Mobility Platform programme is seeking to acquire new Medium and Light vehicles in combined deal worth in excess of £90m. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is seeking industry responses to the potential acquisition of more than 1,000 4×4 and all-terrain vehicles under the Light Tactical Mobility Platform (LTMP) Medium and LTMP Light programme.
According to details contained in two separate pre-qualification questionnaires (PQQ), the LTMP Medium would seek a 4×4 solution, while the LTMP Light would require an ATV-like capability.
The LTMP Medium deal could be worth up to £80.9m ($102.8m), with the Light variant amounting to £10.4m. Closing date for submissions was listed as 25 September.
The LTMP Medium contract would see the procurement of up to 48 so-called Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTV), with potential options within the contract for a maximum of 863 UTVs inclusive of initial procurement.
Desired specifications require the UTVs to be able to accommodate a driver and passenger side-by-side, with a minimum speed of 65kph on the road when towing the platform’s maximum load, while the minimum payload capacity, including personnel, equipment, and stores, would be in excess of 600kg.
An initial support period will be for five years with the option to extend for a further five years in one-year increments. Any chosen supplier would have to provide two sample vehicles plus trailers to use during a trialling period, which would run from February – April 2024.
Similarly, the LTMP Light PQQ calls for the potential supply of up to 156 Light UTVs, with potential options within the contract to reach a maximum of 311 platforms, inclusive of initial procurement.
The LTMP Light platform would need to have a minimum ground clearance of 180mm when fully laden, achieve a minimum speed of 40kph on road when towing a weight of 450kg, and have a minimum payload capacity of 270kg.
The initial support period will be for five years with the option to extend for a further five years in one-year iterations. Two sample platforms would also have to be made available by a potential bidder for the trial date in order to be deemed compliant.
Taking each potential contract to include the maximum number of options, an individual LTMP Medium platform would cost approximately £94,000, while a single Light UTV would cost around £33,000.
Is LTMP the replacement for Ukraine donations and equipment disposals?
According to an April MoD acquisition pipeline, requirements for a ‘Low Technology Mobility Platform’ Light and Medium was listed under ‘New Requirement’ and had an estimated tender issuance date of 1 October and 1 August respectively. The estimated contract issuance date for the Light programme was listed as 1 January 2025, with the Medium variant being 1 September 2024.
Although determining the exact nature of the platform is difficult according to the details contained in the PQQs, it is possible that the LTMP programme could replace much of the British Army’s tactical mobility and logistics platforms, centred around, among other platforms, the Pinzgauer and Land Rover 4×4 vehicles.
According to UK-German joint venture RBSL, the Pinzgauer all-terrain utility vehicle is available in both 4×4 and 6×6 wheel configurations, and typically utilised in roles such as command and control, liaison, special forces, evacuation, and administrative tasks.
The Land Rover has been ubiquitous in British Army service for decades, across the entire spectrum of roles. Its unsuitability for high tempo conflict seen in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, where its lack of protection offered to crews was highly criticised, saw it replaced on the frontline by more survivable platforms such as the High Mobility Transporter 4×4 and 6×6 variants, produced by Supacat.
It was reported in November 2022 by Army Technology that the UK MoD had sold off 22 Pinzgauer Truck Utility Medium – Heavy Duty, and 132 Land Rover vehicles across a range of variants through the calendar year. Around 300 trailers had similarly been sold at auction or scrapped.
(Source: army-technology.com)
31 Aug 23. UK Light Tactical Mobility Platform (M) Contract Notice. The Land Rover Defender TUM HS, ordered in 1996, is the current UK MoD 4×4 medium utility truck. In a recently published Contract Notice the UK MoD announced the Light Tactical Mobility Platform (LTMP) Medium Project requirements.
Contract notice for contracts in the field of defence and security; Published 25 August 2023, 6:10pm.
The Light Tactical Mobility Platform (LTMP) Project is to provide the MoD with new high tactical mobility platforms that enable the user to conduct dismounted close combat manoeuvres. The Project has been split into two platform types, LTMP Medium (Contract Number 704573452) and LTMP Light (Contract Number: 703466451) are procured separately. Suppliers are invited to bid against either or both Contracts under the respective adverts. This Advert relates to the Medium platform.
