MILITARY VEHICLE NEWS AND LOGISTICS AND THROUGH LIFE UPDATE

Sponsored by TEK Military Seating Limited

http://www.tekmilitaryseating.co.uk/

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29 Aug 23. TEK Military Seating Launches New products at DSEI.

TEK Military Seating Limited, the UK based designer and manufacturer of ProTEK military vehicle seating is launching two new products at DSEI

Protek 5 Seat and Protek LTV Seat.

Protek 5 Seat

KEY FEATURES AND OPTIONS

Folds flat for medical evacuation

Heavy duty 100mm height riser

Quick release adjustable back rake

Fore and aft adjustment of 190mm

ProTEK SV shock pads and belt cutter

Height adjustable head rest

Fully integrated 4 or 5-point harness

Range of seat riser and suspension options

Removable back section for body vest/water pack

Blast protection to STANAG 4569 AEP55

Fully integrated 4 or 5-point harness

Vibration reduction seat foam

Range of trim fabrics to FMVSS 302, anti-bacterial, rot-proof, tear resistant and waterproofed

Tested to ECE 14, ECE 16/Def-STAN 25-9, ECE 17

Protek LTV Seat

KEY FEATURES AND OPTIONS

Quick release adjustable back rake

Folds flat for medical evacuation

Heavy duty 80mm height riser

Fore and aft adjustment of 160mm

Fixed head rest

Length adjustable seat cushion

Range of seat riser and suspension options

Removable back section for body vest/water pack

Blast protection to STANAG 4569 AEP55

Vibration reduction seat foam

Range of trim fabrics to FMVSS 302, anti-bacterial, rot-proof, tear resistant and waterproofed

Integrated Molle to back of seat

Removable back section

The ProTEK brand is well respected across the globe for its robust construction, innovative design, built in modularity and cost effectiveness. Our superior products are supported by our experienced team who endeavor to offer unrivalled service to our customers from enquiry, through design and acceptance, to through life support. From its inception ProTEK seats have been designed around a family of innovative seat frames onto which tested and certified modules can be fitted to create a bespoke solution for the user. These include Blast protection to Stanag 4569 standards, vibration reduction, head and body protection, seat risers and turntables, fore & aft adjustment, and seat back rake along with viable seat dimensions without the need for additional tooling costs.

Contact: David Parkman

TEK Military Seating is on Stand H4-410

31 Aug 23. UK MoD eyeing purchase of 1,100 ‘tactical mobility’ vehicles.

The two-variant Light Tactical Mobility Platform programme is seeking to acquire new Medium and Light vehicles in combined deal worth in excess of £90m. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is seeking industry responses to the potential acquisition of more than 1,000 4×4 and all-terrain vehicles under the Light Tactical Mobility Platform (LTMP) Medium and LTMP Light programme.

According to details contained in two separate pre-qualification questionnaires (PQQ), the LTMP Medium would seek a 4×4 solution, while the LTMP Light would require an ATV-like capability.

The LTMP Medium deal could be worth up to £80.9m ($102.8m), with the Light variant amounting to £10.4m. Closing date for submissions was listed as 25 September.

The LTMP Medium contract would see the procurement of up to 48 so-called Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTV), with potential options within the contract for a maximum of 863 UTVs inclusive of initial procurement.

Desired specifications require the UTVs to be able to accommodate a driver and passenger side-by-side, with a minimum speed of 65kph on the road when towing the platform’s maximum load, while the minimum payload capacity, including personnel, equipment, and stores, would be in excess of 600kg.

An initial support period will be for five years with the option to extend for a further five years in one-year increments. Any chosen supplier would have to provide two sample vehicles plus trailers to use during a trialling period, which would run from February – April 2024.

Similarly, the LTMP Light PQQ calls for the potential supply of up to 156 Light UTVs, with potential options within the contract to reach a maximum of 311 platforms, inclusive of initial procurement.

The LTMP Light platform would need to have a minimum ground clearance of 180mm when fully laden, achieve a minimum speed of 40kph on road when towing a weight of 450kg, and have a minimum payload capacity of 270kg.

The initial support period will be for five years with the option to extend for a further five years in one-year iterations. Two sample platforms would also have to be made available by a potential bidder for the trial date in order to be deemed compliant.

Taking each potential contract to include the maximum number of options, an individual LTMP Medium platform would cost approximately £94,000, while a single Light UTV would cost around £33,000.

Is LTMP the replacement for Ukraine donations and equipment disposals?

According to an April MoD acquisition pipeline, requirements for a ‘Low Technology Mobility Platform’ Light and Medium was listed under ‘New Requirement’ and had an estimated tender issuance date of 1 October and 1 August respectively. The estimated contract issuance date for the Light programme was listed as 1 January 2025, with the Medium variant being 1 September 2024.

Although determining the exact nature of the platform is difficult according to the details contained in the PQQs, it is possible that the LTMP programme could replace much of the British Army’s tactical mobility and logistics platforms, centred around, among other platforms, the Pinzgauer and Land Rover 4×4 vehicles.

According to UK-German joint venture RBSL, the Pinzgauer all-terrain utility vehicle is available in both 4×4 and 6×6 wheel configurations, and typically utilised in roles such as command and control, liaison, special forces, evacuation, and administrative tasks.

The Land Rover has been ubiquitous in British Army service for decades, across the entire spectrum of roles. Its unsuitability for high tempo conflict seen in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, where its lack of protection offered to crews was highly criticised, saw it replaced on the frontline by more survivable platforms such as the High Mobility Transporter 4×4 and 6×6 variants, produced by Supacat.

It was reported in November 2022 by Army Technology that the UK MoD had sold off 22 Pinzgauer Truck Utility Medium – Heavy Duty, and 132 Land Rover vehicles across a range of variants through the calendar year. Around 300 trailers had similarly been sold at auction or scrapped.

