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12 Dec 14. To mark the handover of the first of an initial 20 LEOPARD 2 A7 tanks to the German Army, Frank Haun, Chairman of the Board of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) welcomed numerous guests from the worlds of politics, the military and business to the company’s headquarters in Munich on 10 December. Representing the Inspector General was General Lieutenant Rainer Korff, who accepted the vehicle on behalf of the German Army from Frank Haun, the Canadian Ambassador Marie Gervais-Vidricaire and President of the Army Supplies Division (BAAINBw), Harald
Stein. The LEOPARD 2 A7 is a product of collaboration between multiple
NATO partners and KMW that began seven years ago. As part of the ISAF mandate, Canada decided in 2007 to borrow 20 LEOPARD 2 A6Ms with modern mine protection from the German Army. Adapted by KMW to Canadian requirements, the first LEOPARD 2 A6M CAN was available in the same year and proved itself in operation so effectively that Canada wanted to continue using it. When it was time to return the vehicles, the country acquired surplus Dutch LEOPARD tanks that were to be converted to the design status of the loaned German vehicles. Canada and Germany agreed that, as part of this conversion work, further modifications could be made, resulting in the LEOPARD 2 A7 for the German Army. The LEOPARD 2 A7 not only features optimised protection against asymmetrical and conventional threats, but also has significantly enhanced sustainment. An auxiliary power unit ensures that the weapons system is fully operational even without a running main engine and that turret and crew compartment are kept cool. The LEOPARD 2 A7 is integrated into the control network via the combat troops control and weapons deployment system. For reconnaissance, it has leading edge sighting equipment. Its range of capabilities has been adapted through the option to fire fuze-programmable high explosive ammunition. This ammunition is particularly effective against bunkers and fortified positions.
07 Dec 14. Malaysian Army receives first 12 AV8 AFVs. The Malaysian Army took delivery of the first 12 of an order of 257 Deftech AV8 Gempita armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) at the manufacturer’s facility in Pekan on 6 December. Malaysian Army Chief General Raja Mohamed Affandi bin Raja Mohamed Noor accepted the 12 vehicles, all of which are the IFV-25 variant, in a ceremony witnessed by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, who formally named the vehicle the Gempita, which is a Malay term for thunderous noise. The AV8 replaces Malaysia’s obsolete fleet of SIBMAS (6×6) and Condor (4×4) AFVs and is a further development of the Turkish FNSS Savunma Sistemleri Paris (8×8). (Source: IHS Jane’s)
08 Dec 14. Two-thirds of Brazilian Army M113 armored personnel carriers earmarked for modernization have been upgraded by BAE Systems. BAE Systems called the recent upgrade of the 100th M113 to the M113A2 Mk1 configuration a “milestone” for Brazil under a 2011 contract that involved the use of local companies and technology transfer arrangements for vehicle maintenance. “This is an important milestone for BAE Systems and our long-standing partner, the Brazilian Army,” said Adam Zarfoss, director of Artillery and Recovery Vehicles at BAE Systems. “The delivery of the 100th upgraded vehicle is a direct result of our close working relationship with the army, developed through a strong technology-sharing program.” The A2 variant features an improved engine cooling system and power train, the addition of grenade launchers and extra fuel tanks among other enhancements. It is capable of amphibious operations, carries a dozen soldiers and is capable of extended cross-country travel over rough terrain. More than 40 countries operate M113 variants. (Source: Open Source Information Report/UPI)
09 Dec 14. Au