Library image of a Land Rover Defender TUM HS fitted with Weapons Mount Installation Kit (WMIK) on Exercise EAGLE’S LIFT 2002 [© Bob Morrison]
Specifications: It is expected that this Contract will initially procure up to forty-eight (48) x LTMP Medium Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTV) (to operate on diesel/AVTUR F-34 fuel) and trailers, with potential options within the Contract for up to a maximum of eight hundred and sixty-three (863) inclusive of the initial procurement. The Contract is for the procurement and through life support.
The Authority requires a supplier with a proven track record of providing support for a vehicle fleet. Specifications to include, but not limited to, (A detailed specification will be part of the ITT):
- suppliers are to note that LTMP Medium platforms are to operate using diesel/AVTUR F-34 fuel,
- a configuration of driver and passenger side-by-side,
- minimum speed of 65kph on road when towing at the platform’s Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM),
- trailers are required whereby combined weight of the trailer, and the payload capacity, shall not exceed the towing capacity of the platform nor exceed the width of the platform and the height of 1530mm,
- minimum ground clearance of 180mm+ when fully laden,
- minimum payload capacity (personnel, equipment, stores) of 600kg+,
- the LTMP Medium platform can be legally driven on UK highways/roads.
The initial support period will be for five (5) years with the option to extend for a further five (5) years in one (1) year iterations. The value advertised within this advert is inclusive of all potential options and is subject to future funding and approvals. Details of the platform, quantities, options, and Contract duration shall be set out within the Invitation to Tender (ITT). The Project Team is running this procurement using the ITT process as set out in Chapter 16 of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations (DSPCR) 2011. The Contract Classification is Official Sensitive. The Cyber risk profile for this requirement has been assessed as Very Low. Suppliers will be required to complete the Supplier Assurance Questionnaire (SAQ) as part of the ITT.
Pre-Qualification Tender Stage: The DPQQ (Dynamic Pre-Qualification Questionnaire) will be hosted in the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP). All suppliers’ responses to be submitted via the DSP. The DPQQ will close for suppliers at 17:00 25th September 2023.
The anticipated timetable for the whole procurement process is as follows:
Activity Timetable Planned Completion
- DPQQ Responses Received (30 calendar days) 25th September 2023
- DPQQ Evaluation (Down selected to a Maximum of 5) October 2023
- ITT Issued (40 Calendar Days) November 2023
Table 1: Anticipated Timetable for the Competition
Whilst it does not intend to do so, the Authority reserves the right to depart from this tender timetable at its discretion and will notify Tenderers accordingly throughout the competition. As this competition is running in parallel to LTMP Light (Contract Number: 703466451), the Authority will endeavour to deconflict the two Tender schedules.
Selection Criteria: It is a requirement that the potential Bidders shall supply a sample of two (2) platforms and trailers at the Trialling Date (estimated February 2024 – April 2024) at no cost to the Authority. As such, it will be necessary to confirm that this is achievable at the DPQQ stage. Should this not be possible, the supplier will be deemed non-compliant and excluded from progressing to the next stage.
Suppliers are to note the Bid Validity period is likely to be approximately 300 days to allow for full approvals. This is due to the Trial Period, approvals and evaluations that need to be incorporated into the schedule. This will have no effect on the outcome of the ITT evaluation. Estimated value excluding VAT: £80,900,000
31 Aug 23. UK Light Tactical Mobility Platform (L) Contract Notice. In a recently published Contract Notice the UK MoD announced the Light Tactical Mobility Platform (LTMP) Light Project requirements.
Contract notice for contracts in the field of defence and security; Published 25 August 2023, 6:09pm.
The Light Tactical Mobility Platform (LTMP) Project is to provide the MoD with new high tactical mobility platforms that enable the user to conduct dismounted close combat manoeuvres. The Project has been split into two platform types, LTMP Medium (Contract Number 704573452) and LTMP Light (Contract Number: 703466451) are procured separately. Suppliers are invited to bid against either or both Contracts under the respective adverts. This Advert relates to the Light platform.
Specifications: It is expected that this Contract will procure up to one hundred and fifty-six (156) x LTMP Light (Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) / All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV)) platforms, with potential options within the Contract to procure up to a maximum of three hundred and eleven (311) platforms inclusive of the initial procurement. The Contract is for the procurement and through life support of the platforms.
