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 Millbrookâs remarkable facilities for demonstrations and exhibitions.
Tel: +44 (0) 1525 408408
www.millbrook.co.uk/military
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14 Dec 09. Supacat SPV400 undergoes blast testing. The Supacat SPV400 development programme has passed a major milestone having successfully undergone blast testing on 3 and 4 December. The full technical specification of these tests cannot be revealed for security reasons, however, a ‘significant’ under-vehicle mine blast simulation was conducted as was a ‘huge’ Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) simulation. The results were exceedingly impressive and surpassed expectations. The SPV’s integrated protection system comprises of a composite crew pod, developed in conjunction with NP Aerospace, mounted on a V-shaped hull. The integrated V-shaped hull successfully deflected the majority of the blast away from the vehicle proving the SPV400’s crew and system survivability capabilities. The system also withstood the effects of the VBIED. “These tests have broken new ground for vehicles of this size and have proven Supacat’s design philosophy for delivering state of the art lightweight and agile protected vehicles for 21st Century operations”, said Nick Ames, Managing Director, Supacat Ltd.
14 Dec 09. Oshkosh Corporation today announced it was informed by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) of its decision regarding the protest of the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) contract, awarded to Oshkosh on August 26. The majority of the protesters’ claims were denied, including challenges to the evaluation of the Oshkosh Corporation price. “At Oshkosh, we appreciate the GAO’s thorough review and welcome the Army’s re-evaluation of the two narrow issues recommended for reconsideration. We believe that our FMTV offer was, and continues to be, the best value for the U.S. Army, our troops and the U.S. taxpayer,” said Robert G. Bohn, Oshkosh Corporation chairman and chief executive officer. “It is important to realize that today’s decision did not recommend proposal revisions nor did it recommend termination of our contract.” Bohn added, “We believe that when these narrow issues are reconsidered, the Army’s decision to award Oshkosh Corporation the FMTV contract will be maintained.” Oshkosh Corporation will continue to lean forward on the FMTV program, including preparation for the construction of a new 150,000-square-foot electrocoat (E-Coat) paint facility at its Oshkosh, Wis., campus in support of FMTV production and possibly other Oshkosh vehicle programs. Oshkosh remains the only current manufacturer of both medium and heavy tactical wheeled vehicles in the U.S. defense industry, having produced more than 70,000 military-class vehicles in its manufacturing facilities. Oshkosh Corporation’s proven production capabilities were recently recognized by the National Center for Advanced Technologies (NCAT), which awarded Oshkosh with a 2009 Defense Manufacturing Excellence Award for its M-ATV launch team, which has exceeded delivery requirements for every month since the contract award on June 30, 2009.
16 Dec 09. Marshall Vehicle Engineering, part of Cambridge based Marshall Land Systems, has carried out a successful second round of field assessments of its Equipment Prime Mover (EPM). The EPM, configured