Tracked Armour Developments

[buglerbilly]

Joint Turkish-Israeli Tank Upgrade Programme Completed


170 of the 40-year old Turkish tanks received extensive upgrades.
The image is SABRA 1, SABRA 2 differs in that it retains the .50cal Cupoka from the original M60 and has the MTU powerpack etc.

Last refurbished M60A1 main battle tank delivered to the Turkish Army

08:15 GMT, April 9, 2010 defpro.com | From old to new. As the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) recently announced, a joint programme with Turkey to refurbish ageing M60A1 main battle tanks has been completed this week. Within the framework of an agreement worth nearly $700 million and signed in March 2002, the programme has been carried out by the Turkish Defence Ministry and the Israeli companies, Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) and Elbit Systems. Since the beginning of the programme, some 170 40-year old M60A1’s, which are part of a significant fleet of tanks of this type bought from US surplus, have received extensive upgrades to the Sabra Mk.II standard and are now designated as M60T. According to the IDF statement, these upgrades provide the tanks with the capabilities to keep up with the most advanced tanks in the world.

The upgrade kits, provided by Israeli-based Israel Military Industries (IMI), include the integration of state of the art weapons systems that combine fire power, sensors and additional capabilities and protection. As the IDF explains: “The eight-year long project, which has been deemed extremely successful, replaced all major systems of the original tank with advanced modern systems. 120 mm cannon control systems, enhanced fire power, advanced turret moving, protection systems, engine transmission changes and other major improvements were made on the tanks. The end result is a high performance tank that is in line with the world’s leading combat tanks.”

The US-built M60 is among the most successful tanks in the world, being operated in the thousands by several armies throughout the world. To meet the modernisation requirements of international customers, General Dynamics developed the M60-2000 upgrade for the M60, which was also offered to Turkey. However, Turkey decided to carry out the modernisation of its tanks with Israeli industrial support. The M60 has seen combat operation with the Israeli Army in different configurations and versions in the Yom Kippur War (1973) and the Lebanon War (1982). IMI began to develop the Magach 6 and 7 upgrade series for the M60 in the 1970’s and 1980’s. The current modernisation efforts are largely based upon these upgrade series for the Israeli Army.

The refurbished Turkish tanks have been equipped with a Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV) and a more powerful MTU Friedrichshafen engine built under license in Turkey with a Renk transmission. Furthermore, the tanks feature reactive armour for protection against ballistic threats.

A ceremony held this week at the 2nd Main Maintenance Centre in Kayseri, attended by Turkish Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul along with senior Defence officials from Turkey and Israel, marked the end of the joint tank modernisation programme. Director General of the Israeli Defence Ministry, Maj. Gen. (res) Udi Shani, said, “I am proud to be here on Turkish soil and to take part in this ceremony. Another joint project has ended successfully. This project is unique in its scope in both countries, which recruited its best forces for the mission.”

The CEO of Israel Military Industries, Brig. Gen (res.) Avi Felder, who was among the initiators of the project, praised the fruitful cooperation between the Turkish and Israeli teams. Felder said that this project reflected the company’s management and implementation of complex projects that require cooperation with the client’s operational requirements. IMI chairman Avner Raz expressed his confidence in this project: “The project is evidence of successful cooperation between the defence industries and it led to the development of the most advanced combat tanks in the world.”

The Turkish-Israeli co-operation might also be a successful model for the future: In his speech at the hand-over ceremony, Turkey’s Defense Minister, Vecdi Gonul, explained that, in order to access the knowledge and experience acquired in the course of the project, Israel Aircraft Industries and a Turkish company had signed a cooperative agreement with the goal of working together on additional projects throughout the world. The minister added that the Deputy Commander of the Colombian Army, General Aradilo, came to examine the M60T’s performance.

----
By Nicolas von Kospoth, Managing Editor


Turkish M60A1 tank upgraded by Israel Military Industries to M60T Sabra. Shown in Rishon LeZion, Israel.

[buglerbilly]

More details from Defense Update, the Israeli defense blog.................great pic.........



IMI Delivers the last of 170 Upgraded M-60A1 to the Turkish Army

Israel Military Industries (IMI) has delivered the last of 170 upgraded M-60A1 tanks to the Turkish Army. April 7, 2010, at an official ceremony held at the 2nd Turkish Army Depot at Kayseri, Turkey - the location in which the tanks underwent upgrading work in recent years. IMI is the prime contractor for the $687.5 million project, considered to be one of the world's largest tank upgrade programs, bringing the M60A1 tank to level of the world's leading main battle tanks

In 2002 Turkey and Israel embarked on the multi-year program to modernize 170 tanks. The project also included establishment of training and logistic support infrastructure, and transfer the technology to local industries enabling local production of part of the systems. The modernization of the 1960 vintage M-60A1 transformed the tank into a modern weapon system, integrating modern and combat proven protection, firepower, propulsion and vectronic systems. The design implemented in the Turkish program utilized systems already proven in modern armored vehicles in service with the IDF, such as the merkava 4 main battle tank.

Through the upgrade program the tank's original 105mm rifled gun was replaced with a new 120mm smooth bore gun, all-electric turret drive, sophisticated optronic and fire control systems. The armor suite was enhanced with advanced hybrid armor system protecting the crew. A modern powertrain was also introduced, including a more powerful 1000 hp MTU diesel engine with matching transmission and final drive from Renk, both from Germany, and advanced suspension system derived from the Merkava design. The modernized tank has undergone extensive testing and qualification performed in Israel and Turkey, by Turkish test and evaluation teams, supported by IMI and the program's subcontractors.

The production line established at the 2nd MMC (depot) in Turkey was modernized with the latest production methods and unique machine tools necessary to support the program. Israel Military Industries (IMI) is the prime contractor for the program, leading a team of subcontractors that include Elbit Systems, as the system integrator of the electronic systems, Urdan Industries and Orlite, providing part of the armor modules, and Aselsan and MKE from Turkey which operated alongside IMI to facilitate local support for the systems.

IMI was hopeful that the Turks will continue to upgrade more M-60A1 tanks under the program. However, in parallel to the Israeli led program, Turkey has been upgrading 171 Leopard 1 tanks and acquired 298 surplus Leopard 2A4 tanks from Germany, therefore fulfilling their immediate requirements for main battle tanks. Turkey has more than 1,000 additional tanks of the M60A1/Leopard 1 models that could be considered for future modernization. For the future acquisition Turkey has embarked on an ambitious program to develop and produce the Altai, a modern main battle tank, based on South Korea's latest Black Panther MBT design.

Turkey and Israel have agreed to pursue foreign markets for new opportunities in tank upgrading. At the closing ceremony the Turkish Defence Minister H.E. M.Vecdi GÖNÜL referred to the advanced technologies implemented in the upgraded tanks, noting the cooperative agreement signed between Israel Military Industries and Aselsan of Turkey will contribute to further collaboration on future programs in foreign countries. IMI's Chairman Avner Raz expressed his confidence that the cooperation established between the two countries and industries will lead to more opportunities in the future. One opportunity being discussed is a tank modernization planned by the Columbian Army. Major General Luis Alberto Ardila, Second Commander and Chief of State of the Colombian Army has visited Turkey to inspect the modernized tank.

[Weasel]

... and advanced suspension system derived from the Merkava design...



Clever. Probably the one improvement that pushes it above the bar and makes it a battle winner over other platforms in the region.

Now if only Australia had imported some Israeli suspension know-how for their M113 mod, things might have looked a bit different.

BTW, It is 2010. Isn't that the year that the new Australian M113's were going to be replaced? Or did I read that wrong?

cheers

w

[Ecky]

... BTW, It is 2010. Isn't that the year that the new Australian M113's were going to be replaced? Or did I read that wrong?

w

LAND 400 is the project aligned with M113 / Bushmaster / ASLAV "replacement" and entered the Defence Capability Plan in 2004. Can't find a copy of the old DCP but the 2006-2016 DCP (http://www.defence.gov.au/dmo/id/dcp/DCP_2006_16.pdf) had a IOC of 2015-2017. The current public release DCP (http://www.defence.gov.au/dmo/id/dcp/dcp.cfm) does not contain a LAND 400 entry, so year of decision is 2016+.

Anyone have updated information???

Ecky

[Weasel]

LAND 400 is the project aligned with M113 / Bushmaster / ASLAV "replacement" and entered the Defence Capability Plan in 2004. Can't find a copy of the old DCP but the 2006-2016 DCP (http://www.defence.gov.au/dmo/id/dcp/DCP_2006_16.pdf) had a IOC of 2015-2017. The current public release DCP (http://www.defence.gov.au/dmo/id/dcp/dcp.cfm) does not contain a LAND 400 entry, so year of decision is 2016+.

Anyone have updated information???

Ecky
All it says is 2020.

How do we get the info from the old forum on the M113AS3, ARH AKA (the joker)?

cheers

w

[Gubler, A.]

Anyone have updated information???

From the Defence White Paper:

http://www.defence.gov.au/WHITEPAPER/mr/23_FutureCombatVehiclesFixed_.pdf

Govt. won't 1st pass LAND 400 until 2016 and it has been pulled from CDG back to AHQ (DG Development and Plans). Is likely to be split into phases to deal with different vehicle classes and capabilities.


How do we get the info from the old forum on the M113AS3, ARH AKA (the joker)?

Ask away? I did notice you mentioned above something about M113AS4 suspension (AS3 versions will not be built). The major delay causing problem with the AS4 was the brakes.

[Raven22]

Current IOC for the cavalry component of Land 400 is 2019, with the infantry component being 2022.

[Gubler, A.]

Current IOC for the cavalry component of Land 400 is 2019, with the infantry component being 2022.

So what would you prefer: all-wheeled, all-tracked or mixed wheeled (armd cav)/tracked (mech inf).

[Raven22]

My gut says wheeled cav and tracked mech inf, but I don't think it will be quite that simple.

Number one, is the fact that we are constrained by which vehicles are actually available. There is no point deciding what we want and then working out there is no vehicle available that meets that requirement. Better to understand the limitations from the start than try to compromise on one aspect later on, which in the end fucks up the whole system. I think the whole wheels/tracked debate will be solved for us - we will pick which ever vehicle is best for us, and whatever they happen to have will be it.

Also, it is likely that under the FMR the delineation between the current 'mech' and 'motorised' inf will disappear. There will only be two kinds of inf - the current light inf (which is safe because it is not part of the FMR) and mech/motorised/mounted inf (the title doesn't matter and would be misleading anyway). This infantry would use just the one type of vehicle across all four battalions. Interestingly, and blatantly stupid IMO, is current thought is that an IFV is not needed. Most infantry would just be mounted in a 'Protected Mobility Vehicle' (not Bushmaster) that would only be armed with 12.7mm/40mm class weapon. Other variants (armed with >30mm cannon and missiles) would provide the direct fire. This sounds remarkably like the Stryker concept to me.

Another interesting fact is that the cavalry vehicle must be capable of lifting 8 dismounts. It would still be armed with a >30mm cannon standard, but must be able to lift an infantry section - ie, it would combine the features of the current T1 and T2 ASLAVs. However, the current RAAC positiion (which I don't necessarily agree with) is that a patrol must remain as 3 vehicles, even though the lift of the T2 is combined with the T1, making the third unneccesary. While the cavalry will retain the scout section at troop level (although it might not necessarily be RAAC), the cavalry as a whole will be able to lift infantry capability bricks - the cavalry will retain the capability to provide protected mobility to the infantry organic to the generic cavalry squadron.

Combine all that, and you need a cavalry vehicle armed with a turreted cannon, three crew and able to lift 8 dismounts; and you need a protected mobility vehicle, crewed by two dudes, armed with a 12.7mm/40mm class weapon and able to lift 8 dismounts. Know anything that fits the bill?

[Gubler, A.]

The IFV vs APC idea has gone a couple of 360 degree turns in the Army. With an unholy coalition of all infantry is on foot thinkers (RAInf) combined with infantry can’t have big guns thinkers (RAAC) and bean counters (APC is cheaper even if it’s the same hull) all conspiring together. Combat experience shows that in contemporary operations all close combat vehicles need big guns because each vehicle runs a much greater risk of having to fight by itself. As to the armd cav section/patrol being still three vehicles this is typical “don’t cut my manning” thinking in the corps. Same crap Arty is going through with LAND 17. That LAND 400 can include UGVs would mean armd cav section could be a single manned vehicle and one or two autonomous scout vehicles and provide even more capability except in the Army politics power of personnel strength. Both items of idiocy being all too typical when something as transformational as LAND 400 gets kicked back to the corps conferences after being worked out in FLW/Land Development/CDG/etc.

As to what single vehicle can fit the bill. The FCS XM1200 was a player but we need to wait and see what emerges as the GCV. Though it’s very likely to be something similar to XM1200. Which means a >30mm gun and eight dismounts can be carried on board. Because the turret is remote it can be easily replaced by a 12.7mm HMG/40mm AGL if that remains the requirement. The only thing big enough to carry a big gun, eight dismounts and enough gear to sustain them with a *manned* turret is the Israeli Namer based on the Merkava tank.

[Raven22]

As to the armd cav section/patrol being still three vehicles this is typical “don’t cut my manning” thinking in the corps.

That's not remotely the reason behind the thinking. The idea is that the last 40 years of cavalry experience, supported by DSTO simulations into micro-combat teams, has shown that 3 vehicles are required for the combat ISR role. Ie, that three vehicles allow you to maintain a two vehicle frontage while keeping one overwatch/depth, it enables you to keep your scouts in depth able to be called to wherever the fwd callsigns need them, so that if a vehicle is disabled you are able to recover it while still having a callsign maintaining security etc. Personally, I don't necessarily agree with, at least with current equipment. A T2 ASLAV is unable to perform overwatch, and is usually a pain in the arse - you are always trying to find a use for it instead of simply trailing in depth. The ability to recover a vehicle while maintaining overwatch I most definantly agree with, but you should never be running a patrol where it can't be supported by other callsigns anyway. For instance, overseas I never ran an independent two vehicle patrol, but I did it all the time when there was another patrol able to support. The other side of the coin is, if you reduce the patrol to just two vehicles, you all of a sudden release the manning/vehicles to form a support troop at sqn level, or most of the manning for a fourth sabre troop which the squadron has always needed to be able to do a guard or screen properly. With three essentially identical vehicles the idea becomes more appealing for me, but where do you put your scouts? The biggest advantage then is the increase in persistance it gives you.

Anyway, the is no threat of manning being cut. Under the FMR, all manning is capped anyway - there are to be so many tankers, so many cavalrymen, so many mounted infantrymen etc. It's a zero sum game - if you can reduce manning somewhere you can make it up somewhere else.


Both items of idiocy being all too typical when something as transformational as LAND 400 gets kicked back to the corps conferences after being worked out in FLW/Land Development/CDG/etc.

I can tell you that not once during the RAAC corps conference was vehicle types discussed. The whole idea is to work out the way we fight, so we can work out how to organise ourselves to fight. Only after that will equipment be looked at. For all specific information the work from the CDG was used, although most of it was shit anyway.


Combat experience shows that in contemporary operations all close combat vehicles need big guns because each vehicle runs a much greater risk of having to fight by itself

Not necessarily - the Namer you are so fond of doesn't have a big gun. Personally I think in 'contemporary operations' (OO, MOUT, COIN etc) you can more easily get away without a cannon. It's on the conventional battlefield you need one - you can't manouevre MG armed vehicles against cannon armed vehicles unless you have enough tanks around, which we don't and won't. The biggest problem is the training liability, which is where the corps-integrated unit comes in.

[ARH v.3.1]

All it says is 2020.

How do we get the info from the old forum on the M113AS3, ARH AKA (the joker)?

cheers

w

The databases are still there. If someone knows how to unfuck fucked up vBulletin software and get it reading the databases they can be visible again.

[Gubler, A.]

That's not remotely the reason behind the thinking. The idea is that the last 40 years of cavalry experience, supported by DSTO simulations into micro-combat teams, has shown that 3 vehicles are required for the combat ISR role. Ie, that three vehicles allow you to maintain a two vehicle frontage while keeping one overwatch/depth, it enables you to keep your scouts in depth able to be called to wherever the fwd callsigns need them, so that if a vehicle is disabled you are able to recover it while still having a callsign maintaining security etc.

I’m not trying to say the tactical element (be it a section, troop, platoon, etc) should be less than three vehicles. But that with new technology you can find alternatives to a 30 tonne IFV to provide each one of those vehicles. So why shouldn’t an armd cav patrol be a single IFV with the ability to carry the cav scout section and two Black Knight UGVs? That’s three tracked vehicles with three 25-40mm guns, three sensor suites, three tow bars, etc requiring only three troopers in the section. The Black Knights would probably need some more soldiers networked into them remotely but that could be provided by a troop or squadron level ACV.

Or you take this a step further and have all of the armd cav patrol being Black Knights and provide each cav scout section a dedicated APC which can send them to and from where they are needed. So each troop would only need 2-3 manned vehicles to carry the command workstations and the cav scout section and then 9-12 Black Knight UGVs to provide the ISR coverage and overwatch for the manned vehicles and cav scouts.


The other side of the coin is, if you reduce the patrol to just two vehicles, you all of a sudden release the manning/vehicles to form a support troop at sqn level, or most of the manning for a fourth sabre troop which the squadron has always needed to be able to do a guard or screen properly. With three essentially identical vehicles the idea becomes more appealing for me, but where do you put your scouts? The biggest advantage then is the increase in persistance it gives you.

Bingo, or if you cut the manning of the armd cav regt in half that’s two more armd cav regts you can raise. Or if the force mix requires more grunts additional infantry companies/battalions or cbt engr, civil affairs, etc.


Anyway, the is no threat of manning being cut. Under the FMR, all manning is capped anyway - there are to be so many tankers, so many cavalrymen, so many mounted infantrymen etc. It's a zero sum game - if you can reduce manning somewhere you can make it up somewhere else.

Army politics at its best. You would hate to want to be able to mould Army personnel to meet operational or technological evolutionary need.


Not necessarily - the Namer you are so fond of doesn't have a big gun. Personally I think in 'contemporary operations' (OO, MOUT, COIN etc) you can more easily get away without a cannon. It's on the conventional battlefield you need one - you can't manouevre MG armed vehicles against cannon armed vehicles unless you have enough tanks around, which we don't and won't. The biggest problem is the training liability, which is where the corps-integrated unit comes in.

I’m not that fond of the Namer (and saying something like that is creeping into a name calling slap fight), I think it’s probably too big for anyone who doesn’t have to fight on contiguous borders. However the IDF wants to upgrade their APCs (incl Namer) with 30mm guns because of ‘contemporary operations’. Because in complex terrain operations the IDF has found that despite having enough tanks to provide a troop for every mech inf coy firing arcs are so limited and risk tolerances are so low that each individual vehicle needs the ability to blow the crap out of a ATGM firing position 2km away or defeat RPG teams behind thick walls and so on. Of course the IDF is severally funding limited and each one of those 30mm RCWS tend to cost about a million.

This is also a problem with COIN operations as well because the initiative is so thoroughly in the hands of the insurgent every element needs the capability to be the fight back if they become the crux of an enemy attack. That platoon of 12.7/40 armed APCs is going to be in a lot of pain if they are targeted by an insurgent ATGM team. Of course you could attach a IFV or a tank from RAAC to each inf pltn but then you are robbing Peter to pay Paul and in politically force structure constrained deployments that is a major cut to your capability. Might as well just give them a 30mm gun, seems to work well for everyone else.

[Raven22]

Or you take this a step further and have all of the armd cav patrol being Black Knights and provide each cav scout section a dedicated APC which can send them to and from where they are needed. So each troop would only need 2-3 manned vehicles to carry the command workstations and the cav scout section and then 9-12 Black Knight UGVs to provide the ISR coverage and overwatch for the manned vehicles and cav scouts.

The problem is the ISD of the end of the decade. Will networked UGVs be able to undertake the full suite of cavalry roles by then? I am quite confident in saying no.


Bingo, or if you cut the manning of the armd cav regt in half that’s two more armd cav regts you can raise. Or if the force mix requires more grunts additional infantry companies/battalions or cbt engr, civil affairs, etc.

You wouldn't want to cut unit size to raise extra units. You'd end up with a raise, train and sustain organisation with nothing to raise, train or sustain. If anything though, there is talk of cutting numbers (or at least growth) of combat soldiers and redirecting them to CS/CSS roles, as that is clearly the weak point as it stands. For example, at the moment my brigade is conucting a planning activity with three battlegroups but only two engineer squadrons and CSSTs. It's very hard to say the least. You can get away with two gun batteries, you can't get away with 2/3 of a CSST.


Army politics at its best. You would hate to want to be able to mould Army personnel to meet operational or technological evolutionary need.

That will probably still happen by the decision makers, but it is outside the scope of the FMR. You obviously have to give some sort of left and right of arc, otherwise nothing will ever happen. Some of the submissions do include some redistribution of manpower between the streams, but is is still a zero sum game insofar as the total manning cap for the combat force.


I’m not that fond of the Namer (and saying something like that is creeping into a name calling slap fight), I think it’s probably too big for anyone who doesn’t have to fight on contiguous borders.

Having re-read what I wrote, it is a bit confrontational. Apologies for that, it is hard to express tone over the internet.

The point remains though - you can fight current conflicts without cannon armed AFVs. Strykers were the vehicle of choice during the surge in Baghdad, and they did pretty well. Put the same Strykers up against a peer mechanised competitor though, and they are fucked.

We can both agree though that cannons are a good thing. As I said though, the biggest problem against a turreted IFV for the infantry is the training burden - the infantry don't really want one and aren't capable of generating the required skills. Hence the combined corps units - the RAAC generating and comprising the crews for the infantry's fighting vehicles, and the infantry generating and comprising the dismounts in the cavalary regiments. The idea does have a fair bit of support. It'll take a brave decision by someone though, so it probably wont get up. It will be a great shame if we come out of the FMR and LAND400 with the same organisation we have now though - we wont get the same opportunity for another 40 years.

[Gubler, A.]

The problem is the ISD of the end of the decade. Will networked UGVs be able to undertake the full suite of cavalry roles by then? I am quite confident in saying no.

The technology is there, but obviously the Aus DoD couldn't handle a procurement project unless they tried and failed and then leased something similar from industry on the side...

[Weasel]

To go back to your first comment Abe re: wheels and track;

It would seem prudent to me that the Australian DoD define it's mission. If that mission is to contribute to international security by "lending a hand" then it follows that you need both.

Why? because if that is your primary mission, you are going to have to respond to the whole gammit of terrain types.

When it becomes apparent that your troops are going to be deployed to XYZ campaign, then pick the Combat element that is most suited to that campaign.

The whole concept of having a "one vehicle fits all" has been shown (in the US) to just create expensive under-performing platforms. So given that Australia can only provide limited resources, then it follows that it would be more efficient to tailor those forces to two types of vehicles that can expand the comparatively small capability of the Australian Army as it is today. In other words; If Australia's mission is to "punch above it's weight" and if Australia wants to enhance its capability to provide assistance to international operations, then it is more efficient to that mission to have 2 platforms.

Not that you want to have a battle in the first place, but what you and Raven are dancing around re big guns is (if its going to happen) controlling the battle. Insurgents at the moment initiate within the media center of gravity and we react. Vehicles are a target of choice in this space as they do spectacular things when they blow up. So it follows that if one is to stop being reactionary and actually begin to control that space, then accept that the vehicle is going to be the focus of attention and make it capable of fighting its way out. If you do this, then we begin to control the center of gravity.

If we accep this then one can argue that in order to control the media center of gravity, it is not enough to win the battle, but to do so in a spectacular and overstated fashion. Or in British parlance; with style. Wrong choice of words? No. This stuff gets back to the public via you tube every day. Therfore in order to control the space at every opportunity (e.g. clicking on a link) the public of a retributive justice system needs to see the terrorist losing and losing badly.

The ideal tracked vehicle might be a PUMA IFV , but with a 10000 7.62 mm rnd capacity as opposed to its roughly 3 or 4000 rnds. It is well protected and if you give the crew enough rnds to fight, it can stay and fight or "project force". Three vehicles would satisfy your 2 x 8 dismount requirement. Incidentally, I thought the smallest Australian "brick" was a 9 man squad?

Assuming that the Oz DoD's mission is as above , then don't even worry about air transportability. Australia has that covered with the C-17.

If you reject the two type-of-vehicle concept and insist on going back to a one-vehicle-fits-all rationale (which is great in peace time), then you have to (as in not an option to do otherwise) include the ability to pivot steer. This above all other types of maneuver is what a wheeled vehicle lacks, yet is capable of.

The problem with pivot steer is that it chews through your tires. But that aside, this will give you some measure of mobility over and above the existing batch of wheeled vehicles. An example of pivot steer and an "on-the-go" ability to change from one mode to the other is "Bobcat' telescopic handlers. It is a matter of changing the drive system and having a computerized control mechanism.


enough for now


cheers

w








I think the real question is what would the balance of the force be? 75% wheeled and 25% tracked?

[Gubler, A.]

In a perfect world Australia could consider vehicle running gear type by need however as Raven pointed out one of the most pressing challenges is actually finding something on the market. Australia may want to punch above its weight but we need to buy a slice of something much bigger. Even with a requirement for 1,100 vehicles the LAND 400 system will need to be an Australian version of another program.

Clearly with the operational need (carry a lot of combat power), the tactical need (be able to survive multiple IED/RPG/ATGM attacks) and the program need (be part of something bigger) a tracked vehicle is the only solution. Also the time space required and low risk tolerance would mean such a vehicle needs to be entering production in the next few years.

So I would expect the FRES Specialist Vehicle (SV) offers (BAE’s Evolved CV90-SV and GD’s Ascod II) and the German Puma are the realistic contenders. Perhaps the German/Dutch Boxer could be offered as a wheeled alternative because it has the weight margin to carry all of the stuff (weapons, eight dismounts and survivability) that the mission needs.

The Puma is probably at a disadvantage because of the lack of internal volume. As Raven has pointed out the baseline cavalry fighting vehicle (CFV) requirement needs to carry the big gun (25-40mm) and up to eight dismounts and all their gear. Which includes support weapons and UGS for the cav scout section. The Puma can only carry six dismounts with space for additional gear because it doesn’t provide internal storage over the track wells (this space is used for vehicle system machinery).

Since both the FRES SV offers needed to be designed with a multi-role capability including a CFV with 40mm gun and an APC without a turret it would appear to be very much in line with the LAND 400 concept. The 40mm gun is also much more capable than a 30mm gun.

[Weasel]

In a perfect world Australia could consider vehicle running gear type by need however as Raven pointed out one of the most pressing challenges is actually finding something on the market. Australia may want to punch above its weight but we need to buy a slice of something much bigger. Even with a requirement for 1,100 vehicles the LAND 400 system will need to be an Australian version of another program.

Clearly with the operational need (carry a lot of combat power), the tactical need (be able to survive multiple IED/RPG/ATGM attacks) and the program need (be part of something bigger) a tracked vehicle is the only solution. Also the time space required and low risk tolerance would mean such a vehicle needs to be entering production in the next few years.

So I would expect the FRES Specialist Vehicle (SV) offers (BAE’s Evolved CV90-SV and GD’s Ascod II) and the German Puma are the realistic contenders. Perhaps the German/Dutch Boxer could be offered as a wheeled alternative because it has the weight margin to carry all of the stuff (weapons, eight dismounts and survivability) that the mission needs.

The Puma is probably at a disadvantage because of the lack of internal volume. As Raven has pointed out the baseline cavalry fighting vehicle (CFV) requirement needs to carry the big gun (25-40mm) and up to eight dismounts and all their gear. Which includes support weapons and UGS for the cav scout section. The Puma can only carry six dismounts with space for additional gear because it doesn’t provide internal storage over the track wells (this space is used for vehicle system machinery).

Since both the FRES SV offers needed to be designed with a multi-role capability including a CFV with 40mm gun and an APC without a turret it would appear to be very much in line with the LAND 400 concept. The 40mm gun is also much more capable than a 30mm gun.

OK, lets say track. Then your obstacle is not limited volume. That can be solved by using more vehicles which again enhances your ability to control the assymetrical combat space. Less soldiers in one vehicle means less potential casualties if (and when) the opposition wins a battle. It happens. In other words limited volume can be solved by changing doctrine.

Rather your technical obstacles are:


Speed
Maintenance
Life of track
Range


The good public often does not realize that a track actually stops when it comes in contact with the ground and then is wrenched at speed over the top of the idler rollers, thrust around the leading roller to suddenly stop again, all in a matter of fractions of a second if you want to do 70mph.

Live tracks often require regular and extensive maintenance to replace worn rubber bushings.

The actual track shoes, simply wear away before you get to 5000 miles

Track is heavy and therefore tough on fuel economy and range

One solution is band track, but you still don't get life of track you really desire (and need) in the current conflicts. The other solution is lighter metal matrix composites (MMCs) and quite alot of research has gone into this particular family of materials as a track block replacement.

Below is a sample design for a track block that might be able to reach 70mph and have a life of 8000 to 10000 miles.

Umm, that is if the SW would work with my browser. Meh.. Think MMC block with single piano pin structure and a coil type Ti super elastic alloy spring (you know? Like they use in medicine to simulate bone elasticity) to make it a live track instead of the rubber bushing.

So, yeh, go and buy your little tank, but also incorporate a R&D program to enhance the track, whether it is through Band Track, MMC, or what have you. It is a simple component to work on and you can do so while the platform is being purchased, IOC and put in full blown service.

The return on investment is huge, as you could save a couple of tons in weight alone with the Puma IFV

Speaking of the Puma, the other suggested mod would be to go with the 40mm CTA system. That might give you some added volume for gear.

And last ( but not least) engine development. You are going to have to support upgrades in the powerplant at some time or another, so go ahead and start looking at it before you buy the platform. Lots of ICE tech is coming online from the private sector, so there is no reason why you can't do a planned sequential block by block upgrade as these technologies mature in your powerplant.


cheers


w

[Gubler, A.]

OK, lets say track. Then your obstacle is not limited volume. That can be solved by using more vehicles which again enhances your ability to control the assymetrical combat space. Less soldiers in one vehicle means less potential casualties if (and when) the opposition wins a battle. It happens. In other words limited volume can be solved by changing doctrine.

Well apart from this adding cost and crewman overheads the volume requirement is not because the CFV will need to carry eight dismounts all the time but it will need to be able to carry eight cav scouts if needed. Also this space enables the patrol to evacuate under armour the crew of a disabled CFV while still carrying the cav scout section. This is a capability held within the current ASLAV patrol that obviously wants to be carried over to the new LAND 400 vehicle. That is two ASLAV-25s with space in the back for four dismounts if needed but not normally assigned. One vehicle is immobilised and the crew can be safely evacuated in the rear of the other ASLAV-25. With three bigger CFVs (eight dismounts) rather than two ASLAV-25s (four dismounts) and one ASLAV-PC (seven dismounts) the patrol will be able to carry everyone out (eight man cav scout section and a three man disabled vehicle crew) in any two vehicles after one is immobilised. The additional space will also enable better carriage of a wounded soldier (or two) on a stretcher if needed).


So, yeh, go and buy your little tank, but also incorporate a R&D program to enhance the track, whether it is through Band Track, MMC, or what have you. It is a simple component to work on and you can do so while the platform is being purchased, IOC and put in full blown service.

DSTO has funded CTDs into domestic band track technology.


Speaking of the Puma, the other suggested mod would be to go with the 40mm CTS system. That might give you some added volume for gear.

I doubt it. Because Puma already has a remote turret that has minimal volume demand on the crew compartment. You could easily replace this turret with the French 40mm CTA remote turret but it wouldn’t affect the inside too much. As I said before the volume issue with Puma is that the exhaust system is carried down one side of the vehicle and the other side’s sponson has the air conditioners etc. Which creates an interior space like the Bushmaster in that any storage bins need to be in place of seats. Unlike most tracked vehicles where the storage bins occupy space in the sponsons above the track wells, leaving most of the full height area of the compartment for seats.

But a vehicle like the Ascod II or CV90-SV is almost up to spec with the Puma anyway and they have more available internal volume for the crew and a manned turret.

[Weasel]

Well apart from this adding cost and crewman overheads the volume requirement is not because the CFV will need to carry eight dismounts all the time but it will need to be able to carry eight cav scouts if needed. Also this space enables the patrol to evacuate under armour the crew of a disabled CFV while still carrying the cav scout section. This is a capability held within the current ASLAV patrol that obviously wants to be carried over to the new LAND 400 vehicle. That is two ASLAV-25s with space in the back for four dismounts if needed but not normally assigned. One vehicle is immobilised and the crew can be safely evacuated in the rear of the other ASLAV-25. With three bigger CFVs (eight dismounts) rather than two ASLAV-25s (four dismounts) and one ASLAV-PC (seven dismounts) the patrol will be able to carry everyone out (eight man cav scout section and a three man disabled vehicle crew) in any two vehicles after one is immobilised. The additional space will also enable better carriage of a wounded soldier (or two) on a stretcher if needed).



DSTO has funded CTDs into domestic band track technology.



I doubt it. Because Puma already has a remote turret that has minimal volume demand on the crew compartment. You could easily replace this turret with the French 40mm CTA remote turret but it wouldn’t affect the inside too much. As I said before the volume issue with Puma is that the exhaust system is carried down one side of the vehicle and the other side’s sponson has the air conditioners etc. Which creates an interior space like the Bushmaster in that any storage bins need to be in place of seats. Unlike most tracked vehicles where the storage bins occupy space in the sponsons above the track wells, leaving most of the full height area of the compartment for seats.

But a vehicle like the Ascod II or CV90-SV is almost up to spec with the Puma anyway and they have more available internal volume for the crew and a manned turret.

You guys were the ones talking OTS. If you go with Puma, then you need more vehicles. The technologies above can easily be applied to any of the vehicles that you've listed including the Namer. A remote CTA is a good option regardless simply because of its ammo stowage in any armored box with limited volume.

I would be hesitant re the CV-90 unless you did something with the chassis. Its old. I know the guys at BAE have gone with reducing the length on the FRES Scout, to basically save track weight, but that in turn limits your IED spaced armor options like integrating shaped hull protection, which in turn will reduce internal volume, so I wouldn't go the route of reducing the length of the vehicle just to gain extra speed that you can get through new track tech. Better to go with IED protection.

The down side of bandtrack is that you can blow it off just like normal track, but with MMC you can make it more mine resistant.

cheers

w

[Raven22]

I actually re-read the requirements today and it turns out my memory isn't all that good. The actual requirement is for both the cavalry and infantry vehicles to be able to carry a minimum of 9 fully-equipped soldiers, including the crew. Ie, the cav vehicles will only need to be able to carry 6 dismounts, although the inf vehicle will have to be able to carry 8, for obvious reasons.

There is no reason the vehicles can't be split over both tracks and wheels either, which would be my preference. As Weasel pointed out, both have their advantages and it is better to have both available to ensure the appropriate tool to respons to any contingency. If that happened though, I would actually bet on the cav vehicle being tracked and the inf vehicle being wheeled. There are more tracked vehicles that fit the cav requirement than wheeled ones, and more wheeled vehicles that fit the inf requirement than tracked ones. Puma and Boxer would do the job, although not cheaply. The infantry vehicle may have a turreted cannon too - it still fits the requirements - its just that the boffins leading the project think they don't need one.

[Weasel]

here. Some pretty pics of the Namer. I think this is from the original batch of prototypes, as it seems to be based on the early Merkava chasis. It doesn't look like the type IV, anyway.






and so on:

http://waronline.org/pictures/Namer/84557943.jpg
http://waronline.org/pictures/Namer/89638595.jpg
http://waronline.org/pictures/Namer/21173138.jpg
http://img230.exs.cx/img230/6941/0064mj.jpg
http://img230.exs.cx/img230/1743/0085lz.jpg
http://waronline.org/pictures/Namer/P3090092.jpg
http://waronline.org/pictures/Namer/P3090099.jpg

My only beef with the Namer is that the engine is too underpowered. Better to go with the 1500HP powerplant.

cheers

w

[Chauvel]

Some more recent from my extensive collection of armourpron

Cheers

Chauvel

[Chauvel]

More

In case you're wondering the name Echidna refers to Namer use in a fictional Australian Army OOB

Cheers

Chauvel:cool:

PS How can i attach from my computer without them coming up as above. I Have these in much higher definition

[ARH v.3.1]

PS How can i attach from my computer without them coming up as above. I Have these in much higher definition

Are you referring to the thumbnail or the image after clicking on the thumbnail?

[Gubler, A.]

The Namer does not share a hull with the Merkava, at least from about 50cm above the bottom up. It has its own specific hull shape buit shares many components and they're built on the same production line. Including the same MTU 1,500hp engine and transmission. There is some confusion about the engine because the name Namer was used for the second time on a prototype ARV of the Merkava Mk 3 which used the 1,200 hp engine.

[Weasel]

The Namer does not share a hull with the Merkava, at least from about 50cm above the bottom up. It has its own specific hull shape buit shares many components and they're built on the same production line. Including the same MTU 1,500hp engine and transmission. There is some confusion about the engine because the name Namer was used for the second time on a prototype ARV of the Merkava Mk 3 which used the 1,200 hp engine.

Righto then, but doesn't the latest version move away from the slab sided armor and have a more prominent sloped side at the transom? Or maybe it is just the angle of the photos taken and you can't see the sloped side armor?

cheers

w

ps aha! like this from chauvel above.. many thanks:



and please abe.. no difference from 50cm up? What makes you think I can't tell the difference from 50cm down? I'm insulted. lol.

e.g. name this track

oh, I forgot..I can't upload photos... BUT, I am still insulted.

[Chauvel]

Andrew

I'd like to undersatnd how to have the full photo on the page as Weasel has done

Cheers

Chauvel

[buglerbilly]

Give me an email address and I'll tell you on behalf of our Illustrious Leader...........no idea how I kept a straight face saying that!

[Weasel]

I was taking a little look at the land 400 requirements and it struck me that (for whatever reason) the Army is either being opaque or doesn't really get what it needs for a mobile global reaction fighting force.

For example: If you look at the namer and go backwards as to why it is needed, you get the impression that maneuver in positions not ordinarily available to infantry is required.

If you follow that thought and look at a few Hamas combat maps and how their defenses are organized you get a very surprising view of coordinated fighting holes, tunnels and booby traps that forces an unarmored force into maneuvering a certain way. If Hamas get to control the battlefield by funneling Israeli soldier this way and that, hells bells, they (Hamas) could even try to kidnap a few of them and really get some traction.

So the namer is perfect. well, not so perfect. One or two namers with a mortar capable of both direct and indirect fire to afford concentric circles of fire mixed in with the others would be perfect.

But I'm not sure if Israel has figured that out yet.

SO that led me to the Amos and what vehicles can use it today.

If you are talking what can you buy today and has proven flexibility to create a force to suit, then there are only 2 horse left in the tracked stable.

The CV-90 and (with a few mods like amos) the Namer.

The ability to provide indirect fires in an urban and/or mountainous terrain seems to be a pre-requisite.

cheers

w

[Gubler, A.]

Well Weasel there are a few things wrong with that. To the Israelis first:

Every IDF close combat vehicle (tank, APC, AEV) has a 60mm mortar as standard. On the Merkava Mk 2, 3 and 4 the mortar is under armour in the other vehicles mounted beside the flex MG at the loader or commander’s hatch. Each IDF infantry regiment (aka brigade, their standard tactical unit) has a company of new recoil absorbing 120mm mortars in a M113 firing GPS guided shells. So I don’t think they are deficient in high angle indirect fire support.

As to fitting an AMOS turret to a Namer it would actually work by fitting an AMOS turret to a Merkava as it has the turret ring. So you are taking away a tank and replacing it with a mortar. Unlike a 30mm RCWS if you fit AMOS to a Namer/Merkava (or other vehicle) you have to take away the dismount section because of the volume needed by the mortar and a reasonable unit of fire.

While AMOS is a great mortar system just because it can fire at a direct target does not make it so great for close support in urban combat. The 120mm mortar shell is thin walled and fired at low velocity. While it’s got a very big explosive charge it would be detonated outside any structure it is fired at. In the Middle East this means concrete buildings and I doubt it would do much damage to anyone inside. On the other hand 120mm and 30mm cannon shells (and everything in between) are high velocity with piercing capability and would penetrate the building to defeat the target inside.

Direct fire mortars are just pecking on the surface. Combined with their inaccuracy against moving targets is a good reason why no one has fielded them in this *favoured* role of close support.

Back to LAND 400 and the 3+6 crew total that Raven has provided indicates that wheeled vehicles are very much an option. The other key requirement (in addition to the 30mm gun) is the level of protection. There are many 8x8 AFVs that can carry 3+6, a 30mm gun, all the BMS and DAS (including active protection) LAND 400 will require and more armour than any ASLAV, M113AS4 or Bushmaster. Even the LAV III (Stryker) can meet this requirement with more armour than Army has had to date. Since LAND 400 will also replace the combat support vehicles including the Bushmaster a light-medium weight 8x8 has always been attractive.

The stickler in this pie is how much protection is needed. The British Army – like the Israelis and Americans – has learnt the hard way that the kind of STANAG 4569 Level 4 armour (14.5mm AP resistant) that is the upper end of the 8x8 AFV is not enough for close combat vehicles. Has the Australian Army learnt this lesson? If we have then a tracked vehicle in the case of the FRES SV, Puma, atc is needed to carry all that armour.

[Weasel]

Well Weasel there are a few things wrong with that. To the Israelis first:

While AMOS is a great mortar system just because it can fire at a direct target does not make it so great for close support in urban combat. The 120mm mortar shell is thin walled and fired at low velocity. While it’s got a very big explosive charge it would be detonated outside any structure it is fired at. In the Middle East this means concrete buildings and I doubt it would do much damage to anyone inside. On the other hand 120mm and 30mm cannon shells (and everything in between) are high velocity with piercing capability and would penetrate the building to defeat the target inside.

Direct fire mortars are just pecking on the surface. Combined with their inaccuracy against moving targets is a good reason why no one has fielded them in this *favoured* role of close support.

Thin walled mortar round? No, no, no. Who in their right mind would do that and who said you would use a mortar round? It is beyond easy to mod a 120mm tank round to that of a mortar and even do it by taking out a few processes in the assembly line. The AMOS is attractive as it is a breech loaded 120mm, so everyone can use the same ammo production line. If you are worried about the low velocity of the mortar round, I'm not, as you can take your MPAT round and use a dual energetic phase explosive that would make mince meat out of a concrete wall, not to mention fattening and extended the over pressure curve to collapse the building. Oh, wait. Israel just did that. lol.

I apologize for not making my thought process clearer, but I'm not the guy who just looks through a catalogue and thinks a tank is cool (and as some defense ministers have shown, buys it). The concept of an infantry assault gun has been proven over and over again, so yeh, a remote gun mortar specifically for Urban Infantry Support is attractive and a Namer chassis is more suited to a remote turret then the Merkava, plus it has more room for ammo and an automatic feed mechanism (its going to have to be an up ram or something similar) and that is not likely to fit in a low hull form like the Merkava. If it can fire indirectly, you have the best of both worlds. Direct fire would be the mode of choice.

Its the flip side of what the AMOS was designed for. I am talking Direct with appropriate sights and oh it can also do Indirect. Not Indirect and oh it can be used for Direct in a pinch too, but you don't have a sight to do that.

Anyway, I found the few Hamas maps I looked at fascinating where the goal of a battle seemed (to me) to be actually kidnapping a soldier. I guess I had a natural pre-conceived notion that such an action would be opportunist.

Enter the Namer.

Now the CV90? You have the whole family there. The only downside is armor and IED protection. But you can achieve that by reducing internal volume and lose 2 dismounts. So, what do they want to do? The Cv90 mod for protection has less technical risk then the above for the Namer, but its just a little too small to keep to the "brick" size you guys want, but the Namer is the right size to keep your "brick" and be able to do stuff with, like create a family of vehicles to meet your global threat. And lets face it on a TRL for a remotely fed breech loaded 120mm gun mortar? You're talking 6 or 7 as its all been done before. You just have to figure out how to do it again.

Or you could actually use your M1A1 Abrams tank in a combined force operation. There, that is a novel idea. Australia actually using a tank.

cheers

w

[ARH v.3.1]

Give me an email address and I'll tell you on behalf of our Illustrious Leader...........no idea how I kept a straight face saying that!

Tart!:voodoo

Type {IMG}image url here{/IMG} where you want the picture to go in your post, but using the [ ] brackets instead of the { }. Alternatively, above the reply box there is a button between the envelope and the video reel where you can post the URL directly, which sometimes is faster.

[buglerbilly]

U.K. Warthog Armored Truck Delayed

By ANDREW CHUTER

Published: 23 Apr 2010 11:34

LONDON - 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 150 million pounds ($230 million) 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 failed to pass British acceptance tests. The first unit slated to get the Warthog, a Royal Dragoon Guards regiment, is deploying to Afghanistan without it.

In response to a March 11 question in Parliament, Davis said no Warthogs had been delivered to the land forces by that date. He said delivery was to be wrapped up by autumn.

An MoD spokesman said the Dragoon Guards had trained on the vehicles and they were on "track for delivery in the summer" where they would be on the front lines.

Other sources said the vehicles could be up to six months behind schedule.