The Authority requires a supplier with a proven track record of providing support to a vehicle platform fleet. The specifications include, but are not limited to:
- Minimum ground clearance of 180mm+ when fully laden.
- Minimum speed of 40kph on road when platforms are towing a weight of 450kg.
- Minimum Payload capacity is 270kg+.
- The LTMP Light platform can be legally driven on UK highways/roads.
Please note, suppliers can only bid one (1) platform in this Tender.
The initial support period will be for five (5) years with the option to extend for a further five (5) years in one (1) year iterations. The value advertised within this advert is inclusive of all potential options and is subject to future funding and approvals.
Further details of the platform, quantities, options, and Contract duration shall be set out within the Invitation to Tender (ITT). The Project Team is running this procurement using the ITT process as set out in Chapter 16 of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations (DSPCR) 2011. The Contract Classification is Official Sensitive. The Cyber risk profile for this requirement has been assessed as Very Low. Suppliers will be required to complete the Supplier Assurance Questionnaire (SAQ) as part of the ITT.
Pre-Qualification Tender Stage: The DPQQ (Dynamic Pre-Qualification Questionnaire) will be hosted in the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP). All Supplier responses will be submitted via the DSP. The DPQQ will close at 17:00 25th September 2023.
The anticipated timetable for the whole procurement process is as follows:
Activity Timetable
- DPQQ Responses Received (30 calendar days)- Planned Completion 25th September 2023
- DPQQ Evaluation (Down selected to a Maximum of 5) – Planned Completion October 2023
- ITT Issued (40 Calendar Days)- Planned Completion November 2023
Whilst it does not intend to do so, the Authority reserves the right to depart from this Tender timetable at its discretion and will notify Suppliers accordingly throughout the competition. As this competition is running in parallel to LTMP Medium (Contract Number: 704573452), the Authority will endeavour to deconflict the two Tender schedules.
Selection Criteria: It is a requirement that the potential Bidders shall supply a sample of two (2) platforms at the Trialling Date (estimated February 2024 – April 2024) at no cost to the Authority. As such, it will be necessary to confirm that this is achievable at the DPQQ stage. Should this not be possible, the supplier will be deemed non-compliant and excluded from progressing to the next stage.
Suppliers are to note the Bid Validity period is likely to be approximately 300 days to allow for full approvals. This is due to the Trial Period, approvals and evaluations that need to be incorporated into the schedule. This will have no effect on the outcome of the ITT evaluation. Estimated value excluding VAT: £10,400,000 (Source: joint-forces.com)
31 Aug 23. Australia become first non-EU, non-NATO member of MCC-E.
Australia have joined the MCC-E to pool airlift and sealift capabilities with the other 28 member states in Nato and the EU.
Australia has become the first country from outside Nato and the EU to join the Movement Coordination Centre – Europe (MCC-E), the Australian MoD announced 30 August.
The move will allow the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to move personnel and equipment around the world more easily, and add Australia’s recently acquired airlift and sealift capabilities to the range of options available to current members.
Formed in 2007 from the merger of the European Airlift Centre and the Sealift Co-ordination Centre, the MCC-E is an institution that brings together member states’ defence services to operate capabilities collaboratively in order to streamline structures and maximise efficiency, coordinating strategic military transport by air, sea and inland waterways, road and train.
While the centre’s focus is on strategic movements, MCC-E also coordinates air-to-air refuelling for the 29 member states, and its mission extends to include operational and tactical movements.
As a member of the MCC-E, the ADF will gain access to a pool of strategic lift support that may be used to help with transport missions in the area and around the world, and through the coordination of the MCC-E, the ADF will be in a position to utilise its recent acquisitions in airlift and sealift to service the requirements of the other member states.
In July the Australian Government announced that it would purchase 20 new C-130J Hercules aircraft for $9.8bn (A$15bn) with the intention of supporting the Royal Australian Air Force’s air transportation needs into the future, replacing and expanding upon the current fleet of 12 Hercules aircraft currently in-service.
With regard to sealift capability, Australia has made recent investments with KBR and Babcock in May, delivering a contract to them for Amphibious Combat and Sealift Capability Life Cycle Management. This deal built upon experience the pairing had developed with Canberra Class Landing Helicopter Dock Ships, capable of transporting over 1,100 troops, 100 armoured vehicles and 12 rotary wing aircraft.
