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23 Mar 17. UK Armoured Vehicles Arrive in Estonia. The first of hundreds of UK military vehicles have arrived in Estonia to support the UK’s enhanced Forward Presence battlegroup. The first of hundreds of UK military vehicles have arrived in Estonia to support the UK’s enhanced Forward Presence battlegroup based in Tapa, one of the largest ever NATO deployments to Eastern Europe. Setting sail from Marchwood, Southampton, last Wednesday, the Roll-on-Roll-off ferry also stopped off in Emden, Germany, to collect Warrior infantry fighting vehicles, Challenger 2 tanks and AS90 self-propelled artillery guns. It also carried Terrier, Titan and Trojan armoured battlefield engineer vehicles. The vehicles will then be moved by road from the port to Tapa.
Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said: ”This is the start of one of the biggest deployment in Eastern Europe since the Cold War and by the end of next month, we will have 800 British troops, with armour, with tanks, ready to help reassure our allies and to underline our commitment to the security of Europe. British troops are playing a leading role in Estonia and supporting our US allies in Poland, as part of wider efforts to defend NATO.”
Commanding Officer of 5 Rifles Lieutenant Colonel Mark Wilson added:
“The arrival of British and French armoured vehicles, alongside the men and women of the enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup is hugely exciting. We look forward to integrating into the Estonian Defence Force and training alongside 1st Infantry Brigade within a matter of weeks.”
Along with the French contribution of infantry fighting vehicles and tanks, which also arrived over the last few days, these vehicles will give the 5 Rifles Battlegroup the capability to operate in a wide range of exercises and operations within the 1st Estonian Infantry Brigade.
The arrival of these vehicles follows the first deployment of 120 personnel to the country at the end of last week, standing by our allies and bolstering the Estonian Defence Forces. The first train and advanced French elements of the 2th Régiment d’infanterie de Marine will join their British counterparts this week. (Source: ASD Network)
23 Mar 17. BAE to procure components from VOP CZ for BvS10 military vehicles. BAE Systems has contracted Czech firm VOP CZ to provide components for BvS10 armoured all-terrain vehicles being built for the Austrian Government. The contract requires VOP CZ to produce parts for the 32 BvS10s that are currently under production at BAE Systems Hägglunds in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden.
BAE Systems business development vice-president Peter Nygren said: “This contract is a milestone in our cooperation with Czech industry and the first step toward a comprehensive and lasting relationship with VOP CZ.”
The BvS10 is an amphibious vehicle that is capable of providing total operational support to the warfighter. It employs commercial automotive technologies to support crew under any condition and in any terrain. The amphibious vehicle can accommodate a crew of up to 14 personnel and carry payloads of up to 8,000kg at 65kmph. As part of a separate development, both the companies have already been partnering to replace the Czech Republic’s fleet of BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) with the CV90 IFV. Under an agreement signed in 2016, Czech Republic will receive BAE’s CV90, which is an advanced, adaptable, combat proven vehicle with more than 1,200 operating with seven nations, including several Nato allies.
Commenting on the latest order, Nygren added: “This order is an excellent opportunity to establish working processes and relationships between the two companies well in advance of the far more extensive cooperation required for the BMP-2 replacement programme.” (Source: army-technology.com)
22 Mar 17. US Army May Have to Buy