(Source: army-technology.com)

31 Aug 23. UK Light Tactical Mobility Platform (M) Contract Notice.

31 Aug 2023

Land Rovers, UK News

The Land Rover Defender TUM HS, ordered in 1996, is the current UK MoD 4×4 medium utility truck ~ this example was photographed deployed on Operation CABRIT in Estonia in May 2023 [© Bob Morrison]

In a recently published Contract Notice the UK MoD announced the Light Tactical Mobility Platform (LTMP) Medium Project requirements.

Contract notice for contracts in the field of defence and security; Published 25 August 2023, 6:10pm.

The Light Tactical Mobility Platform (LTMP) Project is to provide the MoD with new high tactical mobility platforms that enable the user to conduct dismounted close combat manoeuvres. The Project has been split into two platform types, LTMP Medium (Contract Number 704573452) and LTMP Light (Contract Number: 703466451) are procured separately. Suppliers are invited to bid against either or both Contracts under the respective adverts. This Advert relates to the Medium platform.

Library image of a Land Rover Defender TUM HS fitted with Weapons Mount Installation Kit (WMIK) on Exercise EAGLE’S LIFT 2002 [© Bob Morrison]

Specifications: It is expected that this Contract will initially procure up to forty-eight (48) x LTMP Medium Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTV) (to operate on diesel/AVTUR F-34 fuel) and trailers, with potential options within the Contract for up to a maximum of eight hundred and sixty-three (863) inclusive of the initial procurement. The Contract is for the procurement and through life support.

The Authority requires a supplier with a proven track record of providing support for a vehicle fleet. Specifications to include, but not limited to, (A detailed specification will be part of the ITT):

suppliers are to note that LTMP Medium platforms are to operate using diesel/AVTUR F-34 fuel,
a configuration of driver and passenger side-by-side,
minimum speed of 65kph on road when towing at the platform’s Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM),
trailers are required whereby combined weight of the trailer, and the payload capacity, shall not exceed the towing capacity of the platform nor exceed the width of the platform and the height of 1530mm,
minimum ground clearance of 180mm+ when fully laden,
minimum payload capacity (personnel, equipment, stores) of 600kg+,
the LTMP Medium platform can be legally driven on UK highways/roads.

The initial support period will be for five (5) years with the option to extend for a further five (5) years in one (1) year iterations. The value advertised within this advert is inclusive of all potential options and is subject to future funding and approvals. Details of the platform, quantities, options, and Contract duration shall be set out within the Invitation to Tender (ITT). The Project Team is running this procurement using the ITT process as set out in Chapter 16 of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations (DSPCR) 2011. The Contract Classification is Official Sensitive. The Cyber risk profile for this requirement has been assessed as Very Low. Suppliers will be required to complete the Supplier Assurance Questionnaire (SAQ) as part of the ITT.

Pre-Qualification Tender Stage: The DPQQ (Dynamic Pre-Qualification Questionnaire) will be hosted in the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP). All suppliers’ responses to be submitted via the DSP. The DPQQ will close for suppliers at 17:00 25th September 2023.

The anticipated timetable for the whole procurement process is as follows:

Activity Timetable Planned Completion

DPQQ Responses Received (30 calendar days) 25th September 2023
DPQQ Evaluation (Down selected to a Maximum of 5) October 2023
ITT Issued (40 Calendar Days) November 2023

Table 1: Anticipated Timetable for the Competition

Whilst it does not intend to do so, the Authority reserves the right to depart from this tender timetable at its discretion and will notify Tenderers accordingly throughout the competition. As this competition is running in parallel to LTMP Light (Contract Number: 703466451), the Authority will endeavour to deconflict the two Tender schedules.

Selection Criteria: It is a requirement that the potential Bidders shall supply a sample of two (2) platforms and trailers at the Trialling Date (estimated February 2024 – April 2024) at no cost to the Authority. As such, it will be necessary to confirm that this is achievable at the DPQQ stage. Should this not be possible, the supplier will be deemed non-compliant and excluded from progressing to the next stage.

Suppliers are to note the Bid Validity period is likely to be approximately 300 days to allow for full approvals. This is due to the Trial Period, approvals and evaluations that need to be incorporated into the schedule. This will have no effect on the outcome of the ITT evaluation.

Estimated value excluding VAT: £80,900,000

In a recently published Contract Notice the UK MoD announced the Light Tactical Mobility Platform (LTMP) Light Project requirements.

Contract notice for contracts in the field of defence and security; Published 25 August 2023, 6:09pm.

31 Aug 23. UK Light Tactical Mobility Platform (L) Contract Notice.

Specifications: It is expected that this Contract will procure up to one hundred and fifty-six (156) x LTMP Light (Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) / All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV)) platforms, with potential options within the Contract to procure up to a maximum of three hundred and eleven (311) platforms inclusive of the initial procurement. The Contract is for the procurement and through life support of the platforms.

The Authority requires a supplier with a proven track record of providing support to a vehicle platform fleet. The specifications include, but are not limited to:

Minimum ground clearance of 180mm+ when fully laden.
Minimum speed of 40kph on road when platforms are towing a weight of 450kg.
Minimum Payload capacity is 270kg+.
The LTMP Light platform can be legally driven on UK highways/roads.

Please note, suppliers can only bid one (1) platform in this Tender.

Further details of the platform, quantities, options, and Contract duration shall be set out within the Invitation to Tender (ITT). The Project Team is running this procurement using the ITT process as set out in Chapter 16 of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations (DSPCR) 2011. The Contract Classification is Official Sensitive. The Cyber risk profile for this requirement has been assessed as Very Low. Suppliers will be required to complete the Supplier Assurance Questionnaire (SAQ) as part of the ITT.

Pre-Qualification Tender Stage: The DPQQ (Dynamic Pre-Qualification Questionnaire) will be hosted in the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP). All Supplier responses will be submitted via the DSP. The DPQQ will close at 17:00 25th September 2023.