“Australia can now work with other member nations to load share, which will create significant interoperability efficiencies in how we move our major assets from place to place,” said Group Captain Alan Brown, Commander of Joint Capability Group’s 1st Joint Movement Unit (1JMU), who went on to state that becoming the 29th member of the MCC-E offers a number of options.
Trading transportation through MCC-E
The operation of the MCC-E utilises a 24-7 manned station operating out of Eindhoven Air Base in Netherlands. There, when a member countries put out tenders for transportation requirements, and select from respondents, either paying a reimbursement for the value of the service or recording a credit and debit with the MCC-E, to be repaid in kind the future.
“As the MCC-E utilises a ‘virtual currency’ instead of financial exchanges for supporting tasks,” said Brown, “Australia can grow its equity within MCC-E by supporting other nations during opportune missions and spend that credit to leverage support from other nations to achieve some of our tasks at a lower physical cost.”
As well as providing additional transport requirement to member nations during times of high demand, the service also reduces the waste associated with flying empty return flights after delivering personnel or equipment to a primary destination.
“This sets the ADF up well for the future as we have now been established as an active contributor to the MCC-E organisation which knows how to broker with other member nations and is willing to support opportune tasks,” Group Captain Brown stated.
“Not only that, with the ADF becoming a member of the MCC-E, it has paved the way for other nations to sign up, meaning the network of support will potentially continue to grow in coming years.” (Source: naval-technology.com)
30 Aug 23. ANACONDA: GDELS and Rheinmetall to present HX 8×8-based wheeled tactical bridge-laying system at Rü.Net 2023 conference. General Dynamics European Land Systems – Bridge Systems and Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles have presented for the first time the ANACONDA tactical bridge-laying system mounted on a high-mobility 8×8 HX2 carrier vehicle at the 5th User Forum Armament and Utilization – RÜ.NET 2023 conference held on August 30 – 31 in Koblenz. The bridge, the laying mechanism and vehicle together provide a dry-gap bridge capability for medium- and heavyweight forces.
The ANACONDA from GDELS is the latest version of the well-known BIBER (“beaver”) bridge, over 300 of which have been built for the Bundeswehr, Germany’s NATO partners and other export customers. Mounting the bridges on Rheinmetall’s HX family of tactical trucks, which are in service with numerous armed forces, provides substantial advantages regarding interoperability, training, service and the supply of spare parts, contributing to the system’s low lifecycle costs.
RMMV’s HX family are among the world’s most widely used military trucks. Over 16,000 are in service around the globe. Many NATO nations already have HX vehicles in their inventory, resulting in valuable synergies in multinational operations.
29 Aug 23. Rheinmetall welcomes German-Australian letter of cooperation for procurement of over 100 Boxer combat vehicles for German Army. Rheinmetall has welcomed the signing of a German-Australian letter of cooperation for the planned production of Boxer combat vehicles in Australia for for the German Army’s “schwerer Waffenträger Infanterie” (heavy weapon carrier infantry) project, deepening the close cooperation and defence partnership between the two nations in the land domain.
From 22 July to 4 August 2023, the multinational exercise Talisman Sabre took place in Australia, with the German military taking part. The exercise included amphibious landings, manoeuvres with ground forces, air exercises and naval operations. Taking part in the exercise in Australia were 170 German Army troops and 40 German naval personnel.
Present in Australia for the exercise and underscoring the importance of German-Australian defence cooperation, Lieutenant General Alfons Mais, supreme commander of the German Army, visited Rheinmetall Defence Australia. Accompanied by Vice Admiral Carsten Stawitzki, chief of the military equipment division in the German ministry of defence, Lieutenant General Mais personally inspected production of the Boxer multirole wheeled armoured vehicle. “This is our message: we want to be a credible and reliable partner. We see Australia as a powerful mainstay in the region”, declares Mais.
Underlying this extensive cooperation is a basic agreement reached between Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during his visit to Germany in July 2023. A letter of cooperation had already been signed in Canberra on 23 March 2023 by the Australian minister for defence industry, Pat Conroy, and Thomas Hitscher, undersecretary of state in the German ministry of defence, laying the groundwork for closer defence ties.
