Web Page sponsored by MILLBROOK
Tel: +44 (0) 1525 408408
www.millbrook.co.uk/military
————————————————————————
06 Jan 16. The French ministry of Defence orders vehicles for its Special Forces. The French defence procurement agency (DGA) notified on the 30th of December to RENAULT TRUCKS Defense (RTD) the realisation of 241 Light Special Forces Vehicles and 202 Heavy Special Forces Vehicles, as well as the integration of sensitive intelligence and communication equipment, and their support elements. These vehicles will equip all of the Special Forces, who currently operate with a heterogeneous fleet of vehicles particularly worn down by the regularity of their engagement in overseas operations. 25 Heavy Special Forces Vehicles will be delivered in 2016 in a first standard to respond to the most urgent needs. The first light vehicles will be delivered from 2018. The program responds to a most demanding operational requirement for intelligence or neutralisation missions, and in-depth actions within hostile areas requiring maximum discretion. It aims to improve the interoperability and the fleet’s performance level across Land, Air and Marine components of the Special Forces.
Besides RENAULT TRUCKS Defense, the industrial organisation for the realisation of this Special Forces vehicles contract also includes companies Panhard, subsidiary of RTD (conception and production of the light vehicle), and Essonne Sécurité (conception and production of common equipment for both vehicles).
06 Jan 16. Otokar’s Cobra II 4×4 receives its first orders. Otokar has received its first two orders for its Cobra II 4×4 armoured tactical vehicle, the company has announced. At the end of December 2015 Otokar announced that it had received a contract for the Cobra II; a vehicle first revealed at the May 2013 International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) in Istanbul. However, speaking to IHS Jane’s on 5 January, the company revealed that this was actually its second order for the vehicle – having received another undisclosed order slightly earlier from the Turkish Ministry of Defence (MoD). While the company was unable to discuss its debut order, a spokesperson said that the second one is worth some EUR47.5m (USD51m) and includes the delivery of 82 Cobra II 4x4s, plus related systems, maintenance and support. Deliveries of the first order of vehicles have yet to begin, while delivery of the vehicles from the second order should be completed in the first half of 2017.
Although the Turkish user for the first order is undisclosed, the vehicles from the second order are destined for security forces within the Turkish Armed Forces, according to Otokar.
The Cobra II is a more heavily armoured successor to Otokar’s successful Cobra 4×4, which Otokar states is now operated by 15 countries. At 12,000 kg the Cobra II has a combat weight that is roughly double that of its predecessor (6,900 kg), and is slightly wider, longer and taller – offering greater internal volume.
In an armoured personnel carrier (APC) configuration the vehicle can carry nine personnel (2 + 7), and the vehicle can be armed with a number of different weapons, including crew operated machine guns (MGs), and remote weapon stations armed with anything from MGs to short-range surface-to-air missiles. Unlike the Cobra, the Cobra II is not amphibious as standard, although an amphibious version fitted with propellers and a different hull shape is also available. (Source: Defense News Early Bird/IHS Jane’s)
06 Jan 16. Lockheed, U.S. to argue stop-work bid on Army trucks on Jan. 20. The U.S. Court of Federal Claims will hear arguments on Jan. 20 in Lockheed Martin Corp’s motion to halt Oshkosh Corp’s work on 17,000 armored Humvee truck replacements for the U.S. Army while Lockheed challenges the $6.75bn contract. Lockheed last month filed a federal complaint over the U.S. Army’s handling of the contract, as well as a motion seeking a p