The anticipated timetable for the whole procurement process is as follows:

Activity Timetable

DPQQ Responses Received (30 calendar days)- Planned Completion 25th September 2023
DPQQ Evaluation (Down selected to a Maximum of 5) – Planned Completion October 2023
ITT Issued (40 Calendar Days)- Planned Completion November 2023

Whilst it does not intend to do so, the Authority reserves the right to depart from this Tender timetable at its discretion and will notify Suppliers accordingly throughout the competition. As this competition is running in parallel to LTMP Medium (Contract Number: 704573452), the Authority will endeavour to deconflict the two Tender schedules.

Selection Criteria: It is a requirement that the potential Bidders shall supply a sample of two (2) platforms at the Trialling Date (estimated February 2024 – April 2024) at no cost to the Authority. As such, it will be necessary to confirm that this is achievable at the DPQQ stage. Should this not be possible, the supplier will be deemed non-compliant and excluded from progressing to the next stage.

Estimated value excluding VAT: £10,400,000

(Source: joint-forces.com)

31 Aug 23. Australia become first non-EU, non-NATO member of MCC-E.

Australia have joined the MCC-E to pool airlift and sealift capabilities with the other 28 member states in Nato and the EU.

Australia has become the first country from outside Nato and the EU to join the Movement Coordination Centre – Europe (MCC-E), the Australian MoD announced 30 August.

The move will allow the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to move personnel and equipment around the world more easily, and add Australia’s recently acquired airlift and sealift capabilities to the range of options available to current members.

Formed in 2007 from the merger of the European Airlift Centre and the Sealift Co-ordination Centre, the MCC-E is an institution that brings together member states’ defence services to operate capabilities collaboratively in order to streamline structures and maximise efficiency, coordinating strategic military transport by air, sea and inland waterways, road and train.

While the centre’s focus is on strategic movements, MCC-E also coordinates air-to-air refuelling for the 29 member states, and its mission extends to include operational and tactical movements.

As a member of the MCC-E, the ADF will gain access to a pool of strategic lift support that may be used to help with transport missions in the area and around the world, and through the coordination of the MCC-E, the ADF will be in a position to utilise its recent acquisitions in airlift and sealift to service the requirements of the other member states.

In July the Australian Government announced that it would purchase 20 new C-130J Hercules aircraft for $9.8bn (A$15bn) with the intention of supporting the Royal Australian Air Force’s air transportation needs into the future, replacing and expanding upon the current fleet of 12 Hercules aircraft currently in-service.

With regard to sealift capability, Australia has made recent investments with KBR and Babcock in May, delivering a contract to them for Amphibious Combat and Sealift Capability Life Cycle Management. This deal built upon experience the pairing had developed with Canberra Class Landing Helicopter Dock Ships, capable of transporting over 1,100 troops, 100 armoured vehicles and 12 rotary wing aircraft.

“Australia can now work with other member nations to load share, which will create significant interoperability efficiencies in how we move our major assets from place to place,” said Group Captain Alan Brown, Commander of Joint Capability Group’s 1st Joint Movement Unit (1JMU), who went on to state that becoming the 29th member of the MCC-E offers a number of options.

Trading transportation through MCC-E

The operation of the MCC-E utilises a 24-7 manned station operating out of Eindhoven Air Base in Netherlands. There, when a member countries put out tenders for transportation requirements, and select from respondents, either paying a reimbursement for the value of the service or recording a credit and debit with the MCC-E, to be repaid in kind the future.

“As the MCC-E utilises a ‘virtual currency’ instead of financial exchanges for supporting tasks,” said Brown, “Australia can grow its equity within MCC-E by supporting other nations during opportune missions and spend that credit to leverage support from other nations to achieve some of our tasks at a lower physical cost.”

As well as providing additional transport requirement to member nations during times of high demand, the service also reduces the waste associated with flying empty return flights after delivering personnel or equipment to a primary destination.

“This sets the ADF up well for the future as we have now been established as an active contributor to the MCC-E organisation which knows how to broker with other member nations and is willing to support opportune tasks,” Group Captain Brown stated.

“Not only that, with the ADF becoming a member of the MCC-E, it has paved the way for other nations to sign up, meaning the network of support will potentially continue to grow in coming years.” (Source: naval-technology.com)

30 Aug 23. ANACONDA: GDELS and Rheinmetall to present HX 8×8-based wheeled tactical bridge-laying system at Rü.Net 2023 conference. General Dynamics European Land Systems – Bridge Systems and Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles have presented for the first time the ANACONDA tactical bridge-laying system mounted on a high-mobility 8×8 HX2 carrier vehicle at the 5th User Forum Armament and Utilization – RÜ.NET 2023 conference held on August 30 – 31 in Koblenz. The bridge, the laying mechanism and vehicle together provide a dry-gap bridge capability for medium- and heavyweight forces.

The ANACONDA from GDELS is the latest version of the well-known BIBER (“beaver”) bridge, over 300 of which have been built for the Bundeswehr, Germany’s NATO partners and other export customers. Mounting the bridges on Rheinmetall’s HX family of tactical trucks, which are in service with numerous armed forces, provides substantial advantages regarding interoperability, training, service and the supply of spare parts, contributing to the system’s low lifecycle costs.

RMMV’s HX family are among the world’s most widely used military trucks. Over 16,000 are in service around the globe. Many NATO nations already have HX vehicles in their inventory, resulting in valuable synergies in multinational operations.

29 Aug 23. Rheinmetall welcomes German-Australian letter of cooperation for procurement of over 100 Boxer combat vehicles for German Army. Rheinmetall has welcomed the signing of a German-Australian letter of cooperation for the planned production of Boxer combat vehicles in Australia for for the German Army’s “schwerer Waffenträger Infanterie” (heavy weapon carrier infantry) project, deepening the close cooperation and defence partnership between the two nations in the land domain.

From 22 July to 4 August 2023, the multinational exercise Talisman Sabre took place in Australia, with the German military taking part. The exercise included amphibious landings, manoeuvres with ground forces, air exercises and naval operations. Taking part in the exercise in Australia were 170 German Army troops and 40 German naval personnel.