A spokeswoman for Thales UK, which has a 20 million pound vehicle integration contract with ST Kinetics, said that training vehicles have been handed over to the British military.

"So far, we have delivered the required number of training vehicles to the MoD and continue to work on the Warthog at our west Wales site," she said.

Industry and MoD sources said 2 tons of armor have been added to the 19-ton vehicle to counter improvised explosive devices in Helmand province. That resolved the issue of blast protection but has created knock-on problems with reliability, and wear and tear on components.

The MoD spokesman said the vehicles were "undergoing extensive reliability trials along with integration activities."

The Warthogs have been undergoing trials at the armed forces Armored Trials and Development Unit at Bovington in Dorset for several months.

The Singaporean company wouldn't comment on why the Warthog program was behind schedule, but in a statement, Patrick Choy, executive vice president-international marketing, acknowledged the vehicle would not enter service until later this year.

"ST Kinetics is working closely with the MoD and Thales UK to make Warthog the most advanced all-terrain vehicle of its class. We are pleased to know that the British soldiers in Afghanistan will soon receive improved protection against mines and increased mobility for all operations when Warthog enters service later in the year," Choy said.

Warthog is the first armored vehicle Britain has purchased from an Asian company.

Brown has mentioned the platform more than once in response to criticism from political opponents and others over Britain's record in equipping its forces in Afghanistan.

Last September, Brown announced that Warthog deliveries would be accelerated. The details of that move were never released, but industry executives said they believed the government was looking at compressing the program to get final deliveries earlier than planned rather than speed introduction of the first vehicles.

Warthog is an uprated version of STK's Bronco tracked all-terrain vehicle, which is in service with the Singaporean armed forces.

The deal was part of a 700 million pound package of urgent operational equipment upgrades announced for Afghanistan in 2008 by then-Defence Secretary John Hutton.

The British ordered a version with better armor, longer range, different weapons and other changes.

The British Royal Marines and the Army already operate the Viking Mk1 in Afghanistan. The vehicle has been criticized for its lack of protection. The British ordered 24 of the improved Viking II vehicles that had lost out to Warthog to replace the earlier model. The last of those Mk II vehicles were delivered recently, and MoD sources said about half have been deployed to Afghanistan with the Royal Marines.

[Gubler, A.]

Here is a picture of the Israeli armoured observation windows that will be fitted to the Puma. Seen here on the back of a Namer. Protected by bar armour as well as its own armour. An interesting development in urban combat where the need for spatial orientation in observation requires a "heads-up" view.

[buglerbilly]

UK Warthogs receive extra armour for Afghan deployment

By Tim Ripley

04 May 2010

Additional armoured protection has been added to Singapore Technologies Kinetics (STK) Warthog all-terrain vehicles as a result of an acceptance trials programme run by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) earlier this year.

Around 100 Warthogs are destined for use by the British Army in Afghanistan later this year. The enhancements were needed to ensure they meet strict UK mine blast protection requirements.

Patrick Choy, STK's Director of International Relations, told Jane's in late April that the installation of extra armour had resulted in a 'trade-off' being made with the Warthog's performance, mobility and reliability.

However, he said the first vehicles had been delivered to the MoD's Ashchurch vehicle depot for acceptance by the British Army and onward shipment to Afghanistan.

121 of 390 words
Copyright © IHS (Global) Limited, 2010

[buglerbilly]

U.S. Marines Praise EFV, Roll Out Prototype

May 5, 2010



By Michael Fabey

I could have sworn blind that there were Prototypes around a number of years ago...........obviously I'm living in a parallel Universe.................

QUANTICO, Va. — The Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) is the linchpin of the U.S. Marine Corps expeditionary warfare strategy and the program is on track for development, delivery and deployment, service program officials said May 4 at what turned into a mini pep rally for the vehicle and its supporters.

Taking direct aim at some of the concerns raised recently by Defense Secretary Robert Gates that Marines may not need the EFV or that the vehicle could prove too costly, program and Marine Corps officials said the vehicle is exactly what they need to conduct operations from the sea.

The EFV is meant to serve as a vehicle bridge for Marines, carrying them from Navy ships through the surf and sand and miles deep into enemy terrain.

Program officials extolled the vehicle’s prowess and promise at a ceremony at the National Museum of the Marine Corps here, with the museum’s unique skyline sculpture in the background and a newly minted prototype EFV in the foreground.

Program Manager Col. Keith Moore called the EFV the “world’s most capable combat vehicle.” As for costs, Moore acknowledged that in the current economic climate, everything must be done to cut the vehicle’s price. Current production unit costs run about $16 million per EFV, with program acquisition costs reaching about $22 million per vehicle.

The service wants to buy about 573 EFVs to carry Marines and another 67 to be used as communications-and-control vehicles.

Program procurement costs will be about $9.5 billion, Moore said. The total program costs, he acknowledged, could be as high as $13 billion. He hopes to shave the unit costs by millions of dollars per copy.

For now, though, the main Marine thrust will be to put the EFV though additional rigorous testing. One of the main issues, Moore said, will be to make the vehicle more reliable. He said it is quite common for prototypes to have low percentage rates for hours between failures — in the 20% range.

The focus of the test program for the next 18-24 months will be to increase those percentages.

“We need it in the 50s [percent range] by the time we field the vehicle,” he said.

Current plans call for the Marines to field the EFV in 2015, with a low-rate-initial-production date of January or February 2012.

As with any prototype testing, Moore expects hiccups. For example, in March the Marines found that coding errors and configuration issues with the software developed for the EFV by the Air Force made the vehicle respond sluggishly. Program officials identified the problems and had a fix in hand within 17 days, he said.

Moore doubts all issues will be resolved so quickly. But he said the Marines will not treat its prototype with kid gloves. The service will test the 40-ton behemoth — fully loaded — as rigorously as it would deploy it. The testing begins this spring at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, Calif.

Photo: Michael Fabey

[Ecky]

Not sure if this is the right spot...

The LAND 400 Program Combined Arms Fighting System Request For Information 2010 has been released on AusTender (https://www.tenders.gov.au/?event=public.atm.show&ATMUUID=65B8D171-A44B-DDA6-F40A83E2D6B4675B).

Is there a difference between a Project and a Program in Australian context?
Does anyone know where "Combined Arms Fighting System" came from? Used to be "Survivabilty of Ground Forces."

Ecky

[Gubler, A.]

Is there a difference between a Project and a Program in Australian context?
Does anyone know where "Combined Arms Fighting System" came from? Used to be "Survivabilty of Ground Forces."

Most projects change their detail names a few times which is why they use the staff requirement number (LAND 400) to keep it together over time. Before it was Combined Arms FIghting System it was Combat Vehicle System and before that Survivability...

Program tends to be the actual right word used within Defence, just everyone calls them projects. This stage of LAND 400 (at AusTender) is actually a Request For Information (RFI) about potential system, platforms and sub-systems. Still a long way to go to an acquisition.

[Ecky]

Most projects change their detail names a few times which is why they use the staff requirement number (LAND 400) to keep it together over time. Before it was Combined Arms FIghting System it was Combat Vehicle System and before that Survivability...

Program tends to be the actual right word used within Defence, just everyone calls them projects. This stage of LAND 400 (at AusTender) is actually a Request For Information (RFI) about potential system, platforms and sub-systems. Still a long way to go to an acquisition.

I thought titles had some degree of longevity with program scope changed.
Thanks

Ecky

[Gubler, A.]

Attached is the primary stuff from the new LAND 400 RFI mark 2.

[SteveJH]

Comes up as a damaged file when I try to download.....

[Gubler, A.]

Comes up as a damaged file when I try to download.....

They downloaded fine for me on another computer to the one I uploaded them on.

[buglerbilly]

They both opened well for me with no problems.............

[buglerbilly]

Newly shown at SOFEX 2010...........



The new heavy armoured personnel carrier MAP II developed by KADDB.

Jordanian MAP II KADDB heavy tracked armoured vehicle personnel carrier

At SOFEX 2010, the Jordanian Defense Company KADDB (King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau) unveils a new heavy armoured vehicle personnel carrier based on a much modified Tariq MBT chassis which is a British-supplied Centurion upgraded some years ago for the Jordanian Army. The MAP II is converted from the vehicle platform of a Tariq MBT, by modifying the hull. The MAP II is equipped with a small remotely weapon system, mounted to the centre of the top hull, which can be armed with missile system and machine guns. The inside of the hull is equipped with seats for infantry soldiers. The MAP II can carry 13 soldiers with all their weapons and equipment. One single door is mounted at the front of the chassis, and another one at the rear. The MAP II can fulfil multi-purpose role in support of mechanized armoured units based on their needs.



Not influenced by any Israeli designs of course............:shakehead

[Marc 1]

Front and rear dismount, well, I suppose it gives options...

[Gubler, A.]

The forward hatch may have some benefits in urban warfare making it both quicker and easier for the APC to positition itself flush to a building so the infantry aren't exposed when they dismount. Of course you can do the same with a rear hatch you just have to reverse park. But comrpmising the armour face that you want to point towards any direct fires is not such a good idea.

[Gubler, A.]

Chong Ju was on last week and the armoured combat team included M113AS4s and almost all of the M1A1s in AUSCAM:



http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2010/May/20100513/index.htm



Might be some time before we see 1 Bde doing this x9.

[Raven22]

Might be some time before we see 1 Bde doing this x9.

Maybe not. After their next rotation 1 Bde is going to spend a couple of years remediating the mech capability, meaning all those 'new' M113s and fancy looking M1s might actually get used. 3 and 7 Bde will have to run back to back deployements while this happens.

[Gubler, A.]

Maybe not. After their next rotation 1 Bde is going to spend a couple of years remediating the mech capability, meaning all those 'new' M113s and fancy looking M1s might actually get used. 3 and 7 Bde will have to run back to back deployements while this happens.

That's good news. With 7 Bde supporting the introduction of the BMS with the networked battlegroup trial a bit more of that weight may fall on 3 Bde...

[Raven22]

Nah, the idea is that 7 Bde will test the fancy new BMS in Afghan. All except for ASLAV of course, which won't get the BMS...

It actually works out well for me. I should be able to wangle myself back to back deployments if I can get an extension to my current posting. My house isn't going to pay itself off afterall.

[Gubler, A.]

From Chong Ju: What's the drill for MBT commander when attacked by a Plover?

[Raven22]

Coax, plover, on. Fire.

Firing now.

Stop, target destroyed. Good shooting gunner.

[buglerbilly]

Pentagon Contract Announcement

(Source: U.S Departments of Defense; issued May 17, 2010)

Diesel Engineering, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is being awarded a $20,784,887 firm-fixed-price-contract for engine upgrade kits for the Achzarit heavy armored personnel carriers for the Israeli Ministry of Defense.

The Achzarit engine upgrade kits modify the engine, transmission and cooling systems, resulting in an increase in horsepower of approximately 20 percent and an increase in acceleration of approximately 200 percent.

This contract involves a Foreign Military Sales to Israel (100 percent).

Work will be performed in Elizabeth, N.J. (71 percent), and Prague, Czech Republic (29 percent), and is expected to be completed by June 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract was not competitively procured.

The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C. is the contracting activity (N00024-10-C-4200).

-ends-

[Deks]

I guess this means they're happy with them, which is certainly not what I'd read in the past! The article does hint that the purchase has something to do with maintaining the production line though, so who knows.

By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI
Published: 17 May 2010 13:49
NEW DELHI - The Indian Army has ordered and placed fresh orders for purchase of additional 124 homemade Arjun tanks following March comparative trials with the Russian-built T-90 tank.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation, which produced the tank, has been urging the Army, which ordered an initial 124 tanks, to order a second batch to make the assembly line economical.

"The project for the design and development of the MBT Arjun was approved by the government in 1974 with an aim to give the required indigenous cutting edge to our Mechanized Forces," a May 17 press release from India's Defence Ministry said. "After many years of trial and tribulation, it has now proved its worth by its superb performance under various circumstances, such as driving cross-country over rugged sand dunes, detecting, observing and quickly engaging targets, accurately hitting targets - both stationary and moving, with pinpointed accuracy.

"Its superior firepower is based on accurate and quick target acquisition capability during day and night in all types of weather," the press release added.

[Deks]

http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2010/May/20100513/index.htm


...Javelin Medium Defensive Fire Support Weapon...

Is it not Direct Fire.. ?

Wouldn't surprise me to learn it was changed to defensive, though..

[Gubler, A.]

Is it not Direct Fire.. ?

Wouldn't surprise me to learn it was changed to defensive, though..

There's nothing new about typos on the defence media photo page. DFSW means direct fire support weapon in Army speak and that's not about to change.

[buglerbilly]

UK explores KERS option for Scimitar

By Nick Brown
21 May 2010

ABSL Power Solutions has embarked on a programme to assess the potential to provide an electrical power boost to enhance the mobility of the British Army's Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) Scimitar.

Spokesman Roland Talbot told Jane's that the company was recently approached by the UK Ministry of Defence, asking if ABSL could leverage off its experience with battery packs developed for the Formula 1 (F1) Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) that debuted in motorsport last year.

The racing teams took two different approaches to KERS, either using a flywheel or a battery pack to store up energy harnessed during braking, which the driver could then release to provide up to 60 kW (roughly 80 hp) for periods of up to 6.7 seconds per lap.

124 of 444 words
Copyright © IHS (Global) Limited, 2010

[dan891]

I don't know if it was reported here but I saw an article in Janes (IIRC) about a month ago that the UK is going to build some new CVR(T) hulls. Apparently the current ones have taken so much abuse it's now cheaper to do new build than up-grade and reset, and also they are going to maintain some post-FRES SV for certain roles - I'm guessing support to 16 Air Assault and possibly 3 Cdo Bde - due to the size of FRES SV. Not sure if this is actually going to come off or not however.

[buglerbilly]

This applies to any armoured vehicle, tracked or wheeled..........or none-armoured or a warship..........basically anything



Black Fox: Thermal Stealth Suite for Combat Vehicles

Thermal stealth technology being developed by the Israeli company Eltics promises to render military vehicles, combat helicopters and even entire naval surface ships invisible to thermal imaging surveillance sensors, targeting systems or missile seekers employing thermal sensors. The patented system, dubbed 'Black Fox' is designed to be applied as an add-on layer, on top of existing armor, or be embedded into the outer layer, comprising one layer in the 'onion ring' defensive concept of modern platforms.

'Black Fox' is an Active, Adaptive Multi-Spectral Stealth technology applicable to land, airborne and naval vessels. The concept has been in development since 2006 and was recently demonstrated in field experiments, demonstrating the ability to effectively blend parts of the platform into the background, while on the move.Apture™

The active stealth suite can be applied to totally conceal a large object, like a relocatable, forward command post, requiring stealth, in order to conceal the entire platform from overhead observation and targeting.



When applied on combat vehicles, the 'Black Fox' is designed to cover almost the entire platform, gaining the advantage of full stealth concealment from all sides, including top view. Yet, according to Ronen Meir, Eltics CEO, wrapping the entire vehicle is not mandatory - even partial application will also significantly gain in reducing the probability of detection at long and medium ranges.

The principle of ' Black Fox' operation is based, in part on patents claimed by the company. The system employs two panoramic cameras scanning the surroundings through a 360 degrees hemisphere around the protected vehicle. Image processing and control electronics are used to sense and match the background scene, creating a deceptive image for display, on multiple active-mounted panels, on the protected platform. The image mimics the background signature, creating a stealth illusion, by realistically representing the surrounding 'noise' clutter and distinctive texture, thus effectively blending into the background.



Above: A thermal view of a vehicle applied with a'Black Fox' panel concealing the back seat. The vehicle is clearly seen, with the back seat windows eliminated from view.

Below: Each active panel comprises multiple 'pixels', each individually controlled by a digital signal processor (DSP), manipulating and regulating each pixel's temperature in the 3-5 and 8-12 micron spectral range. The panels can be placed anywhere on the vehicle, including hot areas like engine exhaust, or the gun barrel, where they maintain their active-adaptive performance, despite extreme thermal load. Photo: Eltics



The cameras are continuously scanning the surrounding area, aligned with the horizon on a pan-tilt assembly (PTZ), to efficiently render the correct image when the vehicle is moving, exposed over the skyline, or against changing backgrounds.

These cameras also perform periodical measurement of the protected platform, gaining critical feedback, monitoring effectiveness of the concealment it is providing. Another utility supported by the 'Black Fox' is the ability to trigger thermal signaling on demand. The active panels can be programmed to display a coded number or pattern, operating as a Combat IDentification (CID) system, triggered by the crew, with a laser beam or interrogator friend/foe (IFF) system. When the vehicle is on the move, the active panels display a changing image or pattern, maintaining an optimal concealment in every direction – frontal, sideways and top views, hiding the platform from prowling thermal eyes of satellites, UAVs, low flying helicopters or ground observations.

In addition to its capability to 'blend into the background', applying the signature of a nearby building, an orchard or a bush, 'Black Fox' can also mimic other shapes and signatures. For example, a system 'worn' by an M-1 tank can render the American tank to look like a Russian T-72, or 'downsize' the tank signature to clone as an M-113 APC, or even a non military pickup truck. The system can also enable the crew to manually 'copy and paste' background features and display them on their 'Black Fox' suite, to refine the stealth effect. The complete process is performed automatically and rapidly, enabling the crew to enter into a 'stealth mode' by the push of a single button. With such capabilities, the 'Black Fox' could become an important asset in the military's ability to deny enemy use of automatic target recognition systems, by eliminating distinguishable details of potential objectives. Such capabilities could also be utilized for training, employing the system on smaller surrogate vehicles, designed to perform as larger combat vehicles.

According to Ronen Meir, the company has already demonstrated a working prototype of the 'Black Fox' in the field and is ready to proceed into system engineering, toward full-scale development, in cooperation with other Israeli defense industries.
The company plans to develop a 'stealth' suite for combat vehicles, to be applied as an outer add-on system or embedded into reactive or hybrid armor skin. He told Defense-Update that the company is also exploring possible airborne applications for helicopters and has already been approached by several foreign organizations over potential 'Black Fox' naval applications.



Concealing naval vessels could offer dramatic advantages for navies, particularly those operating in the littorals, where the maneuverability is limited in the off-shore area, but the proximity of coastal features enable concealment and stealth with the new system. For example, large military vessels can reduce their signature and assume the profile of non-combatant vessels, such as a supply ship, or merchant vessel.

When employed with electro-magnetic (radar) stealth methods, the system can be activated, before an attacking anti-ship missile initiates its terminal guidance phase, utilizing thermal sensors. Eventually, the target can 'disappear' from the missile's sight, when entering a 'stealth' mode, with or without the use of flares.

Since 2006, the Ashkelon located company has established a team of experts developing the entire system, from initial concept into a product. This task involved complex theoretical evaluation and simulations, of thermal signatures and thermodynamic analysis, hardware and software design and development of algorithms for signature sensing and processing, thermodynamic calculation and signature display. Eltics Vice President for Research and development is Dr. Dani Leshem, formerly the Chief Scientist at Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Mj. General (ret.) David Ivri, a former Chief of the Israel Air Force and Director General of Israel's Ministry of Defense is also an advisor to Eltics' Board of Directors.

Photos: Eltics

© Copyright 2010 - Defense Update, Lance & Shield Ltd.

[Marc 1]

Interesting stuff. Points again to the need for bulk exportable (to the 'skin' in this case) power for future platforms. The applique panels - are they cooled/heated by peltier effect modules?

[buglerbilly]

Interesting stuff. Points again to the need for bulk exportable (to the 'skin' in this case) power for future platforms. The applique panels - are they cooled/heated by peltier effect modules?

No idea and I don't know of anything in the public domain that identifies it.............

[buglerbilly]

USMC Anticipates EFV LRIP in 2012

May 28, 2010



By Bettina H. Chavanne

The U.S. Marines continue to navigate the embattled Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) through the second phase of system design and development, anticipating moving into low-rate initial production (LRIP) in January 2012.

“That’s halfway through the six-month window for the date I was given,” program manager Col. Keith Moore told bloggers at a Pentagon roundtable May 27. Initial operational capability is anticipated at the end of 2015, which is the result of a one-year shift in procurement money, Moore says.

“We find ourselves in the middle, again, of a debate for the fundamental need for this capability,” William Taylor, EFV program executive officer, said recently (Aerospace DAILY, May 6).

Moore says the Marines will work within its budgets to ensure the EFV is successful. “We have to have contingencies for whatever happens [and make it] fit into the [Defense Department] budget,” he says. When the program ran into cost overruns and breached the Nunn-McCurdy statute, the ensuing review served to “validate the need for us to have joint, forcible entry and counter anti-access capability.”

Moore reflected on lessons learned over the years. “We learned a lot at the system level, but missed opportunities early to learn things we had to go back and address in the redesign of the vehicle,” Moore says. The program was not committed to “rigorous systems engineering processes” early on. “Ultimately,” he says, “it boiled down to [that] we didn’t have a good system in place to give us early indicators we were on the wrong track.”

The first prototypes of the newly redesigned EFV are starting to leave the factory in Lima, Ohio, Moore says. The first prototype is at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md., where it will undergo testing throughout the summer. Three additional vehicles—two personnel carrier variants and one command and control variant—are being shipped to Camp Pendleton, Calif., for testing as well.

Several older prototypes equipped with design changes to areas assessed as having reliability issues in the past (vehicle electronics and the turret system) are currently at Pendleton. They will go to Twentynine Palms, Calif., to run hot weather, land mobility and firepower tests in the near future.

Credit: Michael Fabey

[buglerbilly]

Marine Corps Tests New Fighting Vehicle

(Source: US Department of Defense; issued May 28, 2010)

WASHINGTON --- The Marine Corps is conducting reliability tests on its latest Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle prototypes, the service’s program manager for the effort said yesterday during a “DoD Live” bloggers roundtable.

“[For] the last couple of years, we’ve been going through a redesign for reliability for the basic system,” Marine Corps Col. Keith Moore said.

The EFV, as it’s known, is meant to serve as a vehicle bridge for Marines, carrying them from Navy ships through the surf and sand and miles deep into enemy terrain. It will replace the Assault Amphibious Vehicle that was procured in 1972 and will be more than 40 years old when the EFV is fielded.

The new vehicle can launch far from shore, beyond the range of most guns and missiles, and can skim across the water at high speed, allowing Marines to achieve surprise, avoid enemy strengths, and “generate never-before-realized operational tempo across warfighting functions,” Moore said.

The first prototype made its debut at the National Museum of the Marine Corps on May 4, on its way to the Marine Corps Amphibious Vehicle Test Branch at Camp Pendleton, Calif. Three EFVs are at Camp Pendleton, and one is at the Aberdeen Test Center in Maryland. The prototypes will undergo more than 500 hours of rigorous testing to ensure that the vehicles are on an expected reliability growth path, Moore explained.

The vehicle at Aberdeen is undergoing testing for safety, human factors, basic automotive functions and firepower, Moore said. Only one of the three vehicles at Camp Pendleton is currently undergoing testing, but in the next few weeks all three will undergo water- and land-performance tests, he added.

Moore said his team has a set of older prototypes at Camp Pendleton that were outfitted with design changes in the electronics and firepower systems. They’ll participate in a combined developmental environmental test this summer to see how they function in hot weather.

“This is the most capable infantry fighting vehicle that will exist in the U.S. inventory at the time it will get fielded,” Moore said. “It is a very robust, survivable infantry fighting vehicle that has to meet the Marines’ unique requirements.”

Looking back and finding mistakes in the process was a key part of the prototypes’ development, the colonel said.

“At some point, we didn’t have a process in place that would have given us early indicators that we were on the wrong track or going awry,” he said. Coming up with an orderly process after reviewing the previous design, manufacturing processes and initial component and subsystem testing allowed the team to create a better set of prototypes, he added.

“We are starting to see the fruit now of having put those good processes into place,” he said.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: The fact that the Pentagon and Marine Corps waited almost a full month to mention the EFV’s reliability trials are indicative of the program’s current status as one of the most troubled acquisition programs left in the pipeline. Click here for a recent news story (from USA Today) on the EFV’s troubles.)

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

BAE Systems and DEW Engineering Team for Key Canadian Program

(Source: BAE Systems; issued June 3, 2010)

OTTAWA, Canada --- BAE Systems and DEW Engineering & Development of Ottawa have signed a teaming agreement to collaborate for the Close Combat Vehicle (CCV) program, which is one of Canada's highest priority programs.

DEW has been chosen to carry out final assembly of the turret, as well as integration and test for the CV90 if the vehicle is chosen for the CCV program. This arrangement will be similar to the proven approach already demonstrated with all five existing CV90 export customers - Norway, Finland, Switzerland, Holland and Denmark.

"We are proud to partner with DEW," said David Allott, Managing Director BAE Systems Global Combat Systems. "DEW has an excellent reputation for its engineering skills, which is why we selected DEW as our partner to provide sustainable, combat proven vehicles to meet the needs of the Canadian Army. This ideal alliance combines our vehicle pedigree with DEW's detailed knowledge and experience of Canadian requirements."

DEW Engineering and Development is the preeminent firm in Canada for land combat vehicle refit and refurbishment and add-on armour protection systems. DEW has completed several projects for the Canadian Army, including extensive repair and refit work on the Army's light armoured vehicle fleet, major upgrade tasks on the Army's Leopard tanks and more recently, a multi-year life extension program for the Army's M113 family of vehicles, improving its mobility, firepower and protection to make it one of the safest vehicles in its class.

"DEW and BAE Systems are a winning pair for the CCV program," said Tim Dear, president, DEW Engineering and Development. "BAE Systems' proven CV90 is an impressive vehicle that will outshine the competition. With DEW's Canadian workforce, the Canadian Army will have a high-performing vehicle made with the same dedication and passion as those who serve their country."

BAE Systems has also teamed with DEW for the LEMUR remotely controlled weapon system, which is being offered for the Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle, CCV, LAV III programs and M113 upgrades.

BAE Systems has operated in Canada since 2000. The company has a strong track record in delivering economic benefit by partnering with domestic industries and delivering on offset commitments.

BAE Systems is a global defence, security and aerospace company with approximately 107,000 employees worldwide. The company delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. In 2009 BAE Systems reported sales of £22.4 billion (US$ 36.2 billion).

Founded in 1978, DEW Engineering and Development ULC is a wholly owned subsidiary of CoorsTek of Golden, Colorado. DEW specializes in military vehicle assembly and manufacturing, land combat vehicle re-life/re-role and add-on armour protection systems. DEW's Armour Unit specializes in offering one-stop shopping for the design, engineering, testing, prototyping, manufacture and support of large scale high-tech ceramic composite armour systems.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

12 Upgrade Options For Tanks: Rheinmetall’s ‘MBT Revolution’

Posted by Bradley Peniston | June 14th, 2010

By ALBRECHT MULLER – Rheinmetall Defence has unveiled MBT Revolution, a set of 12 mix-and-match upgrade modules meant to prep today’s tanks for tomorrow’s threats.


The Rosy smokescreen system is one of the many tank-protection options offered by Rheinmetall.

The modules can be installed individually, and company officials say they would add only a modest amount of weight and alter the tank’s contours only slightly.

Rheinmetall says it has created a comprehensive protection concept using advanced materials and technologies. Several distinct modules can be mounted or removed as conditions dictate: ones that protect the turret and hull against IED blasts, the belly against mines, and the roof against artillery bomblet fragments. A new smoke obscurant system, named Rosy, is designed to cloak the tank from weapons guided by television, electro-optical or infrared sensors, and laser illuminators.

A new sensor module includes the SEOSS (two-axis-stabilized electro-optical sensor), Saphir thermal imaging device, daylight camera, and laser rangefinder. Users can choose between a 360-degree panoramic view of the battlefield or a coaxial, weapon-aligned perspective.

The SAS (situational awareness system) gives a panoramic view of the immediate vicinity of the tank. Its four 60-degree modules automatically detect and track potential targets with cameras and night vision components.

Other MBT Revolution modules include what the company calls the world’s first temperature-independent high-explosive tank round; a digital, networked turret core; a new periscope for the commander’s station; a control that allows the commander to brake the tank; better internal climate control; 17-kilowatt auxiliary power system; and a communications system to link tank crew with people outside.

[buglerbilly]

Tanks Work in COIN

By Greg Grant Tuesday, July 20th, 2010 4:57 pm



Two top-notch RAND researchers, David Johnson and John Gordon, who are drilling deep into the subject of heavy armor performance in irregular and hybrid warfare, released a teaser of some initial findings from surveys of U.S., British, Canadian, Israeli and Danish land forces’ experiences over the past decade.

http://www.rand.org/pubs/occasional_papers/2010/RAND_OP287.pdf

The bottom line: from Iraq’s city streets to to Gaza’s narrow alleyways to the mountains of Afghanistan, ground troops love the intimidating presence of the 60 to 70 ton main battle tanks, their precise firepower and their unmatched utility as mobile pillboxes. Tanks provide unmatched survivability on battlefields seeded with IEDs; while a number of tanks have been lost to very large IEDs, they are more survivable, against a larger range of threats, than any other vehicle on the battlefield.

When it comes to comparing wheels versus tracks in off road mobility, there’s no contest, tracks win hands down; due to their high ground pressure, wheeled vehicles are easily mired in soft ground.

When it comes to fighting hybrid enemies, loosely defined as irregular opponents armed with high-end weaponry, tanks are an essential ingredient. “Light and medium force complement heavy forces in hybrid warfare, particularly in urban and other complex terrain, but they do not provide the survivability, lethality, or mobility inherent in heavy forces,” the RAND team writes.

The big downside of heavy armor is the greater logistical burden; while extremely robust in a toe-to-toe fight, tanks and heavy armored personnel carriers can often be mechanically fragile creatures.

Some selected input from the team’s interviews:

U.S. Marine Corps

While the Marines pressed their aged AAV-7 armored amphibian into use as a personnel carrier in Iraq, it was a far from an ideal vehicle: in one particularly ugly incident an enormous IED flung AAV-7 into the air and killed all 20 men aboard. The Marine’s Abrams tanks, on the other hand, were highly valued, particularly when facing car bombs: “These would result in a huge explosion that swept all external gear off the tank but inflicted minimal structural damage o the vehicle.” The Marines are adding an additional company to their tank battalions.

British Army

The Brits used Challengers and Warrior IFVs in southern Iraq. While no Challengers were lost during operations there, some were damaged; so much armor was added to the tanks that they eventually weighed nearly 75 tons. The Brits deployed the Warrior to Afghanistan last summer, though the researchers didn’t have much information on the vehicle’s performance on that front.

Canadian Army

The Canadians initially sent their Light Assault Vehicle (LAV) to support their infantry fighting in Afghanistan, but quickly found the vehicles were not heavily enough armed or armored against Taliban weapons. Ground commanders requested Leopard tanks, a number of which were flown to Afghanistan in early 2008. Canadian Army sources told the RAND team that the Leopards were a “major success,” noting that the tanks intimidated insurgents.

Danish Army

The Danes also sent Leopard tanks to Afghanistan to operate with its battle group fighting in the south; they also report that the tanks perform very well in that fight. The Danes said the tank’s 120mm cannon is such an accurate weapon that it helps minimize the risk of collateral damage. They also said the tanks can respond very quickly to troops in contact and the Taliban respected the tank’s firepower.

Israeli Army

The 2006 Lebanon War, the hybrid war archetype, was a learning experience for the IDF. Before the war, armored unit training was neglected because most active duty units spent most of their time battling the intifada. After the war, the IDF went “back to basics” and trained extensively on combined arms, high-intensity tactics and operations. In the wake of the 2006 wake-up, the IDF bought more and heavier tanks, adding the Merkava IV and the Namer heavy APC, based on the Merkava chassis.

Read more: http://www.dodbuzz.com/2010/07/20/tanks-work-in-coin/#ixzz0uKBW2R9r

[buglerbilly]

Flaws in New S. Korean Troop Vehicle?

By JUNG SUNG-KI SEOUL

Published: 29 Jul 2010 14:30

A South Korean soldier died when an K21 amphibious infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) sank during a simulated river-crossing exercise July 29. Army officials said the accident apparently revealed flaws in the design of the 25-ton K21 IFV, which was jointly developed by the state-funded Agency for Defense Development and Doosan DST.

It was the second time that the K21 had been sunk since the vehicle entered service last November after 10 years of development.

A month after the first deployment of K21s, one of them was sunk during a river-crossing training exercise south of Seoul.

Water flowed into the air intake hose of the vehicle's engine, said investigators, who speculated the air induction nozzle might have been attached too low.

The latest incident occurred around 1:50 p.m. when a Doosan technician was teaching Sgt.1st Class Kim - no first name was provided - and another solider to operate the vehicle at a training range about 320 kilometers southwest of Seoul, according to the Army.

The soldiers and the technician were inside the K21 when it fell into a reservoir. The Doosan official and the enlisted soldier escaped. Rescue workers salvaged the vehicle three hours later and found the NCO dead inside it.

"We'll thoroughly look into the cause of the incident in cooperation with Doosan DST," an Army spokesman said. "If there are problems with the vehicle's design, we'll hold the company accountable."

A Doosan official said, "We don't want to jump to conclusions in a hasty manner. We'll investigate the cause of the accident in a careful and measured way."

The K21 has often been referred to as the country's key export item in coming years, thanks to its high performance and price competitiveness.

Doosan DST and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration say the vehicle offers better firepower, mobility and survivability than the U.S. Army's M2A3 and Russia's BMP-3. The $3.4 million vehicle is cheaper than the U.S.-built Bradley and German Puma IFV with full options, whose per-unit prices are estimated between $4 million and $4.5 million, according to the company.

The K21 IFV has a 750-horsepower turbo-diesel engine and 40mm auto cannon designed to shoot down slow-moving helicopters and aircraft. It has digital communication, GPS receivers and intervehicle digital links.

The vehicle can travel as fast as 70 kilometers per hour on paved roads and cross rivers at 7.8 kph with the help of the Water Jet Propulsion System, according to an Army release.

The South Korean Army plans to acquire about 450 K21s over the next decade.

[Goknub]

Hopefully its something that can be fixed without too many problems, I'd love to see the K21 get up for Land400. On paper at least it seems to have alot going for it.

[Milne Bay]

After all the criticism of our much delayed M113 upgrade programme, it is easy to forget how many of these vehicles continue to provide ongoing service around the world.

BAE Systems Awarded $23 Million for Work on Bradley and M113 Vehicles


(Source: BAE Systems; issued August 5, 2010)



ARLINGTON, Va. --- BAE Systems has been awarded $23 million in various contract modifications for work on the Bradley and M113 vehicles.

“The recent Bradley and M113 awards will help to ensure that these proven vehicles will continue supporting out troops for years to come,” said Joe McCarthy, vice president and general manager of the Heavy Brigade Combat Team at BAE Systems. “Both platforms have a long history of effectively performing for our men and women in uniform during combat missions overseas and play key roles on the Heavy Brigade Combat Team.”

This contract has a variety of work directives, including the installation of Bradley Urban Survivability Kits (BUSK) III, which include a series of rapid development survivability improvements specifically designed for today’s urban battlefield. Some of the new developments under BUSK III include:

-- Emergency egress improvements to allow soldiers to lower the ramp on the vehicle;
-- Advanced survivability seat to provide energy absorbing seats and foot rests;
-- A turret advanced survivability system to provide enhanced protection against IEDs for the gunner and commander positions;

Other work directives under this contract include Bradley field service support, and integration of the mission support system (MSS) for the M113A3 ambulance.

This work demonstrates how BAE Systems' support and service capabilities are meeting the current and future requirements to protect troops during combat missions.

Bradley Combat Systems continue to provide outstanding survivability, mobility and lethality to U.S. soldiers in close-combat urban situation as well as in open-combat. The Bradley fulfills five critical mission roles – infantry fighting vehicle, cavalry fighting vehicle, fire support vehicle, battle command vehicle an engineer squad vehicle – for the Army’s Heavy Brigade Combat Teams.

The M113 is part of the largest family of armored tracked vehicles in the world and includes more than 80,000 vehicles worldwide with 40 variants. It can transport 12 troops plus a driver and is capable of extended cross-country travel over rough terrain and high-speed operation on improved roads and highways.

BAE Systems designs, manufactures and supports Bradley Combat Systems and the M113 through its U.S. Combat Systems business. U.S. Combat Systems is a modern, efficient, full-spectrum developer, integrator and supplier of survivable, lethal ground and naval combat platforms. U.S. Combat Systems is also a main supplier to the U.S. Army’s Heavy Brigade Combat Teams, an integral developer of mine-protected and future combat vehicles and a top producer of naval guns and missile launchers.


BAE Systems is a global defense, security and aerospace company with approximately 107,000 employees worldwide. The Company delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. In 2009 BAE Systems reported sales of £22.4 billion (US$ 36.2 billion).

[buglerbilly]

S. Korea Studies North's New Battle Tank

By JUNG SUNG-KI

Published: 17 Aug 2010 14:56

SEOUL - South Korean military and intelligence authorities are scrutinizing the performances of North Korea's latest main battle tank, believed to be the latest modification of the Soviet-built T-62, officials here said Aug. 17.


Video footage of North Korea's Chungang TV shows the North Korean battle tank, the 'Pokpung-Ho' (Storm), which is believed to be based on the Soviet-built T-62 tank. (Agence France-Presse)

The North's Korean Central Television made public footage of the Pokpung-Ho (Storm) days ago. The rare release of such footage by the secretive North Koreans occurred in the tense aftermath of the March sinking of a South Korean warship near the western sea border.

Last month, South Korean and U.S. forces flexed their muscles during massive air and naval drills off the eastern coast of the peninsula, despite Pyongyang's warning that it would respond to the war games.

"The new tank appeared to have better mobility, survivability and firepower than the existing Chonma-Ho (Pegasus), apparently," a South Korean Ministry of National Defense official said on condition of anonymity. "We're still analyzing the … tank based on the footage from Pyongyang's state television station. The release of footage of the Pokpung-Ho was quite rare, as the existence of the new tank had sometimes been regarded as a rumor."

The Pokpung-Ho also is dubbed the M-2002, as the tank is presumed to have been rolled out in 2002, he added.

The North Korean People's Army is known to operate up to 800 T-62 variants.

Beginning in the late 1970s, North Korea started to produce a modified version of the 115mm gunned T-62 tank, and since then is believed to have made considerable modifications to the basic Soviet and Chinese designs.

According to a recent analysis published by Seoul's Defense Agency for Technology and Quality, an affiliate of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, the Pokpung-Ho is believed to be armed with either a newly developed 125mm or 115mm main gun.

The improved version would be mounted with a 14.5mm KPV anti-aircraft machine gun, which is more powerful than the 12.7mm gun on older tanks, the analysis states.

Other improvements for the Pokpung-Ho include a laser rangefinder, an infrared searchlight and an up-to-date fire control system, according to the publication.

The North Korean Army is believed to have about 3,900 tanks, and only one elite mechanized unit would operate Pokpung-Hos.

The South Korean Army operates about 2,300 tanks, many of which will be replaced by the state-of-the-art K2 Black Panther main battle tank and modified K1A1 tank.

The K2, rolled out in 2007, is an amphibious tank armed with a locally developed 120mm/55-caliber stabilized smoothbore gun. Its 1,500-horsepower engine can power the tank to 70 kilometers per hour on paved roads and 50 kilometers off-road. It can cross rivers as deep as 4.1 meters.

Meanwhile, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff revealed Aug. 16 that North Korea flew an unmanned aerial vehicle for surveillance or as a decoy after it fired nearly 1,200 artillery shells toward the disputed western sea border last week.

It was the first time that a North Korean drone had been spotted over the western waters, the scene of deadly naval battles in the past decade.

"The drone flew over the North's waters, some 20 kilometers north of South Korea's Yeonpyeong islands," said Lt. Col. Won Young-sup at the JCS' public affairs office. He declined to elaborate on the specifications of the North Korean spy plane.

[buglerbilly]

British Army Takes Deliveries of Warthog Vehicles

By ANDREW CHUTER

Published: 8 Sep 2010 12:35

Taking an age to get into service despite being an Urgent Operational Requirement..............

LONDON - The British Army has begun taking delivery of Warthog armored all-terrain vehicles ahead of their deployment to Afghanistan. Deliveries had been delayed several months due to the need to improve the machines' armored protection.

A spokeswoman for Warthog builder Singapore Technologies Kinetics (STK) said the machine had been "delivered and accepted by the British Ministry of Defence." She declined to comment on whether deliveries to Afghanistan had actually begun.

"After carrying out a thorough assessment of the Warthog armored vehicle, the U.K. Ministry of Defence can confirm it is fit for use on operations. In a series of rigorous trials, the vehicle successfully demonstrated its ability to protect against the threats encountered in Afghanistan as well as operate effectively in demanding terrain. U.K. troops have been training with Warthog since March 2010 and the first vehicles are planned to deploy in the next few months for operational use in Afghanistan," the spokeswoman said

Two industry sources said some vehicles were currently at the British base in Cyprus ahead of Warthogs being dispatched to Helmand province in Afghanistan. It is not clear whether the Warthogs are being staged through Cyprus or are undergoing last minute work-up or tests.

The MoD spokesman declined to comment on whether vehicles were in Cyprus at present.

The Ministry of Defence signed a 150 million pound ($230.3 million) contract with Warthog supplier STK in 2008 to deliver about 110 vehicles. The first Warthogs were meant to have been in theater in April to coincide with the deployment of the initial operators, the Royal Dragoon Guards.

But questions about the level of armored protection on the vehicles meant deployment was delayed.

The first Warthogs were delivered to Britain on time last year but the machines failed to pass British acceptance tests. The Asian company has improved protection levels and made other changes related to an increase in vehicle weight.

The sale of Warthog to the British was ground-breaking for the Singaporean company. The British military buy ammunition from the STK but had never acquired an Asian-built armored vehicle.

STK beat BAE Systems Viking II vehicle to the urgent operational requirement, although the MoD subsequently also acquired 24 machines from the British company for the Royal Marines. The Marines were the first users of the articulated all-terrain vehicle.

The Warthog is a much modified variant of the Bronco vehicle already in service with the Singaporean military. The British-bound vehicles are built in Singapore and delivered to STK partner Thales UK for final integration work.

Thales has already delivered a number of training vehicles for use by the British military.

[buglerbilly]

Pics of a new Chinese 35mm twin gun SPAAG..............sort of a GEPARD ala Peking...............:rofl

[buglerbilly]

Israeli Armor Master/Merkava Designer Dies

RIP General Tal.............

It’s a couple days late, but in case you missed it, Gen. Israel Tal who helped design what many believe is the world’s best tank, died a couple days ago in Rehovot, Israel.

Born in 1924, he held a series of important posts in the course of an illustrious military career, leaving the army as deputy chief of staff.

He is considered one of the best five armored commanders in history, alongside U.S. Gen. George S. Patton, Gen. Creighton Abrams, German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel and Israeli Maj. Gen. Moshe Peled, according to the Armor Museum at Fort Knox, where he is commemorated.

Tal oversaw the design of the Merkava tank — Hebrew for “chariot” — which is widely seen as one of the best of its time. The tank was created to ensure the safety of its crew by placing the engine at the front, allowing crew and medics to enter and exit from behind, even under fire.

The tank was also developed for Israeli terrain, particularly specializing in long-range fire, according to the Armor Museum. The Merkava tank entered combat in the 1980s.

The Merkava is an amazing tank, no matter how you slice it, and the fact that it was designed by a tank driving hero of the ’67 Suez war and the ’73 Yom Kippur war is a testiment to the idea that gear should be designed from the ground up “by the warfighter.”

Read more: http://defensetech.org/#ixzz0zc15n48s
Defense.org

[buglerbilly]

Turkey’s Latest Modernized Tank Debut on ‘Victory Day’ Parade

September 3, 2010 at 7:43 am

tamir_eshel


Turkish army newly modernized M-60T tanks roll with F-4E fighter jets fly over as Turkey celebrate 'Victory Day' - the 88th anniversary of the end of the 1919-22 War of Independence. Both the tanks and fighter jets were modernized to modern standards by IMI and IAI. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

Turkish Army displayed it’s newly upgraded M-60T main battle tanks for the first time at the 88th ‘Victory Day’ parade in August 2010. The M-60T is an upgraded M-60A1, modernized by Israel Military Industries (IMI) under a $687.5 million turnkey project. considered to be one of the world’s largest tank upgrade programs, bringing the M60A1 tank to level of the world’s leading main battle tanks. IMI delivered the last of 170 upgraded M-60A1 tank to the Turkish Army on April 7, 2010.


The M-60T modernized by IMI for the Turkish Army. Photo: IMI

The program was launched in 2002 as a multi-year program that included establishment of production facilities, training and logistic support infrastructure in Turkey, and transfer the technology to local industries enabling local production of part of the systems. The modernization of the 1960 vintage M-60A1 transformed the tank into a modern weapon system, integrating modern and combat proven protection, firepower, propulsion and vectronic systems. The design implemented in the Turkish program utilized systems already proven in modern armored vehicles in service with the Israel Defense Forces, such as Israel’s Merkava 4 main battle tank.

Through the upgrade program the tank’s original 105mm rifled gun was replaced with a new 120mm smooth bore gun, all-electric turret drive, sophisticated optronic and fire control systems. The armor suite was enhanced with advanced hybrid armor system protecting the crew. A modern power-train was also introduced, including a more powerful 1000 hp MTU diesel engine with matching transmission, a final drive and advanced suspension system derived from the Merkava design, provided by IMI.

