TACTICAL SUPPORT VEHICLES UNVEILED

19 Nov 08. Hutton lets the dogs out. Defence Secretary, John Hutton has unveiled, the Army’s new £350m armoured support trucks, WOLFHOUND, HUSKY and COYOTE.

The preferred bidders for each category of Tactical Support Vehicle
(TSV) are:

WOLFHOUND TSV (Heavy) – Based on Cougar 6×6 flatbed made by Force
Protection Industries Inc; will support and re-supply our Mastiffs in
the highest threat areas. These vehicles will have the highest levels
of mine blast protection

WOLFHOUND – HEAVY VITAL STATISTICS
* Based on Cougar 6×6 flatbed
* 4 man cab
* The Cougar 6×6 flatbed will form the base vehicle for Wolfhound. It will be uparmoured and integrated with UK specific equipment such as communications systems and protection measures in a similar way to Mastiff. NP Aerospace will be involved with this integration work.
* Cargo in excess of 4.5 tonnes

HUSKY TSV (Medium) – Based on the International MXT-MVA made by Navistar Defence; will carry out the support roles in areas where heavy vehicles, like Mastiff, cannot be used. HUSKY will come as 3 variants; utility, ambulance and command post.

HUSKY – MEDIUM VITAL STATISTICS
* Based on International MXT-MVA
* 4-Man Cab
* Cargo in excess of 1.5 tonnes

COYOTE TSV (Light) – Based on a 6×6 derivative of the Jackal designed by Supacat Ltd, Devon; will support our go-anywhere, high-mobility Jackals across the harsh terrain in Afghanistan.

COYOTE – LIGHT VITAL STATISTICS
* Based on 6×6 Jackal derivative, Supacat
* 4 man crew
* Cargo in excess of 1.5tonnes

Secretary of State for Defence, John Hutton said: “Our new breeds, WOLFHOUND, HUSKY and COYOTE will give the troops in Afghanistan the additional bite they need in the fight against the enemy. They do a formidable job and deserve nothing but the best. I look forward to the vehicles being on contract and arriving in the new-year.”

The Tactical Support Vehicle programme will buy over 400 new armoured support trucks to accompany our existing patrols carrying the essential supplies such as water and ammunition. HUSKY, the medium armoured support truck will form the main bulk of this purchase, carrying out support roles where heavy vehicles, like Mastiff, cannot be used.

Preferred bidder status for each of the vehicles is conditional upon the outcome of successful contract negotiations which will be in place early next year.

The contracts will also formalise arrangements with additional UK companies who will provide sub-systems for the fleet.

The numbers are believed to be 100 Heavy, 150 Medium, 50 (68) Light. The vehicles will be flatbed support vehicles. There is also a buy for a fleet of Yamamaha Quad Bikes, militarised by Roush with trailers to support the infantry.

Other bidders for the Medium Husky Requirement included Thales with its Copperhead vehicle, based on the Bushmaster.