Web Page sponsored by MILLBROOK
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 Millbrook’s remarkable facilities for demonstrations and exhibitions.
Tel: +44 (0) 1525 408408
www.millbrook.co.uk/military
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17 Nov 09. Lockheed Martin is realigning its Electronic Systems business area to more closely align our capabilities and customers, improve affordability and sharpen the focus of new business efforts. Effective Jan. 1, 2010, the ground vehicle line of business, which includes the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program, will be realigned from Systems Integration-Owego to Missiles and Fire Control, and the balance of Owego’s business will realign with MS2. “The entire Owego team has worked diligently to reposition the business following termination of the VH-71 program and cancellation of the CSAR-X competition,” CEO Bob Stevens said, “and they have sustained a high level of performance despite the elimination of nearly 1,000 jobs since the beginning of the year. I believe this structure will make us stronger and more cost competitive. I regret that the business realignment will displace some of our colleagues, but failure to act decisively in a business environment dominated by economic pressures, limited customer resources and intensified competition would result in even greater job losses over time.”
17 Nov 09. Supacat, working in conjunction with Thales, recently demonstrated their joint prototype Jackal ISTAR variant at the Owning the Night Exhibition at Bisley on 10/11 Nov 09. The system demonstrates the joint team’s capability to easily integrate advanced weapons and sensor systems onto a Supacat Jackal recce platform to significantly enhance the ISTAR capability on offer. Using a Supacat platform in the UK MoD’s Jackal 2 configuration, the system was fitted with the Kongsberg Protector Remote Weapon Station (RWS) that has already been procured for two UK MOD programmes and also the newly developed and now in service Remote Optical Target Acquisition System (ROTAS) that incorporates the
Catherine Mega Pixel thermal camera, high zoom colour TV camera and the Celt laser. This allows for accurate lased ranges to targets combining with the GNAV sat Nav system for precise target and own vehicle grid referencing. The system is fully qualified and now in service on the Talisman Route proving & Clearance programme. The demonstration successfully proved the maturity of the products for easy installation onto the Supacat Jackal aimed at the recce role of Jackals on operations. The proposition is that teams will install a fleet mix of RWS and/or masts to give the FIND & Strike capabilities at the same time bringing the traditional top mounted pintal gunner into the protected mine blast seating and seat harnessing without compromising his situational awareness. The recent integration has demonstrated the benefits of stabilised weapons systems and also now includes helmet mounted displays for the vehicle commander who presently sits next to the driver. The team has conducted separate live firing trials that have proven the immense capability enhancement offered by stabilised systems with ‘fire on the move’ functionality. The system integration has been designed to enable the system or part-system to be easily fitted and removed or re-configured in-theatre. The Kongsberg Protector RWS has the following functions:
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