Present in Australia for the exercise and underscoring the importance of German-Australian defence cooperation, Lieutenant General Alfons Mais, supreme commander of the German Army, visited Rheinmetall Defence Australia. Accompanied by Vice Admiral Carsten Stawitzki, chief of the military equipment division in the German ministry of defence, Lieutenant General Mais personally inspected production of the Boxer multirole wheeled armoured vehicle. “This is our message: we want to be a credible and reliable partner. We see Australia as a powerful mainstay in the region”, declares Mais.

Underlying this extensive cooperation is a basic agreement reached between Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during his visit to Germany in July 2023. A letter of cooperation had already been signed in Canberra on 23 March 2023 by the Australian minister for defence industry, Pat Conroy, and Thomas Hitscher, undersecretary of state in the German ministry of defence, laying the groundwork for closer defence ties.

Following successful conclusion of negotiations, the German Boxer vehicles will be built, utilizing production capacity at Rheinmetall’s state-of-the-art Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) at Redbank in South East Queensland, alongside the Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRV) being produced for the Australian Defence Force.

The “schwerer Waffenträger Infanterie” (sWaTrInf, for short) is based on the Australian Army’s Boxer CRV. This is a proven 8×8 combat vehicle equipped with a reconnaissance vehicle mission module including the two-man Lance turret. Its main armament is the Rheinmetall MK30-2 ABM automatic cannon, which also features in the German Puma infantry fighting vehicle. In the long term, the German armed forces intend to procure more than 100 Boxer sWaTrInf to replace the current “Wiesel” (weasel) to serve as a direct tactical fire support platform for its infantry units. Delivery is scheduled to begin in 2025.

In speaking of the potential export order, John Abunassar, head of Rheinmetall’s Vehicle Systems division, noted the commonality between the Australian and proposed German Boxer sWaTrInf vehicles, and the trust placed in Rheinmetall by the two allies: “The German Boxers to be built at MILVEHCOE will be modelled on the Australian Boxer Reconnaissance vehicle variant. The opportunity would be one of the largest Australian defence exports in the nation’s history, and support Rheinmetall’s vision to build and grow Australia’s defence industry capability as well as integrating it into the Group’s global supply chains.”

“Rheinmetall in Australia has more than 900 staff, high-tech skills and an established production plant that includes vehicles, armour and electronics manufacturing at Redbank”, adds Nathan Poyner, managing director of Rheinmetall Defence Australia. “Our Australian and global supply chain will continue to grow, with small- and medium-sized enterprises benefitting as we secure new orders to complement existing export programmes. We welcome the close partnership between Australia and Germany throughout the land vehicle domain as the two nations work together to increase global security.”

News of the letter of cooperation on the German Boxer Heavy Weapon Carrier proposal follows the start of production of Rheinmetall’s Australian Boxer with the “Striking of the Arc” at MILVEHCOE on Monday, 20 March. There, in the presence of Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, the symbolic first weld was placed for the Australian-made Boxer CRV.

The Boxer vehicle is an advanced, armoured 8×8 vehicle in service with armies around the globe. The Boxer offers enhanced troop safety, security and protection, coupled with high levels of firepower and mobility for sustained operations ranging from peacekeeping to high-intensity combat.

In Australia, Rheinmetall is the largest supplier of military vehicles for the Australia Defence Force. In addition to the 211 Boxer vehicles delivered under the Land 400 Phase 2 project – 133 of which are the CRV variant with the manned Lance turret – the company also services the Australian armed forces’ HX fleet, which comprises over 2,900 vehicles.

29 Aug 23. Patria showcasing its wide offering at DSEI. Patria attends the global defence and security exhibition DSEI London on 12-15 September 2023. At the event Patria exhibits a wide range of its state-of-the-art offering, which is divided into three branches – Through life capability, Protected mobility and defence systems and Battlefield and critical systems. Patria’s stand location is H7-120.

Through life capability

Patria OPTIME covers a broad range of services and solutions impacting the fleet availability, such as fleet maintenance, upcoming modification projects and needed integrations in the later stages of the lifecycle as well as supply chain management and training services. The new service concept for the sustainment of military equipment combines engineering expertise with efficient data utilization in a modular and tailored way and it is set up in phases together with the customer.

Protected mobility and defence systems

Patria AMV XP 8×8 is an extremely modern, modular and robust armoured wheeled vehicle providing superior fire power, protection and mobility. Patria AMV XP has fully digitalized vehicle data and control systems. At DSEI London Patria exhibits Patria AMV XP with the Rafael Samson 30 remote weapon system. Additionally, the vehicle is equipped with Vegvisir camera system, Bittium SDR system and Savox wireless intercom.

Patria 6×6 vehicle is modular and high-performance, but at the same time simple, robust and affordable to provide this tactical capability in larger fleet quantities. It provides modern protection and extreme mobility. Patria 6×6 is perfect for any combat support roles. It is built on the heritage of the legendary Patria XA series as well as on the success of Patria AMV 8×8 that have become an iconic part of the various peacekeeping and crises management missions and transporting soldiers. At DSEI Patria 6×6 is showcased with Patria Nemo mortar system, roof-topped with Kongsberg Protector RS4 Remote Weapon System.

Patria NEMO is a turreted, lightweight and remote-controlled 120 mm mortar system with a high level of mobility, protection and accuracy. Patria NEMO is capable of both direct and indirect fire, even when the platform is moving. Patria NEMO features modular design and therefore it guarantees maximum flexibility and capability for further growth for diverse requirements to meet the specific needs of modern warfare and threats in a changing environment. Patria NEMO can be used for self-defence and various indirect fire missions. Impressive fire support and rapid response with high crew protection – all in one.

Battlefield and critical systems

Patria SONAC ACS acoustic mine sweep is specially designed for sweeping influence mines with advanced acoustic triggering. Its compact, lightweight size is designed for use with unmanned craft.

Patria SONAC DTS is an ASW Sonar system offering both active and passive modes of operation with two separate wet-end sub-systems, VDS and TAS, which can be used simultaneously.

Patria CANDL provides a single data link solution for communications requiring high reliability, such as UAS payload data and C2. It enables air-to-air and air-to-ground Ad Hoc Networking as well as relaying for BLOS capability, thus enabling capabilities such as MUMT – Manned UnManned Teaming and LVC – Live Virtual Constructive training.