The M-60T represents a significant potential for the upgrading of a large number of M-60s class tanks that remain in operational service worldwide. Turkey itself has over 1,000 such tanks awaiting further improvements. Other M-60 operators are also considering such upgrades, extending the life span of this proven tank for decades to come.

[buglerbilly]

Modern Protection for Combat Vehicles (Part 1)


A BAE Systems M2 BRADLEY IFV equipped with reactive armour tiles.

With additional comments by the MT Editor and Thomas Withington

09:08 GMT, October 5, 2010 After the evaluation of combat missions, combat vehicles, whether wheeled or tracked, and equipped with armour against the respective threats, are in great demand. In particular, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan showed that critical situations could often be mastered only with the use of heavy combat vehicles. The terrorist all-around threat requires heavy all-around protection in order to be sufficiently protected against attacks.

During the collapse of the Warsaw Pact, the euphoric point of view that the global threat had been overcome and the beginning of world peace had been ushered in, spread throughout Europe. High-ranking military officials believed that the Armed Forces could be reduced to militia levels with light infantry equipment. MBTs and APCs, so far the backbone of any army, were generally downgraded to dinosaurs of the political ice age and, hence, were “out”. Many would have willingly scrapped them overnight.

The Balkan conflict, missions in Africa, the wars in Iraq, military operations in the Middle East and, lately, the war in Afghanistan have proven that political assertiveness in this globalised world can only be achieved by assertive and sustainable Armed Forces within an alliance of states. These conflicts also made clear that armies have to be equipped with a sufficient number of heavy weapon systems to provide a high level of support to their troops in open or concealed combat operations, including reconnaissance, fire power, mobility and protection.

Passive armour, which is predominantly being used today and applied onto or integrated with the vehicle, often results in a significant increase in weight with a concurrent reduction in mobility and payload. However, passive armour layout has limits.

The direction, the type, effect, as well as the tactical use of the threats in concealed terrorist ambushes, has fundamentally changed. Therefore, STANAG 4569 does not provide a sufficient guideline for a realistic protection concept. Today’s ballistic and mine threats are more versatile and more powerful. Standardised threats of urban operation scenarios, such as the shoulder-fired anti-tank weapons (RPG-7 family, including RPG-30), anti-tank and infantry missile systems, anti-tank hand grenades (RKG-3), IEDs and EFPs, currently cannot be systematically classified. Due to misconceived confidentiality, often only the respective vehicle manufacturer, and not the protection developer, is involved in the evaluation of attacks, which also has a negative effect. Furthermore, the fact that different threats, such as, e.g., infantry projectiles, shaped charges, IEDs and EFPs, often affect the same vehicle surface must also be considered when developing protection concepts. The use of different materials is required to counter such threats. For example, steel armour is well suited to protect from infantry projectiles, but is less useful against shaped charges from rockets, RPGs, or even against EFP ambushes.

Based on their operational experience and mission evaluation, many states established their own additional criteria and guidelines to flexibly request, test, certify and deploy threat-oriented protection solutions.

Criteria to Counter Threats vs Classification of Protection

Protection systems should be classified depending upon their effect so they can be compared to each other. According to the present state of technology, a classification into three classes, corresponding to the type of effect, is realistic. The multi-hit capability and the prevention of collateral damage is of increasing importance in the assessment of protection when countering threats.

Passive protection, providing a significant multi-hit capability and, in addition, only causing little collateral damage, in many cases is used to consist of one specific material type such as, e.g., metal, glass, fibres, ceramics and others. An interior liner to counter overmatch situations did not exist.

Today, a combined solution that provides a higher level of protection is more effective, due to the use of different materials, their specific allocation and arrangement, as well as the use of synergy effects providing less weight. But also the shape of the armour, in particular in the case of mine protection, can have a significant impact on the performance of that protection.

The increasing threat to armoured combat vehicles from RPGs with shaped charge warheads led to the development of reactive armour. It consists of noticeable armour kits containing explosives and applied around the turret, as well as frontally onto the chassis by means of special fixtures. The countermeasure is only set off when the threat impacts the vehicle. The shaped charge that first impacts the armour kit is blown off. The explosion affects the vehicle structure and the immediate area around the vehicle. After countering the shaped charge, a ballistic hole will be produced at the point of impact. The remaining armour will not provide sufficient protection in the event of an attack with a tandem charge. Thus, a multi-hit capability is not available. By superimposing reactive protection measures, combined in one armour kit, the level of protection may be increased; however, this will not protect against the RPG-30. In addition, the collateral exposure within the proximity of the vehicle is high, representing a significant threat for persons or other vehicles that are close to the attacked vehicle.

Due to the high weight of reactive armour kits, at best providing a protective envelope of less than 75%, and critically considering the effects onto the peripheral zones of armour kits, the use of reactive armour proved to be problematic for the vehicle’s crew and the surroundings, in particular, in conflicts in the Middle East. Especially in urban combat, reactive armour had significant disadvantages and, in some cases, led to a spectacular total breakdown of vehicles.

Since the end of the 1970s, the Russian Armed Forces developed active armour systems that were to locate, identify and eliminate incoming threats before they impact the vehicle. This idea has been quickly adopted by Western Armed Forces. Active armour systems can be classified worldwide into soft-kill and hard-kill systems, while hard-kill systems can, in turn, be sub-divided in accordance to their system reaction time (SRT).

Soft-kill systems, such as EADS’ Multi-Functional Self-Protection System (MUSS), can only eliminate guided or seeker-equipped threats – hence, intelligent threats launched from long distances. By use of fog curtains or other countermeasures, the system confuses the seeker and distracts the threat from its target, letting it impact and detonate elsewhere. In this case, collateral damage from the uncontrolled self-destruction of the threat cannot be excluded. Soft-kill systems are unsuitable for protection against infantry fire, anti-tank weapons or unguided missiles. Due to the high Minimum Defeat Distance (MDD) until the Interception Point (IP) is reached, system reaction time lies within a few seconds and, thereby, several hundred metres from the target. Consequently, such a protection system is unsuitable for urban operations.

Hard-kill systems are generally classified by their intercept distance, measured from the target (this corresponds to their specific SRT) in short range (µsec), medium range and long range (msec) systems. The short-range ADS (Active Defence System), manufactured by IBD Deisenroth Engineering, is not only different from all other systems due to its eliminating the threat within a radius of less than 10m (acquisition, MDD, IP) directly within close proximity of the vehicle. It also does not have a central sensor system, which can be centrally jammed. The system offers a multi-hit capability by virtue of the countermeasures’ overlapping effective areas. It provides both relatively light armoured combat vehicles as well as heavy MBTs with hemispherical all-around protection. The system’s weight for light combat vehicles lies at approx. 140kg, and up to 500kg for heavy vehicles.

The most common medium-range systems are DROZD and ARENA-E, being protection systems of the first generation that eliminate the threat with small projectiles. IRON FIST, TROPHY or LEDS 150, countering the threat with blasts, as well as Diehl’s AWiSS, offering both blast as well as fragmentation grenades, are the most well-established second generation protection systems. Each of these systems, that are effective within a millisecond range, are only suitable for medium or heavy combat vehicles due to their particular weight and system architecture. Configurations for light combat vehicles with a weight of 350-500kg are currently being developed. For urban operations, the minimum defeat distance, at > 60m with these particular systems, is of crucial tactical importance. It implies that an anti-tank missile, launched at a range of less than 60m, cannot be engaged and, thereby, will not be countered.

» Part 2 of the article will be published at defpro.com on 6 October 2010.

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By Dieter Kahl

This artile is part of the defpro.focus “Vehicle Protection - Passive, Reactive and Active Survivability Concepts” which can be accessed here: http://www.defpro.com/focus/profile/vehicle_protect/.

[buglerbilly]

Modern Protection for Combat Vehicles (Part 2)

With additional comments by the MT Editor and Thomas Withington


IBD Deisenroth Engineering’s AMAP-ADS protection at a glance.

After the evaluation of combat missions, combat vehicles, whether wheeled or tracked, and equipped with armour against the respective threats, are in great demand. In particular, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan showed that critical situations could often be mastered only with the use of heavy combat vehicles. The terrorist all-around threat requires heavy all-around protection in order to be sufficiently protected against attacks.

» Part 1 of the article can be viewed here: http://www.defpro.com/daily/details/664/

Armour Configuration Types of Combat Vehicles with State-of-the Art Protection Concepts

The following examples will outline how state-of-the-art protection concepts for combat vehicles have been implemented for military operations in urban terrain.

• Passive Protection

Passive protection with an interior liner is the basic design for any vehicle protection concept. Due to the diversity of threats, the required multi-hit capability, the procurement costs in relation to performance, its possible combination, the low danger of collateral damage, and the possibility of an adaptable increase of protection, it will remain the basic concept of choice. The protection developer should be allowed to contribute to the vehicle concept from the beginning of the developing process for an armoured vehicle in order to design a weight- and space-saving system, but also a low-priced and user-friendly system without logistical restrictions (refuelling, reloading, maintenance, and repair work in the field).

A successful example is the IVECO LMV (Light Multi-Role Vehicle), of which more than 2,500 vehicles have been produced after only about two years of serial production, and which is currently in service in nine countries as a 4x4 command and multi-purpose vehicle. As the protection developer, IBD Deisenroth Engineering has been involved in the development of the LMV from the beginning. As a result, and in addition to weight reduction, parts of the ceramic-composite protection, integrated in a tube frame, could also adopt a stabilising performance. The ballistic multi-hit capability, in particular at intersections and technical weak spots, has been tested with different threats. In combination with the adaptable mine protection and in accordance to STANAG 4569, the integrated armour system has also proven its tremendous effectiveness against considerable anti-tank mines, detonating under the wheel as well as under the floor plate without the vehicle overturning. Due to the integrated, modular passive protection concept that also provides a considerable signature reduction, the armoured vehicle cannot be optically distinguished from an unprotected vehicle. It creates trust in the field, as the level of protection is not obtruded.

The Renault VAB, of which more than 2,200 vehicles have already been delivered, and which has certainly proven itself in numerous areas of operations with the French Armed Forces, is a further example of modern, adaptable protection for wheeled vehicles. But also the German Armed Forces’ FUCHS (6x6) and BOXER (8x8), as well as the US M1117 GUARDIAN Armoured Security Vehicle (ASV) that can be found in all current operation areas and is considered one of the safest vehicles, must be mentioned in this context.

An armour solution that can be stacked in transport containers, transported by helicopter, and provides protection against ballistic threats and mines has been developed for driving cabs of transport and engineering vehicles. If required, the segments can be exchanged by soldiers without special tooling and not exclusively by the contractors. The partly dismountable driving cabs reduce procurement, user, and transport costs while providing high operational mobility.

After the initial disappointment from the deployment of light vehicles to crisis areas, the opinion that heavy MBTs are indispensable throughout the entire scope of operations – due to their high level of protection, their armament and their breaching capability in urban operations – established itself in many Armed Forces.

After heavy losses in Afghanistan, the Canadian Armed Forces, in early 2002, recalled the few remaining LEOPARD 1 C2 MBTs and heavy armour, developed by IBD in 1995/96 and until then rejected for its weight. It soon turned out that it was the only protection that was effective against both the RPG-7 and IEDs. In a quick campaign, these heavy armoured MBTs were deployed to Afghanistan. Their deployment was a complete success.

Based on this concept, IBD developed a protection kit for the LEOPARD 2 A4 MBT with a ballistic protection that was also a match for the RPG-27 and -30, heavy mine protection and an accessible roof protection against all currently known urban threats, including shaped charge grenades (RKG-3). With a battle weight of less than 62t, customers for the EVOLUTION MBT were quickly found. The impressive silhouette, the high mobility, the relatively low weight in relation to the high level of protection and the logistical concept are the advantages over other known solutions that feature a significantly higher battle weight.

For the time being, solid passive armour will continue to be the only solution against all non-incoming threats. Among these passive threats are, in particular, explosive belts and explosives hidden in vehicles, the so-called car bombs. Other protective measures, for now, can only be categorised as add-on armour. Therefore, the question of “mobility vs. weight” will continue to have a topical importance in the development of protection concepts.

Bar or slat armour should also be mentioned in the context of passive protection concepts. It was specially developed and adapted to protect against RPG attacks on wheeled and tracked vehicles deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq. The effectiveness of these fence elements, which also reduce mobility, can only be judged statistically as it depends crucially on the point of impact on the armour. Further, depending on the type of slat armour, the level of protection is between 50 and 75%. An example of all-around slat armour is the US 8x8 STRYKER combat vehicle. This type of armour can only be considered as a temporary solution for passive protection and, what is more, only against the RPG-7 family.

RUAG Land System’s SidePRO-RPG is an add-on RPG-7 protection system designed for logistic as well as armoured infantry fighting vehicles. The protection modules can be mounted directly on the vehicle or on top of existing add-on armour. The easy mounting of the modules, the low weight and the profile of the design are key features, which provide enhanced protection without impairing the vehicles mobility. The goal of this development was to deliver higher protection degree while at the same time holding on to easy usage without increasing vehicle weight. Just like SidePRO-LASSO, it is a passive system, neutralising the effect of the shaped charges of different types of RPG-7. SidePRO-RPG functions as follows. The shaped charge penetrates the first of three protective layers and is then neutralised by the second layer at which the projectile short circuits so that it combusts instead of exploding. The last protection layer distributes the resulting pressure and diverts the force away from the armour of the vehicle. RUAG Land System’s SidePRO-LASSO (Light Armour System against Shaped Ordnance) is an adaptive and highly efficient side protection against the widespread RPG-7 anti-tank grenade and its derivatives. Due to the simple and intelligent design SidePRO-LASSO is lightweight and reliable. It has been tested and verified during dynamic firing trials. In September 2008 the Danish Army awarded RUAG with a contract to protect its M-113 APCs with SidePRO-LASSO in Afghanistan.

• Reactive Protection

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) began to equip light and heavy combat vehicles with reactive armour in the mid 1980s due to the heavy loss of MBTs in the Yom Kippur War. The ERA boxes mounted onto the vehicles provided a high level of protection against single shaped charge warheads. With a sandwich structure of steel and an explosive sheet, the shaped charge was blown off when impacting the box, creating numerous fragments. Until the box could be exchanged, a ballistic hole remained at the point of impact. Because of the high collateral effect on dismounted soldiers, vehicles in its proximity or non-involved crowds and individuals, Western Armed Force, at first did not use reactive armour, although the Soviet Army began to equip its MBTs with reactive armour in 1983. NATO, however, did not have an effective system to counter Soviet missiles. Only the high US and British casualties in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan led to a partial retrofitting of combat vehicles with reactive add-on armour.

Even if fragmentation could be largely avoided by means of the German CLARA reactive armour technology, the missing multi-hit capability still causes a considerable gap. Further shortcomings are the insufficient protection envelope of the applied boxes and the possibility of an ignition of the explosives when an impact occurs in the edge zones; this can lead to the combat vehicles’ total breakdown or burning out. Due to the lack of a multi-hit capability, CLARA also is ineffective against threats such as the RPG-30, which triggers the reactive armour by means of a small-calibre decoy and then penetrates the passive armour with the actual warhead. Therefore, reactive armour currently cannot be considered as modern protection technology.

• Active Protection

The development of sensor-controlled active protection systems was begun almost at the same time as in the Soviet Union. Active protection systems – also just add-on armour - come into effect before the threat impacts the vehicle. This eliminates the shock, noise and impulse transfer onto the soldiers and sensitive equipment, to a large extent. It does not only increase survivability but also sustainability and assertiveness. When evaluating the protection effectiveness, no longer just the scope of ammunition, but primarily the MDD of the respective threat and the IP are of importance. These system parameters, which are crucial in urban operations, are exclusively determined by the SRT.

An active protection system that operates within a few seconds time, such as the MUSS soft-kill system, is not available for operations as they are currently being carried out by NATO and the EU. Systems that operate in a period of milliseconds are suitable for threats with a velocity of <350m/s. Only systems with an SRT that can be measured in µs are suitable against all threats, including those with a velocity of >1,800m/s.

While Russian systems, such as the DROZD 2 and ARENA, have already been integrated with Russian MBTs, series-production of the Israeli TROPHY system for heavy combat vehicles, developed by Rafael, could only begin in 2007. All other active protection systems are within one to three years from series-production readiness; this is to say, prototypes are being tested.

The SRT of the more than 20 currently known systems is at 200-400ms. Hence, the MDD, which must always be considered, depending on the velocity of the approaching threat, lies within a scope of >30m even up to >200m. These active protection systems are ineffective when used in an urban environment to counter the RPG-7 (launched at a range of less than 30m), as they do not have enough time to react. The possibility that the sensor systems will be detected by enemy reconnaissance is very high due to the integrated active radar systems. After the threat has been detected, it is countered by a mechanically directed blast or fragmentation grenades and intercepted at a range of 10-30m. Average collateral damage by blast grenades and high collateral damage by fragmentation grenades must be taken into account. Moreover, this can significantly affect tactical mobility due to damages inflicted upon wheels or tracks.

In Germany, the LEOPARD 2 A4 was used as a test vehicle for the AWiSS system; in Israel, the TROPHY and IRON FIST systems were tested on the MERKAVA MBT. Israel has also experimentally integrated the IRON FIST system onto the WILDCAT wheeled vehicle.

Currently, there is only one active protection system which operates in the µs scope and which, as add-on armour, can counter all currently known threats. The AMAP-ADS active protection system, developed by IBD Deisenroth Engineering, can be integrated onto both light as well as heavy combat vehicles due to its relatively low weight (light vehicles: ca. 150kg, heavy vehicles: ca. 500kg). The multiple, intensive tests at home and abroad, and the results obtained so far, give rise to hope that this system will be ready for series-production by the end of 2010.

The AMAP-ADS consists of a two-staged sensor system in which the warning sensor scans its particular sector for all approaching objects within a range of approximately 10m and then transfers the data to a second sensor. The sensor system that is responsible for countering the threat tracks, measures, and identifies the projectile. All relevant data is then transferred to the protected central computer via a highly jamming-resistant data bus system. The central computer then activates the determined countermeasure, which ejects an electronically directed energy charge with a high energy density, spatially limited, into the direction of the point of interaction. The required electrical energy is so low that is does not strain the vehicles’ power circuit. This countermeasure fully destroys shaped charges and partially destroys other threats such as kinetic energy penetrators and EFPs and deflects created fragments. The remaining effects are absorbed by the basic armour. AMAP-ADS requires 560µs (hence, only 0,56ms) for the entire defence procedure, beginning with the detection and completed with the elimination of the threat. The configuration of the countermeasures depends on the vehicle that is to be protected and the specifications of the user or purchaser and can be expanded to a hemispheric protection shield. The individually operating sensor and energy modules, applied all around the combat vehicle, frequently overlap each other, thereby providing a tremendous multi-hit capability and, hence, increased safety. As no fragments are produced by the AMAP-ADS system itself when countering a threat, collateral damage will only occur from the destroyed threat, the energy of which, however, is directed at the vehicle and, as a ricochet, will cause little noteworthy damage.

To date, attacks against vehicles have to be signalled by radio, while neither the type of threat nor the sector, from which the threat was launched, could be immediately determined. As the on-board computer generates and records a protocol that can be analysed, these systems can transfer the time, type, launch sector of the threat, and location (when equipped with GPS) without delay to other combat vehicles or to the operations centre via an online interface. This enables an immediate, targeted engagement of the origin of the threat and the initiation of the pursuit. A rapid response can prevent the aggressor from retreating in an ordered and low-risk way and unsettle him.

The system compatibility, as well as functionality and configurability have been successfully demonstrated with different threats on the IVECO LMV (dubbed CARACAL in Germany), the MARDER IFV (statically as well as dynamically), the French VAB, the FUCHS 6x6 APC, the LEOPARD 1 and 2 MBT, the M-113 APC, and other vehicles. Based on the gained experience, it is not a complicated task for IBD to equip other sufficiently protected combat vehicles with this active add-on armour by late 2010.

Conclusion

In the long term, passive protection, as a basic protection against all types of threats, will continue to be irreplaceable. Its operating weight will be reduced by the use of intelligent materials and by its arrangement and allocation. That implies that, already during vehicle construction, the exchange of protection modules or armoured parts by means of pre-emptive measures should be considered. Explosive belts, mines and blast charges are difficult to detect and to dynamically eliminate in urban operations.

A greater emphasis must be placed on the reduction of the vehicle signature, as the concealed operating enemy will increasingly use technical reconnaissance solutions such as heat imaging or IR, even if these may, at first, be of lesser quality.

Reactive and active protection systems are and will continue to be add-on armour systems. Reactive armour systems still have limited protection potential, as they are only effective against certain threats. Active protection systems will govern the future, as they possess a great potential for future development. Development and operation of these new protection measures are only at the beginning stages. As the engagement distance in urban operations lies within 5-50m, depending on the employed resources, only systems with an extremely short reaction time and special capabilities in close-range defence will be sustainable. The latter provides defensive measures against threats before it impacts the vehicle and not upon impact on the vehicle.

Collateral damage caused when countering a threat must be eliminated to a large extent to protect non-involved persons as well as possible and not to provide propaganda arguments for the enemy. The weaker the aggressor, the more often he will attack from within a crowd of people. Everybody, even only indirectly involved persons, must know that collateral damage can never be ruled out during these types of operations.

The envelope of protection should be extremely large, as neither the type of threat nor its direction can be estimated or determined and since a simultaneous, unexpected threat from different directions is possible. Therefore, the sensors and effectors should be arranged all around and also hemispherically on the combat vehicle and should be able to operate in an overlapping and individually manner.

Protection systems that are not multi-hit capable are ineffective in an urban environment, as they do not offer protection against state-of-the-art weapon systems such as the RPG-30. If the armour is ineffective, the soldier will lose his trust in his combat system after the first attacks and become demoralised. This reduces sustainability. It must be the opposite; the aggressor must be surprised and demoralised by the effective countering of his attack.

Efficient combat vehicles can only be introduced if a trusting cooperation between the general contractor and the developer, normally a small or medium-sized business, is established at an early stage. Continuing effective technological development is only possible when the developer, along with the general contractor, is involved as early as possible in the evaluation of accidents.

Despite all the ingenuity and the joining of forces, there will never be perfect protection, as threats and armour are competitive forces that have their own dynamics. However, good training can significantly contribute to attaining optimal protection.

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By Dieter Kahl

This artile is part of the defpro.focus “Vehicle Protection - Passive, Reactive and Active Survivability Concepts” which can be accessed here: http://www.defpro.com/focus/profile/vehicle_protect/.

[buglerbilly]

BAE Systems to provide new track systems for Australia's M113 vehicles

October 07, 2010

BAE Systems was awarded a $14 million contract to provide T150F track link assemblies and sprockets that will be used on upgraded M113 vehicles in Australia.

The T150F track is a part of BAE Systems robust Readiness and Sustainment spares capabilities. The T150F is a double pin track system that improves vehicle performance and durability for the M113 and other lightweight vehicles.

"The new track system provides our customer with lower life cycle cost, greater reliability and improved performance," said Robert Houston, vice president and general manager of Readiness & Sustainment at BAE Systems. "It is our goal to supply products and equipment that help save lives and also provide great value."

Work on the track shoes will take place at the BAE Systems' Anniston, Alabama facility by the existing workforce and is expected to be complete in July 2011. The contract was awarded by Australia's Defence Materiel Organisation office based in Washington, DC.

The M113 is part of the largest family of armored tracked vehicles in the world and includes more than 80,000 vehicles worldwide with 40 variants. It can transport 12 troops plus a driver and is capable of amphibious operation, extended cross-country travel over rough terrain and high-speed operation on improved roads and highways.

BAE Systems manufactures the T150F track and M113 vehicle through its US Combat Systems business. US Combat Systems is a modern, efficient, full-spectrum developer, integrator and supplier of survivable, lethal ground and naval combat platforms. US Combat Systems is also a main supplier to the US Army's Heavy Brigade Combat Teams, an integral developer of mine-protected and future combat vehicles and a top producer of naval guns and missile launchers.

Source: BAE Systems

[buglerbilly]

Leopard 2 Steals the Show in South Africa

(Source: Rheinmetall Defence; issued Oct. 8, 2010)


Rheinmetall hopes to make South Africa, which operates Olifant tanks derived from the venerable Centurion, the 17th operator of its Leopard 2A4, seen here at AAD in Capetown. (Rheinmetall photo)

CAPE TOWN --- Marking the African debut of the Leopard 2A4, Rheinmetall Defence of Germany took advantage of Africa Aerospace & Defence 2010 (AAD) in Cape Town to put the world’s finest main battle tank through its paces. Daily live presentations on a special test track proved to be a major draw, with the Leopard 2A4’s excellent mobility in rough terrain clearly impressing the crowd.

Rheinmetall has been developing and producing armoured vehicles for over forty years. The Leopard 2 continues to set the global standard for modern main battle tanks, with more than 3,600 in existence, now in service with 16 nations. Although Rheinmetall is not the main contractor for the Leopard 2 MBT, the company has nevertheless played an integral role in its development and production. Moreover, out of a total 2,125 Leopard 2A4 tanks produced, 977 were manufactured entirely by Rheinmetall in Kiel for the German and Dutch armed forces.

By supplying critical subsystems, Rheinmetall contributes decisively to the Leopard’s overall performance. For example, Rheinmetall is responsible for its 120mm smoothbore main armament, still the world’s finest tank gun. This cutting edge weapon is produced under licence in the United States for the M1 Abrams, and is also found in other MBTs.

The Leopard likewise benefits from Rheinmetall’s globally leading ammunition technology. Developing perfectly harmonized combinations of weapons and associated ammunition families is a longstanding core competence of the Rheinmetall Group, blending system integration expertise with unrivalled kinetics know-how.

Developed and manufactured by Rheinmetall and based on the Leopard, the Büffel/Buffalo 3 armoured recovery vehicle forms an integral part of the Leopard 2 family of land systems. Likewise based on the Leopard 2 chassis, Rheinmetall’s highly versatile Kodiak armoured engineer vehicle underscores the Group’s competence and capabilities as a system builder.

In the field of C4I and fire control technology, Rheinmetall possesses a unique selling point. Adapted to the individual requirements of the user, it supplies customized solutions that can be integrated into existing higher-echelon command and control systems.

Furthermore, user nations benefit from Rheinmetall’s longstanding experience in maintenance and system support – even during deployed operations. Made-to-measure logistical concepts guarantee high levels of readiness and reliability for systems in service worldwide. Moreover, the recent integration of MAN’s military truck division means that Rheinmetall now has a tightly woven, comprehensive global service network.

Rheinmetall’s logistical philosophy also embraces the use of existing military resources as well as local contractors, thus providing users with maximum strategic independence.

Rheinmetall Denel Munition of South Africa forms an integral part of the Rheinmetall Defence Group. In particular, the integration of the 155mm L52 main armament from the company’s PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer into Denel Land Systems’ outstanding G6 artillery system – earmarked for third-party customers – shows the Rheinmetall is willing and able cooperate successfully with the South African defence industry.

With a view to future combat scenarios, Rheinmetall’s MBT Revolution modular upgrade programme is a coherent concept for adapting the Leopard 2 and other tanks for new missions. In particular, the concept includes a fully digitized turret as well as a 360° protection package capable of withstanding the full array of asymmetric threats. 3rd generation optical sight and reconnaissance technology rounds this compelling performance upgrade suite.

Finally, at its Unterlüß competence centre, Rheinmetall boasts the largest proving ground and firing range in Europe. Located near the German Army Armour School in Munster, this sprawling facility gives the company a huge advantage in developing new defence technology solutions – independently and economically.

During the current Afghanistan mission, the Leopard 2 has performed impressively in the face of asymmetric threats such as landmines and IEDs, saving crewmembers’ lives. Today, there is no denying that main battle tanks will continue to play a decisive role in assuring the combat effectiveness and survivability of friendly forces on future battlefields. For the South African National Defence Forces – currently reviewing possible replacements for the aging Olifant tank – this is likely to be a key consideration.

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[buglerbilly]

KMW Delivers 20 Upgraded LEOPARD 2 Main Battle Tanks to Canada

(Source: Krauss Maffei Wegmann; issued Oct. 8, 2010)

-- Tanks will be sent straight to Afghanistan
-- Deployment in urban terrain also guaranteed
-- Development, upgrading and delivery in less than one year

MUNICH/BERGEN, Germany --- Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) handed over the first of 20 Leopard 2 A4M CAN modernised battle tanks to the Canadian armed forces yesterday, October 7th 2010.

The roll-out took place in the presence of the Canadian military representative, Vice Admiral Denis Rouleau, and the General der Panzertruppen, Brigadier General Klaus Feldmann, and numerous other representatives of the Canadian and German army on training area at Bergen near Hannover (Germany). The next deployment location for the Canadian Leopards will be Afghanistan.

On the occasion of the roll-out, Brigadier-General Steve Bowes, Commander of the Canadian Land Force Atlantic Area said: "The complexity of the contemporary operational environment has done nothing to dimish the importance of armour supporting the combined arms team. Canadians are proud to serve our nation and support our allies abroad with the best main battle tank Leopard 2 for today's complex operational environment."

Protecting lives “Made in Germany”

Canada commissioned KMW to upgrade 20 Leopard main battle tanks in July 2009 for deployment in Hindu Kush. The new version, the Leopard A4M CAN, is specially designed for operations in Afghanistan. Both knowledge from the previously used Leopard 2A6M and state-of-the-art technology that was recently qualified by KMW in collaboration with the German army and the Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB) flowed into the development.

The development, conversion and overhaul of the first vehicles were successfully carried out in less than one year, converting them into modern operational units.

Daniel Hebert, Project Manager Tank Replacement Project, said: "The flexibility, professionalism and teamwork exhibited by KMW over the past three years to support Canada's Leopard 2 A6M in Afghanistan was exceptional. Now, with the Leopard 2 A4M, KMW continues to be instrumental in providing Canada with superior firepower, mobility and the protection required to save lives."

The main focus of the new design was consistent protection of the crews, who are subjected to enemy attacks with powerful anti-tank projectiles and are in constant danger from mines and IED’s (Improvised Explosive Devices). The starting point for the protection concept is outstanding protection from mines and good all-round protection.

Furthermore, the capabilities of the new battle tank have been significantly extended by integrating a pioneer equipment interface. Mine rollers, mine ploughs and dozer blades allow the Canadian armed forces to carry out a wide range of dangerous tasks in spite of the small number of heavy vehicles. Provisions have also been made for deployment in the extreme heat of southern Afghanistan.

With this order, KMW has again provided proof of its system capability in battle tank construction, which is globally unique. The armed forces of 16 countries now rely on the Leopard 2.

Optimum mobility with a major effect

On the battlefield, the Leopard is the most powerful response to enemies who are armed with weapons of war and provides maximum protection and unrestricted mobility for your own crew. Unlike many other systems, the tank can also operate and demonstrate its strengths in extremely dangerous environments and can also do this over long periods of time if necessary. NATO partners Canada and Denmark have therefore been deploying the Leopard 2 for years in ISAF operations in Afghanistan.

With its armour, which goes far beyond that of any other battle vehicle, its speed, its agility and its precise and extremely effective weaponry, it has a tremendous amount of deterrent potential as far as the enemy is concerned and is an essential system for Canadian soldiers during operations that they cannot imagine doing without. It has saved the lives of Canadian soldiers on many occasions. This protection also has a positive effect on the morale of the troops, who now rely on their Leos during operations.

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG leads the European market for armoured wheeled and tracked vehicles. At locations in Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Singapore and the USA, some 3400 employees manufacture and support a product portfolio ranging from air-transportable, heavily armoured wheeled vehicles through reconnaissance, anti-aircraft and artillery systems to heavy battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and bridge-laying systems.

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[buglerbilly]

Israel Defense Forces Purchases IAI's Inertial Navigation Systems


Navigation Systems to Be Utilized on its Merkava Tank and Namer APC

19:41 GMT, October 7, 2010 Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) was awarded a multi- year contract to supply TAMAM's Modular Azimuth Position System (TMAPS) and the Advanced Navigation System (ADNAV), to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The contract has the potential to reach approximately $30 million (USD).

The systems will be utilized on the "Merkava" tank, and on the "Namer" Merkava-based armored personal carrier (APC), respectively. ADNAV and TMAPS are exhibited at the annual Latrun Conference held these days in Israel, organized by The Institute for Land Warfare Studies, the Israeli Ground Forces, and the Armored Corps Memorial Site and the Latrun Museum Association.

Mr. Shaul Shahar, General Manger of IAI's TAMAM Division, said: " The TMAPS and the ADNAV are part of TAMAM's advanced line of successful land navigation systems, and we are proud hat the IDF has chosen our system for its Merkava tanks and its new Namer APCs."

The inertial navigation systems provide position, heading and orientation data. The TMAPS and the ADNAV are suitable for many types of platforms (tanks, APCs, self propelled guns, towed guns, artillery radars, rocket launchers, and armored, reconnaissance, logistic, command, surveillance, special forces, and other kinds of vehicles) in different battlefield scenarios, including urban areas.

Based on TAMAM's excellent Ring Laser Gyro (RLG) and Fiber Optic Gyro (FOG) technologies, the TMAPS and the ADNAV are the most cost-effective advanced inertial navigation systems available, and can operate in GPS-disturbed or jammed battlefield scenarios.

[buglerbilly]

Reutech staring array radar takes LEDS to new level


Saab LEDS on a BAE Systems CV90.

12:23 GMT, October 8, 2010 Reutech Radar Systems (RRS) says its new frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) staring array radar can detect a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) launch within 5.2 milliseconds (ms) and can provide an accurate track within 14.3ms. A millisecond is 1000th of a second and a RPG, fired at 20 metres, takes roughly 187 to impact.
Similar staring array technology forms the core of the radar systems supporting the US Navy's Aegis and the US Army's Patriot air defence complexes.

The cost of developing this technology in South Africa is not known, but RRS was awarded a R643 970 contract in July “to demonstrate a frequency modulated continuous wave ranging radar concept.” RRS last month said it has been working on staring arrays for the “past three years.”
Colonel Cobus van der Merwe (Retired), SAAB Electronic Defense Systems' Product Manager for Land Self-Protection Systems told a recent precision weapons solutions conference that with the radar his company's Land Electronic Defense Systems (LEDS) can detect a RPG within 5ms and calculate whether the RPG will hit or miss the carrier vehicle within a further 10ms. The active defence controller then determines the validity of the threat within a further 10ms before taking less than 50ms to compute an intercept. It then takes 10ms to launch and a further 50ms for the “effects deployment”.

RRS' Peter Bradshaw in a separate presentation at the South African Precision Weapon Solutions Conference held at the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition in Cape Town two weeks ago, added that 5.2ms for first detection amounted to a “worst-case scenario” for the radar. He added that once detected and confirmed, track updates were given every 1.3ms.
Van der Merwe avered that intercepts require precise calculation in four dimensions. The Denel Dynamics Mongoose munition “has a defined kill basket determined by fuzing, the effective radius of the warhead and the time to self-destruct.” Angular accuracy has to be within .25 of a degree, range accuracy within 50mm, X and Y axis positional accuracy within 500mm and launch timing accuracy within 10ms. On-target timing accuracy is even more acute if the basket is to be placed over the projectile in space and time: a result better than 125 microseconds (125 millionths of one second) is required.

The basic LEDS 50 warns the crew of a vehicle fitted with the system that they are in the beam of a laser. The system can deal with up to eight threats simultaneously, while providing analysis on the nature of the threat based on the spectral band used. LEDS 100 adds jammers and decoys, while LEDS 150 adds the Mongoose 1 counter-munition. LEDS 100 confuses enemy weapons operators and incoming rounds by deploying multispectral smoke in their line of sight or flight, hiding the target vehicle. The smoke and an optional infrared jammer interfere with the acquisition and/or tracking, ranging, launching or guidance of a hostile weapon. LEDS 150 destroys incoming RPG rounds or launched as close as 20m from the carrier vehicle with the Mongoose projectiles, allowing it to intercept rounds fired "from across the street".

Van der Merwe showed his audience further evolutions of LEDS and Mongoose are on the way. LEDS 200 will be able to defeat multi-band seekers and LEDS 300 kinetic energy and “stand-off attack” weapons. LEDS 200 will rapidly deploy a multispectral coating that provides effective signature management against tri-band (CCD, IR, millimetre-wave radar) threats – and – also extinguishes fires. The latter will be a very useful feature against attacks from “petrol bombs” (“Molotov cocktails)”. Janes in June 2008 reported from he Eurosatory exhibition in Paris that LEDS 300 would expand the system's capability to counter kinetic energy “long rod” and smart standoff threats. The concept was “tested successfully … in South Africa [in 2007] and is scheduled to be ready for operations in 2012.”

The current ballistic Mongoose 1 typically defeats an RPG-7 within roughly 6m of the carrier vehicle as the about 135ms required for the intercept process translates into 14m of range for a RPG-7 fired at 20m. While comforting to the specific vehicle's crew this is disconcerting and likely fatal to own dismounted infantry accompanying the vehicle. A proposed guided Mongoose 2 and -3 will take the intercept envelope to 50m and a Mongoose 4 to beyond 300m.

To further limit friendly casualties, the Mongoose's warhead is designed to detonate in a flat ring pattern. To limit the firing of the incoming RPG's warhead, which would create the very armour penetrating “jet” the system is seeking to prevent, the Mongoose detonates a shaped charge in the immediate proximity of the incoming round, striking it in the side, resulting in a blast pattern that is parallel to the line of flight and leaving the detonator unfired.

RRS says the FMCW 3-dimensional radar that makes the intercepts possible was developed “over the past three years” and contains no moving parts. It combines “simple antennas” and “simple hardware” to provide the means for highly accurate detection and tracking of small, fast moving projectiles against complex clutter backgrounds. “The ability to discriminate between targets of varying velocities is achieved by the inherent high Doppler resolution of staring array systems,” RRS said in a media statement released separate from the conference. “A prototype sensor was recently integrated within a point defence system in field trials, where exceptional short-range performance against test projectiles was proven.”

The RRS release was somewhat coy, however. The AAD show daily reported the system – featuring the radar – “was selected as the baseline protection system for the Piranha V” from General Dynamics European Land Systems (formerly MOWAG). The BAE Systems Global Combat Systems (formerly Hägglunds) CV90 Armadillo was also depicted fitted with the LEDS with staring array radars fitted to the corners of the vehicle.

Van der Merwe added that the staring array radar can also be used for missile warning in the naval environment, tracking and detecting “flying targets for gun fire control”, mortar baseplate location, measuring the fall of shot and for instrumentation. Staring array radars can also be used as gapfillers in the surveillance environment.

----
By Leon Engelbrecht, defenceWEB Editor

(Courtesy by defenceWeb; First published at http://goo.gl/a4HV)

[buglerbilly]

Pics and more details on the Canadian LEO 2's here.............

http://www.armyrecognition.com/krauss-maffei_press_release_defense_company_german/krauss-maffei_wegmann_delivers_20_upgraded_leopard_2a4_ma in_battle_tanks_to_canada_canadian_army_uk.html

[buglerbilly]

Merkava Mark 4 with “Trophy” Active Tank Defense System to Be Used in Joint Combat Exercise Demonstration for First Time

(Source: Israel Defense Forces; posted October 11, 2010)

A demonstration of the Joint Combat Exercise will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, October 12th, at the IDF base of Shizafon. The event will be in the presence of the IDF Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Maj. Gen. Benny Gantz, and the Chief of the Ground Forces, Maj. Gen. Sami Turgeman. Senior ground forces officers will also participate in the joint combat demonstration.

The Joint Combat Exercise summarizes the training of ground force officer cadets and its objective is to implement the collaboration between the different branches and corps. Tomorrow’s demonstration will display the ground forces’ abilities, in which Officers’ Training School cadets from the infantry, engineering, armored, and artillery corps perform drills that combine various diverse combat techniques.

These include urban warfare, advancing through complex obstacles, using artillery support, and employing invasion techniques, along with aerial support of the Israel Air Force, including medical evacuations and aerial re-supplies.

This demonstration will commence the Joint Combat Exercise that continues for ten days.

The demonstration includes live fire and presents the interoperability of the ground and air forces by displaying a combined battalion fighting in different operational settings.

This will be the first joint combat demonstration in which the Merkava Tank Mark 4 and the “Trophy” (Meil Ruach) active tank defense system will be presented. The Meil Ruach system is a new defense system against anti-tank missiles and will be demonstrated by firing a dummy missile at the tank.

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[buglerbilly]

Ukraine and Peru Begin Tank Testing

(Source: Forecast International; issued October 15, 2010)


A prototype of the Tifon 2 main battle tank, essentially an upgrade of the Soviet T-55, at the Morozov Machinery Design Bureau facility in Kharkiv, Ukraine. (Morozov photo)

NEWTOWN, Conn. --- Ukraine and Peru have begun testing the new Tifon-2 tank. The Tifon-2 is a joint venture of the Morozov Machinery Design Bureau in Kharkiv, Ukraine, and Casanave (DISCA) in Peru.

Based on the T-55 and T-55ATM tanks, the Tifon-2 is powered by a 1,050-hp 5TDFMA engine and has a top speed of 55 km/h. It will be armed with a 125mm KBM-1M with an automatic loader and come equipped with a computerized fire control system.

Trials began earlier this month and included mobility, speed, and obstacle testing. The next phase of tests will cover weapons firings.

Peru intends to replace its 300 T-55 tanks with the new Tifon-2. The Army has been interested in a replacement for several years now, with various upgrade programs considered as an alternative. Under the Army's Proyecto Arrascue, the service was procuring spare parts for the T-55s with the intention of eventually replacing the entire fleet.

[buglerbilly]

I've stuck this in Tracked Armour but it applies for Wheeled Armour just as well.......

Electric Armour for vehicles - BMT advises European Defence Agency



09:56 GMT, October 25, 2010 BMT Defence Services Ltd, a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd, has completed a major study of Electric Armour for Armoured Vehicles (ELAV) for the European Defence Agency (EDA).

BMT has investigated new armour technology to see how ready it is for real applications in armoured vehicles. The technology involves substituting traditionally thick steel armour plate with two much thinner plates which are separated by an insulator. These plates are electrically charged to form a capacitor and when a shaped charge penetrates the plates, it closes the circuit to discharge the capacitor and so instantly diffuses the attack. BMT has concluded that electric armour has a place as part of a fully integrated suite of armour technologies, comprising of more traditional heavy plate, composite materials and reactive armours. If an integrated approach is taken, substantial savings in cost and weight can be achieved, significantly streamlining armoured vehicle design.

The EDA’s ELAV study is aimed at helping to focus research and technology (R&T) effort at European level, increasing co-operation, innovation, efficiency and exploitation of key technologies. BMT Defence Services’ work was undertaken over seven months and completed on time and to budget, covering electric armour’s fundamental principles and state of development across a wide number of the participating EU member states. It also addressed electric armour’s advantages and disadvantages, particularly its potential compared with existing conventional and reactive armour and its possible use in all-electric combat vehicles. BMT Defence Services also investigated the development of a test-case specification for a generic electric armour system integrated onto a 30T vehicle and developed a roadmap for key technologies, taking into account integration issues and the R&T context of participating member states.

In preparing the ELAV study, BMT Defence Services called on its systems engineering and in-house electrical engineering expertise.
This was supplemented by specialist safety and environmental technical support from BMT Isis and subject matter expert Professor John Brown, formerly of MOD agency Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL).

BMT Defence Services used a structured systems engineering approach to model a wide range of threats, including shaped charge improvised explosive devices (IED) and rocket-propelled grenades; the performance of passive and reactive armour, including electric armour; constraints such as weight, space and power generation; and future requirements and capabilities.

Stuart Olden, ELAV Study Project Manager and Business Lead for Land Systems at BMT Defence Services, says: “By bringing together cutting-edge technical expertise from conventional armour solutions, power management, electric armour research and safety systems, BMT was able to give a comprehensive and balanced view of the ELAV concept and the current status of key technologies.” He went on to say: “BMT’s pragmatic, flexible and agile approach ensured an individually tailored study where the customer’s needs were met in full.”

Dr Andrew Shepherd, Principal Systems Engineer at BMT Defence Services and Lead Technical Analyst within the study, says: “BMT will use the knowledge and experience gained through this innovative project in its continuing Land domain activities. The specific technical knowledge and modelling work undertaken will have an ongoing benefit in our support for UK MoD in its delivery of Urgent Operational Requirements. Further work with the European Defence Agency is ongoing on other topics and represents the beginnings of a very fruitful relationship.”

[buglerbilly]

General Dynamics Selected for Merkava Armored Personnel Carriers for Israel

(Source: General Dynamics Land Systems; issued October 25, 2010)



STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. --- General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, has been selected to negotiate a contract with the Israeli Ministry of Defense for Merkava Armored Personnel Carriers (APC).

The competitive procurement process was for the production of Merkava APC hulls, material kit sets and integration of the kits to the vehicle chassis. General Dynamics expects to complete contract negotiations by the end of this year.

Production will be performed at the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center in Lima, Ohio. The base contract will be completed by March 2015 or extend to November 2019 if all options are exercised.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 91,000 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies.