Following successful conclusion of negotiations, the German Boxer vehicles will be built, utilizing production capacity at Rheinmetall’s state-of-the-art Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) at Redbank in South East Queensland, alongside the Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRV) being produced for the Australian Defence Force.
The “schwerer Waffenträger Infanterie” (sWaTrInf, for short) is based on the Australian Army’s Boxer CRV. This is a proven 8×8 combat vehicle equipped with a reconnaissance vehicle mission module including the two-man Lance turret. Its main armament is the Rheinmetall MK30-2 ABM automatic cannon, which also features in the German Puma infantry fighting vehicle. In the long term, the German armed forces intend to procure more than 100 Boxer sWaTrInf to replace the current “Wiesel” (weasel) to serve as a direct tactical fire support platform for its infantry units. Delivery is scheduled to begin in 2025.
In speaking of the potential export order, John Abunassar, head of Rheinmetall’s Vehicle Systems division, noted the commonality between the Australian and proposed German Boxer sWaTrInf vehicles, and the trust placed in Rheinmetall by the two allies: “The German Boxers to be built at MILVEHCOE will be modelled on the Australian Boxer Reconnaissance vehicle variant. The opportunity would be one of the largest Australian defence exports in the nation’s history, and support Rheinmetall’s vision to build and grow Australia’s defence industry capability as well as integrating it into the Group’s global supply chains.”
“Rheinmetall in Australia has more than 900 staff, high-tech skills and an established production plant that includes vehicles, armour and electronics manufacturing at Redbank”, adds Nathan Poyner, managing director of Rheinmetall Defence Australia. “Our Australian and global supply chain will continue to grow, with small- and medium-sized enterprises benefitting as we secure new orders to complement existing export programmes. We welcome the close partnership between Australia and Germany throughout the land vehicle domain as the two nations work together to increase global security.”
News of the letter of cooperation on the German Boxer Heavy Weapon Carrier proposal follows the start of production of Rheinmetall’s Australian Boxer with the “Striking of the Arc” at MILVEHCOE on Monday, 20 March. There, in the presence of Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, the symbolic first weld was placed for the Australian-made Boxer CRV.
The Boxer vehicle is an advanced, armoured 8×8 vehicle in service with armies around the globe. The Boxer offers enhanced troop safety, security and protection, coupled with high levels of firepower and mobility for sustained operations ranging from peacekeeping to high-intensity combat.
In Australia, Rheinmetall is the largest supplier of military vehicles for the Australia Defence Force. In addition to the 211 Boxer vehicles delivered under the Land 400 Phase 2 project – 133 of which are the CRV variant with the manned Lance turret – the company also services the Australian armed forces’ HX fleet, which comprises over 2,900 vehicles.
29 Aug 23. Patria showcasing its wide offering at DSEI London 2023 on 12-15 September 2023Patria attends the global defence and security exhibition DSEI London on 12-15 September 2023. At the event Patria exhibits a wide range of its state-of-the-art offering, which is divided into three branches – Through life capability, Protected mobility and defence systems and Battlefield and critical systems. Patria’s stand location is H7-120.
Through life capability
Patria OPTIME covers a broad range of services and solutions impacting the fleet availability, such as fleet maintenance, upcoming modification projects and needed integrations in the later stages of the lifecycle as well as supply chain management and training services. The new service concept for the sustainment of military equipment combines engineering expertise with efficient data utilization in a modular and tailored way and it is set up in phases together with the customer.
Protected mobility and defence systems
Patria AMV XP 8×8 is an extremely modern, modular and robust armoured wheeled vehicle providing superior fire power, protection and mobility. Patria AMV XP has fully digitalized vehicle data and control systems. At DSEI London Patria exhibits Patria AMV XP with the Rafael Samson 30 remote weapon system. Additionally, the vehicle is equipped with Vegvisir camera system, Bittium SDR system and Savox wireless intercom.
Patria 6×6 vehicle is modular and high-performance, but at the same time simple, robust and affordable to provide this tactical capability in larger fleet quantities. It provides modern protection and extreme mobility. Patria 6×6 is perfect for any combat support roles. It is built on the heritage of the legendary Patria XA series as well as on the success of Patria AMV 8×8 that have become an iconic part of the various peacekeeping and crises management missions and transporting soldiers. At DSEI Patria 6×6 is showcased with Patria Nemo mortar system, roof-topped with Kongsberg Protector RS4 Remote Weapon System.