Patria ARIS is a remotely operable ELINT system for interception, recording and analysis of modern and increasingly complex signal environment. It provides an extensive set of high-performance tools for operator-driven ELINT signal analysis.

Patria ARIS-E is a remote operable ESM/ELINT system used for intercepting, recognising, geolocating and tracking radar emitters. The system produces a situational picture of the targets within the operating area. The Operator can also conduct a more detailed analysis of the received radar signals.

Patria MUSCL is passive radar system providing resilient, covert and easily deployable air surveillance in standalone mode as well as in networked mode using multiple MUSCL stations. The system provides affordable area and point surveillance for various applications such as military air surveillance, border control, critical infrastructure protection and drone detection.

Patria TADS is a weapon system and platform independent mission and military exercise debriefing system. TADS provides superior analysing tools for tactical mission and exercise debriefing.

Senop, a part of the Patria Group, provides high-performance night vision devices, intelligent sensor technology-based solutions and demanding system integration services. Senop’s advanced night vision solutions enable situational awareness as well as increased firepower and mobility.

28 Aug 23. Czech Border Guards Deploy to Slovakia with New Titus Command Vehicles. Soldiers of the 71st Mechanized Battalion took delivery of new Titus wheeled armored vehicles this week. Three are in the connecting version, one is a command-staff version. “We have been looking forward to this new technology for a long time, we absolutely need it in order to move the battalion’s communication and command capabilities to a higher level, corresponding to the 21st century,” said the battalion’s liaison chief, First Lieutenant Jan Stoch.

The wheeled armored liaison vehicle (KOVS) will replace the outdated R5 workplace on a modified BVP-1 chassis, the equipment of which is not capable of securing covert communications. “We are now moving from an analog medium to a fully digital one. And at the same time, we can conduct connections at the SECRET and NATO SECRET levels, which is absolutely necessary for our needs,” Stoch highlighted.

The crew of the KOVS consists of four soldiers – the commander of the liaison team, two liaison officers and a driver. They each have their own workstation, several types of state-of-the-art radio stations, a satellite terminal and jammers. The device operates at the battalion command post and ensures completely secure confidential data and phonetic connections with subordinate units and superiors. “With this equipment, we are entering a completely different dimension,” praises the senior sergeant operator Lukáš Adolf. “Digital control simplifies and speeds up work as much as possible. We’re jumping straight from crystal radio to plasma TV,” he explains.

The KOVVŠ, or wheeled armored command-staff vehicle, will replace another museum piece, the MPP40 plant. It is intended to secure the communication of members of the battalion staff during the planning and decision-making process at the command post.

“The old and new vehicles cannot even be compared, the difference is stark,” Chief of Staff Major David Trnečka said during the handover of the new vehicles. “The most significant benefit is the ability to communicate in an international environment. Whatever operation we go on, when we carry out any task with coalition partners, we now have the ability to immediately share all information online.” According to Trnečka, the connection systems are also compatible with units of the integrated rescue system: If, for example, the army were deployed during floods, they can soldiers can communicate directly with the fire brigade or the police through these vehicles. This is a huge step forward, emphasizes Trnečka.

However, modern technology requires perfectly prepared soldiers. Therefore, the crews now face demanding operator training to make full use of the vehicles’ capabilities. “A number of courses are planned either at the Training Command-Military Academy or at our unit. We have to train the drivers, administrators of these stations, their operators, master crypto courses and operate the special power plants that these vehicles are equipped with. We have to manage all this within a few months, because we will take these funds with us to the foreign operation in Slovakia, where we will go at the turn of the year,” adds the chief of staff. (Unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com) (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/ Czech Republic Ministry of Defence)

28 Aug 23. French-German Future Tank Program Heading for September Showdown. The French-German Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) project to develop a future European tankis heading for a showdown in late September, when the French and German defense ministers are due to meet in Paris to once more review progress on the program, and to discuss the requirements paper they requested from their army chiefs of staff when they last discussed the program in Berlin on July 8.

However, there is a strong chance that the program will finally implode under the combined weight of industry in-fighting and political meddling.

The catalyst for the implosion is likely to be France’s decision to back Italy’s application to join MGCS, which French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu is expected to propose to his German counterpart Boris Pistorius at the same meeting. If, as likely, Germany refuses, the program would separate into two, one between France and Italy, possibly with Spain, and another led by Germany and comprising several East European nations, and possibly including Poland.

Italian participation has been discussed since the turn of the decade, but France recently accepted its application, the French website La Tribune reported Aug. 24. For France, “which appears no longer willing to be walked over by Germany in defense cooperation programs,” this would be a “take it or leave it” issue with Germany.

France, which needs a new tank by 2035, is vexed that the program has been mired down by industrial disputes over workshare, as Germany’s Rheinmetall, with the support of some influential members of the Bundestag, tries to muscle in a program that, since its inception, is managed on a 50/50 basis by the Franco-German group KNDS (Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Nexter).

However, Germany is unlikely to accept a third partner as it would necessarily have to give up part of its 50% share in the program. Furthermore, Germany will likely be hostile to the idea since France previously vetoed a German proposal to have Poland join the program, on the basis that new partners could only be considered once the basic design had been agreed.

If, as reported, France intends to give Germany an ultimatum over Italy’s entry, there is a strong possibility that the MGCS will break down into two separate programs, both pursuing different technical solutions capable of attracting additional European partners. Interestingly, while there are many joint programs for military aircraft, helicopters, ships and missiles, there has never been a successful cooperation program to develop a main battle tank.

French-Italian defense ties recovering

Having suffered embarrassing reversals from Germany on several programs over the past five years (Tiger Mark 3, MAWS, MHT missile and more), France now seems to have decided that Italy is a less troublesome, and perhaps a more malleable, partner than Germany has proved to be.

The Italian government of Prime Minister Georgia Meloni also appears to have got over the friction caused by the failed merger between its Fincantieri shipyards group with France’s Naval Group, and since the beginning of the year has invested a substantial amount of money to re-launch French-Italian programs.

