MILITARY VEHICLE NEWS
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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 Millbrookâs remarkable facilities for demonstrations and exhibitions.
Tel: +44 (0) 1525 408408
www.millbrook.co.uk/military
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03 Aug 09. Permali Gloucester demonstrated an advanced vehicle structure and armour system at the recent Defence Vehicle Dynamics event at Millbrook. Working with Creation UK and Babcock, Permali supplied an advanced composite monocoque crew cell with ceramic applique armour for the Zephyr SRV vehicle that was publicly unveiled for the first time at DVD. The Zephyr SRV is a new generation vehicle designed to provide protected mobility on the modern battlefield and in urban environments. The composite crew cell supplied by Permali provides much improved strength and protection compared to metallic vehicle hulls of a similar weight. When coupled with Permali’s modular ceramic applique armour, a very high level of protection is provided, not just against small arms threats but also the high velocity fragment and blast threats that are typical of roadside IEDs. More importantly, this construction improves survivability as the non-metallic structure greatly minimises the behind armour effects when the armour is penetrated or “over-matched” by severe IED threats that cannot be completely stopped by this class of light vehicle. Permali’s Sales Director, Nick Baird, said “We are delighted to be working with Creation and Babcock to develop this all-new vehicle in the UK. To provide the levels of protection and mobility that current and future programmes require needs the fresh design and advanced technology presented in the Zephyr concept, without the limitations and compromises inherent in other legacy vehicle platforms”.
Creation Managing Director, Bill Davis said, “Permali’s contribution to this programme is crucial – not only in the context of the overall vehicle protection package, but particularly in respect of the ‘occupant survival cell’. Its capability and experience in the area of advanced composite armour has played a vital role during the design and development stages of the Zephyr SRV programme, not least given that we are trying to provide a vehicle which will meet and exceed operational requirements where the threat is continuously evolving and changing.” (Source: ASD Network)
04 Aug 09. Meggitt’s US-based military electronics cooling facility in California and Maryland-based Patrick Power Products Inc (P3I) are to develop a family of rugged, energy and fuel-efficient auxiliary thermal management and power systems to run and cool electronics on ground combat vehicles. Optimised for size, weight and power (SWaP) and thermal management efficiency, the partnership aims to reduce dependence on a vehicle’s main engine power by command, control and communications systems and the electronics needed to run defensive and offensive weapons and the vehicles themselves. The systems will draw on established technology like the M1A2SEP thermal management system, 1300 of which have been produced by Meggitt for the US Army in the last decade, Meggitt’s third generation combat thermal management system developed for the US Army MULE programme and the recently demonstrated US Army multi-fuel rotary auxiliary power unit produced