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[buglerbilly]

BAE Systems offer Bradley Variants for M113 Replacement

October 26, 2010



After more than five decades in service, the M113 is finally reaching the point where the Army looks for the replace this aging fleet. While originally the Manned Ground Vehicle (MGV) and Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) were considered as possible platforms, BAE Systems is offering a new solution – the Bradley family of vehicles. The company has developed mission specific Bradley variants to fulfill and enhance the combat mission role of the M113. While such a proposal is sensible from a logistical point of view, it remains to bee seen how the new variants address the Bradley’s inherent survivability and interior space limitations. The Army considers its current version of Bradley ‘the most survivable platform in the force, next to the Abrams tank’, but this title comes with significant additional weight. The vehicles will be available at a vehicle gross weight ranging from 55,000 to 64,800 without tile armor and will be prepared to carry 11 soldiers.

The proposed family of vehicles expands the range of M2/M3 types with five new variants based on the bradley A3 – a command post vehicle, an armored medical evacuation vehicle (AMEV), armored medical treatment vehicle (AMTV), a mortar carrier and general purpose tracked vehicle.

BAE Systems is displaying the command vehicle at AUSA 2010, while the mortar carrier mounting the Israeli mortar (in use on the U.S. army Stryker) is displayed at the Elbit Systems stand.

© Copyright 2010 - Defense Update

[buglerbilly]

More on this, stating the obvious reasons why (USA Funding) but there also has to be the fact the GCV program remians wide open and NAMER has to be a prime potential candidate............

GDLS Selected to develop Namer Armored Personal Carriers for Israel
October 27, 2010
noam_eshel


The 13th Infantry Battalion of the Golani Brigade was the first Israel Defense Forces (IDF) unit to convert from the T-55 based Achzarit armored infantry carrier to the new Infantry Combat Vehicle – the Namer.

Israel’s Defense Ministry has awarded General Dynamics a contract to build 600 Namer (leopard in Hebrew) armored personnel carriers (APC) over the next eight years.

The competitive procurement process was for the production of Merkava APC hulls, material kit sets and integration of the kits to the vehicle chassis. General Dynamics expects to complete contract negotiations by the end of this year.

Production will be performed at the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center in Lima, Ohio. The base contract will be completed by March 2015 or extend to November 2019 if all options are exercised.

Battalion 13 of the Golani Brigade has already been outfitted with the Namer and a senior Defense Ministry official said that the remaining three Golani battalions would receive the APC over the next three years.

The decision to issue the Namer tender in the US was made due to budgetary constraints.

If the Namer is made in the US, the IDF will be able to pay for the production with the foreign military financial aid it receives annually from the US and most of which needs to be spent in America.

The Namer has advanced defensive systems and an internal air-conditioning unit which enables the vehicle to continue operating in areas contaminated by nonconventional weapons. The Namer carries a number of machine guns, missile launchers, and reconnaissance equipment.

The IDF plans to equip the Namer with a locally built active protection system. The IDF has already fielded the Trophy APS on it’s Merkava 4 tanks. System comes as an integral part of the tank and the IMOD plans to follow the same path with the Namer.



© Copyright 2010 - Defense Update

[buglerbilly]

Saudi Minister Visits Spain, Reportedly For Major Tank Deal

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Published: 29 Oct 2010 16:03

MADRID - Saudi Arabia's deputy defense minister will visit Spain next week, officials said Oct. 29, and he is reportedly considering the purchase of Leopard 2E tanks for up to three billion euros.

Prince Khaled bin Sultan, Saudi deputy minister of defense and aviation, will meet King Juan Carlos on Nov. 1, according to the Royal Palace's diary.

He will also see Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero on Nov. 2, said a government spokesman, without giving details of their agenda.

Spain's leading El Pais daily this week said the Saudi minister may conclude the purchase of 200 to 270 Leopard 2E tanks for up to three billion euros (4.1 billion dollars), which would be a record deal for the country's defense export industry................

Read more here: http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4996121&c=MID&s=LAN

[buglerbilly]

Sale of Surplus Leopard 2 Battle Tanks to the German Manufacturer

(Source: Swiss Armaments Agency, Armasuisse; issued November 18, 2010)

Switzerland sells 42 surplus Leopard 2 Battle Tanks (Pz 87 Leo) to the manufacturer. The battle tanks supplied without armament and further components will be converted to protected special vehicles.

Following the reduction of military strengths in connection with Armed Forces 95 and Armed Forces XXI, various weapon systems were decommissioned, mothballed, sold, or disposed of. The Leopard 2 Battle Tank (Pz 87 Leo) is one of many systems which are no longer needed in the originally procured quantity. Part of the Pz 87 Leo fleet was therefore mothballed at various storage sites.

Since in its Armed Forces Report the Federal council defined the basic data for a smaller defence force, the way was cleared for the sale of the Pz 87 Leo no longer needed, or parts thereof.

From the units of the Pz 87 Leo fleet of the Swiss Armed Forces, which are not foreseen for the quality maintenance program and not among the vehicles designated as spare material, 42 vehicles are now sold to the German company Rheinmetall Landsysteme, which will use these vehicles as basis (chassis) for support vehicles.

Takeover of the vehicles destined for Rheinmetall will begin still this year. Rheinmetall Landsysteme is part of the consortium in the Federal Republic of Germany which produced the Leopard 2 Battle Tank.

The Pz 87 Leo delivered to Rheinmetall Landsysteme are not sold in fully equipped condition. Among others, the following assemblies are removed: armament, radio-and inter-phone systems. The components which are not supplied are used as spare parts by the Swiss Armed Forces.

armasuisse, the Competence Center for the procurement of complex systems, was tasked by the Head DDPS with the performance of the contract and the sale of the surplus equipment. Sales of surplus armaments are subject to the War Material Ordinance, and to approval by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) in Bern, and are in compliance with the Federal Council decision of 10 March 2006. The parties agreed not to disclose the terms of sale.

Background on Pz 87 Leo

The Pz 87 Leo (Leopard 2) was procured for the mechanised units of the Swiss Armed Forces with Armament Program 84 (AP 84).

Of the 380 Pz 87 Leo originally deployed with the forces between 1987 and 1993, 134 combat vehicles were subjected to a quality [enhancement] program with Armament Program 06. The battle tanks, which have reached the first half of their planned service life, are adapted to the changed requirements with the necessary maintenance work.

Of the Pz 87 Leo decommissioned in connection with the reduction, twelve vehicles were converted to armoured engineer and mine clearing vehicles. This special tank, which is used in combination with the Pz 87 Leo, is based on the tank chassis with corresponding new superstructures and additional equipment for the engineer service and for mine clearing.

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[buglerbilly]

Panel Confirms Flaws in S. Korean K21 Infantry Vehicle

By Jung SUNG-KI

Published: 1 Dec 2010 15:24



With buoyancy floats inflated.................


SEOUL - A team of military and civilian experts concluded that critical flaws in the design of the K21 amphibious infantry fighting vehicle caused back-to-back sinkings of the vehicle in July and last December, Seoul's Ministry of National Defense said Nov. 30.

In a report to South Korea's National Assembly, Defense Minister Kim Tae-young cited lack of buoyancy, malfunctioning of the wave plate and a problem with the drain pump as key factors.

A soldier died when a K21 sank during a river crossing exercise July 29. It was the second time the new vehicle had sunk since it entered service in November 2009 after 10 years of development.

The K21 was developed by the state-funded Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and Doosan DST with an investment of about 90 billion won ($78 million).

"An armored vehicle weighing 25 tons or more is required to maintain at least 20 percent of reserve buoyancy when it crosses the river, but the K2 has been found not to meet that requirement," Kim said, citing the results of a two-month probe of the accidents...............edited...............

Read more: http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=5139768&c=ASI&s=LAN

[buglerbilly]

Serial start for new PUMA infantry fighting vehicle

December 07, 2010



Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Rheinmetall handed over on December 6th in time the first two PUMA infantry fighting vehicles to the Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement (BWB) in Kassel for verification tests. This marks the start for the contractual delivery of 405 ordered vehicles to the German Armed Forces. The contract with a volume of roughly 3.1 bn € was signed in July 2009. The delivery of the PUMA is a significant milestone for the most important procurement program of the German Army.

"This is a crucial day on the way of introducing the PUMA to the German Armed Forces. We have undergone a challenging period of research and development, pushing the limits of this technology", stated Frank Haun, CEO of KMW and Klaus Eberhardt, CEO of Rheinmetall.

Technology of extremes: lessons learned from current operations

The development of the new infantry fighting vehicle is marked by technological extremes. It will not only be the new transport platform for the German Army but also a cutting-edge technology system. With its unique balance of tactical and strategic mobility, survivability and lethality, the PUMA gives the German Armed Forces a state-of-the-art infantry fighting vehicle systematically tailored to the current and future operational requirements of the German military both at home and abroad. The development achievement was guided by the demand to induce latest mission experience from current operations and to consequently deliver effective mission performance. To that extent this has not been realized in any other infantry fighting vehicle.

The PUMA is scheduled to undergo an intense round of testing and verification. This includes extreme summer and winter trials abroad. The complex preparations are deemed to ensure the smooth introduction of the system to the German Army.
PUMA sets the new standard - maximum protection for the crew, fire power, mobility and networked operations.
No comparable vehicle provides its crew with such a high level of protection from typical conflict zone threats such as landmines, rocket propelled grenades and improvised explosive devices. Well-protected yet light enough to airlift, the PUMA's modularity and expandability make it the perfect tool for international conflict management. The PUMA, whose main armament and ammunition had to be modified to match the altered threat spectrum, represents the ultimate in lethality and survivability .

Today, more than thirty years after Germany first fielded the MARDER, the PUMA is poised to significantly expand the Bundeswehr's capabilities spectrum, providing it with an entirely new category of tactical vehicle. In any international comparison, the PUMA clearly represents the cutting edge in contemporary armoured vehicle technology.

Source: Krauss-Maffei Wegmann

[buglerbilly]

Missed this one from end last week..............

LM UK Starts Scout Turret Development

Published on ASDNews: Dec 3, 2010

London, UK - Lockheed Martin UK has been awarded the contract from General Dynamics UK to deliver the turret for the Scout reconnaissance vehicle.

Lockheed Martin has already been working on the project, thanks to advance funding provided by the MoD through General Dynamics UK as prime contractor, ahead of full contract agreement, to ensure the Demonstration Phase schedule remained fully on track. As part of this contract, Lockheed Martin UK - Ampthill will provide General Dynamics UK with three Scout turrets which will form part of the Integration and Test programme on the Demonstration Phase of the Scout project.

Alan McCormick, vice president and managing director of Lockheed Martin UK - Ampthill, said: "We are proud to be delivering the turret to General Dynamics UK and the British Army for the Scout reconnaissance vehicle, a key variant in the Specialist Vehicle fleet. The LM team will continue its excellent work on the development of the turret and ensure flawless execution of this vital programme."

Lockheed Martin UK is working to get its key suppliers under contract. These suppliers include: Defence Support Group for turret assembly integration and test; Rheinmetall Land Systems for the turret structure, cannon mounting structure and CT40 Cased Telescoped Cannon System integration; Ultra Electronics for power management; Curtiss Wright for turret drives and stabilisation control; Meggitt for the ammunition handling system and Moog for the slip ring. Lockheed Martin UK - Ampthill is responsible for fire control and training and as the turret systems integrator. Over 75 percent of this work will be done in the UK.

As specified by General Dynamics UK, the Scout turret has been designed to maximise space and protection for the crew inside. Recognising Scout is a reconnaissance vehicle and its ASCOD SV platform has a large turret-ring diameter of 1.7m, the design increases space and gives soldiers considerably more room for modern display screens, comfort for long periods inside the turret and ease of movement, even when wearing full body armour and future wearable systems.

With the need for military electronics ever-expanding on operations, the turret allows significant room for new systems to be fitted without compromising the design of the vehicle. The turret is designed around the CT40, which was successfully integrated and fired last year on a Warrior infantry fighting vehicle.

[buglerbilly]

Photo of first two Pumas courtesy of KMW and Rheinmetall

[buglerbilly]

First: "Windbreaker" Battalions Participated In the Exercise

(Source: Israel Defense Force; issued Dec. 16, 2010)

(Issued in Hebrew only; unofficial translation by defense-aerospace.com)


An Israeli army Merkava 4 main battle tank fitted with the Trophy anti-missile protection system was recently evaluated in a full-scale exercise. (IDF pgoto)

The “Trophy” system to protect tanks from anti-tank missile was tested as part of an exercise by 9 Battalion on its way to becoming a fully operational system. "We now have the ability to fight effectively, fast and secure than ever before," said the deputy commander of 401 Brigade.

The "Trophy" active protection system for tanks was tested during the first week of regimental exercises by 401 Brigade. It had been previously tested, and provided specific feedback, in controlled environments, but this trial was conducted by the 9th Battalion of the Armored Corps in areas of the Golan Heights.

"Trophy" is the fruit of a joint development by Rafael, Elta and the American company General Dynamics. It identifies, with special sensors, threats directed against the tank, such as anti-tank rockets and missiles, and fires a special charge to neutralize them.

Since 2005, when the system was first was presented, industry has been working on its service introduction by IDF armored divisions, with the main objective of fitting it to Merkava 4 main battle tanks.

The first combined company exercise using the system recently took place with 9 Battalion. During the exercise, soldiers learned how to respond to environmental stimuli, such as emissions of smoke from other tanks, or other heat sources.

"Thanks to Windbreaker we have the ability to fight more effectively, faster and more securely than ever before," said Lt. Col. Haim Ido, deputy commander of 401 Brigade. "In this respect, it certainly has proven itself as an exercise area."

However, stressed Lt. Col. Ido, the system cannot human eyes. "The system does not change the way soldiers must act and behave inside the tank.”

“Trophy” improves various aspects of a tank’s different capabilities, and provides more protection from threats such as anti-tank missiles, but a soldier remains a soldier and must remain vigilant. Furthermore, soldiers of the brigade must learn to work with the advanced Merkava 4 tank, and its many new technologies and systems, and this requires them to be very skilled indeed.”

"The issue of absorbing new technological capabilities in the tank division is gaining significant momentum," said Lt. Col. Tommy. "We must learn to use them more effectively in the exercises we perform" and this will translate into improved operational capabilities.

So, among other things, there was high satisfaction among participants about the enhanced communications systems tested in the exercise. "The combination of various systems has created fantastic communications capabilities between the tanks, practically without using the radios."

At least in the eyes of the soldiers who participated in the exercise, "Trophy" is a success.

"This is something important and innovative," said Nico Gabay, a gunner in the battalion, at the end of exercise Gabay. "Of course there were several glitches, but they were not critical. It is apparent from the training scenarios is a very useful system that will protect the tank."

"We learned about its developer, the basic functions in it and some details about how it operates," said Sergeant Gabay.

The expectation is that in the coming months, the system will be gradually introduced in the battalion’s companies. Ultimately, the entire battalion will use the "Trophy" when it is fully operational.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

T-72: On the Road to Obsolescence

(Source: Forecast International; issued December 16, 2010)

NEWTOWN, Conn. --- New production of the T-72 main battle tank in the Russian Federation remains dormant. The Rosoboronexport organization continues to offer the remaining Russian T-72 tank inventory for export. All new T-72 production now involves only one licensed-production line. With the completion of the Iranian licensed-production programs, we expect no new T-72 production.

The T-72 enjoys wide distribution on the international market, with at least 36 nations currently maintaining various versions of the tank in their inventories. The modernization and retrofit packages available will ensure continued use of the T-72 throughout the next decade. The center of gravity for the T-72 program has clearly shifted to the development of various modernization and retrofit packages, many of which rationalize the T-72 with NATO MBT requirements.

However, T-72 modernization and retrofit programs will soon reach the point of diminishing returns, as they add sufficient cost to the bargain-basement T-72 to place it in direct competition with high-end MBT designs such as the Leopard 2 and M1A1 Abrams. At some point, the T-72 will clearly lose any advantage on the international market.

Since 1990, a number of modern main battle tanks have faced the acid test of combat; many more have yet to fire a shot in anger. When we evaluate a tank's performance in combat, we often find a tank radically different from the peacetime assessments. Perhaps the starkest illustration of this phenomenon involves the T-72. Throughout the last two decades of the Cold War, Western analysts considered the T-72 to be the primary threat in Europe. Indeed, U.S. and NATO doctrine and programs focused considerable attention on countering the T-72 threat.

Finally, in January 1991, U.S. M1A1 Abrams and British FV4034 Challenger tanks faced the vaunted T-72 in live combat for the first time, during Operation Desert Storm. After a mere 100 hours of ground combat, the reputation of the T-72 lay in ruins. The world learned that the T-72 - the erstwhile scourge of Europe - simply was not in the same league as the Abrams and the Challenger on the modern battlefield. During the opening phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Telic (the British component of OIF), the T-72 again found itself clearly overmatched by the M1A1 and M1A2 Abrams and the Challenger 2.

Across the deserts of Iraq, countless rusting, burnt-out T-72 hulks bear silent witness to the harsh realities of modern combat.

The Forecast International Weapons Group considers it unlikely that the T-72 will remain in production after 2012. While the T-72 will remain in service throughout the next decade, its days as a significant force in the international MBT market are clearly numbered. (ends)

Merkava Mk 4 Serial Production Continues for IDF Procurement

(Source: Forecast International; issued December 16, 2010)

NEWTOWN, Conn. - Serial production of the Merkava Mk 4 main battle tank is ongoing, exclusively for procurement by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). While all models of earlier Merkava tanks remain in IDF service, the Mk 4 is the only member of the Merkava line currently in serial production.

In 2005, the IDF certified its first operational Merkava Mk 4-equipped armored battalion as combat ready. The IDF currently maintains at least two operational Merkava 4-equipped armored brigades.

For earlier models of the Merkava, the center of gravity has shifted to retrofit and modernization. Retrofits have brought virtually all of the Merkava Mk 1 tanks up to the Merkava Mk 2 configuration; all Merkava Mk 1 and Mk 2 tanks are receiving selected Merkava Mk 3 components when they undergo major overhaul.

In the aftermath of Operation Change of Direction (2006), the Israeli government and the IDF continue to reassess their priorities with regard to the Merkava main battle tank. The Merkava program - and the Merkava Mk 4 production line in particular - has become a political football caught between two factions.

Elements within the Ministry of Defense cite Operation Change of Direction as proving the case for reducing Merkava Mk 4 procurement by 20 percent in order to shift resources to the production of heavy armored personnel carriers.

Members of the IDF Armored Corps cite the same operation as proof that the IDF must maintain its armored force, and seriously reassess its tactics and training to meet the new threats of the modern asymmetric battlefield.

While the Israelis persist in promoting the Merkava on the international market, Israel's geopolitical position makes any export of the Merkava unlikely.

While the IDF intends to employ the Merkava Mk 4 (and later, the Mk 5) as its first-line main battle tank, the Israelis clearly do not plan to replace all earlier Merkava models in active service. Indeed, we expect to see modernized Merkava Mk 2 and Mk 3 tanks soldier in IDF service. (ends)

Malaysia Holds Key to Any New PT-91 Twardy Production

(Source: Forecast International; issued December 16, 2010)

NEWTOWN, Conn. --- Serial production of the PT-91 Twardy main battle tank for Polish Army procurement is complete. Production of 48 PT-91s for the initial Malaysian procurement was reportedly completed in 2006.

The Malaysian Army formally accepted the initial six production vehicles in December 2006. By January 2009, the contractor had completed delivery of the remaining 42 tanks.

The Forecast International Weapons Group believes Malaysia will probably opt for an additional 112 PT-91 tanks, possibly in a licensed assembly/co-production program.

We do not expect the Polish Army to place any additional orders for new-production PT-91 Twardy tanks. The 128 surplus Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks that Poland acquired from the German Bundeswehr effectively outclass any T-72 series tank, severely limiting Polish interest in further investment in new-production tanks of the T-72 class.

The Polish Army has reportedly retrofit at least 148 tanks of its remaining inventory, consisting of more than 400 T-72 series tanks, to the PT-91 configuration. Such retrofit activity will likely continue as a cost-effective alternative to new tank procurement.

In addition to retrofitting Polish T-72M1 tanks, ZM Bumar-Labedy retrofit at least 100 surviving Iraqi T-72M1 tanks to the PT-91 Twardy configuration. The upgrades reportedly include a PZL WOLA 895-kilowatt (1,200-hp) powerpack, a PCO Drawa computerized fire control system, thermal imaging units and a laser rangefinder, European optics, fully stabilized main armament, and explosive reactive armor. The Polish retrofit program allows the new Iraqi Army to equip three tank battalions from its surviving inventory, for service in three regions of the country.

Beyond the Malaysian procurement program and the Iraqi retrofit program, however, we see little prospect for additional PT-91 export sales. T-72 series tanks, even enhanced models such as the PT-91, are simply too widely available on the international market for Poland to have much chance of impacting the market.

The prime contractor maintains expectations for additional Malaysian procurement. This would represent the last remaining new-production activity.

Unless ZM Bumar-Labedy can find a way to make the PT-91 more competitive on the international market (such as integrating the ubiquitous Rheinmetall 120mm Rh 120 smoothbore tank gun), this program may face the end of its run during the forecast period, despite the apparent high quality of the PT-91 Twardy. (ends)

Ukraine Pushes T-84 Toward Full-Rate Serial Production

(Source: Forecast International; issued December 16, 2010)

NEWTOWN, Conn. --- Open-source reporting indicates the Ukrainian T-84 main battle tank program may be ramping up to some level of full-rate serial production for Army procurement.

Research indicates the Ukrainian Army intends to procure about 440 T 84 tanks, effectively replacing the Ukraine Army's obsolete inventory of 2,600 T-54/T-55 and 400 T-62 tanks.

As the cost of maintaining obsolete equipment steadily increases, the Ukrainian Army will likely find the means to fund full-rate T-84 production at some point. The indigenous T-84 program represents a significantly less costly alternative to purchasing main battle tanks on the international market.

The T-84 (like the Russian T-80) faces decidedly slim prospects for export sales in a glutted international market. Nevertheless, the T-84 120 Oplot has at least the potential to score some export sales as a cost-effective alternative to other main battle tanks mounting NATO-standard 120mm ordnance.

Revealed in late 2000, the T-84-120 Oplot integrates a NATO-standard 120mm smoothbore tank gun with the T-84 tank. In addition to NATO-standard 120mm tank gun ammunition, the fully stabilized 120mm ordnance can reportedly fire the indigenous combat missile, fitted with some sort of sabot. Malyshev has completed the T-84-120 Oplot development program; the contractor has thus far produced one prototype.

As the T-84 is essentially a Ukrainian version of the Russian T 80UD, the Forecast International Weapons Group does not expect it to fare any better than its Russian counterpart on the export market. The T-84-120 Oplot will clearly be the key to any export success for the T-84 series, as a NATO- compatible alternative to the Russian Federation's T-80U main battle tank.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

New MBT122B Evolution with Unprecedented Protection

17:43 GMT, December 20, 2010



The Swedish MBT122 has already been recognized as one of the best-protected main battle tanks in the world. In a recent study program of the tank for the Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV) in Sweden, IBD Deisenroth Engineering succeeded in the development of a further improved protection dedicated to the tank. The concept is thereby designed to protect against the actual and future threats in theatre, especially in asymmetric and urban warfare.

IBD's focus in this development was the optimization of the protection against the actual threats in theatre: new variants of RPGs, IEDs and EFPs as well as keeping high protection against “conventional threats”. A new light weight and highly efficient SLAT armour was designed as an amendment of the protection concept. The effectiveness of the new solutions has been verified against all threats in a broad test campaign. Thanks to all these efforts the concept provides an outstanding 360 degree protection of the crew.

The completely modular design of the concept allows the use of any mixture of old and new protection modules. This solution is of great advantage in theatre with regard to maintenance and repairs.

Despite the improved overall protection level of the MBT 122B Evolution the weight increase of about 350 kg is only minimal such maintaining the high mobility of the tank. Also the width of the vehicle could be kept to exactly 4.0 m which is also an important factor for the use in urban environment.

The new protection concept is the latest variant of similar high level protection solutions (defined as Evolution Concepts) from IBD for different platforms that have been developed, where the kits based on the platform Leopard 2 A4 Evolution have already been supplied to customers.

[Weasel]

New MBT122B Evolution with Unprecedented Protection

17:43 GMT, December 20, 2010


... A new light weight and highly efficient SLAT armour was designed as an amendment of the protection concept...

Lol...I just had a devious thought. What material likes to be disorganized, but when you apply KE to it, becomes organized and we use so much of it that "it must" account for at least 10% of landfills, oh and it makes great "light weight" slat armor?

Nothing like having a "green" tank.

Reduce
Reuse
Recycle

cheers

w

p.s.

an example:

[McFriday]

Hi Weasel,
Does this mean we now shoot sulphuric acid at it or send it to Coke for a refund?
My chemistry is very oxidised, so I could be well off the mark here!
Cheers,
Mac

[Weasel]

Hi Weasel,
Does this mean we now shoot sulphuric acid at it or send it to Coke for a refund?
My chemistry is very oxidised, so I could be well off the mark here!
Cheers,
Mac
No, it means that investing in air con is a good thing for IED protection if you are sporting plasan sasa gear. The above polymer's mechanical capabilities are room temperature related and don't work so well in heat (they still work, but not as well as at room temp) so if you have a poly carbon, laminate, turn up the air con. e.g. armored glass. It will help absorb more of the shock wave. How much? don't know, but 24 deg C is better than 32 deg C and so on.

As to shooting acid. Please. All you do is add a layer of glass.

Then you can get into nice stuff like spaced armor. I love spaced armor. Nothing like getting protection without adding weight. e.g. wheels. Bigger the better.

cheers

w

[McFriday]

Weasel,
Thanks for your informative answer, I'm obviously not versed in armour constructs [or complex polymers] and my rusty chemistry was only taking a stab at dissolving the polymer formula not its integration or usage, no demeaning of your idea intended.
As far as the notion of more protection for less weight goes, even my limited knowledge can see the value in that. LOL
The eternal war between measure and countermeasure has an equally eternal fascination for many of us.
Cheers,
Mac

[Marc 1]

Thanks for sticking you neck out with that answer Mac, I was lost. Hydrocarbony thing was the best I could come up with!

[McFriday]

Thanks for sticking you neck out with that answer Mac, I was lost. Hydrocarbony thing was the best I could come up with!

Marc,
LOL, my answer wasn't much better!
Fortunately Weasel treated me gently and enlightened me, for that I'm grateful.
Cheers,
Mac

[Weasel]

??? Since when did I get the rap of being the enforcer around here? Unlike Bugs, I am mellowing in my old age. lol

[buglerbilly]

Mellow my arse, I wanna kill something..............:rofl :rofl :rofl

[Unicorn]

It's not mellowing, it's marinating. Its what happens when you immerse something in copious amounts of alcohol.

Some call it seasoning, some call it sauced, I prefer marinating

Unicorn

[ADMk2]

lol...i just had a devious thought. What material likes to be disorganized, but when you apply ke to it, becomes organized and we use so much of it that "it must" account for at least 10% of landfills, oh and it makes great "light weight" slat armor?

Nothing like having a "green" tank.

Reduce
reuse
recycle

cheers

w

p.s.

An example:



hdpe?

:)

[buglerbilly]

It's not mellowing, it's marinating. Its what happens when you immerse something in copious amounts of alcohol.

Some call it seasoning, some call it sauced, I prefer marinating

Unicorn

I rarely drink almost to the point where I don't drink at all...................I marinate in tea and coffee instead.

[buglerbilly]

Lockheed Martin UK Completes Latest Live Firing Trials of Warrior CSP Turret

17:22 GMT, January 5, 2011

Ampthill, Bedfordshire | The Lockheed Martin UK-led Warrior Transformation Team (WTT) has successfully completed the latest series of live firing trials using its turret design for the Warrior Capability and Sustainment Programme (WCSP).

The trials, utilising the CT40 cannon and conducted at the Faldingworth Test Range in Lincolnshire, were further evidence of the maturity of the team’s turret design following the submission of its Revise and Confirm proposal for the programme to upgrade the British Army’s principal Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV).

The three-day trial saw Lockheed Martin UK and key Warrior Transformation Team partners oversee the firing of CT40 rounds in a combination of single shot and burst rates of fire, with the platform stabilised, using the Battlegroup Thermal Imaging sight.

The tests underlined the structural integrity of the turret system and the inherent accuracy of the integration.

Alan McCormick, Vice President and Managing Director of Lockheed Martin UK Ampthill, commented: “This latest extension to our trials programme further demonstrates the capability of our Warrior upgrade solution. By taking a pro-active approach to upgrading this important asset, we will fully equip the Warrior vehicle to meet the challenges for many years to come. Our solution ensures that the vehicle will be ready for future tasks rather than compromising the British soldier by reacting to change.”

The Warrior Transformation Team’s proposal introduces significant improvements to the vehicle including fitting and integrating the CT40 weapon system, an open Electronic Architecture system and improved armour protection. Significant cost savings have been made through re-use rather than fully replacing the existing turret structure, using the current rotary base junction, turret ring and reusing Battlegroup Thermal Imaging, although it will be fully stabilised to meet the fire on the move requirement.

Lockheed Martin UK’s partner companies include the Defence Support Group (DSG); Rheinmetall Defence (Weapon Mount); CTA International (CT40 Weapon System); SCISYS (Electronic Architecture); Meggitt (Ammunition Handling System); Ultra Electronics (power; Driver Instrument Panel); Thales UK (Battlegroup Thermal Imaging; sights) and Curtiss Wright (Servo System).

Mr McCormick added: “Following our contract with General Dynamics UK, and should we be successful with WCSP, the customer will also derive maximum benefit from synergies with the Scout reconnaissance vehicle programme. This will drive out cost and promote commonality.”

[buglerbilly]

Applies to all types of armoured vehicles but I'll stick it here for now........

Invisible tanks could be on battlefield within five years

British military scientists plan to develop an army of "invisible" tanks ready for use on the battlefield within five years.


Unlike conventional forms of camouflage, the images on the hull would change in concert with the changing environment always insuring that the vehicle remains disguised

By Sean Rayment, Defence Correspondent 9:30AM GMT 09 Jan 2011

Armoured vehicles will use a new technology known as "e-camouflage" which deploys a form "electronic ink" to render a vehicle "invisible".

Highly sophisticated electronic sensors attached to the tank's hull will project images of the surrounding environment back onto the outside of the vehicle enabling it to merge into the landscape and evade attack.

The electronic camouflage will enable the vehicle to blend into the surrounding countryside in much the same way that a squid uses ink to help as a disguise.

Unlike conventional forms of camouflage, the images on the hull would change in concert with the changing environment always insuring that the vehicle remains disguised.

In Helmand, for example, all armoured vehicle have desert sand coloured camouflage, which is of little use in the "Green Zone", an area of cultivation where crops are grown and the Taliban often hide.

Up until recently such concepts were thought to be the stuff of science fiction but scientists at the defence company BAE Systems now believe battlefield "invisibility" will soon become science fact.

Scientists at the BAE hope the new technology will be available to use with the British Army fighting in Southern Afghanistan and in future conflicts.

The concept was developed as part of the Future Protected Vehicle programme, which scientists believe, will transform the way in which future conflicts will be fought.

The programme is based around seven different military vehicles, both manned and unmanned, which will be equipped with a wide variety of lethal and none lethal weapons.

The unmanned vehicles or battlefield robots will be able to conduct dangerous missions in hostile areas, clear minefields and extract wounded troops under fire.

The vehicles include:

* Pointer: an agile robot which can take over dirty, dull or dangerous jobs, such as forward observation and mine clearance.

* Bearer: a modular platform which can carry a range of mission payloads, such as protected mobility, air defence and ambulance;

* Wraith: a low signature scout vehicle;

* Safeguard: an ultra-utility infantry carrier or command & control centre;

* Charger: a highly lethal and survivable reconfigurable attack vehicle;

* Raider: a remotely or autonomously controlled unmanned recce and skirmishing platform – similar in design to the "Batmobile"

* Atlas: a convoy system which removes the driver from harm's way.

BAE's Future vehicle project is, in part, a reaction to the Ministry of Defence's (MoD) 'Capability Vision' for armoured vehicles, designed to spur development along different paths from the MoD's previous research.

Commanders are aiming for a prototype within four years and an experimental operational capacity by 2013.

The brief is for a lightweight vehicle, weighing 30 tonnes, powered by a hybrid electric drive, with the same effectiveness and survivability of a current main battle tank.

The UK's current tank, the Challenger 2, weighs 62.5 tonnes, and runs a 1,200hp V12 diesel engine.

Britain's current fleet of armoured vehicles are also close to approaching the end of their service life and armoured vehicles designed specifically for use in Helmand, such as the hugely successful Mastiff, may be inappropriate for use in other operational theatres.

Scientists at BAE are also looking at a number of revolution battlefield inventions which will increase troop protection as well as making the vehicles more lethal.

One concept being developed is to develop technologies, which will cut the use of fuel on the battlefield. In Afghanistan, the cost of fuel is 50 times that of the pump price.

All fuel currently used by NATO troops comes in via road convoys which are often attacked by insurgents which are responsible for 80 per cent of US casualties.

Scientists are close to developing a form of transparent armour - much tougher than bullet proof glass – which could be used in turrets of on the sides of armoured vehicles which would improve the situational awareness of troops inside.

Also being developed is a technology known as "biometric integration which uses advanced algorhythms to analyse crowds and to search for potential threats from suicide bombers by analyzing suspicious behavior in groups or individuals.

Electronic scanners would search for suspicious behavior, inappropriate clothing or individuals on wanted lists who can be identified through facial or iris recognition.

The information would then be displayed on screen within vehicle or handheld vehicles carried by dismounted troops.

Hisham Awad, the head of the Future Protected Vehicle project said: "The trick here is to use machines to do what they are best at (and humans are not) - ploughing very quickly through dull, repetitive data to strip out the overwhelming bulk which is of no use and would take a long time and enormous human resources to process.

"Then you can quickly bring human intelligence to bear where it excels - making life-or-death decisions based on 'real time' information on suspicious activity flagged up by the machines."

[buglerbilly]

Again applies to all other types of armoured vehicle.....

Successful Demonstration of MAPS Mutual Active Protection System

(Source: Diehl BGT Defence; issued January 10, 2011)

Diehl BGT Defence successfully demonstrated the MAPS Active Vehicle Protection System on November 10 and 11, 2010, at the Federal Armed Forces Technical Centre WTD 91 Meppen, Germany.

The test campaign was witnessed by numerous representatives of the German Bundeswehr as well as military officials of allied armed forces and both national and international industry representatives.

During the test campaign, the MAPS Active Protection System, mounted on a FUCHS transport vehicle, defeated incoming anti-tank rockets and guided missiles including advanced models with tandem warheads.

MAPS includes active and passive sensors for situational awareness, threat detection and fire control as well as highly agile interceptors (blast effectors) which destroyed all anti-tank weapons at safe distance from the defended vehicle.

In addition to effective vehicle protection, MAPS accurately localizes enemy firing positions enabling rapid and precise counterstrikes by the armoured vehicle thus actively countering repeated attacks.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

Five Facts About the IDF's New Shield: the Trophy

(Source: Israel Defense Force; dated Jan. 4, 2011)


Trophy, the Israeli-developed protection system, was tested in December on a Merkava Mark 4 tank and destroyed an incoming anti-tank missile. (IDF photo)

The new anti-tank missile defense system, the Trophy, was recently used in a number of Armored Corps exercises. Five facts you didn’t know of the IDF's new shield:

1. The Trophy, also known as ASPRO-A or Meil Ruach in Hebrew (meaning Windbreaker) is an active protection system designed to shield light and heavy military armored vehicles against various types of anti-tank rockets and missiles (used by Hezbollah operatives in the Second Lebanon War, for example).

2. The system is comprised of three elements: threat detection and tracking, launching and, finally, interception. Sensors located on the vehicle's various surfaces enable threat detection and warning subsystems to provide full coverage of the vehicle's surroundings.

Neutralizing only takes place if an incoming projectile is detected and identified as a real threat. The launching and interception functions are then activated and neutralizing agents are fired at the incoming threat.

3. Trophy is the fruit of a ten-year collaborative effort between Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aircraft Industries’ Elta Group.

4. Trophy was successfully tested on December, 2010, when an anti-tank missile was fired at a Merkava Mark 4 tank equipped with the system, the tank being operated by soldiers and the Commander of the Armored Corps' 401st Brigade himself sitting in the tank at the time.

5. The Trophy system can be put to full operational use on vehicles in motion, against short range threats, in close and urban terrain and under all weather conditions.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

Production of S. Korean K21 Amphib To Resume

By JUNG SUNG-KI

Published: 13 Jan 2011 13:44

SEOUL - Production of the K21 amphibious infantry fighting vehicle will resume soon after overcoming design problems, South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said Jan. 13.

Jointly developed by the state-run Agency for Defense Development and Doosan DST, the K21 sank twice in the past two years, killing one soldier.

Last November, a team of military and civilian experts concluded there were critical flaws in the design of the 25-ton vehicle, including a lack of buoyancy, malfunctioning of the wave plate and a problem with the drain pump.

"Since November, we've fixed the problems concerned and carried out test trials four times successfully," a DAPA spokesman said. "After fixing other problems raised by field units, production of spare parts will begin."

........EDITED.........

Read more: http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=5449151&c=ASI&s=LAN

[buglerbilly]

The New M339 Kalanit 120mm Multi-Purpose Tank round is Empowering the IDF Armored Corps Capabilities in Dealing with the On-going Terror from the Gaza Strip

(Source: Israel Industries Military Ltd.; issued January 24, 2011)

RAMAT HASHARON, Israel --- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Armored Corps positioned along the Gaza Strip were recently equipped with IMI's new High Explosive Multi-Purpose (HE-MP) M339 tank round (in Hebrew: Kalanit).

The advanced tank round has been developed by IMI as a response to an urgent request of the IDF Armored Corps based on lessons learned in the 2006 Second Lebanon War and the 2008 Cast Lead Operation.

The unique, state-of-the-art tank round is designed for the Merkava Mk3 and Mk4 and worldwide Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) equipped with 120mm smooth bore guns.

The sophisticated round is based on the knowledge, experience and successful implementation of IMI's 105mm APAM-MP-T M117/1 tank round which has been in use and combat proven by the IDF in recent years.

The newly developed tank round is based on the perception of using one kind of round against a wide range of targets and scenarios in the modern battlefield, ultimately decreasing the different kinds of tank rounds used before.

The fuse of the tank round is programmable after it is loaded in the chamber, enabling the crewmen increased capability in both handling and in accomplishing their goals in all fighting scenarios- against fortifications, urban structures, Light Armored Vehicles (LAVs), as well as, anti-tank and ambush infantry squads.

When used against fortified structures or bunkers, the round effectively penetrates the obstacle before detonating, scattering thousands of deadly fragments inside.

The M339, which is referred to by the IDF as the "Kalanit", has recently undergone successful field trials and has proven to be an important advantage for the Armored Corps in fulfilling their missions in the protection of the Israeli settlements around Gaza as it provides efficient and accurate hit capabilities, while significantly minimizing collateral damage.

The "Kalanit" tank round sheds light on IMI's capability to supply the Israeli Defense Forces with advanced solutions, meant to fully respond to specific and urgent needs.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

Name That Mystery Tank: M1A3 Prototype?



Watch this video at the 1:35 mark and you’ll see a mysterious looking tank riding on the back of a CSX freight train that’s supposedly rolling through Ohio. Anyone have any idea what this beast is?

Some are speculating that it’s the new M1A3 Abrams tank prototype while others think it’s merely a movie prop.

The video was posted to YouTube on Sept. 30, 2010 followed by chatter on the TankNet forum. The pics below emerged on militaryphotos​.net in the last week.

Here are a couple of pics of the M1 Component Advanced Technology Test Bed (CATTB) built in the late 1980s to test out a smoothbore gun, heavier turret armor, an auto a mechanical loader and new engine for the tank. The CATTB, however, never made it past the test bed phase.

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?169029-Tanks-all-over-the-world&p=4571439&viewfull=1#post4571439

The tank in the video is similar looking to the CATTB, but the turret is much different................EDITED...........

Read more: http://defensetech.org/#ixzz1CI3hyZVk
Defense.org

[buglerbilly]

Sale of Surplus Leopard 2 Battle Tanks to Canada

(Source: Armasuisse; issued February 10, 2011)

Switzerland sells 12 surplus Leopard 2 Battle Tanks (Pz 87 Leo) to Canada. The battle tanks supplied without armament and further components will be converted to protected special vehicles.

Following the reduction of military strengths in connection with Armed Forces 95 and Armed Forces XXI, various weapon systems were decommissioned, mothballed, sold, or disposed of. The Leopard 2 Battle Tank (Pz 87 Leo) is one of many systems which are no longer needed in the originally procured quantity. Part of the Pz 87 Leo fleet was therefore mothballed at various storage sites.

From the units of the Pz 87 Leo fleet of the Swiss Armed Forces, which are not foreseen for the quality maintenance program and not among the vehicles designated as spare material, 12 vehicles were now sold to Canada, which is already operating Leopard 2 Battle Tanks.

The vehicles supplied to the Canadian Forces will be converted to support vehicles. The Pz 87 Leo are not sold in fully equipped condition. Among others, the following assemblies are removed: armament, radio-and inter-phone systems. The components which are not supplied are used as spare parts by the Swiss Armed Forces.

armasuisse, the Competence Center for the procurement of complex systems, was tasked by the Head DDPS with the performance of the contract and the sale of the surplus equipment.

The export of surplus armaments is subject to the War Material Ordinance, and to approval by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) in Bern. The sale of the Pz 87 Leo is in compliance with the Federal Council decision of 10 March 2006 regarding the utilization of surplus war material of the Swiss Armed Forces. The parties agreed not to disclose the terms of sale.

Background on Pz 87 Leo

The Pz 87 Leo (Leopard 2) was procured for the mechanised units of the Swiss Armed Forces with Armament Program 84 (AP 84). Of the 380 Pz 87 Leo originally deployed with the forces between 1987 and 1993, 134 combat vehicles were subjected to a quality maintenance program with Armament Program 06. The battle tanks, which have reached the first half of their planned service life, are adapted to the changed requirements with the necessary maintenance work.

Of the Pz 87 Leo decommissioned in connection with the reduction, twelve vehicles were converted to armoured engineer and mine clearing vehicles. This special tank, which is used in combination with the Pz 87 Leo, is based on the tank chassis with corresponding new superstructures and additional equipment for the engineer service and for mine clearing.

-ends-

[Gubler, A.]

Name That Mystery Tank: M1A3 Prototype?

This is one of the CATTB demonstraters from the early 1990s. Had a new turret with the 120/140mm gun and automatic loader.

[Weasel]

hdpe?

:) doh! I only just saw this.. Been awhile. No I was thinking (at the time) along Linear arranged plastics, like Linear Low Density Polyethylene...think you guys call it "Gladwrap"??... V useful stuff when you turn it into blocks... crash barriers, etc, etc.

[buglerbilly]

IDEX 2011: LM offers common approach for UK and Kuwait Warriors

February 23, 2011

Lockheed Martin (LM) is considering a joint approach for the upgrades of Kuwait and UK Warrior infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) should it get the go-ahead for both programmes, according to company officials.

Speaking to Land Warfare International at IDEX in Abu Dhabi, LM Missiles and Fire Control’s director for international business development, Morri Leland, described this as a 'great opportunity to get synergy' between the respective projects.

LM beat BAE Systems in being selected as preferred bidder for the UK Ministry of Defence's (MoD) Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme (WCSP) and told LWI that it was awaiting the receipt of an 'imminent' request for interest (RfI) from Kuwait's MoD along with details on how it wishes to progress with the programme. BAE Systems is also understood to be interested in the contract although the company was not able to comment.

Although UK and Kuwait Warriors comprise different armaments and systems, common areas could be found within the chassis, turret and electronic architecture, Leland stated. More specifically, he highlighted potential UK upgrades to the drive train, weapon systems that could be incorporated into the Kuwaiti programme and generic vehicle architecture (GVA) technology.

The main benefit for the UK, Leland said, would be cost reduction and international co-operation.

'The UK government is looking at opportunities to promote international business and this is a great opportunity for that,’ he added.

It is still not known whether the UK's WCSP will get the final go-ahead with a decision expected later in the year. However, sources told LWI that 'significantly less' than the UK's total fleet of 500 Warrior IFVs would be upgraded.

By contrast, it is understood that most, if not all of Kuwait's 250-plus 'Desert Warrior' IFVs will be modernised, although programme specifics have yet to be finalised.

By Andrew White, Abu Dhabi

[buglerbilly]

Bulgarian BMP-30 Production Run Fizzling Out?

(Source: Forecast International; issued February 25, 2011)



NEWTOWN, Conn. --- Open-source reporting suggests production of the BMP-30 was restarted sometime in 2005 for Bulgarian Army procurement. In 2006 and 2007, the BRM-23 production line was reportedly active for a limited production run. The BMP-23/BMP-23A production line remains dormant.

In 1987, Bulgaria embarked on a program to develop an indigenous mechanized infantry combat vehicle based on the MT-LB. The Bulgaria State Factories originally developed the BMP-23 and BMP-30; the Terem Joint Stock Company took over production in the early 1990s.

