Web Page sponsored by MILLBROOK
Millbrook, based in Bedfordshire, UK, makes a significant contribution to the quality and performance of military vehicles worldwide. Its specialist expertise is focussed in two distinct areas: test programmes to help armed services and their suppliers ensure that their vehicles and systems work as the specification requires; and design and build work to upgrade new or existing vehicles, evaluate vehicle capability and investigate in-service failures. Complementing these is driver and service training and a hospitality business that allows customers to use selected areas of Millbrook’s remarkable facilities for demonstrations and exhibitions.
Tel: +44 (0) 1525 408408
www.millbrook.co.uk/military
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14 Apr 11. Germany is starting to equip its troops in Afghanistan with much-needed systems to remotely detect and destroy mines and IEDs. It has ordered seven sets of route-clearing vehicles and gear, each of which includes a Fuchs 1A8 armored transport vehicle, a converted Wiesel air-transportable light armored vehicle, a MiniMinewolf light demining machine and a Multi A4 FSA transport vehicle. The Fuchs vehicle will serve as a protected mobile command post, equipped with workstations for operating the remote controlled systems as well as systems for evaluating signals from the dual sensor. The Wiesel will be remotely controlled and equipped with a new built-in dual sensor with a ground penetration radar and a metal detector to detecting mines and IEDs. The remote-controlled MiniMinewolf will neutralize the hazardous ordnance. Depending on the mission requirements, the 6-ton vehicle can be equipped with a robot arm, a mine plough or a bulldozer blade. Operators aboard the Fuchs can supervise its actions via an integrated video system. Rheinmetall will modify the Wiesel, Fuchs 1A8 and MULTI A4 FSA vehicles from German Army stocks. (Source: Defense News)
07 Apr 11. Ukraine looks to export BM Oplot MBT. Ukraine’s state-owned Ukrspecexport has stepped up export marketing of the BM Oplot main battle tank (MBT) now that low-rate production for the country’s armed forces is under way and Thailand has allocated funding to buy up to 100 vehicles. The BM Oplot was developed by Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau and built by the Kharkiv Malyshev Plant as a heavily modified version of the original T-84 Oplot MBT developed in Ukraine during the mid-1990s. (Source: Jane’s, IDR)
12 Apr 11. Romania launches development of indigenous armour. The Romanian Ministry of National Defence (MND) officially launched its new indigenous 8×8 wheeled armoured carrier programme on in March. The TBT (Transportor Blindat pentru Trupe) 8×8 will be developed from scratch by Romanian armoured vehicle manufacturer Uzina Automecanica (UA) Moreni. (Source: Jane’s, IDR)
12 Apr 11. Turkey’s armoured vehicles beat the export path. The Turkish Land Forces Command (TLFC) survived for many years on a diet of mostly surplus US Army armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs), but that situation has now been turned on its head. Turkey not only carries out extensive upgrade and repair of those legacy vehicles, but also designs, develops and manufactures a wide range of AFVs. (Source: Jane’s, IDR)
20 Apr 11. The New Zealand (NZ) Defence Force has deployed light armoured vehicles (LAVs) to Bamyan Province in Afghanistan to support the provincial reconstruction team. The NZLAV is a highly mobile LAV that is equipped with a lethal arsenal of weapons and systems for combat, peace and peace support operations. New Zealand Joint Forces commander air vice marshal Peter Stockwell said the vehicles will safeguard the soldiers and allow them to operate more effectively, providing security for the civilian population. The upgraded NZLAVs provide the optimum mix of protected mobility, firepower and surveillance to meet mission requirements. The LAVs are also fiel