In January, Italy and France awarded a joint order for “nearly 700” Aster air-defense missiles, and in July Italy awarded a separate, €700 m order for additional Aster 30 missiles for its air force. In June, Italy joined the Franco-British FMAN/FMC program to develop future anti-ship and cruise missiles, and in early August Italy and France jointly awarded a €1.5bn contract for the mid-life upgrade of their four Horizon-class frigates, after having agreed in December to jointly update their 16 FREMM multipurpose frigates.

Against this background of resurgent French-Italian defense cooperation, France now wants Italy to join the MGCS program, not only to dilute Germany’s stake and thus its influence, but also to review the workshare arrangements that integrating a new Italian industry partner, Leonardo, would require.

Rome and Paris could be winners

For France, Italy’s joining MGCS would kick-start a program that is being slowed by Rheinmetall’s continuing attempts to muscle in by grabbing workshare from KNDS, the original prime contractor. KNDS is a joint venture between France’s Nexter and Germany’s Krauss Maffei Wegmann (KMW), Rheinmetall’s direct competitor. Paris fears that this would cut into its 50% workshare, which it considers unacceptable, while many members of the German Bundestag, which controls the money, wants to see Rheinmetall play a role in the program.

For Italy, joining the MGCS program would also allow it to prepare the long-term modernization of its tank fleet, which currently comprises about 200 Ariete C1 tanks manufactured in the 1980s by Leonardo’s OTO Melara subsidiary and Iveco. Italy wants to upgrade 125 of them, and in parallel acquire 125 Leopard 2A8 tanks, to meet its medium-term needs, pending the arrival of the MGCS after 2040.

Nonetheless, the French and German defense ministers were at pains when they last met in July to paper over their differences and make optimistic noises, hoping that no-one would notice that there has been no progress on the program since its inception in 2017. But the fact that they tasked their their army chiefs of staff to draft a joint requirement six years after the project was first announced in July 2017 shows how little has been achieved.

“Frank and decisive discussions with @PistoriusBoris on the battle tank of the future. We want to do it together!

Neither a new Leclerc nor a new Leopard, the #MGCS marks a major technological leap, and will be in service until 2070!”

Despite this unconvincing ministerial statement La Tribune confirmed persistent reports when it posted that “an ocean of mistrust separates the two partners,” both among industry partners and military staffs.

However, time is slipping by for France, which wants the new tank to enter service around 2035, while Germany can afford to wait for a decade longer since it has just ordered new Leopard 2A8 tanks to renew its armored component. For France, MGCS has led to “six years of procrastination. Or six wasted years,” La Tribune added.

Pistorius and Lecornu agreed in July they would meet again at the end of September to review progress on the project, and this is probably when the future of MGCS will be decided. (Source: https://www.defense-aerospace.com/)

25 Aug 23. Boeing field-tests augmented reality-based maintenance technology. Boeing has conducted the first field test of an augmented reality (AR)-based maintenance technology it has developed to enable swift repair of deployed aircraft. The technology, named Augmented Training Operations Maintenance (ATOM), was tested on a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft belonging to the United States Air Force (USAF), Boeing said in a media release on 24 August. Boeing added that the field test was part of the USAF’s ‘Mobility Guardian 2023′ exercise conducted in July, and was supported by personnel from Boeing Australia. The ‘Mobility Guardian 2023′ – held in the Indo-Pacific – was led by the USAF’s Air Mobility Command. The air forces of Australia, Canada, France, Japan, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom also participated in the exercise. “During the exercise, a USAF maintainer was required to obtain virtual support to troubleshoot a C-17 Globemaster III thrust reverser fault in a simulated semi-contested environment,” Boeing said. (Source: Janes)

24 Aug 23. Babcock International Group (Babcock), the defence company, recently celebrated the completion of the 50th Armoured Toyota LC300 since production started in September 2022. Babcock is an industry leader in this field, producing safe and secure vehicle platforms for those who operate in hostile climates. The engineering facility in the West Midlands has specialised in producing armoured vehicles for over 40 years for major NATO government agencies. With five independently certified armoured vehicle solutions and over 800 civilian armoured vehicles active in service, we play a critical role in international defence and in keeping our customers safe. The new Land Cruiser 300 Series was launched by Toyota in August 2021 and was a complete redesign of the outgoing 200 Series. The comprehensive whole-vehicle test regime included successfully sustaining hundreds of ballistic impacts of varying bullet calibres, and over 21kg of explosives being detonated at varying distances to simulate a number of attacks. Managing Director of Engineering and Systems Integration, at Babcock, Chris Spicer said: “The LC300 is Babcock’s most robust civilian armoured vehicle offering comprehensive protection against a range of threats that can occur across the world. The production facility in the West Midlands is scaling up the production rate to ensure we satisfy our customers growing demand. We’re very proud to have produced vehicle number 50! Babcock is a world leader in this field, and no one is closer to our customers, delivering the capability they need, wherever they need it.”

23 Aug 23. Troop pack replacements on the way as Armscor seeks new APCs. Lightly modified Toyota Land Cruisers have served as the primary transport for South African Army soldiers on the border protection tasking Operation Corona for just on six years and are now due for replacement.

Progress in this regard is evident from input given by SA Army Director Force Structure Development Plan, Brigadier General Bruce Motlhoki, to what Major Kgaugelo Mmekwa of SA Army Corporate Communication reported was a stakeholder meeting with the South African defence industry (SADI) in mid-July to “foster collaboration and establish clear expectation regarding borderline patrol evaluation”. The SADI/landward force meeting was held at the CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) in Pretoria.

The SA Army is the major South African National Defence Force (SANDF) contributor to Operation Corona, providing the 15 companies (sometimes referred to as “sub units”), from its regular and reserve components to maintain South Africa’s territorial integrity along its 4 800 km plus land borders with six countries.