The basic Bulgarian BMP/BRM design consists of a modified MT-LB chassis, mounting either an indigenously designed turret (BMP-23 and BRM-23) or the Russian BMP-2 turret (BMP-30). The all-welded steel armor provides protection against 7.62mm AP rounds and ballistic fragments.

The Terem Joint Stock Company continues to offer these vehicles on the international market. To date, however, the Bulgarian Army has been the only buyer; we estimate 247 vehicles are currently in Bulgarian Army service.

As Bulgaria has now achieved its goal of NATO membership, we expect Terem will upgrade its BMP-30 and BRM-23 lines to NATO standards. This effort could include integration of Western drivetrain and electronic components in an attempt to make the vehicles more attractive on the international market.

The BMP-30 may be in its final years of low-rate production for Bulgarian Army procurement. Modernization and retrofit work will likely bring existing vehicles up to NATO standards.

While the BMP-23, BMP-30, and BRM-23 will never be a major factor on the international market, these vehicles continue to provide the Bulgarian Army with a relatively modern mechanized capability. Renewed production and modernization/retrofit work could become a significant source of revenue for the prime contractor by 2020. (ends)

PLA Type 90 MICV Program Parallels Type 90 APC

(Source: Forecast International; issued February 25, 2011)

NEWTOWN, Conn. --- Serial production of the Type 90 mechanized infantry combat vehicle is ongoing in the People's Republic of China for PLA procurement. The production lines for all other MICV models remain dormant. While the production lines for the WZ 501 and WZ 503 fell dormant in 2000, NORINCO still offers these vehicles for export, suggesting the production lines remain available for new orders.

As with its armored personnel carrier inventory, the PLA is in the process of standardizing its active mechanized infantry combat vehicle inventory around the Type 90. Through 2020, the WZ 501 and WZ 503 will continue to fill a supporting role; the PLA will retire YW 307 and YW 309 vehicles as more Type 90 vehicles enter service.

The ongoing PLA force modernization effort is primarily a reaction to lessons learned from observing recent U.S. military actions - especially Operation Desert Storm (1991), Operation Enduring Freedom (2001-present), and Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn (2003-present) - and the ongoing U.S. force transformation initiative.

Further, the U.S. Department of Defense believes that the PLA currently maintains about 40 percent of its main battle tank assets and about 20 percent of its mechanized infantry forces in the vicinity of the Taiwan Straits. Given the vast amount of territory the PLA must defend, this disposition of mechanized forces clearly reflects the PLA's strategic focus on Taiwan.

As PLA requirements continue to dominate Type 90 production, FI does not expect to see NORINCO offer the Type 90 MICV on the international market. In all likelihood, the older, retired YW 307 and YW 309 vehicles will not appear in any significant quantities on the international market, as these vehicles are essentially worn-out from years of PLA service.

The PLA mechanized infantry combat vehicle programs clearly parallel PLA armored personnel carrier programs, with the Type 90 family of tracked vehicles emerging as the design basis for the entire PLA mechanized force structure.

The traditional scarcity of comprehensive production and technical data from the PRC continues to hamper FI's research and forecasting efforts. The PLA releases data only on a selective basis; NORINCO customers continue to serve as a limited technical source.

As with the Type 90 armored personnel carrier, the Forecast International Weapons Group expects to see Type 90 mechanized infantry combat vehicle production significantly exceed that of any other Chinese MICV, with a production run of at least 2,500 vehicles through 2020.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

Israeli Merkava Mk4 First Successful Engagement with Trophy APS

Posted by Noam Eshel at 3/1/2011 1:02 PM CST

After the deployment of Merkava Mk 4 tanks equipped with Trophy (ASPRO-A) Active Protection Systems (APS) along the Gaza border in November 2010, battle-testing the system was only a matter of time. Today (1st March 2011), the Trophy proved its worth in a first combat engagement with a hostile RPG, fired by a Palestinian anti-tank team from Gaza. According to IDF sources, the Merkava tank was patrolling the border with Gaza, when a missile launch was detected by the tank's radar system.

The Elta System's EL/M 2133 'WindGuard' sensors classified the threat as 'severe', alerted the crew and tracked the missile closing-in on the tank. As the RPG entered the system's kill-zone, Trophy fired at the missile, destroying it at a safe distance from the tank.

Shortly afterwards, IDF soldiers identified several terrorists in the launching area and fired in their direction, scoring a hit.


Photo: Noam Eshel

Upon detection of a direct-threat attack to the vehicle, the WindGuard automatically initiates an alert to the crew and immediately starts a reaction cycle, including smoke, IR jamming and hard-kill subsystems. Beside its role as the Trophy's primary sensor, detecting the threat and calculating Time-to-Impact (TTI) and plotting the optimal intercept point, the Windguard radar also localizes the firing position of the missile being tracked, enabling the IDF troops to rapidly engage active enemy positions, eliminating follow-up attacks on its armor.


Photo: Israel MoD

[buglerbilly]

Dutch Army May Scrap Its Tank Divisions: AD

(Source: Dutch News; published March 17, 2011)

The Netherlands may soon have an army without tanks, the AD reports on Thursday. The paper says the defence minister is considering getting rid of all 80 tanks as part of measures to cut spending.

The two tank divisions were originally set up to protect the Netherlands from attack from communist states but are now used in foreign peacekeeping missions.

A number of transport helicopters could also be scrapped to save money, the paper says, quoting defence ministry sources.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

Tarian QuickShield Offres Ad-Hoc Armor Repair

March 18, 2011

tamir_eshel


The QuickShield textile-based armor is applied as a 'band aid’ for bar armor' enabled armored vehicle crews to rapidly replace damaged bar (slat) armor on military vehicles in the field. Photo: MOD

This is applicable to Wheeled Armour as well of course...............

QuickShield, a textile-based, lightweight net designed to stop rocket-propelled grenade threats (RPG) from penetrating vehicle armor was unveiled by the U.K. Ministry of Defense netting today, as part of the ministry’s National Science and Engineering Week. QuickShield is applied as a ‘band aid’ for bar armor’ enabling armored vehicle crews to rapidly replace damaged bar (slat) armor on military vehicles in the field. The QuickShield net is stowed in the vehicle, and can be fitted immediately without any tools. It is due to be delivered to Afghanistan in April 2011 as part of a £2.6m contract.

Textile-based TARIAN armor was developed by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) with Dorset-based AMSAFE in Bridport. TARIAN provides lightweight protection against RPGs, in places where bar armor cannot be applied. In 2009 MOD aquired the first sets of TARIAN to protect Heavy Equipment Transporters bound to Afghanistan.

© 2011 defense-update.com

[buglerbilly]

The official notice from the MoD.............

Innovative Defence kit showcased during National Science and Engineering Week

An Equipment and Logistics news article

18 Mar 11

A new form of armoured netting which can stop rocket-propelled grenades damaging vehicles was one of the items showcased at an event to mark National Science and Engineering Week.


Tarian QuickShield by AmSafe of Bridport, Dorset, acts as a 'band aid', temporarily replacing broken bar armour
[Picture: Christopher Panks, Dstl, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

Tarian QuickShield netting, which is similar in appearance to a string vest, was among several innovations displayed in London today which have been created by MOD scientists from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and members of the defence industry.

The event gave an insight into current technologies being deployed in support of our Armed Forces and a forward look at the scientific innovations which may one day add to the current impressive range of tools which give military personnel a battle-winning edge.

Tarian QuickShield is a lightweight net or 'band aid for bar armour', strong enough to protect against rocket-propelled grenades, which will be used to rapidly replace damaged bar armour on military vehicles in the field.

Stowed in the vehicle, the netting can be fitted immediately without any tools. It is due to be delivered to Afghanistan next month as part of a £2.6m contract.

As well as the netting, a pioneering approach to tackling the problem of 'helicopter brownout', where a pilot loses visual references due to dust or sand, was also showcased.

The kit uses a small, helmet-mounted display to provide a virtual 3D representation of the landing zone that stays fixed to the earth and helps the pilot to land safely.

During his visit to the event, Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Peter Luff, confirmed that the budget for Dstl would rise in cash terms over the Comprehensive Spending Review period.


A Royal Air Force Chinook helicopter takes off during an exercise involving practising dust landings
[Picture: Senior Aircraftman Neil Chapman, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

He said:

"Scientists, engineers and inventors are often behind novel solutions to defence and security needs. This funding demonstrates our commitment to helping them develop innovative and cutting-edge ideas to help improve and protect the lives of the Armed Forces.

"I have been impressed with the technology on show today and that's why protecting this funding has been so important to me. But don't get me wrong, after the way the science budget has been slashed in recent years, we should be aiming to increase investment as soon as we can."

Rear Admiral Rees Ward (Rtd), Chief Executive Officer of Aerospace, Defence and Security, and Secretary of the Defence Industries Council, said:

"This event provides an important opportunity for the Ministry of Defence and the industry to showcase their joint efforts in providing the best possible equipment to our Armed Forces both now and in the future.

"Maintaining a technological advantage is crucial and is only achieved through continuing investment in research and technology and through close co-operation between industry and Government.

"As we look at the equipment of the future, it seems fitting that this event should take place as part of National Science and Engineering Week with its focus on education and encouraging the engineers and scientists of tomorrow to make a difference in support of our troops."

National Science and Engineering Week runs from 11 to 20 March 2011.

[buglerbilly]

IDF tank comes under missile fire in northern Gaza

By YAAKOV KATZ

03/20/2011 17:29


Photo by: REUTERS/Amir Cohen

Palestinian terrorists fire guided anti-tank missile at Merkava Mk 4 which was equipped with new active-protection system known as Trophy.

Violence continued on Sunday to flare up along Israel’s border with the Gaza Strip as an IDF tank came under missile fire in northern Gaza.

Palestinian terrorists fired a guided anti-tank missile at the Merkava Mk 4 which was equipped with the IDF’s new active-protection system known as Trophy.

The system detected the missile launch but did not launch countermeasures since the anti-tank missile was off target and did not pose a threat to the tank. The Trophy then transferred the coordinates of the terrorists who had fired the missile to the tank crew which immediately returned fire, wounding at least one Palestinian.

Sunday’s incident was the second time that the Trophy worked effectively since it was deployed with Battalion 9 of the 401st Armored Brigade along the Gaza border several months ago.

On Saturday night, IDF tanks opened fire at two Palestinians who were moving suspiciously in an area that is off limits to Palestinians near the border. Medical officials in Gaza said that two known terrorists were killed.

The violence on Sunday came a day after close to 50 mortar shells rained down on Israeli communities in the western Negev in the largest single attack carried out by Hamas since Operation Cast Lead over two years ago.

[buglerbilly]

New Protection System for K-2 to Be Developed This Year

(Source: Sth. Korean Ministry of Defence; dated March 24, web-posted March 28, 2011)

Agency for Defense Development (ADD) recently unveiled a plan to develop Active Protection System (APS) that will be installed on K-2 tank to protect the tank from enemy's anti-tank rockets and missiles.

The agency made public the image of the APS launcher along with 70-millimeter guided rocket during a defense science and technology exhibition, which was organized by the United States Pacific Command, in Hawaii on Mar. 15,

According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and ADD, the new system has been developing since 2006 with a budget of 40 billion won ($36 million) and it is scheduled to be complete within this year.

The APS is consisted of three-dimensional detection and track radar, heat detection and track system, control computer, launching system and counter rocket, the agency said.

The agency also said it only takes 0.2 to 0.3 second for the new system to detect and track anti-tank missiles and rockets fired from enemies and fire its counter rockets to hit those missiles.

The 70-millimeter guided rocket had also received attention. The rocket, a.k.a Low Cost Guided Imaging Rocket (LOGIR), has Image Infra-Red and guided control system. The new rocket, which has been jointly developed by Korea and U.S., is definitely not a new type of weapon as it has been created with low cost.

In a symposium two years ago, ADD said the new rocket could fly at the speed of Mach 2.0 with fire and forget method. The agency also said that the Army, Navy and Air Force already showed interest to get the rocket to install in their vehicles and planes.

In the meantime, the agency's president Park Chang-kyu said during the exhibition that the ADD will further develop eco-friendly green energy and low-carbon future energy weapon system as well as a system to be used in military training and combat experiment with simulation.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

A bit more on this plus pic............

Active Protection for the South Korean K-2 Main Battle Tank

March 29, 2011

tamir_eshel


A two-shot launcher developed for the South Korean Active Protection System (APS) protecting the K-2 main battle tank. Photo: South Korea Agency for Defense Development (ADD)

South Korea is developing an Active Protection System (APS) for the K-2 tank augmenting the tank’s protection against anti-tank rockets and missiles. The system uses dual sensor detection and tracking system comprising a 3D radar and infrared system, control computer and countermeasure launchers firing specially designed rockets. According to Korean officials the system’s response rate is about 0.2 to 0.3 second from target detection, through to the interception.

The South Korean Agency for Defense Development (ADD) unveiled the system which has been under development since 2006, at a defense and technology exhibition held by the U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii earlier this month. According to ADD the development of the new system was $36 million. The development is scheduled to be completed next year.

[buglerbilly]

Strategic Cooperation with FFG for the Brazilian Market

(Source: Krauss-Maffei Wegmann; issued April 12, 2011)

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and the Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft (FFG) have announced their strategic cooperation for the Brazilian market today at the defence exhibition LAAD in Rio de Janeiro.

For the industrial support and further development of the Brazilian vehicle fleet, KMW is currently opening its own development, assembly and maintenance centre in the southern Brazilian Santa Maria. The aim of both companies is to offer from this infrastructure also attractive modernization possibilities for the Brazilian M113 fleet.

FFG looks back on several decades of experience in this field and has modernised and updated the combat performance of the M113 transport tank for a large number of international costumers.

Increased-power rated M113 in hardware at the exhibition

At LAAD both companies present the M113 transport tank in hardware in an increased-power rated version. Known as WARAN in the market, the increased-power rated version comes with an enhanced driving gear, an enormous storage capacity and a large payload capacity. The extremely versatile transport tank is capable of loading heavy conversion kits or infantry units and protecting them from ballistic or mines threats.

With the M113, KMW and FFG offer a cost-efficient alternative that closes gaps in equipment quickly and efficiently with a sustainable and multifunctional vehicle for the Brazilian Army. Denmark, as well as Australia too, has chosen the enhanced version of the transport tank. The M113 forms the kick-off to further cooperation projects between KMW and FFG on the Brazilian market.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

BAE, KMW Vie For Brazil Armored Vehicle Upgrade

By ANDREW CHUTER

Published: 13 Apr 2011 07:19

RIO DE JANEIRO - BAE Systems and European armored vehicle rival Krauss-Maffei Wegmann are vying to upgrade the Brazilian Army's M113 armored vehicle fleet.

Both companies brought upgraded vehicles to the Latin American Aerospace and Defense show here this week as the two sides stepped up the fight to upgrade about 150 vehicles with new engines, upgraded transmission, new electronic architecture, better armor protection and other improvements.

BAE executives here said the U.S. government is in talks with their Brazilian counterparts to upgrade the vehicles to the current U.S. A2 Mk1 standard in a foreign military sales deal.

The upgrade is being pursued by BAE through its U.S. subsidiary, which originally built the vehicles.

BAE said it would partner with the Brazilian Army's own depot operation to undertake the upgrade if the deal is agreed.

For its part, KMW said it was partnering with German M113 upgrade expert Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft (FFG) to try to secure the Brazilian work.

Germany's KMW also announced it was setting up a new subsidiary in Brazil to develop, support and produce armored vehicles at a site in Santa Maria in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul.

A company spokesman said the vehicle developments would be suited to the Brazilian market but would have the "DNA of vehicles" in the KMW range.

The new company would act as the continental hub for KMW's efforts in the region, the spokesman said.

KMW is nearing completion of a deal to supply 270 surplus Leopard 1 main battle tanks to the Brazilian Army. The final vehicles will be delivered by the end of this year and the German vehicle builder hopes to secure a long-term support agreement for the tanks.

In a statement, KMW said it was looking to base the upgrade work at the yet- to- be-built Santa Maria site.

The partnership with FFG could lead to other co-operation projects in the Brazilian market, KMW said.

Armored vehicle upgrades for the Brazilian market are potentially big business.

BAE executives here said the company saw opportunities to upgrade Brazilian M109 howitzers as well as upgrade and acquire surplus U.S. stocks of the AAV7 armored vehicle.

Erik Hjelm , BAE's Americas vice president, said the company was looking at upgrading 26 AAV7's and doubling the existing fleet with another 26 vehicles from the U.S., and upgrading them all to the latest military standard operated by the U.S.

Company executives also said they are exploring opportunities for the Swedish developed BVS10 tracked all-terrain vehicle in Brazil and Chile and offering mine- resistant vehicles supplied by its South African arm for duties at the upcoming World Cup and Olympic Games in Brazil.

[buglerbilly]

KMW Establishes a Brazilian Subsidiary Supporting Land Systems Activities

April 14, 2011

noam_eshel



KMW has brought to LAAD the latest version of its upgraded M113, offering a new powerpack, passive armor improvements, mobility enhancements, and rubber tracks, improving the vehicle's road mobility. The company is anticipating future requirements from the Brazilian Army, to upgrade few hundreds of their 600+ M-113s. Photo - Tamir Eshel, Defense Update.

The German armored vehicles company KMW is establishing a Brazilian subsidiary named KMW do Brasil, to be located in Santa Maria in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. The newly founded company will act as a continental hub for KMW’s regional activities. Offering support and services for systems already deployed in the region, such as the LEOPARD 1A5 main battle tank, the new company will also provide a local basis for implementing KMW-technologies with on specific South American vehicle solutions, to be manufactured in Santa Maria in the future.

At LAAD 2011 KMW is promoting a new M-113 upgrade kit, which features new passive armor, rubber tracks, RPG protective ‘chicken net’, protected headlights and more. military transport vehicles destined for the regional defense and security market.

© 2011 defense-update.com

[buglerbilly]

BAE Improving Soldier Survivability With $62 M Bradley Contract



Arlington, Virginia - BAE Systems is helping to protect soldiers on the front line through a $62 million contract modification to provide energy absorbing seats, laser designation and other important survivability enhancements for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, which is already one of the most survivable vehicles currently in battle.

"While many of us will never experience the threat of an explosive device on our way to work, there are thousands of soldiers that encounter such threats each day on the battlefield," said Joe McCarthy, vice president and general manager of the Heavy Brigade Combat Team at BAE Systems. "Fully understanding and assessing the needs of our men and women in uniform is critical and extremely important to us."

The contract includes several work directives and additional survivability improvements. Some of the enhancements include:

-- Energy absorbing seats and foot rests that limit blast effects transmitted through the vehicle floor
-- Gunner and commander position protection against mine and improvised explosive devices
-- Field service representative support
-- Vehicle software upgrades
-- Target location extension
-- Laser designation
-- Enhanced armor protection
-- Emergency ramp release that provides escape capability by lowering the ramp on a battle damaged vehicle

The work under this contract modification will take place at various military installations in the United States as well as in Iraq and Kuwait. The work will begin in March 2011 and is anticipated to be completed in December 2011.

The contract modification was awarded by the U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command.

Bradley Fighting Vehicle continues to provide outstanding survivability, mobility and lethality to U.S. soldiers in various combat situations. The Bradley fulfills five critical mission roles - infantry fighting vehicle, cavalry fighting vehicle, fire support vehicle, command vehicle and engineer squad vehicle - for the U.S. Army's Heavy Brigade Combat Team.

Source : BAE Systems PLC (LSE: BAES.L)

Read more: http://www.asdnews.com/news/34965/BAE_Improving_Soldier_Survivability_With_$62_M_Bra dley_Contract.htm#ixzz1KAwKbJPZ

[buglerbilly]

The tank at the end of history

By Philip Ewing Thursday, April 21st, 2011 2:30 pm



Is basic business intellect TOTALLY lacking from the US Army? How in the Hell do they expect to close a line and then hey presto, open it again 3 years later and all of their workforce will still be there..........? What does the workforce live on for 3 years....? Mindless and idiotic........!!

Everybody loves the M1 Abrams family of tanks. They’re powerful, fast, tough, battle-proven and endlessly upgradable — Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli says the Abrams’ history of improvements provides an ideal blueprint for what he wants out of the new Ground Combat Vehicle. The only problem is, the Abrams might not need to exist anymore. It’s getting harder to imagine a scenario in which the Army would fight a big set piece tank battle, and although no one is seriously contemplating giving up heavy armor, the Army does want to bring its tank production to a halt. For awhile.

Army officials would like to shut down the Ohio factory that builds Abrams tanks for three years, which the Department of the Army says would save more than $1 billion. According to the Army’s plan, the line would close from 2013 to 2016, then start back up to begin upgrading existing tanks. It’s an usual situation: The U.S. government owns the tank factory in Lima, Ohio, but it’s operated by General Dynamics Land Systems, which is not pleased with the shutdown proposal.

G-D argues that although the government may continue to own all the equipment at the factory, it will lose the expert workers who know all the secrets in the art of tank construction. And a shutdown would also have ripple effects beyond Ohio, G-D argues; more than 500 other contractors would lose work and might also need to lay people off. The defense giant has set up a special website to make the case for the Abrams, which includes lushly produced movies and interviews with the salt-of-the-earth Midwesterners about why the Abrams needs to stay in steady production.

Although the Army’s plans for a production freeze have been in the works for a few years, they could get additional momentum given that DoD has been asked to find $400 billion in cuts over the next decade. Given that lawmakers barely seemed to understand the need for the GCV in a House Armed Services Committee hearing earlier this year, it may be politically difficult to support building more and more main battle tanks when the Army already owns more than 5,000 of them, and the Marines operate more than 400.

Then again, don’t count the Abrams out yet. The chairman of the HASC air and land forces committee, Maryland Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, was scheduled to travel to Lima this week with Ohio Rep. Michael Turner, so Turner could make G-D’s case for a compromise in which it could keep the line running. As soon as we hear more about the trip, look for an update.

Read more: http://www.dodbuzz.com/2011/04/21/the-tank-at-the-end-of-history/#ixzz1KCwyjfgP
DoDBuzz.com

[buglerbilly]

New Designs Suit Tanks For Asymmetric War

Apr 22, 2011

By David Eshel, Bill Sweetman
Tel Aviv, Washington



One trend in warfare and asymmetric combat (mostly urban) is the use of main battle tanks (MBTs) in small tactical assault forces. Tank versus tank fighting is virtually nonexistent. Even in high-intensity combat, tankers prefer firing at targets within visual range—2,000-3,000 meters (6,500-9,800 ft.). Longer-distance targets can be attacked with high-precision missiles directed by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and laser designation.

Israel is among the countries adapting its MBTs, in this case the Merkava Mk4, for asymmetric combat. Evolving designs will enhance performance in a number of areas, notably firepower, protection, stealth and networked communications. Some tacticians tout the Mk4 as an infantry commander’s dream, for the versatility it can provide in battle when linked with other armored vehicles and dismounted troops.

In Europe, two contractors, Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Rheinmetall, are working on armor protection and weapon systems for MBTs and infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), which not only enhance performance and situational awareness, but give crews more time to make decisions—a key advantage in low-intensity combat.

The trends underway in armored platform design could soon have an influence on battlefield tactics and, in the process, affect the development of a new generation of armored vehicles, including the U.S. Army’s Ground Combat Vehicle.

One area receiving attention is tank ammunition. Israel Aerospace Industries subsidiary MBT developed Lahat, a missile fired through the barrel of a tank, which eliminates expensive retrofit work. Using semi-active laser homing, Lahat can be designated by the firing tank or by an indirect designation, by another tank, UAV, helicopter or forward observers, so that the firing vehicle, using a hull-down position, is less exposed to counter-fire.

Lahat has a range of 8,000 meters when launched from a ground platform, and 13 km (8 mi.) when deployed from a high elevation. The missile’s accuracy is 0.7 meters circular error probable, and at an attack angle of more than 30 deg. penetrates 800 mm (31 in.) of steel armor.

Apart from longer range, higher precision and controlled lethality are guidelines for new munitions. Israel Military Industries’ APAM high-explosive, multipurpose M339 tank round provides one munition for a range of targets and scenarios, decreasing the need for different rounds. The fuse of the APAM is programmable after loading, giving the crew flexibility in targeting choice—antipersonnel, fortification, light armored vehicles, antitank.

Survivability of a tank and crew on a fire-saturated battlefield drove the Merkava’s design. A modular open-platform approach transformed the tank from a vehicle designed to fight other tanks into a versatile platform optimized for a changing battlefield. The Merkava shifts rapidly from low-intensity warfare to high-intensity counter-armor operations. It meets the rising antiarmor missile threat with active protection systems (APS). Mk4s are rolling off the assembly line with Rafael’s Trophy APS as a standard element of the protection suite. The Trophy APS was successfully combat-tested in March, when a Gazan fired a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) at a tank. Elta System’s EL/M 2133 WindGuard sensors detected the projectile and in milliseconds classified the threat as severe and alerted the crew. The Trophy APS tracked the missile. When it was within range, the APS automatically activated the hard-kill countermeasure and destroyed the threat at a safe distance. Longer-distance threats—such as antitank guided missiles—would leave more time for other countermeasures.

The Merkava’s modular design permits changes at acceptable cost as operational requirements shift. Among changes envisioned by the IDF are those that address developments in ammunition, miniaturization of components, elevated observation needs in urban combat, advanced communications, APS radar, new camouflage materials, stealth technologies and enhanced life-support systems for crews.

As part of the evolution of the Merkava family, the MBT chassis is the basis for a family of heavily armored vehicles, designed for multimission operations in high- and low-intensity warfare. The first offshoot is the Namer IFV, which recently entered service and will deploy in large numbers.

Tactical and operational aspects of IDF tank deployment are being debated. Recent conflicts against hybrid opponents, such as Hezbollah, have forced the IDF to rethink the role of heavy forces in combat. The rapidly developing information technology domain presents a significant challenge for designers. The Mk4 is packed with sophisticated electronics, computers and network-centric connections. Rather than having specific processors committed to individual tasks, multiple processors in the Mk4 provide services to applications, each prioritized by parameters such as importance, urgency and process duration. The processors can be located in different areas of the tank and are connected by multiple networks, providing a resilient and survivable infrastructure.

In the past, tanks normally fought and survived within rigid formations. Today, they can operate in looser packs, seamlessly sharing targets, coordinating activities among themselves and cooperating with other elements over the IDF’s new digital C4I network. Each tank is designed as a network-centric system managed by dedicated servers for the turret and hull. It also has a digitally controlled power-distribution system for the turret and all weapon and observation systems. Crewmembers use common workstations, which connect to the tank’s intranet, for operations and to display data.

Enhanced and flexible firepower, ranging from a powerful 120-mm main gun, coaxial and remotely controlled machineguns and semi-automatic mortars, make the latest version of the Mk4 a flexible fighting machine. As the high-pressure gun will probably remain the main armament, extensive research will be invested in munitions technology to enhance the precision of long-range, direct-trajectory fire.

With its combination of firepower, mobility and protection, a Merkava/Namer team at the platoon level could in future operations present unprecedented flexibility for ground commanders. Although this capability has so far only been discussed, a four-vehicle platoon of two Merkava tanks and two Namer IFVs could make a well-balanced combat team, with the redundancy to split into two sub-units without degradation of firepower, especially in urban combat.

Rheinmetall and KMW, meanwhile, are collaborating on the Puma IFV, but disagree on some issues surrounding armor concepts, and in one case have found themselves in conflict. The problem arose with Rheinmetall’s Revolution tank upgrade package, installed as a demonstrator on a Leopard 2A4 tank. Since the Leopard is a KMW product, Rheinmetall is not allowed to refer to Revolution as a Leopard upgrade.

Nevertheless, the Revolution concept shows how technology has changed the tank in the past decade and made it far more relevant to today’s conflicts than it was when those conflicts started. The upgrade includes improved passive protection, but also features an APS with a proprietary defeat mechanism developed by a newly acquired Rheinmetall subsidiary. A state-of-the-art remotely controlled weapon system (RCWS) is on the turret.

Perhaps the most important element of the system is the digital turret. The advent of affordable, high-quality infrared and electro-optical sensors and flat-panel displays, combined with digital maps and networking, eliminates the classic limitation of the tank in situations other than frontal attack—the lack of 360-deg. situational awareness. The RCWS allows pop-up targets to be engaged quickly. The Revolution retains a four-man crew but with flexible tasking. The loader operates the RCWS and can fire the main gun.

KMW has not installed an APS on its own Leopard 2A7 “urban” demonstrator and the company is not a believer in the technology. The 2A7 is protected against multiple RPG shots, KMW says, and it has yet to see an APS that is able to defeat countermeasures such as new RPG systems that fire decoy precursor rounds.

Rheinmetall executives and engineers believe it is not so much that the MBT itself is going through a resurgence, but that its level of protection provides essential options in asymmetric and counterinsurgency operations. Rules of engagement do not favor immediate firepower response to an attack, and the MBT’s level of protection gives the crew time to make decisions.

New armor technology and APS, says Rheinmetall, also make it possible to provide such a level of protection at sub-MBT weights. They argue that the 120-mm weapon is not needed for most vehicles—a 30-mm gun such as that on the Puma, firing PELE (Penetration with Enhanced Lateral Effects) rounds, will be adequate, but could be backed up by a vehicle with a dual-purpose (line-of-sight and high-elevation) 105-mm gun.

Photo: Rafael

[buglerbilly]

First New Turkish Tank Prototype Ready

(Source: Forecast International; issued May 2, 2011)



ANKARA --- The Turkish National Tank Manufacturing Program (MITUP) is moving forward with the prototype of Turkey's first national tank, set to be unveiled on May 10 at [the International Defense Exhibition and Fair, IDEF] in Istanbul.

National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul announced the unveiling on April 30, stating the new tank would be an upgrade compared to those tanks in the inventory of the Turkish armed forces. Turkey currently operates Leopard 1A and 2A models, as well as ex-U.S. Army M60s and ex-West German M48s.

The new Turkish tank - called the "Altay" - has been designed by South Korea's Hyundai Rotem in tandem with Turkish automobile company, Otokar. In the competition for main foreign subcontractor on the contract, Rotem beat out Germany's KMW by full technology transfer of its new K-2 Black Panther main battle tank (MBT) design.

The new Altay tank will comprise about 60 percent of the technology used in the South Korean K-2.

The cost of the Atlay project is estimated at $500 million, with four prototypes to be produced and delivered by 2015.

-ends-

[Milne Bay]

First New Turkish Tank Prototype Ready

(Source: Forecast International; issued May 2, 2011)

ANKARA --- The Turkish National Tank Manufacturing Program (MITUP) is moving forward with the prototype of Turkey's first national tank, set to be unveiled on May 10 at [the International Defense Exhibition and Fair, IDEF] in Istanbul.

National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul announced the unveiling on April 30, stating the new tank would be an upgrade compared to those tanks in the inventory of the Turkish armed forces. Turkey currently operates Leopard 1A and 2A models, as well as ex-U.S. Army M60s and ex-West German M48s.

The new Turkish tank - called the "Altay" - has been designed by South Korea's Hyundai Rotem in tandem with Turkish automobile company, Otokar. In the competition for main foreign subcontractor on the contract, Rotem beat out Germany's KMW by full technology transfer of its new K-2 Black Panther main battle tank (MBT) design.

The new Altay tank will comprise about 60 percent of the technology used in the South Korean K-2.

The cost of the Atlay project is estimated at $500 million, with four prototypes to be produced and delivered by 2015.

-ends-

A pikki from Wiki:

[buglerbilly]

IDEF 2011: New Turkish Leopard 2 Upgrade solution

May 10, 2011



Aselsan has unveiled its new Leopard 2 upgrade solution at IDEF in Istanbul, offering significant capability enhancements to Turkey’s Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks (MBT).

The upgrade includes a complete replacement of the existing electro-optics, electro-mechanical and electro-hydraulic systems of the Leopard 2A4 in order to increase performance and reduce life-cycle costs for users, the company said.

Aselsan has improved protection with add-on ceramic faced ballistic armour modules and light alloys for protection against kinetic effects, anti-tank guided munitions and rocket propelled grenades. As well as additional turret and hull protection modules, roof protection, heavy track skirts, slat armour and spall liners have been added.

Improvised Explosive Device (IED) protection is also included with hull belly mine protection modules, and the internal structure has been modified and the driver’s seat suspended in order to protect crew against light and heavy mines and IEDs.

Gunners’ and commanders’ Periscope Electronic Units (PEUs) have been upgraded in accordance with the redundant system architecture. A company spokesperson told Shephard this was a key component of the upgrade, enabling thermal imaging, sight stabilisation, gun/turret stabilisation, automatic target tracking and ballistic computation to be run on a standard processor card.

In the event of a periscope failure both gunner and commander systems can be rapidly ‘built up’ with these operational electronic cards, keeping the logistical footprint for the system as low as possible.

The upgrade also includes a stabilised remote weapon station platform for protection against air and ground attacks as well as irregular warfare attacks. The 12.7 mm heavy machine gun, 40mm automatic grenade launcher and the 7.62 mm machine gun can be interchangeably installed. The system is fully integrated with the fire control system; and the optical sigh unit includes thermal, visible and laser range finder for effective attack in all light and weather conditions.

The growing requirement for a unified picture of the battlefield across armed forces has been addressed with the addition of interoperability with voice and data communications for digital command capability. Real time situational awareness and operations planning and execution functions have been added via a new battlefield management system in order for greater coordination and synchoronisation of all units from battalion down to single platform level.

The system is currently in the final stages of testing and Aselsan expects it to be fully qualified by the end of 2011 when it will become available to customers.

Claire Apthorp, Istanbul

[buglerbilly]

Details of the Upgrade in CGI video.............via Army Recognition.......

Aselsan modernized version Leopard 2A4 main battle tank at defence exhibition IDEF 2011.mpg




Uploaded by armyreco on May 7, 2011

New Aselsan modernized version ( Read more at http://www.ArmyRecognition.com ) of main battle tank Leopard 2A4 will be displayed at Defence Exhibition IDEF 2011 from the 11 - 15 May 2011.

[buglerbilly]

IDEF 2011: Turkish MBT prototype unveiled at IDEF

May 12, 2011



The newest main battle tank (MBT) prototype for the Turkish Armed forces has been unveiled this week at IDEF 2011 in Istanbul by Otokar. If the programme goes according to plan the MBT, known as ‘Altay’, will be the first indigenously developed tank for Turkey.

The Turkish Armed Forces already operate the Leopard 1A and 2A models and the new tank will offer a significant upgrade to existing capabilities.

Ali Eren Topcu, System Requirement Management Section Manager for Otokar, told Shephard that the tank is currently in the first phase of the programme and will enter production pending approval by the Turkish Armed Forces.

Following the preliminary review Otokar will develop two further prototypes, a mobile testing rig and fighting testing rig ahead of a Critical Design Review. If accepted by the Turkish Armed Forces Otokar expects the MBT to enter service in around 2016.

‘So far the Turkish Armed Forces are very interested in the prototype, and the capabilities it will bring them’, Topcu said. He declined to comment on how many vehicles Otokar hopes to develop with the programme.

The tank features a L55 gun, remote weapon station, and a 1,500hp engine. Both the gunners’ and commanders’ stations have identical capabilities in terms of visual systems, and also feature many of the same elements as those on the newly revealed Aselsan Leopard 2 Upgrade Solution. Along with full life support system, and air-conditioning, it is fitted with a fully digitised command and control station and an active protection system.

Claire Apthorp, Istanbul

[buglerbilly]

This potentially applies to all armour..............

Israeli Company Debut ‘Stealth Armor’ Making Vehicles ‘Disappear’

By tamir_eshel on May 12, 2011 10:15 pm


Uploaded by defenseupdate on May 12, 2011
http://defense-update.com/wp/20110512_eltics_black_fox.html Defense Update | May 2011: Eltics demonstrates a stealthy Landrover defender, utilizing the active, adaptive, multi-spectral thermal 'stealth' deception and active signature supression system.

Israel’s thermal stealth innovator Eltics unveiled today a short video depicting the results of recent tests where large thermal panels installed on a Land Rover Defender vehicle managed to eliminate the vehicle’s signature, totally masking the vehicle from the thermal sight’s display.

Following a recent investment refuelling the start-up company, Eltics embarked on the development and testing of a full scale prototype of the Black-Fox active – adaptive – multi-spectral stealth system, to be able to mask a complete vehicle (both sides, front and rear). The system employs a thermal camera that samples the background view and a system processor and controller that recreates the necessary effects on the panels, blending the protected object into the background.

The company already raised 2.5 million in funding and plans to attract additional 5 million in the near future, enabling it to pursue the next stage – building and testing a full scale thermal suite in an operational test of the stealth technology. The compamy has embarked on a cooperative development with IMI, with the two companies joining forces in offering thermal adaptive signature management technology with IMI’s hybrid-reactive armor modules. The new combined module designated ‘Invisible Reactive Armor Protection’ (IRAP) will be designed to match a wide range of armored fighting vehicles.


Eltics has modified a Land Rover Defender vehicle installing multiple Black Fox panels and the signature management system (modules are shown on the hood). The system can eliminate the entire vehicle from the view of thermal sensors, or be used to depict a fake image, 'converting' the tank to look like a Jeep, and vice versa. Photos: Noam Eshel, defense Update

By managing the heat distribution of the panels, the Black Fox system depicts a displayed across the panels, deceiving enemy sensors, therefore, making target identification, acquisition and tracking virtually impossible.

According to Ronen Meir Eltics CEO, the current system is capable of supporting an area 80 square meters of panels. This area will be sufficient to cover a large vehicle, on all sides. This installation will also employ specially designed windows that also minimize noticeable changes in thermal emissions, caused by the cooler transparent areas. The current system covers the entire infrared range, addressing thermal sensors operating in the both 3-5 and 8-12 micron wavelengths.

According to Meir, the company has also tested another function of the system – its ability to change pattern, depicting a different thermal silhouette. This function enables a ‘Black Fox’ equipped tank to ‘look like’ a truck, jeep or APC, or an air defense vehicle or missile launcher to look like an ordinary truck. These functions have significant implications in denying intelligence gathering by the enemy, by totally eliminating potential targets or misleading the enemy to regard such targets as ‘lower priority’ objects. In addition to denying enemy identification by thermal observation, Black Fox is also capable of deceiving or disrupting defending forces from being tracked or engaged by heat or Imaging Infra-red seekers.


Israel’s thermal stealth innovator Eltics has demonstrated the ability of a large, multi-element Black Fox thermal, adaptive multi-spectral camouflage suite to 'eliminate' a Land Rover Defender vehicle from the view of thermal sights. Photos: Eltics

[buglerbilly]

UK Scout SV turret undergoes live firing tests

June 03, 2011



Less than 11 months after the UK Scout / Specialist Vehicle (SV) Demonstration Phase contract was signed, the Industry Team led by General Dynamics UK has demonstrated impressive progress on the programme. The Team has conducted live-fire tests of the new Cased Telescoped (CT40) cannon system integrated in the very first Scout SV Turret, five months ahead of schedule.

This key maturity milestone was achieved with the firing of the integrated CT40 main weapon system on Wednesday 18th May at the Rheinmetal Landsysteme facility in Gersthofen, Germany as part of the SV programme for which General Dynamics UK is the overall Prime contractor and Lockheed Martin UK is the Turret system Design Authority.

The live firing was attended by Roddy Malone, Scout SV Team Leader at MoD, Steve Rowbotham, Vice President of General Dynamics UK, and representatives from CTA International, Rheinmetal Landsysteme, Curtiss Wright, Lockheed Martin UK and General Dynamics UK. The Turret system will now be delivered to Lockheed Martin UK in June 2011 for further system integration and testing at Ampthill, Bedfordshire.

Roddy Malone said “This was a very impressive event so soon after contract award. It is of value not only to the UK MoD but also to the French Government as the CTAI Cannon is being jointly qualified for both nations. The efforts of all involved have been magnificent.”

Brigadier Mike Riddell-Webster, Head of Capability for Ground Manoeuvre welcomed the news, commenting, “The Army is very pleased to note such progress on one of its highest priority equipment programmes.”

“The successful live-firing of the fully integrated CT40 cannon system into the first Scout SV Turret is yet another example of the SV Demonstration phase moving forward at pace,” said Steve Rowbotham.

“SV will not only deliver innovation to the British Army in Scout and its other variants, it will also deliver the best protection, technology and fightability ever seen in a vehicle of this type.”

“The Scout SV Turret Structure is a key programme for Rheinmetall Landsysteme” said Andreas Riedel, Head of the Rheinmetall Landsysteme Infantry and Artillery Business. “The achievement of the first firing from a new turret so soon after the award of the contract is the result of excellent co-operation from all of the companies involved.”

The Scout reconnaissance vehicle will be a key variant in the British Army’s operational SV fleet when it goes into service. It will serve alongside other SV variants including Protected Mobility, Repair and Recovery vehicles, all designed upon on the common-base platform being developed by General Dynamics UK.

The innovation of a 1.7 meter turret ring means that the Scout turret is designed to maximise space for the soldiers inside, thereby optimising fightability. This gives soldiers considerable room for modern display screens, comfort for long periods inside the turret and ease of movement, even wearing full body armour. With the need for military electronics ever-expanding on operations, the open electronic architecture allows significant growth for upgrade.

British troops using the Scout SV will have the best protection available in this vehicle class, both as it is delivered and as it grows to meet future threats. The vehicle will be immediately capable of delivering load-carrying growth potential of up to 42 tonnes thanks to a modern, proven drivetrain. This means that SV is capable of being equipped to meet future threats likely to appear over its entire 30 year life, without the need to upgrade its engine or transmission during that time.

Source: General Dynamics

[buglerbilly]

New Chinese APC/IFV nomenclature unknown, lots of supposition but no real details............pics via China Defense Blog...............


APC variant from the official Xinhua News




Recon Variant




120mm SPG Mortar

[buglerbilly]

U.S. Lawmakers Work to Keep Tank Line Open

By MICHAEL HOFFMAN

Published: 10 Jun 2011 15:44

U.S. House Appropriations defense subcommittee members don't want to see the Army shut down its tank production lines for the first time since 1941, so they added $272 million to the U.S. Army's budget request and ordered the service to keep buying M1A2 Abrams tanks.

U.S. Army leaders want to shut down the production line from 2013 to 2016, then reopen it to upgrade the Abrams fleet saying it could use the "scarce resources" toward other priorities.

General Dynamics needs an additional order of 70 tanks to keep the production line open in Lima, Ohio, said Mike Cannon, General Dynamics' senior vice president for ground combat systems.

The committee ordered Army Secretary John McHugh to issue a report on how his service will spend the additional funding with a strong push to upgrade the National Guard's tank fleet. At the end of production in 2013 the Army's tank fleet will include 1,547 M1A2 System Enhance Package (SEP) tanks mostly fielded to active units and 791 M1A1 tanks all fielded to National Guard units.

"In addition to the analysis of production costs, the Army must consider the benefit of equipping the tank units of both the active duty Army units and Army National Guard units with the same, most capable tank," the subcommittee wrote in their review.

Only one National Guard brigade is outfitted with M1A2SEP tanks. The rest drive the M1A1 tank, which will stop production in July.

In May, 120 Congressmen signed a bipartisan letter arguing the Army would save more money keeping the production line open rather than closing it and paying the associated costs. It will cost General Dynamics $380 million to shut down the plant and mothball the equipment, and then an additional $1.3 billion to restart production, Cannon said.

"The cost of shutdown and restart of Abrams tank production appears to be more than the cost of continued limited production," the letter said. "Instead of reconstituting this vital manufacturing capability at a higher cost, it would seem prudent to invest those select resources in continued Abrams production."

[buglerbilly]

Friday, June 10, 2011, 10:25 AM

India began trials of the new upgraded local made Arjun Mk-II main battle tank.

India's premiere defence research agency, the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) began trials Thursday of an upgraded, Mk-II, version of the indigenously developed Arjun main battle tank (MBT). According to defence sources, the Arjun MBT will form the backbone of the Indian Army's armoured fighting units from 2014.


Drawing of the new local made Indian Arjun Mk-II main battle tank

The Indian Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) received the green signal for developing the Mark-II version over a year ago after successful user trials of the Arjun Mk-I, which surprised sceptics even in the army.

The Arjun tank project has taken an inordinately long time to develop as continually shifting requirements from the army and other problems pushed it out of gear.

"The trials of the Arjun Mark-II tanks have begun at the Pokhran ranges in Rajasthan from today. The development programme is right on track and on schedule," senior defence ministry officials informed media.

"In 24 months from now, or in early 2014, the Arjun Mark-II tanks will be ready for production," senior DRDO officials had said in February this year.

The Arjun Mark-II is also expected to go through winter trials later this year. At present, there are 2456 T 72s, over 300 T 90s and 110 Arjun Mark I deployed across the country.

[buglerbilly]

Ammo for the main guns, but I've put this here as the most suitable thread..................

Rheinmetall unveils new HE DM11 secondary ammunition for MBT 120mm smoothbore gun


HE DM11 secondary ammunition for MBT 120mm smoothbore gun. (Photo: Rheinmetall)

13:47 GMT, June 15, 2011

Rheinmetall recently revealed a new 120m HE round to a group of international experts at its proving ground in Unterlüß, Germany. It can be fired from any in-service 120mm smoothbore gun (L44 and L55). Dubbed the DM11, the new ammunition was developed on behalf of the German Ministry of Defence. It enables main battle tanks to respond more effectively to a variety of contemporary threats.