Patria NEMO is a turreted, lightweight and remote-controlled 120 mm mortar system with a high level of mobility, protection and accuracy. Patria NEMO is capable of both direct and indirect fire, even when the platform is moving. Patria NEMO features modular design and therefore it guarantees maximum flexibility and capability for further growth for diverse requirements to meet the specific needs of modern warfare and threats in a changing environment. Patria NEMO can be used for self-defence and various indirect fire missions. Impressive fire support and rapid response with high crew protection – all in one.
Battlefield and critical systems
Patria SONAC ACS acoustic mine sweep is specially designed for sweeping influence mines with advanced acoustic triggering. Its compact, lightweight size is designed for use with unmanned craft.
Patria SONAC DTS is an ASW Sonar system offering both active and passive modes of operation with two separate wet-end sub-systems, VDS and TAS, which can be used simultaneously.
Patria CANDL provides a single data link solution for communications requiring high reliability, such as UAS payload data and C2. It enables air-to-air and air-to-ground Ad Hoc Networking as well as relaying for BLOS capability, thus enabling capabilities such as MUMT – Manned UnManned Teaming and LVC – Live Virtual Constructive training.
Patria ARIS is a remotely operable ELINT system for interception, recording and analysis of modern and increasingly complex signal environment. It provides an extensive set of high-performance tools for operator-driven ELINT signal analysis.
Patria ARIS-E is a remote operable ESM/ELINT system used for intercepting, recognising, geolocating and tracking radar emitters. The system produces a situational picture of the targets within the operating area. The Operator can also conduct a more detailed analysis of the received radar signals.
Patria MUSCL is passive radar system providing resilient, covert and easily deployable air surveillance in standalone mode as well as in networked mode using multiple MUSCL stations. The system provides affordable area and point surveillance for various applications such as military air surveillance, border control, critical infrastructure protection and drone detection.
Patria TADS is a weapon system and platform independent mission and military exercise debriefing system. TADS provides superior analysing tools for tactical mission and exercise debriefing.
Senop, a part of the Patria Group, provides high-performance night vision devices, intelligent sensor technology-based solutions and demanding system integration services. Senop’s advanced night vision solutions enable situational awareness as well as increased firepower and mobility.
29 Aug 23. Australian Armour in Indonesia for Exercise. It has been a long journey for the 1st Armoured Regiment’s contribution of M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks and support vehicles to Exercise Super Garuda Shield in Indonesia.
Starting at their home at RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia, more than a dozen vehicles were transported across the continent by road on heavy trucks to Darwin Harbour, Northern Territory.
The vehicles were loaded onto US Army Vessel (USAV) SSGT Robert T. Kuroda and shipped to the Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya, Indonesia, for transport by road to the training area in East Java.
More than 125 Australian Army personnel, drawn primarily from the 9th Brigade’s 1st Armoured Regiment, 10th/27th Royal South Australian Regiment, 3rd Health Battalion, as well as other support elements, have deployed on the annual exercise.
The ADF’s contingent commander, and Commanding Officer of the 1st Armoured Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Henderson, said the activity was significant for his regiment and the wider ADF.
“Our participation in Super Garuda Shield 2023 provides an important opportunity for Australia to work with our Indonesian and US partners to support an open, inclusive and stable Indo-Pacific region,” Lieutenant Colonel Henderson said.
“It will also demonstrate our ability to meet the most demanding land challenges in the future and to effectively deploy significant land forces, including armour, across the Indo-Pacific region.
“Importantly, it also provides the opportunity to conduct joint interoperable operations and train with partners and allies in the region.”
The movement of the tanks and vehicles from Darwin to Surabaya was an exercise in partnership, according to the skipper of the USAV SSGT Robert T. Kuroda, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Kyle Nicholas.
“These activities strengthen the bond and relationship with our countries, as well as provide experience for what it is like and what type of interoperability there is between US and Australian forces,” Chief Warrant Officer Nicholas said.
“We’ve had a great time working with the ADF personnel, who are very professional.”
Australian troops have joined more than 4000 personnel from 24 participant and observer nations in joint operations on the Indonesian Armed Forces and US Indo-Pacific Command-led exercise.
(Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Australian Department of Defence)
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