Motlhoki is reported as telling the meeting “amid austerity measures the SA Army is mandated to have a more robust approach”. Replacing the current fleet of troop packs (as the Land Cruisers were named) with “improved vehicles” will enhance border security and safeguarding operations. “The acquisition of new personnel carriers will reduce the potential risk to national security by creating deterrence and stopping cross-border movement in order to have non-porous borders,” the one-star is quoted as saying.

“Functional evaluation” of troop packs offered to replace the Land Cruisers, which were imported from Australia in an SA Army acquisition, by the local defence industry starts on 20 October and ends on 14 November. “Different centres of excellence” will focus on command and control, firepower, mobility, “superior protection”, intelligence and sustainability with driver training concentrating on operator obstructions, tactics and off-road critical mobility.

The personnel carriers offered will be part and parcel of the landward force’s major exercise – Vuk’uhlome – at its Northern Cape Combat Training Centre (CTC) in November. Apart from being on display for close-up inspection they will reportedly also demonstrate capabilities.

When the first soft-skinned Land Cruisers, some sporting chromed wheels as an indicator of their antipodean origin, were taken into service in November 2017, a final figure of 435 vehicles was given. This would see all 15 companies deployed at any one time on border protection with 29 vehicles per company: 18 configured for troop transport, three in logistics configuration, four command and control variants and four ambulances. There is currently no indication of vehicle numbers and configurations needed.

“After a successful acquisition process the new personnel carriers will be utilised at points of entry including the Lesotho borderline, the Mozambique/Swaziland borderline [specified as Ndumo] and the Zimbabwe borderline,” Mmekwa wrote.

National Treasury has allocated nearly R1bn to improve SANDF border security capabilities over the next three years. Major General Thembelani Xundu explained to the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans (PCDMV) earlier this year that R700 m was allocated for border safeguarding technology in 2024/5 and 2025/26.

In the medium term, troop pack vehicles will be replaced with off-the-shelf vehicles and R500m will be spent in 2024/25 for this. The SANDF wants to replace the troop packs with armoured personnel carriers (APCs), which would serve with all 15 companies on Operation Corona duty. In January this year, Armscor issued a request for information for APCs for an indication of what new vehicles would cost, with responses ranging from R6 m to R18 m each. Armscor planned to request three vehicles for the upcoming borderline test and by the end of the year decide which is best and how many the SANDF can afford.

January’s request for information called for a 2+8 seat APC for counter-insurgency operations with variable ballistic and mine protection, including the ability to defeat an 8 kg mine. The vehicles would replace or supplement Mamba and Casspir vehicles.

In addition to new vehicles, R200m worth of sensor technology will be acquired for Operation Corona in 2025/6 including a geographic information system (GIS) capability (R22.5m); intelligence collection and processing capabilities (R47m under Project Baobab); upgraded Chaka command and control system (R7.2m); Reutech RSR 903 radars (R57m); 60 observation posts (R16m under Project Dominate); 16 quadcopter unmanned aerial vehicles (R16m) and two long range UAVs (R24m).

(Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)

16 Aug 23. HMG Paints, the UK’s leading independent paint manufacturer, are inviting visitors to the DSEI exhibition to visit their stand and enter the Metaverse. The company, who will be located in Hall 4 Stand H4-518 will have an eXtended Reality (XR) Spray Painting Simulator where visitors can put their skills to the test.

The fully immersive Metaverse environment provides users with a clear perception of depth, distance, angles, machine settings, and more to develop their spraying technique. The simulator provided by Skillveri is a next generation approach and complements and enriches traditional industrial painting training with higher efficiency and accuracy in a fun and safe environment.

Coatings Technical Support

Along with practicing their painting technique visitors to the HMG stand at DSEI will be able to chat with the HMG technical support staff in attendance about their exact requirements for defence paints and coatings.

HMG have a large portfolio of paints and coatings which are linked to various Def Stans and NSNs and understand how complex it can be to find the right product. However, the team at DSEI will be able to help individuals and companies identify the correct paint for their project, be that CARC and IRR coatings or something more bespoke.

“We’re looking forward to meeting the attendees at DSEI and welcome them to the stand to discuss how HMG can assist with paint requirements and provide technical support and advice” added Josh Taylor, HMG Defence Technical Sales. “We’ve built up some fantastic partnerships over the last few years and looking to develop more during DSEI and welcome people onto the HMG stand to test their painting skills.”

JOSCAR Registered – Made in Britain

Earlier in 2023 HMG completed their registration on JOSCAR, meaning it’s now even easier for companies to purchase their Made in Britain accredited products. As a British based manufacturer HMG can provide fast delivery across its entire range, something which the company believes can benefit businesses who use JOSCAR and other OEMs and refinishers.

“As a British SME, we can manufacture and deliver products fast and now with JOSCAR accreditation we can do it even faster by removing pre-qualification and reducing procurement timescales” commented Alan Sharples, HMG Defence Sales Manager. “Being able to supply defence coatings fast and back that up with market leading technical support is something we’re exceptionally proud of.”

JOSCAR is recognised by some of the largest purchasers in the defence community such as BAE Systems, Babcock, Boeing, Leidos, Leonardo QinetiQ, Raytheon, Rolls Royce and the Ministry of Defence (MOD). It is used a single repository for pre-qualification and compliance information to determine if a supplier is “fit for business”.

Book a Meeting

Both Alan Sharples and Josh Taylor will be available on the DSEI MeetMe App to schedule meetings with throughout the exhibition but if you’d like to book ahead you can do so by emailing . Alternatively the team will be on stand H4-518 throughout the exhibition for any visitors who want to visit and speak to the team.

The HMG Defence range offers products which are free from Chrome VI, meet low VOC requirements, IRR and CARC paints and includes military standards such as 80-225. Alongside Defence Standard products, HMG produce a wide range of approved high-quality coatings for practically every purpose for the defence industry.

HMG’s product range is suitable for equipment such as containers, trailers, vehicles, bridges and armour. HMG are renowned for their innovative approach to coatings including corrosion resistant primers, functional topcoats approved to UK defence standards and if you can’t find the perfect product in their existing portfolio the company is also able to offer bespoke formulation development to solve those tricky paints and coatings problems.