The round has already been fielded by the US Marine Corp, which refers to it as the Multipurpose (MP) DM11. The Marines use it primarily for engaging non-armoured and lightly armoured targets in asymmetric encounters. Its long range makes a significant contribution to protecting friendly forces from attack by enemy combatants armed with short- and medium-range weapons.

From the technical standpoint, the HE DM11 stands out in two ways: it is programmable when loaded and features an airburst detonation capability. Modularly designed, the 120mm x 570 HE Temp DM11 consists of an IHE (Insensitive High Explosive) warhead with a programmable fuse and ballistic cap, a tail unit, driving band, a combustible case with a propelling charge, a newly designed stub case with primer and an integrated data link cable for programming.

Interfaces between the propulsion system and the warhead and between the propulsion system and the fuse ensure that the propulsion system can be exchanged once its service life expires; it will also be possible to exchange the fuse in future at reasonable cost. A further unique feature of the DM11 is that it safe to fire in all climate zones (-46oC to + 71oC).

The HE DM11 is principally used for engaging non-armoured and lightly armoured vehicles, antitank positions (both dug-in and in the open) and field fortifications. Furthermore, it can be employed – thanks in part to its high precision and long range – for penetrating walls and taking out targets in buildings, as well as for creating breaches and avenues of approach in built-up areas to support dismounted troops. To enable optimum exploitation of the new ammunition’s full tactical potential, it features three different fuse modes:

• Impact fuse mode/point detonation: the warhead detonates when it hits the target surface, creating a large breach;
• Programmable delay/point detonation with delay: the warhead detonates after penetrating the target;
• Programmable airburst mode: here, at ranges of up to 5,000 metres, the warhead detonates in front of, or above, the selected target.

Easy-to-add programming kit

A further design imperative was the ability to program the ammunition without altering the fire control unit. (In the Leopard 2A4, most of these are still analogue; in subsequent versions of the vehicle they are already partly digital.) This ensures that the ammunition can be fired from any Leopard 2 tank gun.

In addition, the necessary programming kit – developed by Rheinmetall at its own expense – had to be easily installable in existing tanks, with the need for new components, special tools or testing equipment kept to a minimum. After all, it was important for the crew to be able to engage targets without having to change well-rehearsed operating procedures.

To make sure that the ammunition and programming kit could be used in other MBT with the same main armament, the developers adhered to the internationally agreed interface control documents for 120mm tank main armament.

The programming kit comprises an ammunition communication module (ACM) for programming the fuses; an interface box between the ACM and the fire control unit that generates all relevant data for the ACM; and an add-on control box/ACM for the gunner/loader control console. The kit can be retrofitted into existing systems without major modification.

[buglerbilly]

ST Kinetics Completes Delivery of Warthog to UK Ministry Of Defence


British Warthogs preparing for deployment at Camp Bastion.

Command variant on display at Protected Mobility Display and Sustainment Conference

07:54 GMT, June 24, 2011 London | ST Kinetics has completed the delivery of the Warthogs in the £150 million Urgent Operational Requirement contract with the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD). The conclusion of the contract was marked by the delivery of a troop carrying variant, one of four variants specially customised from the Bronco All Terrain Track Carrier for the UK MOD. For this contract, Thales (UK) was the main partner, responsible for the integration of UK specialist electronic counter-measure equipment and communication systems, whilst other UK specialist companies were involved in the supply of other subsystems such as the bar armour and armour glass.

The Warthog variants include the Troop Carrier, Ambulance, Command and Repair & Recovery. The command variant of Warthog was on display at the Protected Mobility Display and Sustainment Conference held at Millbrook, Bedford on 22 and 23 June 2011.

The Warthog’s proven mobility across a wide range of terrain and climatic conditions allows the vehicle to exploit unconventional routes of advancement, thereby significantly increasing the warfighter’s survivability. The Warthog is also very survivable and has received much positive publicity in its ability to safeguard the lives of troops in Afghanistan from both soldiers and the media.

The fact that the Warthog was fully delivered within a very challenging delivery schedule bears testimony to the commitment and close working relationship the ST Kinetics project team has with the UK MOD, to ensure that the programme meets all the stringent requirements and the needs of the soldiers on the ground.

Patrick Choy, Executive Vice President, ST Kinetics, said: “ST Kinetics is proud to be able to contribute to the UK MoD’s efforts in Afghanistan. The success of the programme would not have been possible without the close partnership and determination of the UK IPT and the Warthog project team which included key partners like Thales. We remain fully committed to the in-theatre and downstream through life support of the Warthog.”

(Photo: UK MoD, Nick Downs)

[buglerbilly]

IED-Resistant Warrior Tested in Anger

(Source: British Forces Broadcasting Service; issued June 27, 2011)



Newly upgraded warrior vehicles have saved the lives of British soldiers within weeks of arriving in Afghanistan.

Warrior is the only tracked infantry vehicle in theatre and so can get to places that wheeled vehicles cannot, enabling the infantry to engage the enemy more effectively in difficult terrain.

Just a short time after receiving their modified Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicles, troops from the Mercian regiment on patrol in the Durai East region of Afghanistan’s Helmand Province survived a serious IED blast thanks to the vehicle’s improved protection.

Lance Corporal Matt Ryder from 3rd Battalion the Mercian Regiment said: "The patrol started off like any other, with no insurgent radio chatter or anything. About half-an-hour in, an IED was triggered by the Fire Support Team vehicle. The force of the blast knocked the Warrior onto its right-hand side.

"When the blast went off soldiers from the second Warrior confirmed people were OK and talking inside the vehicle. At the same time the dismounted troops made best speed over, using the metal detectors in order to avoid any secondary devices.

"As it turned out, all the crew were conscious and not suffering from any serious injury. Whilst this was happening, the Quick Reaction Force was deployed from the patrol base, and assisted in providing protection.

"The minor casualties were eventually extracted by Chinook helicopter back to the field hospital to be checked over, and the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers recovered the vehicle back to Lash Durai [the patrol base].

"The insurgents claimed they had killed seven of us, and that the bodies were extracted by a fast jet - which shows just how inaccurate they are with their reporting, and the propaganda they use to spread misinformation."

More than 70 vehicles have been modified for the British Army by BAE Systems as part of an Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR). The tracked vehicles have been given around 30 new improvements, under the Warrior Theatre Entry Standard (Herrick) (TES (H) programme worth around £40 million including:

• A flexible modular armour system that can be adapted to meet changing threats and reduce vehicle weight.
• Enhanced seating design and cushioning to further improve mine protection and comfort.
• An improved driver vision system with an increase from one to three periscopes providing a wider field of vision and a night vision capability.
• Increased low-speed mobility and climbing performance enabling the vehicle to tackle tough terrain and get closer to a target or destination.
• Motorsport derived carbon-fibre brakes, providing significantly reduced stopping distance.
• Improved air conditioning for troop comfort in hot and harsh environments.
• Wire cutters to protect the driver, commander and equipment on the vehicle from obstacles.

Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Peter Luff, said: “Warrior vehicles are doing a tremendous job in Afghanistan and these numerous improvements are already proving their worth in theatre. This vehicle is extremely versatile, packing a punch with firepower, offering good mobility and high levels of protection for its crew. It also allows troops to get out into communities safely, maintain areas and provide reassurance to the local population.”

Bernard Gray, Chief of Defence Materiel for DE&S, said: “This programme reflects the close and effective work between industry and the MOD to improve equipment for the frontline at pace. TES (H) has brought significant enhancements to the Warrior capability and troops are now reaping the benefits in theatre.”

TES (H) was developed, tested and managed by the Vehicles Readiness & Sustainment team at BAE Systems’ Telford site.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

The pics that go with the original article....................


A soldier from 3rd Battalion The Mercian Regiment is pictured with one of the new up-armoured Warrior infantry fighting vehicles in Afghanistan
[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]


An upgraded Warrior infantry fighting vehicle ready to be loaded onto an RAF C-17 Globemaster at RAF Brize Norton for onward transit to Afghanistan
[Picture: Trevor Sheehan/BAE Systems 2011]


An upgraded Warrior infantry fighting vehicle inside an RAF C-17 Globemaster at RAF Brize Norton
[Picture: Trevor Sheehan/BAE Systems 2011]

[buglerbilly]

A couple of clearer pics of the Uprated Warrior................


A British army Warrior armoured infantry fighting vehicle with TES(H) kit from Right Flank, 1st Battalion, The Scots Guards provides overwatch on the edge of the Green Zone in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.


British Army Warrior vehicles in Afghanistan are now better protected and more mobile thanks to a fast-paced major package of upgrades (TES(H) kit) developed and delivered by BAE Systems.

[buglerbilly]

Sunday, July 3, 2011, 02:02 PM

Saudi Arabia could purchase 200 Leopard 2A7+ main batle tanks from Germany.

According to German weekly Der Spiegel, Germany has allowed the sale of 200 Leopard 2A7+ tanks to Saudi Arabia after decades of blocking heavy weapons sales to the kingdom.



The federal security council approved the sale last week, the weekly news magazine said without citing sources.
The Saudis want to buy 200 Leopard 2A7+ tanks in an order potentially worth billions of euros to companies Kraus-Maffei and Rheinmetall, Der Spiegel said.

The kingdom was in talks with the Spanish subsidiary of General Dynamics about buying their version of the Leopard tank, but the major portion of the order will land with the Germans, the magazine said.

Saudi Arabia already operates M1A2 Abrams, AMX-30 and M60A3 main battle tanks and are also in talks for T-90 from Russia.

(I didn't think they had any AMX-30's left. A bunch had been given to Bosnia (current status unknown?) and one or two other countries, and I've seen some pics showing some in a Saud scrapyard..............?)

[buglerbilly]

Storm Over German Sale of 200 Battle Tanks to Saudi Arabia

(Source: Deutsche Welle German radio; issued July 4, 2011)

Saudi Arabia is buying hundreds of tanks from Germany, a Saudi security source has said, in a multi-billion-euro deal that German opposition lawmakers have criticized as going against export guidelines.

A security source in Saudi Arabia said Monday that the oil-rich Gulf state would be buying 200 state-of-the-art Leopard tanks from Germany in a deal that has caused a political row in Germany.

"So far, Saudi has bought 44 tanks from Germany and in total wants to buy 200 tanks from Germany," a security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Reuters news agency.

The source declined to give a value for the purchase, saying it was a multi-billion euro deal involving the German companies Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall.

The purchase follows a $93 billion stimulus package from Saudi King Abdullah that included extra support for police and security forces. The March handout was a response to unrest sweeping through the Arab world.

'Hypocrisy' allegations

Opposition lawmakers have criticized the deal as contravening German policy. "This is a blatant breach of weapons export guidelines," said senior Green parliamentarian Katja Keul, noting that tanks came under the rubric of weapons that should not be exported to crisis-hit regions.

SPD General Secretary Andrea Nahles said the move went against a "consensus" in the Bundestag that had been built up over the past decades.

"Selling 200 Leopard tanks to Saudi Arabia is far from ethical foreign policy," she said in front of the Bundestag on Monday. "The country is in the middle of a regional powder keg. You shouldn't be giving out matches there."

Nahles added that the deal exposed the German government's support of the democracy movements in the region as nothing but "hypocrisy" - and that the legitimacy of Berlin's foreign policy had been injured.

Since the beginning of the year, mass protests have resulted in regime change in Tunisia and Egypt, and uprisings have occurred in Libya, Yemen and Syria. In Saudi Arabia, minority Shi'ites staged demonstrations in the kingdom's main oil-producing Eastern Province, but there have been no large-scale protests.

Awaiting confirmation

German newsmagazine Der Spiegel reported over the weekend that the German government's security council - which includes over half of Chancellor Merkel's cabinet - approved the deal last week.

Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, without referring to any specific details in the case or confirming the sale, said Monday that the council had held "responsible discussions."

"These consultations are confidential; they are private. I therefore cannot give answers to any of your speculations and will not do this," Westerwelle told the Bundestag.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

OpEd: Germany’s Shallow Remorse of Selling Big Guns

Report of major Leopard 2A7+ deal with Saudi Arabia splits German politicians

10:00 GMT, July 5, 2011 defpro.com | If you are a reader from any country outside of Germany, honestly, what was the last news you heard or read about regarding German defence policy? Whatever it was, I will willingly bet that it included at least one aspect that caused you to incredulously shake your head. Be it the German government’s decision to abstain from US Security Council Resolution 1973 on Libya (together with Russia and China), the never-ending reports about inadequate equipment for soldiers deployed to Afghanistan, the head-over-heels decision to end compulsory military service ... the list is long and continues to grow day-by-day.

The latest national commotion, especially among politicians, was stirred by media reports about a possible export of 200 Krauss-Maffei Wegmann-built Leopard 2A7+ main battle tanks to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, after Germany has, reportedly, blocked the sale of weapon systems to the authoritarian desert country for decades. According to the weekly news magazine “Der Spiegel”, the federal security council approved the sale last week. The report continued to explain that Saudi Arabia was negotiating to buy a version of the tank that was developed by the Spanish subsidiary of General Dynamics, yet, that the major portion of the order will land with Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and its partner Rheinmetall Defence. “Der Spiegel” also claims that 44 Leopard 2 tanks have already been sold to Saudi Arabia within the framework of the current deal.

This report caused a familiar knee-jerk reaction by politicians from almost all political camps, but first and foremost by the socialist, green and left-wing opposition parties. Most critics of the possible multi-billion deal pointed out to the volatile situation in North Africa and the Middle East and emphasised that Saudi Arabia recently deployed troops and heavy equipment to support its neighbour Bahrain in crushing demonstrations against the small Kingdom’s leadership. According to tagesschau.de, Jürgen Trittin of the Green party said that, as yet, German governments agreed upon not selling weapons to countries in crises areas. He explained: “Saudi Arabia was recently involved in crushing the democratic movement in Bahrain. To deliver weapons to such a regime, and in such a manner, is unprecedented in the last years.”

Further, politicians who oppose the possible contract mentioned Saudi Arabia’s questionable human rights record, as well as the possible threat that such a large fleet of tanks could represent to Israel and the general balance of power in the region.

Interestingly, the ranks of those opposing or questioning the sale of tanks to Saudi Arabia have most recently been joined by members of the ruling parties, including Norbert Lammert, the President of the Bundestag and member of the conservative CDU, as well as Liberal-party member Elke Hoff of the Bundestag’s defence committee.

But what are the true motives of German politicians, when suddenly crying out loud about such a contract? I will not question that some may have true pangs of conscience. But it is not the first time that German-built weapon systems are being sold to Saudi Arabia. In fact, the country is among the most important customers of German defence goods. According to tagesschau.de, the government approved defence contracts worth €168 million with the Saudi Kingdom in 2009; the same year also saw the export of 147 Leopard MBTs to Chile, Finland, Greece, Singapore, Turkey and Brazil. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia has been the first Eurofighter Typhoon export customer, having ordered 72 aircraft for an estimated €.6.5 billion (the first batch was also delivered in 2009).

But the protests among politicians were far more restrained, when these contracts were publicly discussed. And Saudi Arabia’s human right record is not only being questioned since the spring uprisings in the Arab world.

There are a number of different factors that blend into the outraged statements that could be heard during the last days.

First, there is a historical reluctance when it comes to selling ‘big guns’. Due to its large 120mm smoothbore gun and the massive impression by its 60+ tons, has often brought the Leopard main battle tanks to the centre of attraction of politicians opposing German weapon exports in general or to a particular country. Its heavy armour brings up bad memories of the days when Germany was notorious for solid Krupp steel products. But this comprehensible remorse by many Germans can also be exploited to win over certain groups of voters; in particular, in times were the ‘popular parties’ are having difficulties to sustain their popularity.

Secondly, the so-called “Arab spring movement” makes it a currently most opportune moment for politicians to jump onto the train of shining pro-democratic self-manifestations. But no German politician’s indignation could be heard as loud as today when, for instance, Eurofighter Typhoons were sold to Saudi Arabia or when the United States negotiated and signed multi-billion arms deals last month. In mid-June, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced possible foreign military sales (FMS) of a number of weapon systems, including 404 CBU-105D/B sensor-fuzed weapons or a variety of light armoured vehicles for an estimated $263 million. In addition to a large number of different weapon systems, more than 370 US-built M1 Abrams main battle tanks have also been ploughing Saudi desert sands for years and provided US defence industry with manufacturing, service and upgrade contracts worth several billions of dollars.

If German politicians did not vividly criticise US defence exports to Saudi Arabia, it is also due to the fact that Germany has had its share of the cake in helping Saudi Arabia to build up one of the region’s largest and most state-of-the-art armed forces – often legitimised by Western allies as a significant strategic counter-balance to Iran.

Thus, when a member of the opposition party directly accuses Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Secretary Guido Westerwelle of having only paid a lip service to the democratic movement in the Arab world during the last few months, when so light-heartedly selling tanks to Saudi Arabia, it’s not all that strange when a bad gut feeling crops up.

The result of this hypocrisy for German defence industry, providing work to some 80,000 people, is a very uncomfortable and damaging business environment (one that many foreign country’s industry representatives are observing with amused curiosity), as the same politicians that are eagerly shaking hands and excitedly watching during weapon system displays are far too willing to demonise you, when the tide is turning.

Oh, and by the way: According to the German business newspaper "Handelsblatt", the German federal security council recently gave the green light to the export of German defence equipment worth an estimated €10 billion over the next 10 years to the autocratic military government of Algeria, including Fuchs armoured transport vehicles, trucks and off-road vehicles, as well as frigates. Has anybody heard a word about this from German politicians?

----
By Nicolas von Kospoth, Managing Editor

[buglerbilly]

Egypt - Co-Production of M1A1 Abrams Tank

(Source: Defense Security Cooperation Agency; issued July 5, 2011)



WASHINGTON --- The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress Friday of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Egypt for 125 M1A1 Abrams tank kits for co-production and associated weapons, equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $1.329 billion.

The Government of Egypt has requested a possible sale that includes 125 M1A1 Abrams tank kits for co-production, 125 M256 Armament Systems, 125 M2 .50 caliber machine guns, 250 M240 7.62mm machine guns, 125 AGT-1500 M1A1 series tank engines and transmissions, 120mm test cartridges, spare and repair parts, maintenance, support equipment, special tool and test equipment, personnel training and equipment, publications and technical documentation, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics and program support. Articles may be provided in furtherance of a co-production agreement.

The estimated cost is $1.329 billion.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that has been and continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.

The additional M1A1 tanks will provide Egypt with a modern tank fleet, enhancing its capability to meet current and future threats. This will contribute to Egypt’s goal to update its military capability while further enhancing interoperability between Egypt, the U.S., and other allies. Egypt, which has co-produced the M1A1 Abrams tank, will have no difficulty absorbing the additional tanks.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The prime contractors will be General Dynamics in Sterling Heights, Michigan, Honeywell International Incorporated in Phoenix, Arizona, and Allison Transmission Motors in Indianapolis, Indiana. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of approximately four U.S. government and 35 contractor representatives for up to three years in Egypt to manage this production and fielding program.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

Berlin Keeps Lips Sealed Over Disputed Saudi Tank Deal

(Source: Deutsche Welle German radio; issued July 6, 2011)


Germany’s plan to quietly sell 200 Leopard 2A7+ tanks, optimized for urban combat, to Saudi Arabia has run into massive domestic opposition. (KMW photo)

At an emergency debate in the Bundestag, the German government has refused to explain allegations that it approved a tank deal with Saudi Arabia. The opposition accused Berlin of supporting repression in the Middle East.

Facing the German parliament on Wednesday, Hans-Joachim Otto, the state secretary for Germany's economics ministry, defended Germany's business alliance with Saudi Arabia amid media reports that Berlin approved the sale of 200 Leopard tanks to the Gulf State last month.

"Saudi Arabia has obtained armaments from Germany for many years," Otto told the Bundestag, repeatedly refusing to deny or confirm the "alleged sale" of the tanks to Saudi Arabia.

The Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper reported Wednesday that the deal had already been sealed and that both Israel and the United States signed off on it before the final decision was made on June 27.

"Everyone will understand that the Israeli government is in agreement. Otherwise, there would have been an official protest," the paper quoted a government source as saying.

Opposition outrage

The newspaper's report, although not including any official statement, includes the first German confirmation of the deal which has had opposition politicians - and even some coalition members - up in arms since reports of it surfaced over the weekend.

Merkel's government refuses to comment on matters discussed confidentially within the federal security council which determines export guidelines. For 20 years, Germany has not exported heavy weapons - including tanks - to Saudi Arabia, due to concerns over its repression of its own citizens.

Green head Trittin said Berlin must make a statement soon

The opposition called the emergency debate in parliament to demand an explanation from Merkel's government as to why policy had been changed on exports to Saudi Arabia, at a time when the region is seeing numerous pro-democracy movements.

"The government must explain itself at some stage," Green parliamentary leader Jürgen Trittin said, adding that "such decisions cannot be taken at a time when people are fighting for democracy in the Arab world."

Left Party leader Gregor Gysi demanded that the government change its policy of keeping export sales confidential. At present, all decisions passed by the security council are only published at the end of the following year.

"Whom do these rules actually protect?" an emphatic Gysi asked with his eyes directed at Chancellor Merkel sitting in the conservative faction of the Bundestag.

Funding repression?

A Saudi security source confirmed the deal earlier in the week, saying 44 of the 200 tanks ordered had already been bought.

Saudi tanks helped crush revolts in Bahrain's capital Manama

The source declined to give a value for the purchase, saying it was a multi-billion euro deal involving the German companies Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Rheinmetall. KMW declined comment on the deal but said it was "not aware of any changes to trade regulations covering military exports."

The purchase follows a $93 billion stimulus package from Saudi King Abdullah in March to beef up police and security forces in response to unrest sweeping through the Arab world.

Germany's opposition has accused Merkel's cabinet of hypocrisy, charging that Berlin - which publicly supports the Arab Spring pro-democracy movements - shouldn't be sending battle tanks to a country that used tanks to help Bahrain quell anti-regime demonstrations in March.

Outside the Bundestag on Wednesday, hundreds of protesters held up banners recalling dictatorships that used tanks to crush activist movements. Using the examples of East Berlin, Prague, Beijing, and Damascus, demonstrators urged parliamentarians inside not to sell heavy weapons to regimes infamous for the repression of their own people.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

GDUK selects Thales UK to provide sighting systems for UK MoD's Scout SV

July 08, 2011



General Dynamics UK, the prime contractor for the Ministry of Defence’s Scout SV programme has selected Thales UK to supply the primary and secondary sighting systems for Scout, the reconnaissance variant of SV. Lockheed Martin UK, the Scout SV turret sub-contractor, will integrate the sights onto the turret for the Scout SV programme.

“General Dynamics UK has selected the most advanced and appropriate systems for Scout to give our soldiers the best equipment they can possibly have,” commented Steve Rowbotham, vice-president of General Dynamics UK. “Our choice of suppliers on the SV programme reflects our dedication to delivering the best vehicle for the end user. In the case of the primary and secondary sights for the Scout turret, Thales UK’s sight technology was judged to be the best for the job.”

The primary sight is mainly for the use of the vehicles’ commander. It enables the commander to maintain a 360° view of his surroundings has a thermal imager to identify targets and has a Wide Area Search And Detect (WASAD) capability that automatically detects and tracks potential targets from their thermal signature, alerting the crew to their presence. The primary sight also includes provision for an optional Laser Target Designator (LTD) and the Scout SV demonstration phase will mark the first use of a vehicle-mounted, under-armour LTD by the British Army.

The secondary sight is for the gunner and gives him the ability to detect and identify targets at extended ranges and accurately engage targets at the full range of the main armament. It also includes a high-definition colour TV camera for daylight use, as well as a long-range day optical channel.

Both sights are integrated with a Sensor Processor Unit which, combined with the sights’ stabilisation systems, enables the vehicle’s turret to be rapidly traversed onto the target whilst on the move, providing an unsurpassed hunter-killer capability for vehicles in this class. Both sights have fully digital video outputs, in accordance with the UK MoD’s new Vetronics Infrastructure for Video Over Ethernet (VIVOE) standard, facilitating connection into the vehicles’ electronic architecture for onward distribution.

Alex Cresswell, managing director of Thales UK’s land defence business, said: “Thales UK looks forward to working closely with General Dynamics UK to deliver this significant capability into service on schedule and to specification.”

The Scout reconnaissance vehicle will be a key variant in the British Army’s SV fleet when it goes into service. It will serve alongside other SV variants including Protected Mobility, Repair and Recovery vehicles, all based on the common-base platform developed by General Dynamics UK.

Source: General Dynamics UK

[buglerbilly]

Germany's Tank Deal Breaks Last Export Taboo

(Source: Deutsche Welle German radio; published July 7, 2011)

Germany's tank deal with Saudi Arabia has caused outrage, drawing criticism from across the political spectrum. But while the government maintains its silence, critics say it marks a sea change in arms export policy.

The anonymous Saudi source probably had no idea what trouble he was causing. On Monday, the informant told a Reuters reporter about Saudi Arabia's deal to buy 200 2A7+ Leopard tanks from Germany.

The news caused outrage throughout Germany. Memories of Saudi troops suppressing Bahraini democracy protestors are still fresh, and the mood was not improved by a video posted to Youtube apparently showing how the 2A7+ can be used to break up demonstrations.

The video showed a German army demonstration of a prototype Leopard, and came complete with a voiceover explaining how the tank can be fitted with a water cannon.

Such deals don't raise an eyebrow in larger arms exporters like the US and Russia, but the German government has now spent three days reaping a popular whirlwind. And it's come from unexpected parties.

Renke Brahms, peace commissioner for the Evangelical Church in Germany, told the Passauer Neuen Presse newspaper, "If German Leopard tanks are being used to clear barricades and suppress demonstrations, then we carry some responsibility for violating human rights."

Concerns were even raised by prominent members of Chancellor Angela Merkel's own party, the Christian Democratic Union. According to media reports, the chairman of the foreign policy committee Ruprecht Polenz, Bundestag President Norbert Lammert and CDU human rights spokeswoman Erika Steinbach all argued against delivering the Leopards during a party meeting on Monday.

Jürgen Grässlin, spokesman for the campaign "Action Outcry: Stop the Weapons Exports" - the biggest-ever alliance of German peace organizations and churches - told Deutsche Welle: "Apart from Libya, Iran and maybe North Korea, I can't think of a country with a worse human rights record than Saudi Arabia. To export weapons there just because it is western-orientated and because it has oil is almost illegal. I would almost call it an act of barbarism."

A new precedent

This deal with Saudi Arabia is significant for historical reasons. As Grässlin points out, Germany has been exporting other weapons there for some time, and is also part of a much bigger deal to export Eurofighters to the country.

"Even Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's government delivered patrol ships, military vehicles, machine pistols and sniper rifles there," he says. "Merkel's government has exported even more weapons to Saudi Arabia, but with the export of the tanks the last taboo has been broken."

"The tanks are different," Grässlin explains. "By traditional thinking, the Leopard is a German combat tank, and the big companies involved in its manufacture are German - Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann."

"In the history of the German arms trade, combat tank exports were always very controversial. Saudi Arabia has been asking for German tanks since the 1980s, but up until now all the German governments - from Chancellor Helmut Kohl onwards - have refused to allow them," he added.

Why now?

It seems particularly egregious that Germany should suddenly approve a major sale of heavy weaponry to a Middle Eastern dictatorship when the region is in massive turmoil. Grässlin points out that, were it not for this week's leak, reports of the exports would probably not have emerged until next year, which may have been a factor.

And Germany has large economic incentives for approving the deal, according to Mark Bromley, a researcher with the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). "The Free Democrats have argued that Germany is more restrictive than other European countries, and is missing out on business opportunities," he told Deutsche Welle. "Also, Germany, like other European countries, is facing falling defense budgets, leaving less money for domestic procurement from industry. This may be leading to more pressure to find markets abroad."

And there may be another motivator lurking in the background. In the past, permission to sell large weapons to Saudi Arabia was refused for two reasons, says Grässlin: "Firstly, so as not to pour gas onto the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and secondly, because Saudi Arabia was always one of the arch-enemies of Israel, and we can't supply them with weapons because of German history."

There is speculation, therefore, that Israel's attitude to Saudi Arabia may have been changed by the "Arab Spring." "It seems that with the German tank deal, there was contact with the Israeli government, so apparently objections weren't raised," says Bromley. "Obviously there's a change in Germany, but presumably Israel has voiced opposition to these deals in the past and is not doing so now, so maybe there's a re-calculation in Israel as well."

Secret council

For the past few days, the German government has been avoiding questions about the deal, which was allegedly green-lit last week by the Federal Security Council, the cabinet sub-committee that deals with all arms exports. This committee, which meets behind closed doors, comprises Chancellor Angela Merkel, Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle and other members of the cabinet.

According to official government policy, the council is supposed to veto all weapons deals with countries that have questionable human rights records. The principle, agreed by the cabinet in 2000, reads, "Armaments exports are categorically not approved if there is 'sufficient suspicion' that the armaments in question are being used for internal repression or other continuing and systematic human rights abuses."

But Merkel, Westerwelle and de Maiziere have a perfect excuse for not answering awkward questions about the council's decision - it would be illegal. According to government regulations, all cabinet sub-committee meetings are state secrets.

This allows the government to maintain silence in the face of vehement demands for information from opposition parties. In a parliamentary question and answer session on Wednesday, Hans-Joachim Otto, parliamentary state secretary at the Economics Ministry, said the Federal Security Council always met confidentially. "That is why the government cannot take a position on the press reports about the council's alleged decisions. That has always been the case," he said.

So far, the government has not yet confirmed that the Leopard deal even took place, but as Grässlin says, the fact that they have not denied it speaks volumes.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

Berlin Defends Saudi Tank Delivery from All Sides

(Source: Deutsche Welle German radio; issued July 10, 2011)

The German government defended its controversial deal to sell 200 Leopard battle tanks to Saudi Arabia on Sunday, as opposition to the sale grew within the coalition parties.

Former Defense Minister Volker Rühe, of Chancellor Angela Merkel's own Christian Democrats, said the German government could not simultaneously hope for stability in Saudi Arabia while supporting the authoritarian regime with tanks. Rather than weapons, he said the country needs "far-reaching reforms."

"This weapons deal has to be stopped," Rühe told German news magazine Der Spiegel. Germany should not "find itself on the wrong side of history again."

The opposition Social Democrats (SPD) have sharply criticized the tank sale from the beginning. SPD leader Sigmar Gabriel told the daily Passauer Neue Presse that the deal was "political and morally indefensible," citing Saudi military involvement in the anti-democratic repression in Bahrain earlier this year. He added that the German government had "gambled away all its credit - at home and abroad."

Partner in fight against terrorism

While Merkel's government has refused to directly confirm the weapons deal, it has simultaneously defended it. Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere told that Hamburger Abendblatt: "Human rights concerns must play a roll, but the international security interests take precedence."

Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich likewise defended the government's decision to the weekly Bild am Sonntag tabloid, saying Saudi Arabia was an important partner in the fight against Islamist terror.

And President Christian Wulff indirectly spoke in defense of the secret deal against the criticism of many members of parliament, who have used their power to prod the government on the details of the sale.

"Parliament has the possibility to make changes here," he told public television channel ZDF. But he added that this had not taken place in decades.

"It was always the consensus that this belongs to the federal security council, because it can weigh all aspects, like the reaction of Israel."

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

Monday, July 11, 2011, 08:00 PM

Venezuela army is now equipped with Russian made self-propelled howitzer 2S19.

Really useful for Venezuela's Operational Environment.........:razz

Venezuela bought from Russia, the latest version of the Russian made tracked self-propelled howiter 2S19. This vehicle he was seen for the first time in the country during the military parade marking 200 years of Venezuela's independence in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday July 5, 2011.


Venezuela army Russian made 2S19 self-propelled howitzer during the military parade marking 200 years of Venezuela's independence in Caracas, Venezuela, July 5, 2011.

Rosoboronexport (Russian state agency in charge of military exports) has established mutually beneficial arms trade ties with Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Uruguay, and Ecuador through active marketing efforts. These countries express their interest in Russian air defense systems, radars, combat aircraft and helicopters, naval equipment, and small arms.

The 2S19 "MSTA-S" is a self-propelled 152 mm howitzer designed and manufactured by Russia, which entered service in 1989 as the successor to the SO-152. The vehicle is based on the T-80 tank hull, but is powered by the T-72's diesel engine.

[tiddles]

$12 M Bradley Blast-Resistant Fuel Bladder Win
Meggitt, a leading international company specialising in high performance components and sub-systems for aerospace, defence and energy, has delivered its first contract for flexible blast-resistant fuel bladders in a ground vehicle. The bladders have been installed in the BAE Systems Bradley Fighting Vehicle as part of the BUSK III (Bradley Urban Survivability Kits III) Survivable Fuel Cell (BSFC) package, a series of 'rapid development survivability improvements' designed for the urban battlefield.

The initial contract, worth $12 million, covers only a fraction of the 4,600 BAE Systems Bradley Fighting Vehicles in service and further contracts are anticipated as the rest of the fleet is upgraded.

Related Research on ASDReports.com:
The Global Armored Vehicles and Counter IED Vehicles Market 2011-2021

The Bradley is made by BAE Systems Land and Armaments in the United States and is designed to transport infantry with armour protection while providing covering fire to suppress enemy troops and armoured vehicles. The Meggitt fuel bladders will be produced for Robertson Fuel Systems who are providing a complete blast-resistant fuel system for the vehicle.

Meggitt's blast-resistant fuel bladders are similar in design to the group's "crashworthy" fuel bladders fitted to the main and auxiliary systems of virtually every US military helicopter in service. These urethane bladders meet the ultra-rigorous standards of flexibility, strength, impact and cut-and-tear resistance of US MIL-T-27422B and have stopped fuel spillage and reduced fire-related death and injury in survivable helicopter crashes to almost zero. Before installation, over 42% of such helicopter crashes in the US resulted in deaths from fuel fires.

The technology used in this latest blast-resistant model is effective with metal fragments resulting from the detonation of an improvised explosive device (IED) associated with ground combat vehicles. The wound is sealed with a proprietary sealant, which suppresses the ignition source and stops fuel leakage almost immediately.

Chief Executive, Terry Twigger commented:

"This first ground vehicle contract for leak-proof, life-saving fuel containment products evidences real success in our strategy to expanding our market beyond aerospace."


Read more: http://www.asdnews.com/news/37021/$12_M_Bradley_Blast-Resistant_Fuel_Bladder_Win.htm#ixzz1SppLyUHa

[buglerbilly]

Saturday, July 30, 2011, 09:15 AM

First test version of the Scout SV with the joining of Experimental turret to a "mule" base platform.



Little over a year since signing the Specialist Vehicle (SV) contract between the UK Ministry of Defence and General Dynamics UK, the first test version of the reconnaissance variant, Scout SV, has begun to take shape with the successful joining of the Experimental Demonstration Unit (EDU) turret to a “mule” base platform at the first attempt.

The first successful combining of turret and base unit last week further proves the vehicle design, the systems integration between the two sections and the team work between prime contractor General Dynamics UK and turret design authority Lockheed Martin UK. It also highlights the excellent progress achieved by the Scout SV Industry team at an early stage.

"Mating the turret and base unit at such an early stage of the demonstration phase once again demonstrates our dedication to working towards delivering the Scout SV capability to the British Army as soon as is possible," commented Dr. Sandy Wilson, president and managing director of General Dynamics UK on witnessing the event. "The fact that it happened at the first attempt only goes to show that the MoD chose the right team to deliver Scout SV."

The key advantages that the Scout SV will deliver to the British Army will include:

• A modern high-performance drivetrain, which is good for the 30-year life of the vehicle and thereby obviates the need for a mid-life upgrade;

• Load-carrying potential of up to 42 tonnes, which provides the ability to meet future threats likely to appear over its entire 30-year life;

• A Common Base Platform that will support all variants such as an Armoured Personnel Carrier, Protected Mobility vehicle, a Repair vehicle and a Recovery vehicle;

• A proprietary open electronic architecture, available across all variants, which will make the SV fleet easier to maintain, ease the training burden, and play a key role in lowering costs throughout the life of the vehicles; and

• The advanced turret design which, because of its internal space and leading ergonomics, delivers improved survivability and fightability for its crew.


Ascod Scout SV

The innovation of a 1.7 meter turret ring means that the Scout turret is designed to optimise fightability by maximising space for the soldiers inside. This gives soldiers considerable room for modern display screens, comfort for long periods inside the turret and ease of movement, even while wearing full body armour. With the need for military electronics ever-expanding on operations, the open electronic architecture allows significant growth for upgrades.

The mule base unit, known as PT3, is based on a mature ASCOD vehicle already in service with the Austrian Army. The 1.7 metre race ring, specifically designed by General Dynamics UK for Scout, was integrated onto the vehicle by General Dynamics European Land Systems at its Simmering facility in Austria. The vehicle was then transported to General Dynamics UK’s Pershore facility in Worcestershire, UK, to undergo a series of tests and prepare it to accept the EDU turret. It was then transferred to Lockheed Martin UK’s facility in Ampthill, Bedfordshire last week for the integration of the turret.

In parallel, the first EDU turret was being built at Rheinmetall Landsysteme in Gersthofen, Germany. Rheinmetall Landsysteme designs, develops and manufactures the Scout SV Turret Structure for turret design authority Lockheed Martin UK. Following a successful first build of the turret, the mandated CT40 Cased Telescoped Cannon System was integrated into it and fired for the first time in May, five months ahead of schedule. It was also subsequently transported to Ampthill where it has been undergoing extensive testing and preparation for integration with the PT3 mule base unit.

British troops using the Scout SV will have the best protection available in this vehicle class, both as it is delivered and as it grows to meet future threats. The vehicle will be immediately capable of delivering load-carrying growth potential of up to 42 tonnes thanks to a modern, proven drivetrain. This means that SV is capable of being equipped to meet future threats likely to appear over its entire 30 year life, without the need to upgrade its engine or transmission during that time.

[buglerbilly]

IMI’s Latest Multi-Purpose tank Round Offered to the IDF and Foreign Markets

(Source: Israel Military Industries Ltd.; issued July 31, 2011)

Ramat Hasharon, Israel --- Israel Military Industries Ltd. (IMI) has recently received an order by the IDF, totaling more than several dozen million NIS, for M339 tank rounds for its Merkava Mk3 and Merkava Mk4 Main Battle Tanks.

The M339 will join the combat proven M329 Multi-Purpose tank round, (Hebrew name: “Calanit”), which has recently been awarded the prestigious 2011 Israel Defense Award for its meaningful contribution to the security of Israel.

The M339 tank round has been developed primarily for use by western tanks using NATO 120 mm smoothbore guns, such as the M1A1, Ariete, K2 and Leopard 2, etc.

Equipped with an Insensitive Munition (IM) warhead, the round provides an affordable, easy-to-operate solution for fighting in urban scenarios and is therefore very suitable for NATO armies’ operational needs. The round is designed to engage various targets at extended ranges, including bunkers, vehicles and fortifications, as well as Anti-Tank squads and infantry in the open.

M339 uses an electronic fuzing system and has three different modes of operation:

-- PDD (Point Detonation Delay), PD (Point Detonation/ Super Quick) and Air Burst.

-- An inductive setter is used to set the mode of operation.

In Air Burst mode it is also required to set the burst time for the fuze to detonate at the correct distance (The round’s explosion time is derived from the tank’s Laser Range Finder through the Fire Control System - FCS).

In PDD mode the M339 is designed to penetrate targets, such as double reinforced concrete walls or light armored vehicles, and explode inside - releasing thousands of controlled lethal fragments. In PD (Super Quick) mode the tank round breaches a hole in double reinforced concrete walls. Two rounds will create a passageway allowing infantry soldiers to pass through the wall – a very useful feature in urban combat. The Air Burst mode is used for effectively engaging Anti-tank or Infantry squads, operating in the open or hiding behind defilade or walls.

The tank round will be fielded by the IDF within months.

M339 is compatible with NATO 120 mm smoothbore tank guns and meets STANAG 4385 and 4493 requirements. Several leading militaries worldwide have already expressed interest in purchasing the new round.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

Opposition Condemns Suspected Saudi Tanks Deal

(Source: Deutsche Welle German radio; issued August 2, 2011)

A former German cabinet minister has joined the opposition Greens in criticizing Berlin for a suspected tanks deal with Saudi Arabia. The Greens have initiated legal proceedings to force Berlin to confirm the sale.

Former development minister, Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, spoke out against the German government on Monday for the suspected sale of 200 "Leopard" combat tanks to the Saudi government.

The Berliner Zeitung newspaper reported that Wieczorek-Zeul accused the government of hypocrisy. "The tank deal with Saudi Arabia is a catastrophic decision," she said. In selling the tanks, Germany has "supported an authoritarian, despotic regime."

This policy "is the exact opposite of the government's public stance on the democratic uprisings in the Arab World," Wieczorek-Zeul added.

She called on German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle to justify conducting a secret arms deal while publicly supporting the democracy movement in Egypt.

Court complaint

Wieczorek-Zeul's comments came just a day after Germany's opposition Green party announced it had launched a complaint with the country's highest court, over the sale of the tanks.

German news magazine Spiegel reported Sunday that Green party leaders had filed a motion with the Constitutional Court, demanding that information over the deal be made public.

Reports of the sale have been published by several news organizations, but the German government has so far refused to comment on the basis of national security.

The Greens argued this position is untenable as the alleged deal has been in the public sphere for weeks. Deputy party leader, Hans-Christian Ströbele told Spiegel that even if confidentiality was justifiable, information must be relayed to parliament.

Until now, it has been German government policy not to export heavy weapons to the authoritarian regime in Saudi Arabia.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

BAE Systems Receives $108.4 Million for Recovery Vehicles

(Source: BAE Systems; issued August 2, 2011)

You'd have to wonder IF this vehicle will ever go out of production!

ARLINGTON, Virginia --- BAE Systems was recently awarded a contract modification for $108.4 million to provide 45 M88A2 Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Evacuation System (Hercules) vehicles and associated parts to the U.S. Army and Marine Corps.

“We are a leading provider of recovery vehicles for the U.S. military,” said Joe McCarthy, vice president and general manager of Combat Vehicles at BAE Systems. “Hercules answers the need for cost-efficiency, reliability and high performance for our customers as they retrieve heavy vehicles in the field.”

Hercules provides unparalleled capability for recovering today’s 70-ton combat vehicles including the M1A1, M1A2, Leopard, bridging systems and other medium weight vehicles. The M88A2 offers soldiers additional armor protection and increased engine horsepower, towing muscle, lifting strength and winching power.

Using remanufactured hulls supplied by the U.S. Government, BAE Systems will provide 29 vehicles to the U.S. Army and 16 vehicles to the U.S. Marine Corps.

Vehicle deliveries will begin in April 2013 and continue through December 2013. Work will be performed by existing workforces at BAE Systems facilities in York, Pa. and Aiken, S.C. The contract was awarded by Army Contracting Command – Warren.

This award brings the total value of U.S. Government contracts BAE Systems has been awarded on the Hercules program to $1.4 billion. To date, 394 Hercules vehicles have been fielded against an overall U.S. Army requirement of 607 vehicles. A total of 75 vehicles have been fielded to the U.S. Marine Corps.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

DSEi: MTU shows latest army and navy propulsion systems

8V 199 TE21 engine for British “Scout SV” reconnaissance vehicles

10:16 GMT, August 11, 2011 Friedrichshafen/London | As one of the highlights at the DSEi defense exhibition from 13 to 16 September in London, Tognum subsidiary MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH (booth S6-305) will be exhibiting its 8V 199 TE21 engine. It will power the Scout and Specialist Vehicles (SV), the British Army’s future generation of armoured vehicles, which will be built by General Dynamics UK. Furthermore, MTU will be exhibiting engines and complete drive systems for light, medium and heavy land vehicles as well as for naval vessels.

The 8V 199 TE21 engine which will power Scout SV is based on a Mercedes-Benz truck engine and was adapted by MTU to military specifications. In particular, these include increased power as compared with the truck engine (from 480 kW (645 bhp) to 600 kW (805 bhp)) and a torque improvement (3,000 Nm) achieved by harmonizing the turbocharging, injection and electronic control systems. Further features include a 2-stage air-water charge-air cooler, two separate cooling systems (high and low temperature) and a dry sump oil pan. All of these benefits have been integrated to achieve a solution which combines the technical requirements of military vehicles, such as high power output and compact design for use under extreme conditions, with the economic advantages of the basic commercial unit.

Together, the engine and gearbox provide an extremely compact and powerful drive system. The full load curve was specially optimized for wheeled and tracked vehicles and the engine produces a constant 600 kW (805 bhp) at 2,000 to 2,300 rpm. “The extremely high engine power produced in such a compact space is the result of systems expertise developed over decades at MTU. This drive unit is the best in its class for defense applications,” said Knut Müller, Vice-President Defense at MTU Friedrichshafen. The engine is already in service with the infantry fighting vehicles ULAN (Austria) and Pizarro (Spain) as well as the armoured personnel carrier Boxer (Germany, Netherlands). General Dynamics will receive the first two prototype engines from MTU before the end of 2011.

MTU will also be showing its 6R 106 and 6V 890 engines as well as a model of the Euro-PowerPack with a MT 883 diesel engine. Each of these engine series sets the standard in its own particular class. In addition, customers can also choose from a range which includes commercial engines, engines adapted for defense applications and engines specially developed for defense applications.

