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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 Millbrookâs remarkable facilities for demonstrations and exhibitions.
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23 Aug 10. Patria and the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Croatia signed an Amendment related to the manufacturing and delivery contract of 126 Patria AMV 8×8 wheeled armoured vehicles on July 2010. The negotiations were started on the Croatian MoD’s initiative due to the financial reasons. According to the amendment the number of vehicles remains unchanged and the deliveries will be completed by the end of 2012. The vehicle versions were updated to match the current requirements of the Ministry of Defence. Majority of the vehicles will be manufactured in Croatia by Patria’s local consortium partner Duro Dakovic Special Vehicles (DDSV).The new revised contract also strengthens financial capabilities of DDSV in this program. In addition to the initial batch of 6 vehicles manufactured in Finland Patria has completed the transfer of technology to DDSV. DDSV has already locally manufactured the first 9 Patria AMV 8×8 basic vehicles.
“Patria is very pleased that the amendment negotiations were concluded in good cooperation and understanding with all parties. This new amendment further strengthens Patria’s leading position as the supplier of armoured wheeled vehicles but also opens possibilities for future business opportunities with our Croatian partner”, states Mr Seppo Seppala, President of Patria Land & Armament Oy. (Source: ASD Network)
25 Aug 10. Aura Systems has successfully delivered and integrated the first two Viper mobile power solution systems onto a Korean military vehicle. Under the NRRS programme of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Army, signed in February 2010, Aura will deliver 132 systems by the end of 2013. Aura will deliver two systems by the end of August 2010.
The Viper systems provide 16kW of three-phase 220VAC power and are designed to be integrated into a mobile radar system. Aura CEO Melvin Gagerman said that over 300 systems had been delivered to the
Korean Army and an additional 220 systems were scheduled to be delivered by the end of September. (Source: armytechnology.com)
26 Aug 10. Estonia on Aug. 26 announced its largest-ever military vehicle deal, buying more than 80 armored personnel carriers from fellow NATO member the Netherlands.
“The Estonian defense forces will buy over 80 Sisu XA-188 armored personnel carriers from the Netherlands,” defense ministry spokesman Peeter Kuimet told AFP.
“The deal doubles the number of armored vehicles in the Estonian defense forces and is the biggest armored vehicle deal ever made (by Estonia),” he added. Some of the vehicles will be sent to Afghanistan, where 155 Estonian troops are deployed in NATO’s International Security Assistance Force. The Finnish-made carriers are a decade old. Estonia also bought 60 used models directly from neutral neighbor Finland in 2004.
Estonia regained independence from the crumbling Soviet Union in 1991 and built its military from scratch. The nation of 1.3 million has a 3,800-member regular military – including 1,500 conscripts – plus 8,000 reservists. Estonia joined NATO in 2004 and has been upgrading its defense equipment to meet the standards of the 28-nation trans-Atlantic alliance. Kuimet said the vehicles