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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 Millbrook’s remarkable facilities for demonstrations and exhibitions.
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www.millbrook.co.uk/military
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28 Apr 10. General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, MTU and Raytheon plan on working together to bid for the U.S. Army’s Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) program, according to a job listing posted online April 25 by Lockheed Martin. U.S. Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli laid out GCV guidelines at a 2009 industry day. (U.S. Army) According to the job listing, which sought an engineering senior manager for the GCV program, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control is part of a team that also includes General Dynamics Land Systems, General Dynamics C4 Systems, Raytheon and MTU. Lockheed will build the turret, the listing said.
The job listing was removed soon after the Lockheed and GD press offices were asked about it. Lockheed officials declined to comment. GD officials were unable to comment by press time. The Army’s GCV effort is replacing the Future Combat Systems vehicle program. The service, which intends to award up to three contracts for a 27-month technology development phase, released a request for proposals Feb. 25. The bidding deadline is May 21; awards are expected in September. BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman announced in March that they will team up to bid. Details on other industry teams are still emerging.
“Boeing is determining the best way forward to provide value and a balanced [infantry fight vehicle] design to the Army as part of its Ground Combat Vehicle Modernization program,” said a Boeing spokeswoman in an April 28 e-mail. “We will leverage core competencies derived from a legacy of complex systems development programs and seven years of work in support of Army Modernization efforts to address complex ground vehicle requirements and deliver a superior vehicle solution that will increase troop safety, survivability, lethality and mission effectiveness.”
The Army wants the new vehicle to be more survivable than a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, as tough against fire as a Bradley fighting vehicle, as mobile as an Abrams tank and more lethal than a Bradley. (Source: Defense News)
23 Apr 10. Introduction of a new Singaporean-built armored vehicle destined for the British Army in Afghanistan is behind schedule, according to the Ministry of Defence’s procurement minister Quentin Davis. Despite promises to speed up delivery of the Warthog to British forces, there continue to be delays in the project. (U.K. MINISTRY OF DEFENCE) Last year, Prime Minister Gordon Brown promised to speed up the delivery of the articulated Warthog vehicles to better protect the troops fighting the Taliban. Just over 110 Warthogs were ordered in a 2008 deal valued at 150m pounds ($230m) between Singapore Technologies Kinetics and the Ministry of Defence. The Warthogs, purchased as an urgent operational requirement, were meant to replace the smaller and less protected BAE Systems Viking Mk1 machines in theater starting this month. In an interview last month, Davis, who keeps a scale model of Warthog on the coffee table of his MoD office, admitted the program had suffered delays.
The first Warthogs were handed over to the British on time last year from the Singapore factory of ST Kinetics, but the vehicle faile