With marine engines in the 4000 Series, MTU is participating in the project “PACSCAT” (Partial Air Cushion Supported CATamaran): a catamaran landing craft with air-cushion support. MTU supplies the main drives for the prototype currently being tested for the British Ministry of Defense. In the framework of a project, the Ministry is testing various prototypes of landing crafts with a high loading capacity and higher speeds than conventional landing crafts. The PACSCAT, made of aluminum, is 30 meters long, seven meters wide and has a loaded weight of 175 tons. Two MTU engines of type 16V 4000 with an output in each case of 2,720 kW (3,650 bhp) power two hydrojet drives. Two further engines inflate the air cushions, which make the craft even faster. Initial tests in fall 2010 revealed a top speed of almost 40 knots (74 km/h). The Royal Marines also successfully tested the landing craft – with the transport of five amphibious vehicles at the same time, or a 62-ton tank. The PACSCAT was designed and jointly built by the Griffon Hoverwork shipyard and the British defense company Qinetiq.

Beyond other exhibits, MTU will present a model of the 20-cylinder Series 8000 marine engine. Two of these engines in each case with an output of 9,100 kW (12,200 bhp) will power a total of three 99-meter long corvettes of the Royal Navy of Oman. They will be built by the British defense company BAE Systems in Portsmouth. The first vessel is already complete; the second vessel will begin tests at sea this year.

[buglerbilly]

Tuesday, August 16, 2011, 11:57 AM

General Dynamics Awarded $42 Million for Saudi Tank Work to M1A2S conversion.

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. – General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), has been awarded two contracts with a combined value of $42.4 million for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s tank program M1A2S Abrams. The contracts were awarded by the U.S. Army TACOM Lifecycle Management Command on behalf of the Royal Saudi Land Forces. This work is part of a plan by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to upgrade its entire fleet of 314 Abrams tanks.


M1A2S Abrams main battle tank

The contracts, valued at $12.6 million and $29.8 million, respectively, will provide materials and labor for the conversion of 102 M1A2 tanks to an M1A2S configuration. The M1A2S conversion will increase the efficiency and capability of the tank.

Current employees at the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center in Lima, Ohio will perform the work. The estimated completion of 60 tanks is expected by August 30, 2012, and 42 tanks will be finished by September 30, 2012.

This contract continues work started in 2008 to design, develop, convert, implement and test a hybrid configuration of the M1A1, M1A2 and M1A2 System Enhancement Package (SEP) tank variants for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

[buglerbilly]

Dispute leaves soldiers without missile defense

By YAAKOV KATZ, Jerusalem Post

08/29/2011 06:52


Photo by: Courtesy

Disagreement between two Israeli companies has led the Defense Ministry to decide not to install a missile defense system.

An ongoing disagreement between two Israeli companies has led the Defense Ministry to decide not to install a missile defense system on the new Namer (Tiger) armored personnel carrier it is supplying to IDF infantry brigades.

The two companies – Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Military Industries – are refusing to abide by an order from Defense Ministry Dir.-Gen. Udi Shani to combine the active protection systems each company is independently developing into a single system for IDF use.

Rafael’s system is called Trophy and has already been installed on a battalion of Merkava Mk 4 tanks which are currently deployed along the border with the Gaza Strip. The IDF Ground Forces Command recently decided to install the Trophy also on Merkava Mk 3 tanks as well.

The Trophy provides 360- degree protection against antitank missiles and successfully intercepted a rocket propelled grenade along the border with Gaza earlier this year. Its radar, made by Israel Aerospace Industries subsidiary Elta, detects the threats and then fires a cloud of countermeasures to intercept the incoming missile.

The other system, developed by IMI, is called Iron Fist and in addition to the Trophy’s capabilities is also reported to be capable of intercepting standard tank rounds. The IDF had decided to install the Iron Fist on the Namer in 2009 but then canceled its decision after the system encountered some technological difficulties which were later corrected.

The Iron Fist has completed hundreds of successful interception tests and recently passed an evaluation by the United States Army, according to IMI.

The problem is that the Defense Ministry has decided that it is too expensive to continue investing in the development of two systems by two separate government-owned companies and as a result Shani has ordered the companies to combine their individual systems into one.

“We know what we want and that is a single system with all of the capabilities combined,” a senior IDF officer said recently. “In the meantime, the Namer will unfortunately not have an active protection system since the companies are not working together.”

Both companies claim that their systems are completely different and incompatible and that they are willing to continue their development independently and without financial support from the Ministry of Defense.

Meanwhile, production of the Namer has begun in the US after the Defense Ministry awarded General Dynamics a massive tender to develop the vehicle.

At the cutting edge of APC technology and claimed to be one-of-its-kind in the world by officers in the Ground Forces Command, the Namer is based on the Merkava MK4 Battle Tank and is claimed to have a high level of reinforced steel protection. The decision to develop the new APC was made after the Second Lebanon War in 2006 during which IDF armor suffered heavy losses to Hezbollah antitank missiles.

Battalion 13 of the Golani Brigade has already been outfitted with the Namer and a senior Defense Ministry official said that the remaining three Golani battalions would receive the APC over the next three years.

Under the tender awarded to General Dynamics, Israel will manufacture around 600 Namers over the next eight years. BAE Systems and Textron also competed for the tender which will, in a first phase, reach $400 million. Local industry could benefit from tens of millions of dollars in industrial cooperation during that time period.

The Namer has advanced defensive systems and an internal air conditioning unit which enables the vehicle to continue operating in areas contaminated by non-conventional weapons. The Namer carries a number of machine guns, missile launchers and reconnaissance equipment.

[buglerbilly]

Mark II Version of Arjun Tank

(Source: Press Information Bureau India; issued August 29, 2011)

Limited technical trials with some major and minor improvements on Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjun Mark-I, as part of MBT Arjun Mark-II, have been carried out by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in the deserts of Rajasthan.

Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has cleared the proposal for placement of indent for 124 Nos. of MBT Arjun Mark-II on Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF), Avadi, Chennai. Placement of indent by the Army on Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) is being further processed.

The likely estimated cost of each MBT Arjun Mark-II with ail major/minor improvements will be approximately Rs.37 crore.

The first batch of MBT Arjun Mark-II is likely to be productionised by 2015.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri Naveen Jindal in Lok Sabha today.

-ends-

[Gubler, A.]

In case anyone missed it there was a piece in the latest Army News about the delivery of Abrams Reactive Armour Tiles (ARAT) to the Australian Army as part 1 of the M1A1 TUSK upgrade. The next step will be the loader's shield.

[buglerbilly]

BAE Systems Conjures Up Invisibility Cloak

(Source: BAE Systems; issued September 5, 2011)


BAE has tested its new Adaptiv ‘invisibility cloak’ system on a CV90120 armored vehicle; the system appears particularly effective in infra-red mode. (BAES photo)

ÖRNSKÖLDSVIK, Sweden. --- BAE Systems has tested an ‘invisibility cloak’ that allows a vehicle to blend into its surroundings. The system, which can work over infra-red and other frequencies, will be displayed in infra-red mode on a BAE Systems CV90 armoured vehicle at the UK Defence and Security Equipment International exhibition later this month.

Known as "Adaptiv", the patented technology is based on sheets of hexagonal 'pixels' that can change temperature very rapidly. On-board cameras pick up the background scenery and display that infra-red image on the vehicle, allowing even a moving tank to match its surroundings. Alternatively, it can mimic another vehicle or display identification tags, reducing the risk of fratricide.

Current work focuses mainly on the infra-red spectrum, as this is most important to the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), which funds part of the work. However, BAE Systems engineers have combined the pixels with other technologies, which provide camouflage in other parts of the electro-magnetic spectrum at the same time to provide all-round stealth, which will be developed further over the next few years.

Trials by BAE Systems in mid-July showed that one side of a CV90 could be made effectively invisible or appear to be other objects, including a 4x4 vehicle, when viewed in the infra-red spectrum.

Project manager, Peder Sjölund explains: "Earlier attempts at similar cloaking devices have hit problems because of cost, excessive power requirements or because they were insufficiently robust. Our panels can be made so strong that they provide useful armour protection and consume relatively low levels of electricity, especially when the vehicle is at rest in 'stealth recce' mode and generator output is low."

He adds: "We can resize the pixels to achieve stealth for different ranges. A warship or building, for instance, might not need close-up stealth, so could be fitted with larger panels."

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

Arjun lining up to be world's most expensive tank


(Graphic: defpro.com)

06:04 GMT, September 6, 2011 India's Arjun (Lion) Mk II main battle tank will cost US$8.02 million per unit, defence minister AK Antony has told his nation's parliament. The French ADIT agency notes this makes the indigenous Indian design the world's most expensive tank to date.

By comparison, a new Abrams M1A2 cost the US$6.2 million in 1999. Indian media last week reported the first batch of Arjun Mk II's are likely to enter series production by 2015. Development of the Arjun reportedly started in 1972 with a production decision following in 1996 and a production order for 124, costing US$471.2 million, placed on the Indian Ordinance Factory's production facility at Avadi in 2000.

The first 45 58.5 metric ton (mt) tanks were delivered to the Indian Army between August 2004 and May 2009. A further 55 followed by June this year. The original design relied heavily on foreign components and technology, with close to 50% of the tank's components initially imported. Much of this has since been replaced by indigenous systems, including a 120mm main gun. After extensive field evaluations and tests, the tank entered service with the 75th Armoured Regiment on May 12.

The automotive trials, in 1988-1989, revealed major deficiencies in mobility, engine, and transmission. Further mobility and armament trials followed in 1996 and 1997. The Army reportedly found the performance of the prototypes “below the acceptable standards” and listed as deficiencies the accuracy of the gun at battle ranges, mission reliability, ammunition lethality, emergency traverse and a fire control system unable to function in temperatures above 42 degrees Celsius.

Anthony added the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved an order for 124 more Arjun, albeit in the 55mt Mk II guise. This features 93 upgrades, including 13 major improvements over the Mk1.

(Courtesy by defenceWeb; First published at http://goo.gl/WcVJc)

[buglerbilly]

More on this.............ADAPTIV from BAE.............Interesting to see that its being also proposed for helicopters and naval vessels, see the video..............

ADAPTIV



State-of-the-art technology

Unlike traditional camouflage systems which rely on paint or nets to hide vehicles, ADAPTIV can instantly blend a vehicle into its background. The system can also be used on ships and fixed installations, allowing them to stay undetected by enemy surveillance units.

With the ADAPTIV system installed, a unit has:
The ability to blend into natural surroundings
The ability to mimic natural objects and other vehicles
A reduced detection range of 500m
IFF capability

Blend into the background

ADAPTIV works by using lightweight hexagonal pixels which are electrically powered by the vehicles systems. The pixels are individually heated and cooled using commercially available semi-conducting technology. The hand-sized pixels are made of metal, so that they can sustain physical impact and provide defence against enemy ordnance. The entire system has been designed with ease of use in mind, and the pixels are able to be easily and rapidly removed and replaced if damaged.

Once mounted on a vehicles hull or ballistic armour plates, ADAPTIV renders a vehicle invisible to infra-red and other surveillance technology.

Whether it is day or night, whether they are on the move or stationary, ADAPTIV gives your vehicles increased stealth - and greater survivability.

Video: http://www.baesystems.com/Businesses/LandArmaments/Divisions/GlobalCombatSystems/Vehicles/ProductsPlatforms/Adaptiv/Adaptiv_video/index.htm

[buglerbilly]

‘Invisibility Cloak’ Makes Tanks Look Like Cows

By Mark Brown, Wired.co.uk September 6, 2011 | 2:02 pm



British defense company BAE Systems has developed an “invisibility cloak” that can effectively hide vehicles from view in the infra-red spectrum.

The patented system — called Adaptiv — uses a matrix of hexagonal “pixels” that can change their temperature very rapidly. On-board cameras sweep the area to pick up the background scenery and display that infra-red signature on the vehicle.

This allows even moving tanks to be effectively invisible in the infra-red spectrum, or mimic other objects. “The tank skin essentially becomes a big infra red TV,” BAE Head of External Communications Mike Sweeney told Wired.co.uk. “You can display anything you want on it — including a cow — while the rest of the vehicle blends into the background.”

The current system works in the infra-red spectrum, which could hide vehicles from heat-seeking missiles, drones and heat-sensitive goggles. However, BAE Systems engineers have combined the pixels with other technologies to provide camouflage in other parts of the electro-magnetic spectrum.

“Earlier attempts at similar cloaking devices have hit problems because of cost, excessive power requirements or because they were insufficiently robust,” explained project manager Peder Sjölund. ”Our panels can be made so strong that they provide useful armor protection and consume relatively low levels of electricity, especially when the vehicle is at rest in ’stealth [reconnaissance]‘ mode and generator output is low.”

The pixel panels can also be made at different sizes to achieve practical invisibility at greater ranges. The resolution needed to hide a CV90 tank at close range is high, but disguising a building or warship from a great distance can be achieved with a lower resolution, and larger panels.

In tests earlier this summer, BAE systems has been able to make one side of a Swedish CV90 tank “effectively invisible” in infra-red mode, and will be showing this off at the UK Defence and Security Equipment International exhibition later this month (Wired.co.uk will be attending). Over the next few years, the company hopes to see similar success in other parts of the electro-magnetic spectrum.

Photo: BAE

[buglerbilly]

The video is now on YouBoob............


Uploaded by engadgetespanol on Sep 5, 2011

[buglerbilly]

DSEi 2011: Lockheed Martin highlights upgraded Warrior

September 12, 2011



Centre stage at Lockheed Martin UK’s stand at DSEi is its proposal for the Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme (WCSP) to comprehensively modernise the British Army’s 30-year old Warrior IFV.

BAE Systems Global Combat Systems was also competing for the WCSP, with a solution based on a completely new turret, until its bid was ruled non-compliant by the MoD earlier this year leaving Lockheed Martin the only contender for the project.

Industry sources believe an announcement about the WCSP project will be made by Peter Luff, Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, or possibly Defence Secretary Liam Fox to coincide with DSEi.

Lockheed Martin UK is offering an upgraded version of the original Warrior turret which it argues provides a more cost effective solution than a completely new turret design. Partners on the bid include the Defence Support Group; Rheinmetall Defence (weapon mount); SCISYS (electronic architecture); Meggitt (ammunition handling system); Ultra Electronics (power; driver instrument panel); Thales UK (Battlegroup Thermal Imaging; sights); and, Curtiss Wright (servo system). The upgraded turrets will be protected by appliqué armour and feature larger hatches to allow easier access by crew members wearing combat body armour. Both the driver and commander are provided with new mine blast resistant seats.

The MoD has stipulated that WCSP turrets and the turret on the General Dynamics UK, Scout reconnaissance vehicle will be armed with the CTA International 40mm Cased Telescoped Cannon and Ammunition system which is being provided as Government Furnished Equipment. General Dynamics UK has subcontracted Lockheed Martin UK to develop a new turret for the Scout. The MoD has stipulated that there should be a high degree of commonality between the WCSP and Scout turrets.

Chassis updates to the Warrior include electronic, environmental, power and survivability improvements. A modular protection system across the chassis enables the quick change and adaptation to mission specific or in-theatre threats. Examples of protection include bar armour, ERA and ‘special armours to be fitted or removed easily upon heavy damage’.

The army’s original plan to upgrade up to 449 “gun vehicles” has been reduced in scope as the Future Force 2020 structure introduced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) only requires six armoured infantry battalions, one in each of five new multirole brigades (MRBs) and the training battle group at the Land Warfare Centre, instead of the eight battalions previously equipped.

Moreover, the new force rotation cycle only requires one MRB to be deployed, or on high readiness to deploy, and second brigade preparing for deployment and the other brigades at extended readiness times with reduced equipment holdings.

Ian Kemp, London

[buglerbilly]

Haken Karlsson demonstrates the ADAPTIV system's operation on the CV-90-120. A complete vehicle protection system would include about 1500 hexagon shaped panels, each controlled by the system to heat or chill to display a thermal pattern blending with the background or mimicking other vehicles. We could easily feel the different temperature of individual panels by touching them.

Photo: Tamir Eshel, Defense-Update

[buglerbilly]

AmSafe, ST Kinetics collaborate to offer Tarian

September 14, 2011





TARIAN is a Net System per the piccie...............not obvious from all the words below!

AmSafe Industries, Inc., the leading provider of engineered restraint systems to the aviation, defence and specialty vehicle markets, today announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Singapore Technologies Kinetics Ltd (ST Kinetics) for the marketing of its innovative rocket propelled grenade (RPG) protection system, Tarian.

The MOU outlines plans for both companies to collaborate with the aim of ST Kinetics to offer AmSafe’s RPG protection as an option on its vehicles and market Tarian in territories where they already have a strong presence.

ST Kinetics is the land systems and specialty vehicle arm of Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd. An AmSafe Tarian RPG protection system fitted on to a ST Kinetics Warthog all terrain vehicle, a variant of the highly successful Bronco, is on display at the DSEi conference being held September 13 – 15 in London. The Warthog is currently in service with the UK MOD.

“Our world class Tarian system provides the lightest and most effective RPG protection solution for the Warthog vehicles and we are delighted to be working together to provide enhanced vehicle functionality to military customers worldwide,” said Neal McKeever, vice president defence for AmSafe.

"We are pleased to collaborate with AmSafe to offer Tarian protection systems to our global customers as an enhanced protection at lower weight for improved survivability," said Mr. Patrick Choy, Executive Vice President, ST Kinetics. Tarian was developed as a lightweight modular system designed to replace the traditional bar or slat armour at a weight savings of up to 98%.

The Tarian technology has been rigorously tested—in the UK by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, an agency of the Ministry of Defence, and in the US by its Department of Defense counterpart DARPA—to include over 650 live firing shots. This testing has verified both a high level of performance and a multi-hit capability inherent in the Tarian technology.

Source: ST Kinetcis

[buglerbilly]

The applique armour potential applies to wheeled and tracked armour, or any other kind of mobile armour............

DSEi: India's Tata to Produce Super Armor in U.K.

By ANDREW CHUTER

Published: 14 Sep 2011 10:21

LONDON - Tata Steel is to produce a super steel armor in Britain using an invention developed by the U.K. Ministry of Defence's research laboratory.

The Indian-based company has signed a deal to produce a Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl's) development known as super bainite. The licensing agreement will see Tata produce the armor at its Port Talbot, South Wales, steel plant.

The deal, unveiled at the Defence & Security Equipment International show in London Sept. 14, allows Tata to manufacture and process the steel in the U.K. and Europe and to export it globally.

Program officials at Dstl say they are in discussion with potential processors in the U.S. and elsewhere, and there is also a potential for manufacture outside Europe, possibly India.

Manufacture will give Britain its first onshore supply of high performance steel armor. Previously, it has had to import the material from established producers in places such as Sweden and France.

The ultra high-hardness perforated plate can also be supplied in a soft version that can be bent into various shapes and then hardened.

Dstl's Peter Brown, one of the inventors of the armor, said super bainite has outstanding ballistics properties compared with normal steel armors.

"The ballistic performance of perforated super bainite steel is at least twice that of conventional rolled homogenous steel armor. The introduction of perforations creates a large number of edges, which disrupts the path of incoming projectiles, significantly reducing their potency," said Brown.

The steel has military and commercial applications but Paul Davies of Tata Steel said he hopes armor specialists recognize the potential of the material for appliqué up-armoring.

[buglerbilly]

More on this................

New armour steel showcased at DSEi

An Equipment and Logistics news article

14 Sep 11

A new high-performance armour steel that will be used to protect vehicles on the front line was showcased at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEi) event today.


Known as Super Bainite, the new armour steel has been developed to have outstanding ballistics properties
[Picture: Tata Steel 2011]

Known as Super Bainite, the new armour steel has been developed to have outstanding ballistics properties and, in tests, it has performed better than 'normal' steel armour.

The Ministry of Defence has signed a licensing agreement with Tata Steel to manufacture the steel in the UK.

The new material was invented and developed in the UK, with production earmarked to take place at Port Talbot in South Wales.

Under the agreement the steel will be turned into seven different items, including perforated armour plates that could be used on future front line armoured vehicles.

Visiting the UK Capability Showcase at DSEi, Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Peter Luff, said:

"This cutting-edge UK invention and the manufacturing agreement mean that the UK now has its own onshore supply of high-performance armour steel. Super Bainite has both military and civilian applications, providing Tata Steel with important export opportunities.

"The application of new, battle-winning technologies is what gives our troops the edge. This demonstrates, once again, that investing in research and development, in partnership with industry, means that our troops can have the latest innovations in front line equipment."

Super Bainite was invented by Professor Peter Brown, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), Professor Harry Bhadeshia, Tata Steel Professor of Metallurgy at Cambridge University, and Dr Carlos Garcia-Mateo, previously at Cambridge University and currently at the National Centre for Metallurgical Research in Madrid.

Traditionally, steel is covered with water to get it to room temperature quickly before structural weaknesses can form. But, with Super Bainite, a whole variety of cooling methods, involving air or even molten salt, are used throughout production.

Combining drilling and hole-punching during the cooling process results in a ultra-high-hardness perforated plate.

Professor Brown said:

"The ballistic performance of perforated Super Bainite steel armour is at least twice that of conventional rolled homogenous steel armour. This is because the introduction of perforations creates a large number of edges which disrupt the path of incoming projectiles, significantly reducing their potency."

Dstl owns the patents relating to the chemical composition and processing of Super Bainite. The licence agreement was signed by Ploughshare Innovations and Tata Steel and allows Tata Steel to manufacture and process Super Bainite in the UK and in Europe and to export it globally.

Dr Paul Davies of Tata Steel hopes defence equipment manufacturers, especially armour systems specialists, will recognise the steel's potential for appliqué up-armouring applications. He said:

"Tata Steel has spent significant effort developing this unique product and we are delighted with its performance. We have outlined our market strategy.

"Tata Steel is well positioned to support the market, both in the UK and across the remainder of European markets, by exercising existing infrastructure to produce and process the material for future customers."

[buglerbilly]

DSEi 2011: CVR(T) upgraded for Afghanistan

September 15, 2011

All of the British Army CVR(T) vehicles upgraded to Mk 2 standard are now in Afghanistan, as contractor BAE Systems outlined details of the project at the DSEi exhibition in London.

Speaking to reporter at the exhibition on 15 September, company officials outlined a range of upgrades to 58 of the CVR(T) family, including the Scimitar reconnaissance vehicle, under the £30 million project.

Simon George, BAE export account manager for military and technical services, said this latest upgrade programme, under a project dubbed ‘Project Transformer', followed the deployment of CVR(T) vehicles to Afghanistan in 2009 that had been enhanced to operate in the harsh conditions in theatre.

Enhancements then included an uprated engine, improved transmission, higher ratio final drives, a new cooling system and a revised air intake system.

George said the upgraded vehicle was well received and, with the role the CVR(T) was expected to play in support of ongoing operations in Afghanistan, the further improvement plan was launched, with contract award in December 2010.

Survivability requirements play a significant part of the Mk 2 design, with a new hull based on the Spartan troop carrier providing improved mine blast protection. The new aluminium alloy, which is fabricated at the company's Wolverhampton site, has greater resistance to corrosion while keeping the weight down.

The extra headroom has allowed the fitting of blast attenuating seating ‘in every position in every variant'.

In addition, redesigned and repositioned driver foot controls aim to reduce lower limb mine blast injuries while improved appliqué armour has been added to improve blast and ballistic protection.

According to company literature ‘a new power distribution system, including a new rotary base junction, provides improved power management between chassis and turret and will enable further systems upgrades in the future'.

Other minor changes have been introduced to the supporting vehicles in the family, such as a heavier-duty winch on the Samson variant.

Tim Barnard, team leader for platforms at Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), said there had been a number of earlier feasibility studies in how to increase the protection of the Mk 1 vehicles

‘Once we decided to go down the route we have it was a year-long, very hectic, very intense programme. The vehicles have only been out there for about a month and the proof in the pudding will be how they perform - if they are used heavily then clearly there will be attrition and we will need more of them.'

BAE Systems is displaying the upgraded vehicle at DSEi and, with more than 2000 CVR(T) vehicles in service around the world, is looking to market the upgrades to export customers.

[buglerbilly]

GD UK Unveils Representative Prototype of Scout SV

(Source: General Dynamics UK; issued Sept. 14, 2011)



LONDON, United Kingdom --- At DSEi 2011, General Dynamics UK unveiled a representative prototype of Scout SV, the reconnaissance variant of the Specialist Vehicle (SV) family. The company produced the prototype only 15 months into the SV Demonstration Phase contract, which was awarded to General Dynamics UK by the Coalition Government in July 2010.

The presence of this representative Scout prototype clearly demonstrates how quickly the SV programme is advancing, and how close the British Army is to receiving the first SV demonstration vehicles for testing. General Dynamics UK expects to deliver these first vehicles in approximately 15 months' time.

This representative prototype of Scout SV is composed of a test bed base platform and the Engineering Demonstration Unit (EDU) turret developed by Lockheed Martin UK, a subcontractor to General Dynamics UK.

"Showing this representative Scout SV prototype at DSEi 2011 demonstrates our dedication to delivering SV to the British Army as soon as possible," commented Dr. Sandy Wilson, president and managing director of General Dynamics UK. "The fact that we can show the vehicle only 14 months into the programme is a testament to the capabilities of our team."

The interior of the vehicle is fully equipped, giving visitors to DSEi 2011 the opportunity to see how Scout SV is will look inside. The base vehicle features the drivers' station with seats, control handles and control screens, as well as the spall liner which lines the entire passenger compartment of the vehicle to counteract the effect of high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) shells. The EDU turret features commanders' and gunners' stations, also fully equipped with seats, control handles and screens, with one screen for the gunner and two for the commander.

In another milestone, the SV team has made the commanders' and gunners' screens operational. Live images from the primary and secondary sights integrated into the turret will be streamed to the screens inside the turret for the duration of DSEi. Visitors can also see the rear of the breech of the CTAI 40mm cannon and the 7.62mm coaxial machine gun from inside the turret.

The SV family will deliver key advantages to the UK, including:

-- The most advanced open electronic architecture;
-- Highest performing sensor suite;
-- Highest levels of integration to improve fightability;
-- 40mm lethality enabling Scout to fight for information;
-- The greatest growth margin delivering 30 year's capability;
-- The continuation of a sovereign Armoured Fighting Vehicle capability for the UK; and
-- Revenue to UK Government from export contracts.

-ends-

[buglerbilly]

Up-armoured vehicles begin Afghanistan operations

An Equipment and Logistics news article

15 Sep 11

The first of the enhanced Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) [CVR(T)] fleet is now operational on the front line in Afghanistan.


The Scimitar Mark 2 Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) has gone operational on Operation HERRICK 14 and is currently being used by the 9th/12th Royal Lancers in Lash Durai Junction, Helmand province
[Picture: Petty Officer (Photographer) Hamish Burke, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

The up-armoured vehicles are giving extra protection to the soldiers of the 9th/12th Royal Lancers, as they provide security in the Nahr-e Saraj (North) district of Helmand province.

The main task of the 9th/12th Royal Lancers is to overwatch the battlespace either side of Highways 1 and 611, the two main supply routes that run through the Task Force Helmand area of operations.

BAE Systems has upgraded the armour on all five vehicles that make up the CVR(T) family - Scimitar, Spartan, Samson, Sultan and Samaritan - through an Urgent Operational Requirement process worth around £30m. CVR(T) is on display in the UK for the first time this week at the DSEi defence and security equipment show, currently taking place in London.

As part of the contract, the vehicles have been re-hulled to give better mine-blast protection for troops, and improved armour added for enhanced resistance to blasts and ballistics, as well as new mine-blast protection seating in every position in every variant. Other enhancements include repositioned foot controls and a revamped fuel system.


The Scimitar Mark 2 has been re-hulled and up-armoured for improved protection from blasts and projectiles, with repositioned foot controls and a revamped fuel system for a better driving experience
[Picture: Petty Officer (Photographer) Hamish Burke, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

Scimitar Mark 2 builds on a number of upgrades that have previously been made to the CVR(T), which address the problems experienced while operating in the harsh Afghan environment. These previous upgrades have included improved power output, new gearboxes and transmissions, air-conditioning, improved communications, air filters and night-vision systems.

The Scimitar Mark 2s are proving a hit with the troops. Sergeant Matthew Pook, aged 31, from Hinckley in Leicestershire, has served on operations in Kosovo, Iraq and Bosnia and has seen previous versions of the vehicle in action. He said:

"Significant progress has been made with the vehicle since I first used it. It makes you feel more confident when out on the ground. The old ones needed regular maintenance and fixing, which is hard work at the end of a day."

Trooper Ashley Doyle, aged 21, from Plymouth, praised the changes to the vehicle. He said:


Scimitar Mark 2 Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) in action in southern Afghanistan
[Picture: Petty Officer (Photographer) Hamish Burke, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

"Where we operate, it's a lot safer to move around in vehicles because they act as a deterrent against the insurgents. This new vehicle can cope with all the terrain in the Green Zone, even irrigation ditches, because of the new suspension."

9th/12th Royal Lancers' tour has been varied but they have used the CVR(T) in its classic reconnaissance role, providing security in convoy support.

Lieutenant Ed Aitken, aged 25, from London, is Troop Leader of 1st Troop, Formation Reconnaissance Squadron:

"Our area of operation is 250 square kilometres so the mobility the CVR(T) has allows us to have an effect on the area that we wouldn't otherwise achieve," he said. "The Highway is an arterial supply route so security is essential. Without vehicles such as this, it wouldn't be possible."

[buglerbilly]

Textron Offers TRAPS for TARDEC's Active Protection Program

This tech applies to wheeled armour & MRAP's as well of course...................

•Through Prime Contractor BRTRC

Wilmington, MA - Textron Defense Systems, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today that it has submitted a three-year proposal to the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) for the Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) Active Protection, or RAP, program.

Teamed with BRTRC of Fairfax, Va., prime contractor on TARDEC's omnibus contracting vehicle, Textron Defense Systems' offering is based on the company's highly mature Tactical RPG Airbag Protection System (TRAPS). TRAPS is an active vehicle protection system incorporating Textron Defense Systems' sensors, which are configured to identify incoming RPGs. Once the sensors confirm an RPG threat, a TRAPS countermeasure is deployed to defeat the RPG and prevent vehicle penetration. Lightweight and constructed of commercial, off-the-shelf components, TRAPS is integrated easily onto any ground vehicle, wheeled or tracked, within the vehicle's existing profile.

The RAP program consists of three, 12-month phases. Phase I is intended to span October 2011 through September 2012, and to consist of design work leading to a TARDEC technology readiness level, or TRL, 4 assessment.

"Our TRAPS system showcased its maturity during a six-week test event by the Office of the Secretary of Defense in 2010, including live RPG threats against both stationary and moving vehicles from several angles and ranges," says Textron Defense Systems Vice President of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance and Protection Systems Thomas McNamara. "We also recently completed successful testing of our TRAPSNet passive variant with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. In both cases, TRAPS exhibited exceptional performance, as well as the flexibility to provide that level of protection to any vehicle -- making it the mature, low-risk solution for TARDEC's requirements."

Source : Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT)

Read more: http://www.asdnews.com/news/38198/Textron_Offers_TRAPS_for_TARDEC_s_Active_Protectio n_Program.htm#ixzz1Y6pJq7mK

[buglerbilly]

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

The Cheshire Tank

Posted by Bill Sweetman at 9/20/2011 5:23 AM CDT

BAE Systems' Adaptiv infrared stealth system for armored vehicles, developed by its Sweden-based Hagglunds unit, stole the show at last week's Defense & Security Equipment International exhibition in London, but it might face legal action before it ever sees combat.



Adaptiv results from a decade of study sponsored by BAE and the Swedish defense materiel agency FMV, which correctly predicted the rapid growth in the capability and availability of imaging infrared sensors. That led to the development of infrared suppression concepts involving liquid cooling, but they were not practical and insufficiently responsive.

Developed over the last couple of years, Adaptiv relies on thermoelectric cooling -- as used in plug-in beer coolers and to cool some electronic circuits. The system comprises a backplane, which provides mechanical, power and control support to just-over-palm-sized hexagonal tiles, each of which has its own cooling mechanism. The system is described as "light and robust" with no major effect on other armor or mobility.



Adaptiv can be controlled automatically, using an IR camera to image the scene on the opposite side of the vehicle and match its image. Alternatively, it can display pre-programmed signatures that match non-military vehicles or other objects in the scene.

By adjusting temperatures at the edges of the array, it can also deny detection or identification by reducing contrast. In the future, BAE believes, it may not be possible to remain undetected, so deception and denial of identification will be important.

The next phase of Adaptiv will be to integrate radar-absorbent materials into the tiles. (Radar stealth for a ground vehicle is a completely different kettle of fish compared to aircraft stealth, because the goal is not to vanish but to blend into ground clutter.) That system "is two years away from production" according to BAE engineers.

The next phase beyond that will be the incorporation of active visual stealth, which BAE says is four or five years away.

But among the admiring crowd at DSEi was Ronen Meir, CEO of Israel's Eltics, which has developed a similar system and is offering it in conjunction with Israel Military Industries as part of the latter's Black Fox Invisible Reactive Armor Protection (IRAP) system, unveiled at Eurosatory last year. In Meir's briefcase -- a copy of the US patent for the system, granted a week before DSEi opened its doors.

BAE says that Adaptiv is different, based on the use of different materials. Meir does not agree and says that the technologies are "substantially the same".

[Weasel]

BAE says that Adaptiv is different, based on the use of different materials. Meir does not agree and says that the technologies are "substantially the same".

LOL, Meir needs to get to the end of the line.

1) I think it is priceless that Meir thinks he can patent the Peltier effect.
2) BAe seems to have ripped an idea off straight out of the FCS glossy pamphlet book that was doing the rounds in 2002, even down to the shape and size of the tiles. Smacks of that (expletive and de-humanizing descriptor removed aka "tool") Childress(?) at Boeing.

cheers

w

[buglerbilly]

Friday, September 23, 2011, 12:22 AM

Polish ANDERS multipurpose combat platform with the Belgian CMI Defence CT-CV 105 mm canon.

The Polish Defence Company OBRUM (BUMAR Group) in Gliwice, has designed another version of the multirole platform Anders. This version is equipped with the Belgian CMI Defence CT-CV 105 mm calibre gun.


Polish ANDERS multirole combat platform with CT-CV 105 mm canon.

Positive feedback about Anders technology demonstrator vehicle show that the chassis of the prototype vehicle Anders from Obrum can be easily integrate with the Belgian CT-CV 105mm gun made by CMI Defence Belgium.

This prototype was done on September 12 to 14. This proves that Anders armoured vehicle has been designed as a universal and multi-purpose platform with great development potential such as those described in the program from Obrum Company.

At MSPO 2011 in Kielce, it was announced for the first time to the public that funds for research and development were invested to create several variants of the Anders, to open the possibility to create new market with domestic and foreign partners.

Anders with the 105mm canon has not yet conducted trial tests (last year Anders vehicle was successfully tested with the 120mm calibre canon made by the Swiss Company RUAG). But it is evident that all the mechanisms of the Belgian CT-CV canon can cooperate with the Polish vehicle Anders.

In a record time of less than 12 months Anders has showed that it can be armed with three types of canons, 30 mm, 105 mm and 120 mm. It is very important information for future prospective customers.



Polish ANDERS multirole combat platform with CT-CV 105 mm canon.

[buglerbilly]

This is the 120mm cannon version of the same vehicle..................






History

The vehicle was designed to replace the Polish Army's remaining inventory of obsolescent BMP-1 fighting vehicles, the first prototype being publicly shown at a defense industry exhibition, MSPO Kielce, in 2010. The vehicle shown was in a fire support vehicle (Polish: wóz wsparcia ogniowego) configuration. Armed with a 120mm tank gun the popular media referred to this vehicle as a "light tank". Later the same vehicle was shown in an infantry fighting vehicle (Polish: bojowy wóz piechoty) configuration with a KTO Rosomak Hitfist-30P turret. A more advanced IFV prototype is expected to be shown at the 2011 MSPO Kielce exhibition. Further variants such as command and control, medical evacuation, engineer vehicle or self-propelled anti-aircraft gun are also planned.

Technical details

In its basic configuration the vehicle has a STANAG 4569 protection level of 3, this can be increased to level 5 with a planned add on armor system.


And this is the HITFIST 30mm cannon turret that arms the third version of this tracked vehicle, here shown on a polish AMV..................

[Gubler, A.]

This isn’t quite a development because it happened over 40 years ago but the archives have recently been declassified revealing some interesting information about what we now know as “Chobham” armour. One document details the early concept for the IFV that became the Warrior. It was originally designed (by the in house team at Chertsey before Alvis were involved) as a Burlington armoured IFV. The protection results are impressive even today. The other are concepts for a Chieftain tank (called Mk 5/2 for secrecy) produced with Burlington to rapidly get the armour in service. Because of the problems with adding on or designing on composite armour new tank designs were later followed. Interesting stuff. Thanks to a Brit-Kiwi friend who runs www.secretprojects.co.uk for finding the information.

[Gubler, A.]

Part two with attachments 6 and 7 (limit of 5 per post).

[Weasel]

How is it interesting, again Abe? Just the name or you feel that you get some kind of insight into the defeat mechanism used?

cheers

w



Part two with attachments 6 and 7 (limit of 5 per post).

[Gubler, A.]

How is it interesting, again Abe? Just the name or you feel that you get some kind of insight into the defeat mechanism used?

I thought the information about the protection results were interesting.

[Weasel]

I thought the information about the protection results were interesting.

Yes, it is. :)

I think if certain persons on this board remember (as a rule of thumb ) that a shockwave travels a approx. 4 times the speed of sound through a solid, then you can get an appreciation of the thickness required to defeat a shaped charge detonated at or near the surface of the strike face, with this type of armor, or "family" of survivability suite systems.

A dual warhead will change this equation.

So, that is why Israeli claims of creating the world's best tank need to be taken seriously, as they appear to use a type of Nera, which arguably requires less thickness then this type of armor to achieve the same effectiveness against shaped charges.

It is also why you will see an applique ofERA and cages on the new M1A1s, Leopard A6s and challenger 2s. Its not because it doesn't work, it is because of cost and time-to-product to give said vehicles 360 deg survivability integrity.

just my 2c

cheers

w

[Gubler, A.]

Here is another declass picture showing the Chobham array for the Chieftan Mk 5/2.

[Weasel]

Old news, but anyone have comments or info on this? And yes I searched but everyone knows I have no search mojo.

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4654809



"...

The Global Combat Systems sector of Britain's BAE Systems will reveal the new Armadillo concept of its CV90 armored combat vehicle family at the Eurosatory 2010 trade show outside Paris.



A GLIMPSE OF the CV90 Armadillo, which BAE Systems will unveil later this month at Eurosatory 2010. (BAE SYSTEMS)
The latest iteration in a vehicle line that has won more than 1,100 orders, CV90 Armadillo is intended to bring a high level of flexibility in payload and battlefield utility to a new range of vehicles using common CV90 components, according to the company.

RELATED TOPICS
Europe
Land Warfare
"This is a concept of a flexible family of vehicles of modular type built around the CV90 platform," said Hakan Karlsson, vice president of marketing communications for BAE Global Combat Systems in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden.

An ideal armored combat vehicle, Karlsson said, offers a balance between high mobility, high payload and extremely high protection; should have a practical and effective interface for digitally equipped soldiers and the digital battlespace; should be reliable and affordable; and above all, offer a low logistics footprint. This has been the ethos behind the development of the Armadillo build standard, Karlsson told journalists May 27 in a London briefing.

BAE has analyzed the degree of commonality between variants in existing CV90 vehicles, and overlaid on this the benefits of a modular approach to future variants based on the Armadillo standard. Based on cost, engineering effort expended and the number of major common components, the company believes it can achieve between 65 percent and 88 percent commonality for turreted, personnel carrier and specialist engineering vehicles.

The real payoff for the Armadillo comes in its available payload of 16 metric tons, according to Karlsson. In its armored personnel carrier form, the CV90 Armadillo will weigh in at 26 metric tons, leaving 9 metric tons of payload availability, which can be traded off against higher levels of protection.

The standard level of protection is already high. "Resistance to mines in the 8-10 kilogram area is already considered pretty good - we have achieved protection well in excess of the 10 kilogram bracket; we are setting new standards with the Armadillo program," Karlsson said.

Armor protection also is high, at "well above Level 5," and the entire vehicle architecture has been built with ease of interoperability with tomorrow's digital soldier in mind.

Equipped with a Saab LEDS150 hard-kill self-protection system, a BAE Lemur remote weapon station, and external fire suppression equipment to deal with urban warfare attacks from Molotov cocktails and the like, the Armadillo family will include ambulance, mortar, personnel carrier, command-and-control, logistics support and recovery variants, depending on customer demand.

Future development may well examine other variants, such as a vehicle-launched bridge, with a continued focus on improving the payload/protection balance, according to Karlsson.

Questioned on the degree to which the design had taken into account the development of soldier modernization programs, Karlsson responded that there are several challenges that need to be balanced.

"We need to provide adequate power and cooling, ensure we can cope with handling and sharing tactical information with the crew, and also maintain a useful level of useable payload and space," he said.

..."



8 to 10 kg mine protection, is pretty impressive for a flat bottomed IFV

cheers

w

[buglerbilly]

More info (plus pics and video) but little detail here: -

http://www.armyrecognition.com/united_kingdom_british_army_light_armoured_vehicle/armadillo_cv90_bae_systems_armoured_combat_vehicle _data_sheet_description_information_specifications .html

ARES announcement from the show, note the comment mid section about Mild Steel for the floor (?) as the "best" mine protection.............

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3A27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3A9a58b5c4-e8c7-42e8-946d-877f62c40716&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest

BAE image gallery...........look at the Armadillo pics at the bottom, you get a glimpse of the floor...............may or may not tell you something............

http://imagegallery.baesystems.investis.com/search/default.aspx?searchterm=new%20technologies&searchoption=1

PDF Data Sheet on the vehicle..............

http://armoured-vehicle-survivability.com/files/armadillo.pdf

BAE Animation on the vehicle and its varaints.............

http://www.baesystems.com/Sites/ProductLaunches2010/Video/CV90ArmadilloAnimation/index.htm

[Weasel]

:faint2

lol

cheers

w

[Weasel]

More info (plus pics and video) but little detail here: -

http://www.armyrecognition.com/united_kingdom_british_army_light_armoured_vehicle/armadillo_cv90_bae_systems_armoured_combat_vehicle _data_sheet_description_information_specifications .html

ARES announcement from the show, note the comment mid section about Mild Steel for the floor (?) as the "best" mine protection.............

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3A27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3A9a58b5c4-e8c7-42e8-946d-877f62c40716&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest

BAE image gallery...........look at the Armadillo pics at the bottom, you get a glimpse of the floor...............may or may not tell you something............

http://imagegallery.baesystems.investis.com/search/default.aspx?searchterm=new%20technologies&searchoption=1

PDF Data Sheet on the vehicle..............

http://armoured-vehicle-survivability.com/files/armadillo.pdf

BAE Animation on the vehicle and its varaints.............

http://www.baesystems.com/Sites/ProductLaunches2010/Video/CV90ArmadilloAnimation/index.htm

Clever of BAE to buy Tenix, finish up a troubled contract (create customer loyalty, by saving them) and then place itself in a position of when the Australian Army want to stop playing in the sand pit and start playing with the real boys, they can offer 800 x CV-90s to get over the m113AS3 hangover for a pinch of the money spent on super-hornet. Oh and BTW, you create Australian jobs lol.

like guiness in a bottle, really.

cheers

w

[buglerbilly]

Any thoughts on the Mild Steel Floor comment?

[Weasel]

Any thoughts on the Mild Steel Floor comment?

laminate steel with boxed spacing, would be the best inference from os information provided. Need to see an internal before and after shot of head room.

Same concept was used on both iowa and yamoto(?spelling?) BBs. Quite detailed references to it on the Iowa class drawings. With ratios and thicknesses. Two inch laminate was v common iirc.

Basically tou try and get 75u/14.5u length to thickness (best but not needed) of mild steel thickness to length of projectile you wish to defeat. This induces a rapid ablation of said projectile in space behind strike face. Varying formulas as to how deep you want that to be.Then you hit it again with another "capture" face to handle the residual.

v good for EFP

good enough guess?

cheers

w

[buglerbilly]

Yup I can compris that............its Yamamoto by the way...........

Earlier info says IBD had some involvement with CV90 up-armouring but their approach seemed to be armour and composite laminates in their AMAP-M system..........

[Weasel]

Yup I can compris that............its Yamamoto by the way...........

Earlier info says IBD had some involvement with CV90 up-armouring but their approach seemed to be armour and composite laminates in their AMAP-M system..........
Yep, I cant spell too save my life.

The AMAP-M is (indeed) a spaced composite solution..Not strictly mild steel, but I did note that Bill Sweetman was the reporter for Aviation week, so you may well be correct bugs.

Again, if the head room remains the same as before then you are looking at AMAP-M. If it has been squeezed, your looking at something more basic.

cheers

w

[buglerbilly]

Anecdotal evidence from someone who looked inside the Armadillo at Eurosatory 2010 said that the interior appeared to be bigger than the preceding CV90 so I'd say exterior armouring?