You can find out more about HMG’s range of Def Stan products and bespoke coatings development service at www.hmgpaint.com/products/landing/Defence.

07 Jul 23. Jankel celebrates the delivery of over 500 Fox tactical vehicles. In July 2023, Jankel, a world-leader in the design, integration, manufacture, and support of high-specification vehicles and protection systems, is celebrating the delivery of over 500 Jankel Fox tactical vehicles, globally. The Jankel Fox product line is a family of tactical vehicles based on modified off-the-shelf Toyota base vehicles; either the Hilux or the 79 series pickup (single and double cab), depending on each customer’s requirements.

The 500 vehicles have been designed, developed and built by Jankel in the UK where the IP resides, as well as being produced in collaboration with their French partners, Technamm who have built the French variant of the Jankel Fox Long Range Patrol Vehicle (LRPV), named ‘Jankel Fox by Masstech’. The vehicle was procured by the French MoD as part of the VPS2 urgent requirement in 2018. The vehicles are manufactured under license in France by Technamm at their Lambesc facility. In 2015, Jankel was awarded an internationally competed contract to supply 108 Jankel Fox 4×4 Rapid Reaction Vehicles (RRV) to the Belgium Ministry of Defence (BeMoD) for use by their Special Forces. The last of the BeMoD Jankel Fox RRV’s rolled off the production line in 2020. Since then, Jankel has received a significant number of orders for Jankel Fox vehicles from undisclosed global customers in different variants, bringing the current total to over 500, supporting UK exports and jobs across a growing team of engineers and skilled technicians. The Jankel Fox vehicle is now in service and supported in: UK; USA; NZ; Romania; France; Belgium; Botswana; Oman; Jordan; South Korea; Brunei; Spain; Italy; Mauritania and Indonesia.

The Jankel Fox family comprises of three main role variants: Tactical Utility Vehicle (TUV); Rapid Reaction Vehicle (RRV) and Long Range Patrol Vehicle (LRPV) available in 4×4 and 6×6 variants. Jankel continue to spirally develop the platform in the UK with configurations and developments to integrate future mission systems across the Jankel Fox family. Jankel has designed and integrated upgrades to the off-the-shelf automotive platform systems including: suspension; drive train; brakes; transmission and power generation. The military integration then includes weapons, communications, ECM, modular armour, seating, tools and stowage. The vehicle is compliant with multiple international defence standards that include reliability, integration, service support, operating environments, towing, tie-downs, aircraft and helicopter transportation. The Jankel Fox has a crew of 2-6 and is used in a variety of roles including: command, reconnaissance, tactical patrol, fire-support, logistics, border patrol and anti-poaching. Jankel has also put in place a comprehensive global support solution that is delivering all aspects of in-service support to the range of customers now operating their Jankel Fox vehicles.

Andrew Jankel, Chairman at Jankel said: “this is an important milestone for Jankel as we see over 500 of our Jankel Fox tactical vehicles having been delivered to over fifteen end user groups. That’s a significant achievement creating UK-held Intellectual Property and enabling Jankel to further grow the team, creating and sustaining skilled engineering jobs. The programmes have demonstrated our flexibility in producing and exporting vehicles globally including through licensed manufacture in-country, to satisfy local build requirements – a model that can be replicated anywhere”. He added: “I think there are three main points to make about the Jankel Fox. 1) it’s an extremely capable and flexible platform that is now battle-proven on multiple operations. 2) our approach of using modified off-the-shelf base vehicles delivers the required capability but at an affordable price. 3) because the Jankel Fox is based on the world-renowned and supremely reliable Toyota chassis’, remote users can tap into a global support network literally, anywhere. At the same time, we’ve developed a comprehensive support solution to complement that”.

07 Jul 23. UK GSUP (General Service Utility Platform) Update. The UK GSUP Programme has been renamed and expanded to include the procurement of over 50% of the British Army light and medium wheeled vehicle fleet. The Operation and Tactical Mobility Programme will consolidate the procurement of 15 Programmes, under Mark Gooch, Programme Director, including Quad bikes, Land Rover Wolf, WMIK and SNATCH, Pinzgauer, Protected Mobility Fleet, including Mastiff, Ridgback, Lurcher and Foxhound. To carry out an evaluation of the original GSUP Wolf Requirement, the MoD has procured 14 Toyota Land Cruisers from Babcock and has also built its own vehicle for evaluation.

17 Jul 23. The British Army Programmes Directorate has publicly announced the acquisition of an additional 44 LC200 Civilian Armoured Vehicles. Working closely alongside Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), our [British Army Programmes Directorate’s] Rapid Acquisition Team is right on track to deliver an additional 44 Civilian Armoured Vehicles (CAV) to the Field Army to enhance their operational capabilities. Capitalising on the unexpected availability of additional Toyota LC200s, the RAT has secured 44 additional platforms. These will allow military personnel across the globe to blend in with other road users by using a lower-profile vehicle, where discretion is key to mission success. The team worked closely with DE&S to accelerate delivery to the Army, with the first vehicles expected to be handed over to the users by late-2023. In keeping with the Land Industrial Strategy, both suppliers – Jankel and Babcock – are British companies. (Source: www.joint-forcescom)

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TEK Military Seating Limited

TEK Military Seating Limited is a UK based designer and manufacturer of ProTEK military vehicle seating which offer the highest standards of safety and protection. The ProTEK brand is well respected across the globe for its robust construction, innovative design, built in modularity and cost effectiveness. Our superior products are supported by our experienced team who endeavor to offer unrivalled service to our customers from enquiry, through design and acceptance, to through life support.

From its inception ProTEK seats have been designed around a family of innovative seat frames onto which tested and certified modules can be fitted to create a bespoke solution for the user. These include Blast protection to Stanag 4569 standards, vibration reduction, head and body protection, seat risers and turntables, fore & aft adjustment, and seat back rake along with viable seat dimensions without the need for additional tooling costs.

Contact: David Parkman

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