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02 Aug 17. BAE Systems to set up new defence hub in Victoria, Australia. BAE Systems Australia is planning to establish a defence hub in Victoria by consolidating the company’s Victorian maritime, aerospace and land businesses into a single facility.
The company plans to manufacture its armoured modular vehicle (AMV35) combat reconnaissance vehicles (CRV) at the defence hub, if it wins the Australian Defence Force’s $5bn Land 400 Phase II project.
BAE has partnered with Finnish firm Patria for the project and expects to manufacture 225 new CRVs to replace the light armoured vehicle fleet currently in service with the Australian Army.
BAE Systems Australia CEO Glynn Phillips said: “The creation of this new defence hub will provide sustainable, long-term, highly skilled work for Australians and further develop and grow the nation’s Sovereign Industry Capability.
“I am delighted that we can be part of Victoria’s ambition to develop a defence industry that is globally focused, supporting the transition to a stronger and more diversified economy that will benefit all Australians.”
To be located on the former General Motors Holden site at Fishermans Bend in the city of Melbourne, the hub would employ 1,000 engineers and technicians to design, develop, deliver and maintain new defence platforms and systems for the ADF.
Featuring a simulation, training and test facility, the new Land 400 advanced manufacturing centre will be used to upgrade and maintain vehicles over their service life. The hub will also develop autonomous systems, electronic warfare, hypersonics and weapons technology including the nation’s most defence successful defence export, Nulka. It will be a centralised point of collaboration with the Commonwealth for Land programmes and possible future export customers, BAE stated. More than 200 engineers and specialist employees will be based at the new site to support Royal Australian naval ships across Australia. BAE is also the original equipment manufacturer of the M88 Hercules recovery vehicle, as well as 39mm towed guns and M113 armoured personnel carriers. (Source: army-technology.com)
01 Aug 17. Oshkosh Defense, LLC, an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK) company, announced today that the U.S. Army has placed another order for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program including 748 vehicles and 2,359 installed and packaged kits. The order valued at more than $195m, is the fifth order for JLTVs since the contract was awarded in August 2015.
“Soldiers and Marines need a reliable, transportable, and protected mobility solution that balances payload, protection, and performance,” said Dave Diersen, Oshkosh Defense vice president and general manager of Joint Programs. “The Oshkosh JLTV is that solution.”
The JLTV program is currently in Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) and remains on-schedule, on-budget and is completing reliability and performance test activities as well as logistics supportability evaluations around the country. The program anticipates a Full Rate Production decision in FY19, with the first Army unit equipped by mid-FY19 and both Army and Marine Corps Initial Operating Capability (IOC) in early FY20. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
31 Jul 17. Brazilian Army postpones 8×8 development decision. An ambitious Brazilian Army plan to locally develop an 8×8 armoured reconnaissance vehicle carrier has been postponed due to budget constraints, an official close to the project told Jane’s. The 8×8 effort may proceed at a later time, but it is not clear when, the source added. Negotiations for research and development of the chassis were held between the army’s Manufacturing Direction and Iveco, but no contract was signed. The so-called VBR-MR (Viatura Blindada de Reconhecimento-Média de Rodas) project is part of Army Strategic Program