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10 Mar 15. General Dynamics Land Systems and Thales Australia have signed a teaming memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the intention to submit a bid in response to the Land 400 Phase 2 – Mounted Combat Reconnaissance Capability Request For Tender. General Dynamics and Thales have a proven track record of working together across a broad range of vehicle programs. These include Canada’s LAV III Upgrade, the UK Foxhound and Scout SV Programs, Switzerland’s Piranha CBRN Program, and in Australia the ASLAV Program for Crew Procedural Trainer and electro-optics. General Dynamics Land Systems is the manufacturer of combat-proven 8×8 and tracked Military Off The Shelf (MOTS) Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV), Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) and Manoeuvre Support Vehicle (MSV) products, and has proven performance in delivering international programs in a timely and cost-effective manner. Thales Australia has an established in-country industrial base of vehicle design, manufacture and through-life support and expertise in electronics, electro-optics, simulation and platform systems integration. The General Dynamics Land Systems / Thales team will offer Australia a compelling value-for-money solution comprising the complete suite of LAND 400 capabilities as required by the Australian Army.
Ian Cook, managing director of General Dynamics Land Systems – Australia, noted: “General Dynamics Land Systems and Thales will leverage our strengths to deliver a low-risk Land Combat Vehicle System capability for LAND 400. This is a great opportunity for us to combine world-leading MOTS 8×8 platforms with proven in-country manufacturing, integration, upgrade and through-life support. Our arrangement will maximise domestic and international opportunities for our Australian industry and builds on the success of our current platforms in protecting Australian soldiers.”
Kevin Wall, Armaments & Protected Vehicles Vice President, Thales Australia, said: “General Dynamics is a global powerhouse in military vehicles. Combined with our experience delivering, supporting and upgrading the life-saving Bushmaster in Australia, we believe the collective expertise of our two companies represents a compelling offer for LAND 400.”
General Dynamics Land Systems – Australia was established in 2000 to support the delivery of the ASLAV wheeled armoured fighting vehicles and has manufactured approximately 400, LAV-25 turrets, mostly for export. General Dynamics Land Systems – Australia currently provides comprehensive support to the fielded fleets of M1A1 Abrams tanks and the ASLAVs.
09 Mar 15. SAIC to continue USMC AAV upgrade programme. The US Marine Corps (USMC) Programme Executive Office – Land Systems has exercised options under a contract awarded to Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) to support its assault amphibious vehicle (AAV) upgrade programme. As part of the prime contract signed in May last year, SAIC is responsible for engineering, designing and test upgrading of ten prototypes and 52 low-rate initial production (LRIP) vehicles. The initial $16m, multiple award included options for prototype vehicle builds and trials, followed by a LRIP. SAIC Navy and Marine Corps Customer Group senior vice-president and general manager Tom Watson said: “This significant win demonstrates SAIC’s ingenuity to meet the demands of our customers and to serve the mission interests of the USMC. The contract value has increased to $69m and, if all options are exercised, will rise to approximately $194m over five years. Work includes armour and engine rebuilds to enhance horsepower and torque, replacement of ageing transmission, modernisation of suspension components and new water jets and blast-resistant seats, as well as upgrades to vehicle control, instrumentation and driver in