[buglerbilly]

Sunday, October 2, 2011, 06:15 AM

The new upgrade of Russian T-90 main battle tank unveils at Russian Expo Arms 2011.

At the Defence Exhibition of Nizhny Tagil, REA 2011 (Russian Expo Arms 2011 ), which held from the 8 to 11 September 2011, Russian defence industry unveils a new upgrade version of the T-90 main battle tank, the T-90S.



New T-90S at Russian Expo Arms 2011





The T-90S can fire anti-tank guided missile. The system is intended to engage tanks fitted with ERA (explosive reactive armour) as well as low-flying air targets such as helicopters, at a range of up to 5km. For explosion and fire safety reasons some ammunition allowance is stowed in a special hull rear section.

The T-90S is motorized with a new V-92S2F engine which reduces the fuel consumption, and he is also more powerful. The new T-90S can run at a maximum speed of 60 km/h on road.

To increase the protection of the tank, the T-90S is fitted with new armor plates to each side of the hull, to protect the suspension against anti-tank rockets. The rear side of the hull is equipped with wire cage armor, same as for the turret. A new three sets of armor are mounted at the front of the turret.

Actually a new Russian main tank is under development under the name of “Armata



Future view of Russian main battle tank Armata

[buglerbilly]

AUSA 2011: BAE Systems continues pursuit of AMPV

October 11, 2011



BAE Systems is continuing to advocate its solution to the Armoured Multi Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) replacement for the M113 at AUSA.

On display at the show are three variants showing the versatility of the solution that the company is proposing.

According to Roy Perkins, Director HBCT Business Development, US Combat Systems, the US Army is poised to begin the programme with budget lines in the 2012 Presidential budget or the replacement of the 3,000 M113s in the Heavy Brigade Combat Team (HBCT). However, with no resolution of the US budget issues in sight, the programme has yet to be launched. 'The army has a schedule but its waiting on funding,' Perkins stated.

The BAE Systems plan is to recapitalise the large number of surplus Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) that are in the US fleet. Perkins estimates that there are between 1,500 and 2,000 vehicles available. This would be combined with the recapitalisation of Bradleys in the active fleet as the US Army transitions to the Ground Combat Vehicle. The army's plan is to have a replacement for the M113 in production by 2017.

Perkin stressed that one of the vehicles on display was a post Milestone B 'production representative vehicle. 'It is a most a [Low Rate Initial Production] vehicle,' he stated. The vehicle went through the company's existing Bradley production line.

'What I want to stress is its a Bradley,' he continued. 'That means it can fight with a [Abhrams] tank, survive with the tank, and go where the tank can go.'

The BAE Systems design relies heavily on the reconfigurability of a baseline Bradley that the company also believes would give the US Army more flexibility. The four-core design elements are a common mounting provision, variable height top, floating floors and removable and reconfigurable belly armour plate. All of these increases the reconfigurability and survivability of the platform.

Rick Burtnett, program manager for Bradley AMPV at BAE Systems, said the company had put a lot of thought in to how to give the army the vehicle it required. The AMPV will be expected to replace five M113 variants in the HBCTs. These are the ambulance, command post, general purpose, mortar and medical treatment vehicles. The expectation is that the full missions systems from the M113 will be transferred from each of the variants further reducing cost.

BAE Systems is likely to face competition from several quarters in competing for AMPV and the US Army is expected to have to undertake an analysis of alternatives. Other potential solutions could include a variant on the Stryker family or the MRAP. However, neither of these solutions would provide the same levels of manoeuvrability and there would potentially be other trade offs.

Darren Lake, Washington, DC

[buglerbilly]

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

M113 Replacement Taking New Importance for the Army

Posted by Paul McLeary at 10/11/2011 10:24 AM CDT



The Army’s main priority for the upgrade of its ground vehicle fleet remains the Ground Combat Vehicle—which is currently stalled while under protest—but it’s number two might come as a surprise. It’s not the JLTV or the Humvee Recap or the double V-hulled Stryker or the MRAP or even the MATV. It’s the Armored Multipurpose Vehicle (AMPV), which the deputy chief of staff for Army programs, Lt. Gen. Robert Lennox, earlier this week said was the service’s second greatest priority behind the GCV.

The M113 infantry carrier replacement program, which is in the fiscal year 2012 budget, has received relatively little attention until the Association of the US Army (AUSA) convention this week—but all of a sudden it seems to be all over the place. The AMPV is on the books as being a replacement for roughly 3,000 M113s in the Army’s Heavy Brigade Combat Team (HBCT) fleet.

Mike Cannon, the senior VP of Ground Combat Systems for General Dynamics, flat out says that “Stryker is AMPV. You don’t have to do anything to a Stryker to replace a 113 with it.” He added that the new double V-hulled Strykers which have recently been deployed to Afghanistan have been performing well, and that they have proven highly survivable in several IED strikes which have targeted them. Cannon would have no problem with a mixed fleet, saying that the Stryker is well suited to all of the missions outlined by the Army for its AMPV family, save perhaps the mortar variant.

Rick Burtnett, program manager for Bradley AMPV at BAE Systems displayed a similar confidence, noting that the company’s design the AMPV’s five variants: the ambulance, command post, general purpose, mortar and medical treatment vehicles can be traced back to the XM11 Armored Medical Evacuation Vehicle which it designed as a Bradley replacement in the late 1990s, before the now-cancelled Future Combat System’s Manned Ground Vehicle caused the Army to abandon the BAE design.

Over a decade later we’re apparently back to the late 90s, and BAE is dusting off the program. Burtnett estimates that there are currently about 1,500 mothballed Bradleys that can be refit and reset for the program, adding that the company is ready to go right now on the work, since their scalable design is completed. The design includes a variable height top, and removable and reconfigurable underbelly armor plating that can be added or removed to meet a mission’s survivability requirements. Bertnett added that if the Army goes with the BAE solution, its Heavy Brigade Combat Teams would have a whopping 74 percent commonality across the fleet.

This comment is also worth noting for those not familiar with what is going on here......................



Marcase wrote:
The FCS-family of vehicles was supposed to replace both M-113 *and* M-2/M-3 Bradleys (and others), but with its cancellation the Brad is supposed to be replaced by the new GCV, leaving the M-113 replacement still lost in the woods.

BAE Systems claims the new V-hull Stryker may tick all AMPV (M-113 replacement) boxes, basically creating an army frontline fleet centered around Abrams, GCV (replacing Brad) and AMPV/Strykers (in both support and combat roles).

In a perfect world, JLTV would then fill out the rest of the combat and niche support roles (ambulance, EOD, comms etc.) and that would be that - a neat fleet comprising of four basic vehicles; a wet dream to every army maintainer and logistician.

However, the budgetary troubles will rear its ugly head pretty soon, and if due to low numbers the JLTV can't assume the roles of the many-many MRAPs (or gets canned all together), and Humvee Recap is less than satisfactory then there will be a large capability gap that even GCV and AMPV/Stryker can't fill (too large, too heavy, too expensive).

If the Bradley gets refitted as per BAE's proposal, it will certainly be the cheaper (and wiser) option. But it's cousin the GCV won't be a Bradley variant - it will result in an extra 'track' within the fleet (Abrams, GCV, BAE Bradley APC, SBCT-Stryker).

Throw in the somewhat related USMC's troubles with AAV7 replacement and MPC (and *their* Humvee recap/JLTV troubles), and I foresee it will take some time before these wheels will be comfortably turning.
10/11/2011 1:59 PM CDT

[buglerbilly]

AUSA 2011: Saab places hopes on LEDS

October 12, 2011

Saab North America is using AUSA to showcase the capabilities of the company's Land Electronic Defence System (LEDS)-150 active protection system (APS).

The scaleable system is currently in pre-production and will be ready for production in 2013 according to Brian Lawrence, VP Marketing. 'It's a plug and play system that is designed to defeat multi-spectral threats,' he stated.

The company will have invested the best part of $100 million of its own funds on LEDS by the time it reaches maturity. According to Lawrence, the system provides significant weight savings and full 360-protection with the capability to deal with multiple threats from the same direction.

It also includes both softkill and hardkill options and builds on the company's proven LEDS 50 system, which has been integrated with the CV90 and is an option being considered for the US Marine Corps (USMC) M1A1 main battle tanks.

The system was also part of SAIC's unsuccessful bid for the Ground Combat Vehicle, which is now under review by the government.

Looking to the future of LEDS, however, Lawrence identified a number of possible projects that could benefit from LEDS-150 in the US. Both the USMC and the US Army are looking to upgrade a number of their platforms and enhance their protection levels.

Saab now plans to continue developing the system through the next 12 months before undertaking another customer demonstration.

Darren Lake, Washington, DC

[buglerbilly]

More Armored Recovery Vehicles for Indian Army

By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI

Published: 17 Oct 2011 13:52

NEW DELHI - India's state-owned Bharat Earth Movers Ltd. (BEML) will produce an additional 204 armored recovery vehicles (ARVs) under full technology transfer from Polish company Bumar for the Indian Army's Russian-made T-72 tanks.

The order is the latest the Indian company has received from the Army since a 2003 agreement between BEML and Bumar. Deliveries of the 204 ARVs, manufactured at BEML facilities in India, will be completed in three years. The ARVs are valued at about $1.4 million each. The T-72 main battle tanks are the mainstay of the Army, and there has been a shortage of its ARVs.

No global tender was floated since the purchase was a repeat order, an Indian Defence Ministry official said.

The Army will use the ARVs for recovery and repair of damaged T-72 tanks. ARVs for Russian-made BMP-1 and BMP-2 infantry vehicles with the Indian Army are using ARVs made by BEML.

The ARVs will be based on the T-72 tank hull, armed with a 12.7 mm machine gun and equipped with a crane that can lift up to 15 tons and a front-mounted stabilizing dozer blade, and main and secondary winch.

[buglerbilly]

Billion pound upgrade to armoured vehicles announced

An Equipment and Logistics news article

25 Oct 11

The Prime Minister has today announced that the Army’s Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle will benefit from a £1 billion upgrade.


The Warrior infantry fighting vehicle with improved turret and new 40mm cannon
[Picture: Courtesy of Lockheed Martin]

David Cameron was joined the new Defence Secretary Philip Hammond and the Head of the Army to announce that the vehicles will be fitted with an improved turret and new stabilised 40mm cannon, enabling them to fire while on the move. The upgraded vehicles will also benefit from a new standard armour mounting system, providing the flexibility to fit different types of armour and adapt to future protection technology.

The Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme (WCSP) will extend the vehicles’ service life to beyond 2040, ensuring that Warrior will continue to play an essential role in the future conduct of land operations.

The MOD plans to award a contract to Lockheed Martin UK for the demonstration and manufacture of the upgraded vehicles. The award of this contract will create and sustain around 600 British jobs across the country within Lockheed Martin UK and its supply chain.

This morning, the Prime Minister, the Defence Secretary and the Chief of the General Staff met with soldiers who have used Warrior on operations and who are likely to benefit from the upgraded vehicle in the future.

Announcing the upgrade, the Prime Minister David Cameron said:

"This shows the concrete benefits of the fundamental changes we have introduced to modernise our Armed Forces and to bring the future defence budget back to balance. It means we are now able to ensure our soldiers have greater flexibility and firepower with these upgraded armoured vehicles."

"Warrior has performed outstandingly well in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and now Afghanistan, and this programme will enable it to remain effective to the 2040s. It's also good news for British business: supporting the UK's defence industry and providing 600 jobs from Farnborough to Glasgow."

The Defence Secretary, Philip Hammond, said:

"As a key step towards meeting our requirements for Future Force 2020, the upgraded Warriors will give commanders and their soldiers greater flexibility and firepower. Not only is this fantastic news for the Army, it also represents a great boost to British Industry – sustaining jobs, skills and capability within the UK’s armoured vehicle sector."

This announcement follows the Government’s recent commitment to a one per cent a year real term increase in the MOD’s equipment and support budget from 2015 - the equivalent to an extra £3 billion.

The Warrior has been in service with the British Army since 1989 and has distinguished itself on the battlefield throughout its extensive deployments including in Kuwait, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, and it continues to do so in Afghanistan. The upgraded Warriors are expected to enter service by 2020, with the first deliveries beginning in 2018.

Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Peter Wall, said:

"This announcement of an upgrade to one of the Army’s most important fighting vehicles is extremely welcome. Warrior will continue to be at the heart of our combat capability for at least another 25 years with state of the art firepower and electronics. Wherever the Army deploys, our infantry will depend on its superior protection, mobility, and lethality. This will be a battle-winner."

Alan McCormick, Vice President and Managing Director in Lockheed Martin UK’s Ampthill business said:

"We are delighted that the MOD has selected us to lead this critical upgrade effort designed to maximise the investment made in Warrior vehicles to extend their lives into the 2040s. The Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme will provide a highly capable vehicle to fulfil the British Army’s current and future requirements. It will also bring significant job opportunities for our team of suppliers based here in the UK."

The cannon programme is the product of Anglo-French cooperation through CTA International, a joint venture between BAE Global Combat Systems Munitions and Nexter Munitions. The upgraded Warriors will also benefit from a new electronic architecture, able to work with advancing technology.

[buglerbilly]

More on this including vehicle numbers being modified.........................

U.K. Approves $1.6B Upgrade for Warrior Vehicle

By ANDREW CHUTER

Published: 25 Oct 2011 15:02

LONDON - The 1 billion pound ($1.59 billion) program to update the British Army's Warrior infantry fighting vehicle has been given the go-ahead by the government.


A 1 billion-pound update to the British Army's Warrior infantry fighting vehicle has been approved. (BAE Systems)

Prime Minister David Cameron's announcement that the Ministry of Defence will sign a contract with Lockheed Martin UK to upgrade the Warrior ends months of speculation over whether the program would proceed or be struck down by Britain's defense spending cuts.

The contract is expected to be signed by the end of the month.

Although given the go-ahead, the program is much delayed. A Lockheed spokesman said production will start in 2018, and full operational capability is expected in 2020. At one stage, the British Army wanted to have the updated Warrior operational by about 2012.

The number of vehicles to be updated has also slipped to about 380, and not all of those will receive the full upgrade package. Originally, 643 vehicles were to be included in the program, of which 449 would receive the full upgrade.

Lockheed was named as the only contractor remaining in negotiation with the MoD at the start of this year, after BAE Systems was knocked out of the running.

The Warrior Capability Sustainment Program will involve a raft of improvements, including fitting a new turret with a 40mm cannon supplied by CTAI, an Anglo-French subsidiary of BAE Systems and Nexter.

Other key improvements include a new open electronic architecture and better armor protection.

The MoD says the update could keep the vehicle in service until 2040 and beyond.

Lockheed's contract is valued at 642 million pounds. The remainder of the 1 billion pound cost of the program comprises government-furnished equipment, such as the new cannon, and government taxes.

Major suppliers include the Defence Support Group, Rheinmetall Defence, Curtiss-Wright, Thales UK and Meggitt.

The deal is the first major announcement since the appointment of Defence Secretary Phillip Hammond. He replaced Liam Fox earlier this month after Fox resigned in the face of controversy over his links with lobbyist and adviser Adam Werrity.

Fox's resignation held up the announcement of the deal.

[buglerbilly]

Thursday, November 3, 2011, 02:18 PM

Ukraine arms trading Company Ukrspetzexport to export 49 Oplot tanks for Thailand’s armed forces.

Ukraine’s state-run arms trading company Ukrspetzexport has signed a contract for the production and export of 49 main battle tanks T-84 Oplot to Thailand’s armed forces.


T-84 Oplot Ukrainian made main battle tank

“The contract’s total sum exceeds 200 million dollars,” the company said in a statement on Friday.

Companies included in the state-run defence concern Ukroboronprom will build tanks.

According to the company’s statement, Ukrspetzexport also signed the contract for additional supply of 121 armoured personnel carriers BTR-3E1 and support vehicles worth over 140 million dollars.

“This will allow to keep Ukraine’s military-industrial complex running at high capacity for several years to come,” Ukroboronprom director-general, Dmitry Salamatin, said.

Experts said this contract is in the top ten largest deals in the history of Ukraine’s military-industrial complex.

[buglerbilly]

Soldiers survive IED strike thanks to Scimitar

An Equipment and Logistics news article

8 Nov 11

Soldiers from 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards have survived a strike by a large improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan while driving in their upgraded Scimitar Mk2 vehicle.


Lieutenant Peter Gordon-Finlayson, Trooper Robert Griffiths and Lance Corporal James Hatton in a Scimitar Mk2 armoured reconnaissance vehicle
[Picture: Captain Simon Mildinhall, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

The three soldiers of the Welsh Cavalry were on a routine patrol in Nahr-e Saraj when their Scimitar Mk2 was engulfed in an explosion. All three soldiers walked away from the incident unharmed.

Vehicle commander Lieutenant Peter Gordon-Finlayson said the explosion stunned the crew for a few moments before their training took over, adding:

"It felt like a car crash, and it took me a few moments to take it all in. But the training soon kicked in for all of us.

"After checking that I and the crew were unharmed it only took about 30 seconds for the jokes and banter to start, which helped to alleviate the stress of what had just happened.

"But I've got to say that all credit must go to the Scimitar. It really is thanks to the vehicle that we all walked away without a scratch.

"The Taliban are afraid of the Scimitar 2, and are too afraid to take us on head-to-head. When we arrive in an area the insurgents tend to leave."

The three soldiers are members of B Squadron of the Queen's Dragoon Guards - the regiment's second deployment to Afghanistan.

Lance Corporal James Hatton is the Scimitar's gunner. He said:

"After that experience the regiment's confidence in the new fleet has really grown. I'm looking forward to getting back onto the ground with the rest of the troop.

"I was also very impressed with the speed of the recovery crew in isolating the area and recovering the vehicle. It's a big thank you from our crew to them."

Trooper Robert Griffiths, the Scimitar's driver, said the crew were in high spirits on returning to camp, but appreciated that their survival was due to the vehicle, which has been in service for just over two months. He said:

"I'm massively impressed with the amount of protection the upgraded armour provided. It was obviously a shock, but I've never had such a buzz in my life."


Lieutenant Peter Gordon-Finlayson, Trooper Robert Griffiths and Lance Corporal James Hatton in a Scimitar Mk2 armoured reconnaissance vehicle
[Picture: Captain Simon Mildinhall, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

The Scimitar Mark 2 combat vehicle is one of five enhanced Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) ([CVR(T)] types that began service in Helmand recently.

BAE Systems upgraded the armour on all five vehicles - Scimitar, Spartan, Samson, Sultan and Samaritan - through an urgent operational requirement process worth around £30m.

As part of the contract, the vehicles were rehulled to give better mine-blast protection for troops, and improved armour was added for enhanced resistance to blasts and ballistics, as well as new mine-blast protection seating in every position in every variant. Other enhancements include repositioned foot controls and a revamped fuel system.

Scimitar Mark 2 builds on a number of upgrades that have previously been made to the CVR(T), which address the problems experienced while operating in the harsh Afghan environment. These previous upgrades have included improved power output, new gearboxes and transmissions, air-conditioning, improved communications, air filters and night-vision systems.

[buglerbilly]

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

Crowd-Designing an Armored Fighting Vehicle

Posted by Graham Warwick at 11/8/2011 9:32 AM CST

Given the trouble the US has been having developing armored vehicles, with cancellation of the Army's Future Combat Systems program and Marine Corps' Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle, it might raise an eyebrow or two to see that DARPA is looking for someone to develop an advanced infantry fighting vehicle ... who need not have the experience, expertise or infrastructure to design, build and test such a beast.

That's because DARPA's Future, Adaptable Next-Generation Ground Vehicle (FANG) program aims to emulate the IT industry by using open-source-software-style crowdsourcing to design an IFV and microchip-manufacture-inspired programmable foundries to build the vehicle.


Concept: DARPA

In a draft of the broad agency announcement that will seek a contractor to run the program, DARPA says: "In theory, the program should culminate in the design, fabrication and verification of the FANG IFV without the contracted performer doing any of the design, fabrication or testing."

FANG will draw on other programs under the agency's overall Adaptive Vehicle Make initiative: META, which is developing model-based tools for the design, integration and "virtual" verification of complex systems; vehicleforge.mil, a online design collaboration environment; and iFAB, a distributed, programmable manufacturing capability.

According to the draft BAA, design of the FANG IFV will be "accomplished through crowdsourcing; fabrication done by the iFAB network; and the need for verification obviated through formal model-based verification in the course of design." Anticipating 'imperfections' in this process, DARPA says the FANG contractor will have to "monitor, supervise, augment and ensure the smooth integration of each step in the end-to-end 'make' process for the FANG IFV." Well that's a relief...

To add to the wackiness of this program, the IFV is to be designed through a series of prize-based competitions organized by the FANG prime contractor. This will allow the new design tools and fabrication processes to be applied to an increasing complex set of challenges.

The three FANG challenges are intended to produce first a mobility/drive-train rig for full-scale dynamometer testing in mid-FY2013; then a complete hull and crew compartment for structural testing and a bolt-on modular armor package for survivability testing in early FY2104; and finally a full vehicle for operational test and evaluation in FY2105.

DARPA's goal is to prove that model-based system engineering, crowdsourced design and foundry-style manufacturing can produce a better product, quicker and cheaper, than traditional industry methods. The "ground truth" is to be provided by the Marine Corps Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) program, as the FANG IFV will be designed to meet the same requirements. (FANG was originally targeted at the Army's Ground Combat Vehicle program -- looks like DARPA was not able to interest the Army.)


FANG IFV will be designed to the same requirements as ACV, the planned replace for the cancelled EFV (above - photo: US Marine Corps)

FANG raises a lot of questions, some of which are best addressed by reading the BAA, which goes into considerable detail on the philosophy, the processes, the challenges and the hoped-for results. On the subject of how you guarantee security and prevent malicious interference with a crowdsourced design process, DARPA says the vehicleforge.mil site "is planned to incorporate a novel reputation-based credentialing scheme for users, component models and design fragments." There goes my chance to participate...

[buglerbilly]

UK confident in Scout SV project

09 November 2011 - 15:31 by Beth Stevenson



The British Army's £500 million Scout SV programme will be 'perfectly affordable', a government official has insisted.

Peter Luff, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support for the UK, said that adaptability and affordability were key areas of interest for the government as it tracks the project, which saw a contract awarded to General Dynamics UK for prototype development in 2010.

Speaking at the Modern Infantry conference in Bisley, UK, on 9 November, Luff said it was his ‘moral duty’ to protect the army and 'new equipment arriving in theatre will have adaptability'.

He insisted that post-Afghanistan the UK will 'make the most efficient use of the vehicles' left over that were developed as UORs, even though the downside of them 'becomes clear post-war, as they were procured for the war, not a war'.

Luff referred to the three main areas of interest for budgeting and organising modern infantry for the UK, including: resizing the British Army; reallocating budgets between programmes; and the placement of UORs from Afghanistan, and deciding the direction in which they will go post-conflict.

Under the Future Force 2020 brigade modernisation programme, army personnel will be reduced to 112,000, with a rough divide of 70/30 between full time and TA soldiers.

'We know the army, including the infantry, will be a smaller force,' he said, but 'the army's equipment plan remains fluid'.

Luff described how infantrymen take the 'heaviest punishment' in the structure of the forces, and although 'we appreciate the role of special forces, we need infantrymen to not be second rate citizens'.

As for the UK's £1 billion Warrior armoured vehicle upgrade announced last month, Luff said that despite the expense it is 'addressing all capability gaps beyond 2040'.

'The British infantryman has never been so well equipped.'

[buglerbilly]

Monday, November 21, 2011, 11:48 AM

Rheinmetall Defence transfers first Kodiak armoured engineering vehicle to Swedish army.

Rheinmetall Defence has handed over the first “Kodiak” AEV 3 S armoured engineering vehicle to the Swedish armed forces procurement agency (FMV, Försvarets Materiel Verk). At an official ceremony in Kiel, Harald Westermann, Member of the Executive Board of Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH of Kiel, presented the symbolic vehicle keys to Stefan Grann, Head of Vehicles and Engineering Equipment Office at FMV (Swedish Defence Materiel Administration).


Official ceremony in Kiel, Harald Westermann, Member of the Executive Board of Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH of Kiel, presented the symbolic vehicle keys to Stefan Grann, Head of Vehicles and Engineering Equipment Office at FMV (Swedish Defence Materiel Administration).

Known in Rheinmetall parlance as the “Kodiak”, the AEV 3 S is a heavy-duty combat engineering system that falls into the military weight category MLC 70. Its mineprotected MBT (main battle tank) Leopard 2 chassis and 1,100 kW diesel engine assure outstanding mobility and a high level of protection. It is equipped with a powerful hinged-arm excavator with different excavator tools, a dozer system featuring cutting and tilt angle settings and a double-winch system consisting of two 9-ton capstan winches. For its self-protection, the vehicle is equipped with a remote control weapon station and a smoke grenade launcher system.

Six cameras provide the two or three-man crew with a panoramic view of the vehicle’s surroundings, enabling them to switch tools and carry out a full range of combat engineering tasks without leaving the safety of the armoured fighting crew compartment. If required, the dozer blade can be replaced with a mine-breaching plough. By adapting the mine breaching kit to the AEV 3 S, the vehicle can be used as a mine breaching system. Among other things, this enables the Kodiak to cut through minefields and to erect or dismantle artificial obstacles. Thanks to its extensive array of equipment, it can also be deployed in a civil defence or disaster recovery capacity as well as in joint civil-military operations.



Kodiak engineer tracked armoured vehicle based on Leopard 2 main battle tank chassis

Rheinmetall manufactures and markets the Kodiak worldwide as part of a consortium with RUAG Defence, the strategic technology partner of the Swiss armed forces.

This vehicle delivery is the start for further deliveries to Switzerland and The Netherlands, which will use the Kodiak to support their Leopard 2 main battle tanks and to supplement their previously fielded ARV 3 armoured recovery vehicles, likewise supplied by Rheinmetall.

Now poised for on-time completion, the AEV 3 S project began in 2005. The Netherlands joined the project in 2006.

On 16 January 2008, the procurement agencies of Sweden and the Netherlands awarded Rheinmetall an order for 16 armoured engineering vehicles, with six earmarked for the Swedish armed forces, and ten going to the Dutch Army. In total, the order is worth around €100 million.

Having already supplied some 14,000 tracked and wheeled armoured vehicles, Rheinmetall Defence is one of Europe’s leading makers of land systems, including wheeled and tracked combat

[buglerbilly]

Thursday, November 24, 2011, 06:45 PM

French army procurement agency accepted its first VHM all-terrain armoured vehicles.



This is, of course, the BvS10 aka VIKING as used by the Brits and replaced/supplamented by the larger BRONCO/WARTHOG...............................the mounting on the roof of the rear pod is for a counter IED system

The French Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA) accepted its first VHM all-terrain vehicles on the 7th of November 2011. Ordered at the end of 2009, delivery of the 53 VHMs runs until the end of 2012. The supplying companies are Swedish Hägglunds AB (part of BAE Systems) and French Panhard. In particular, Panhard is in charge of all integration of equipment specific to the French army (armaments, radios, information systems, etc.).

The VHM is a 14-tonne, 7.60 m long, tracked, armoured vehicle. Between the vehicle’s two modules, a special articulation device enables it to negotiate terrain that is inaccessible for wheeled vehicles. Consequently, it can avoid routes that may be booby-trapped with improvised explosive devices.

Provided in three versions (command post, logistic carrier and troop carrier), the VHM can carry up to 11 FELIN infantrymen and their personal and collective weapons. Depending on the version, each VHM has either a 12.7 mm support weapon or a 7.62 mm self-defence weapon. The VHMs also offer embarked crews protection against small-calibre munitions, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), mines and improvised explosive devices.

Qualified in September 2011 after 8 months of intensive trials, the VHM has been tested on all types of terrain and, in particular, ground with poor bearing capacity (e.g. snow, sand and marsh). On top of all this, the vehicle’s amphibious capabilities (river and sea) make it an extremely mobile machine.

Video of the French unit in Afghanistan...........the guy in the funny beret is a French Chasseur Alpine officer who are the first/prime Users of this new eequipment.................

[buglerbilly]

Greece Considers Free Tank Offer

Agence France-Presse

Published: 7 Dec 2011 12:52

ATHENS - Cash-strapped Greece is considering an offer of hundreds of redundant M1A1 Abrams tanks extended by the United States government, the Greek army said on Wednesday.

"This is a free offer," army spokesman Yiannis Sifakis told AFP.

"A delegation of officers has travelled to the United States to examine tanks in storage; we are departing on the premise of picking 400 of them," he said.

"The only cost will be that of transport, which is estimated in the region of eight million euros ($11 million)," the spokesman said.

Ta Nea daily reported that the tanks, stored in Nevada, saw action in the 1990-1991 Gulf War and were first offered by the United States a year ago. The state council on foreign policy and defence will have the final say on whether the offer is taken up, Sifakis said.

Greece is in the grip of a debt crisis that has forced the government to freeze procurement orders for tanks, frigates and fighter jets.

The country has traditionally been one of the world's heaviest defence spenders per capita owing to decades of rivalry with neighboring Turkey.

Greece has in the past bought tanks from Germany, and there have been reports that Berlin has recently tried to sell updated versions of its Leopard model.

Next year, Athens has allocated more money to military equipment orders - 1 billion euros compared to 600 million euros a year earlier - but the defence ministry will cut its running budget by 1.4 percent.

[buglerbilly]

Poland To Spend $42M on Tank Modernization

By JAROSLAW ADAMOWSKI

Published: 15 Dec 2011 09:40

WARSAW - Poland's Ministry of Defense has set aside 138.6 million zloty ($42 million) for two contracts to modernize its T-72M1 and PT-91 main battle tanks, the Army's First Regional Logistics Base in Walcz said in a statement.

A 32.2 million-zloty deal for the overhaul of 20 T-72M1s was recently awarded to the repair plant Wojskowe Zaklady Motoryzacyjne (WZM). Of these, 10 units are to be modernized by Nov. 30, 2012, and a further 10 by Nov. 29, 2013.

Meanwhile, the ministry has decided to rerun its 106.4 million-zloty tender to upgrade 40 PT-91 tanks after a bid submitted by Poland's biggest defense manufacturer, Bumar Group, was rejected. Under the plan, some 20 PT-91s are to be upgraded by Nov. 30, 2012, and the remaining 20 by Nov. 29, 2013.

"By the deadline for submission of bids, three bids were submitted for the first contract, and one bid for the second contract," the statement said.

WZM is part of Wojskowe Przedsiebiorstwa Remontowo-Produkcyjne, the country's second-largest defense group. In 2010, the Poznan-based plant reported revenues of 32.2 million zloty, up 1.2 percent over a year earlier, and a net profit of 8.3 million zloty, compared with a loss of 12.9 million zloty in 2009.

Introduced to the Polish Army in 1995, the PT-91 is a locally built, modernized version of the Soviet-designed T-72M1. Both tanks are manufactured by Bumar's subsidiary, Bumar-Labedy.

The Land Forces have about 590 T-72M1s and 230 PT-91s, according to figures from the ministry.

[buglerbilly]

Rheinmetall receives EUR40 million order from Canada for Buffalo armoured recovery vehicle



This is the other advantage we could obtain getting PzH2000 SPG's, the opportunity to buy 1st class engineering vehicles in the form of this Buffel recovery vehicle and the Kodiak Engineering vehicle, see the post above............we have M88's for the M1's but I wouldn't have thought these sufficient for SPG's as well..........we have nothing in the class of Kodiak, nothing at all.........

The Rheinmetall Group of Dusseldorf, Germany, is to supply the Canadian armed forces with the state-of-the-art Buffel/Buffalo armoured recovery vehicle. Rheinmetall secured this important contract in the face of stiff competition, underscoring the Group's leading role in the world of heavyweight combat support vehicles.

The order is worth around C$54.7 million (EUR40 million).

Rheinmetall has thus succeeded in winning another important contract in Canada as well as adding a new chapter to the Buffel/Buffalo ARV success story: Canada will be the eighth country to field the system.

The recently signed contract encompasses the manufacture and delivery of the tracked armoured vehicles as well as the provision of related training support.

They will be equipped with the latest force protection features, making them more than a match for the kind of threats encountered in modern deployed operations, e.g. in Afghanistan.

Delivery of the armoured recovery vehicles is slated to take place in 2013-2014.

The Canadian military are furnishing a number of Leopard 2 tank chassis from their inventory, which Rheinmetall will convert into Buffel/Buffalo ARVs. The project will be carried out in Germany at Rheinmetall's Kiel and Kassel plants as well as in Canada in cooperation with its subsidiary Rheinmetall Canada and other Canadian companies.

Kiel is home to the Group's competence centre for combat support vehicle R&D, while series production of tracked armoured vehicles takes place in Kassel.

Rheinmetall Canada is currently engaged in a major programme to modernize and modify 42 Leopard main battle tanks which the Canadian military took over from the Dutch armed forces in 2007.

The Canadian Army has already been using the Buffel/Buffalo ARVs in Afghanistan since 2007. Drawn from the Bundeswehr inventory, Rheinmetall optimized the vehicles prior to deployment, fitting them with added force protection features.`

Both the Leopard 2 main battle tank and Buffel/Buffalo have performed extremely well in this highly challenging tactical environment, reliably protecting their crews from roadside bomb blasts, etc.

Known as the Bergepanzer 3 Buffel (BPz 3) in German, the Buffel/Buffalo ARV is based on the Leopard 2 chassis, and was jointly developed on behalf of the German and Dutch armies. It is designed for recovering disabled tanks as well as for conducting maintenance and repair work under field conditions. Thanks to a built-in crane, the Buffel/Buffalo is able to exchange a Leopard 2 powerpack or complete turret. Besides a powerful hydraulic crane system, this cutting edge ARV is equipped with a robust winch system and a combined dozer and stabilizing blade.

Source : Rheinmetall AG

Read more: http://www.asdnews.com/news/40142/Rheinmetall_receives_EUR40_million_order_from_Cana da_for_Buffalo_armoured_recovery_vehicle.htm#ixzz1 h8AJUDrD

[buglerbilly]

BAE Systems wins M113 contract

23 December 2011 - 9:27 by the Shephard News Team



BAE Systems has been awarded a $41.9 million contract to assist in the Brazilian Army upgrade of its M113 armoured personnel carriers (APCs). The contract will see BAE Systems provide the materials needed to perform the upgrade work as well as tooling and spares, and also includes a technology transfer agreement.

Under Brazil’s upgrade programme, 150 M113 APCs are being upgraded from the M113B configuration to the M113A2 Mk1 configuration. The programme will reuse the vehicle hulls, hatches and ramps, while all other components including the engines, transmissions and cooling systems will be replaced or upgraded. BAE Systems will also train the Brazilian Army on the upgrade and maintenance of the vehicles under this contract.

Brazil acquired its M113 fleet from the US Army in the 1970s, and the upgrade work will bring the vehicle capabilities in line with Brazil’s national defence strategy and enhance their defence capabilities.

The M113 is part of the largest family of armoured tracked vehicles in the world and includes more than 80,000 vehicles worldwide with 40 variants. It can transport 12 troops plus a driver and is capable of amphibious operation, extended cross-country travel over rough terrain and high-speed operation on improved roads and highways.

According to BAE Systems, the work under this contract will be performed at the Brazil Army Depot in Curitiba, Brazil and is expected to be complete by November 2014.

[buglerbilly]

Not seen much, the new Japanese Type 10 MBT..........lightweight and SMALL..............very small!



★Globalsecurity.org
Type 10 MBT-X Prototype (TK-X)

The Type 10 TK-X (MBT-X) project aims to build a new main battle tank to replace the existing Type 74 main battle tanks currently in service with the Japan Ground Self Defense Force. This tank will be deployed to the narrower and more mountainous regions of the country. The design emphased C4I capabilities as well as increasing performance, firepower, defense and mobility. The Type 10 has sloped turret armor similar to the Leopard 2A5, as well as a side profile similar to the Leclerc. The use of modular components, thereby significantly improving the side armor in comparison to the Type 90. The vehicle's armor can be reconfigured depending on the needs. Without additional armor plating, the vehicle weighs about 40 tons, while weighing about 48 tons with all of the add-on armor.

A day & night 360 degree sight is also mounted on the turret, which can be integrated with the "new Basic Regimental Command & Control System". Compared to the Type 90, the Commander's Panoramic Sight has been moved to the right and is located at a higher position, giving the commander a wide field of view.

By one report, the vehicle is expected to be armed with the 120-mm smoothbore gun developed by Japan Steel Works. This company also license-produces the Rheinmetall 120-mm / L44 gun for the Type 90 MBT. There is an option for L55 or a new barrel 50 caliber in length. The TK-X main battle tank will fire a newly developed armor-piercing ammunition. It is compatible with all standard 120-mm NATO ammunition. Secondary armament consists of coaxially mounted 7.62-mm machine gun and a roof mounted remotely controlled 12.7-mm machine gun. It will use an autoloader, with a crew of three (Commander and gunner in the turret, driver in the hull). It will use Continuously Variable Transmission, and is equipped with active hydropneumatic suspension, which allows it to adjust its stance. The tank can "sit", "stand", "kneel" or to "lean" in any direction. This feature gives a number of advantages.

This new lightweight MBT weighs significantly less than other modern battle tanks. It is 10 tons lighter than the current Japanese Type 90 main battle tank. The 40-ton tank was designed to be lightweight in order to comply with Japanese road laws. Laws banning heavy vehicles meant that the Type 90 could not operate outside Hokkaido, except at certain training facilities. The new MBT can be transported on standard commercial trailers.

On 15 December 2001, the Japanese Government approved a new mid-term procurement plan for its Self-Defense Forces totaling 25,160 billion yen (US$223.6 billion). Research projects were planned for five years, including the development of a new battle tank with advanced command-and-control capabilities. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is the main contractor of the TK-X. Development of components began in 1990s, and as of 2008 production was expected to start in 2010-2011. A prototype of the '3.5-generation' tank was revealed on February 13th, 2008 at the Ground Systems Research Center of the Technology Research and Development Institute (TRDI) in Sagamihara. The development cost as of 2008 was approximately JPY¥48,400,000,000, or approximately USD$447m. Each unit was expected to cost approximately JPY¥700,000,000, or USD$6.5m.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/japan/mbt-x.htm


★Japan TRDI Official Comment：

-New Tank is the successor to the current main battle tanks. This MBT will have improved "firepower", "protection", and "mobility" together with "advanced C4I".-

http://www.mod.go.jp/trdi/en/programs/ground/ground.html


★Type10 Prototype (TK-X) Spec★

Weight 44 (40-48) ton
Length 9.42 m
Width 3.24 m
Crew 3
Unit cost of 700 million Japanese Yen

Modular composite armour.
side armor of the turret is Anti RPG modular composite armour.
Active Suspension.
Continuously Variable Transmission.
C4ISR.
All 360°CITV.
and All 360°TV camera enemy caution function.





Both video's from 2008............

[Gubler, A.]

I wouldn't call the Type 10 small, its the same size as the French Leclerc tank. Which is a compact tank but not too much over other MBTs. It is 10 tonnes lighter than the Leclerc but that is thanks to a range of lighter sub systems and no doubt less effective armouring.

[buglerbilly]

Thursday, January 5, 2012, 10:01 AM

Ukraine will deliver 49 main battle tanks T-84 Oplot to Thailand.

Ukrainian State Company for Export and Import of Military and Special Products and Services (Ukrspetseksport), which is a part of the Ukroboronprom state concern, intends to supply 49 T-84 Oplot tanks to Thailand.


Ukraine made T-84 Oplot main battle tank

He said a statement made by Volodymyr Kuratchenko, deputy director general of Ukroboronprom, in Kharkiv that enterprise will supply close to 100 tanks to Thailand was a mistake.

Volodymyr Kuratchenko told the press in Kharkiv that the execution of the contract will begin in 2012 and will be completed in 2014.

He said the execution of the contract will allow the Kharkiv Malyshev Plant to boost production volume 10 times in 2012 over 2011.

He did not specify a sum of the contract.

Mykola Belov, acting director general of the Kharkiv Malyshev Plant, told Ukrainian News the Cabinet of Ministers allocated UAH 40.2 million in December to the plant for preparing the execution of this and other contracts concerning production of tanks and armored personnel carriers.

Chief Designer Volodymyr Vakulenko told the press some 40 changes will be introduced in the design on demands from the customer, including installation of air conditioners.

As Ukrainian News reported, Ukrspetseksport on September 1 signed a contract with the Defense Ministry of Thailand to deliver 49 Oplot tanks for a sum exceeding USD 200 million.

On August 5, Ukrspetseksport reached agreement with Thailand for manufacture of 121 pieces of BTR-ZE1 armored personnel carriers and support vehicles based on them worth a total of more than USD 140 million.

Ukrspetseksport is part of the Ukroboronprom state-run concern, which also comprising enterprises producing military hardware, including tank-building enterprises.

[buglerbilly]

Friday, January 6, 2012, 04:46 PM

Swedish army purchases 48 all-terrain vehicles BvS10 MkII from BAE Systems Hägglunds.

Swedish army procurement agency (FMV) has decided to procure 48 all terrain vehicles from BAE Systems Hägglunds in Sweden. The first vehicles will be delivered in the autumn of 2012 to allow them to be ready for international operations in the spring of 2013.


BvS10 MKII BAE Systems all-terrain tracked armoured vehicle

The elapsed time from the start of the project to today's award decision has been less than a year. For such a large procurement, this is considered to be a very short time. FMV received two very competitive bids offering two qualified vehicle systems.

- After evaluating the two bids, including an overall assessment of the two vehicle systems’ performance, price and life cycle cost, FMV decided to assign the contract to BAE Systems Hägglunds and their model BvS10 MkIIB, says Peter Elmlund, Project Manager at FMV.

The Swedish Armed Forces have set stringent requirements for the vehicles. They should be able to operate off-road in terrain characterized by deep snow, mud, mires and sand and also be able to swim across lakes and rivers. At the same time they should protect the personnel and crew against enemy fire and mines. They should also be easy to repair and maintain.

- All of these requirements we have been evaluated. But also the price issue which of course is important, says Peter Elmlund.

The Swedish government decided in 2010 that the new all terrain vehicles should be procured to the Armed Forces. About 30 people at FMV have since then been involved in the project to formulate requirements, review bids, evaluate the price, costs and conditions and to test the two competing vehicles.


Inside view BvS10 MkII all-terrain armoured vehicle

The decision means that 48 all terrain vehicles will be ordered in the first batch. The vehicles are configured in four variants:

• Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) with seating for six fully equipped soldiers plus three crew members, 19 pcs
• Ambulance vehicles with the possibility to carry up to two stretchers, and with seating for two crew members and two paramedics, 10 pcs
• Logistics vehicles with the possibility to carry a 10-foot container or a flatbed, 17 pcs. This variant can also be used to carry the artillery locating radar Arthur or a radio link module. It has a three-person crew
• Command & Control vehicles with seating for four staff personnel, a command & control system, and three crew members, 2 pcs

The first vehicles will be delivered to FMV in the autumn of 2012. They will be handed over to the Armed Forces and be in place for an international mission in Afghanistan during the spring 2013.

The cost of the acquisition – a complete system including 48 vehicles and support and training equipment – is approximately around 700 million SEK. The contract also includes options to order additional 127 vehicles divided in three different batches.

[JimWH]

I wonder if Plan Beersheba will make it in any way more likely that we'll look seriously into an armoured ATV? AFAIK there isn't any planning at present for ATV, but if we are actually going to allocate one of the infantry battalions to amphibious warfare it would seem to be a fairly logical next step. Especially as there are a couple of MOTS options available, and the numbers needed wouldn't be huge (if my calculations are right, less than 100 including variants and a small training allowance to make the full battalion mobile).

[JKM Mk2]

I totally agree.

Actually I personally am not so impressed with this type of vehicle. It just seems too RPG prone for my liking especially the following vehicle. But everybody else (Royal Marines etc) love it so who am I to quibble!

Oz should definitely have this option to go with its amphib option and the money side of things shouldn't break the bank either IMHO.

Cheers
JKM

[Gubler, A.]

It just seems too RPG prone for my liking especially the following vehicle.

They roll with bar armour which negates the RPGs.

[buglerbilly]

Brit VIKINGS c/w Bar Armour.................



And this is WARTHOG aka BRONCO from Singapore Industries, the replacement/supplement to the VIKING for the Brits........

[buglerbilly]

RUAG supplies Leopard armoured engineer and mine-clearance vehicles for the Swiss Armed Force


Leopard armoured engineer and mine-clearance vehicle. (Photo: RUAG)

16:45 GMT, December 23, 2011 RUAG, a technology partner of the Swiss Armed Forces, teamed up with systems specialist Rheinmetall to manufacture and market the armoured engineer and mine clearance vehicle. The vehicle represents a technological world first based on a Leopard-2 chassis. Alongside its military capability, it can be equipped to provide valuable support in the event of disasters or for civil-military collaboration.

Delivery of the units to the Swiss Armed Forces was delayed to iron out problems with the power shovel hydraulics that surfaced during endurance tests under extreme military operational conditions. The system was optimised jointly by Rheinmetall and RUAG and successfully subjected to a battery of tests involving other components.

Commenting on the hand-over, RUAG Defence CEO Urs Breitmeier says: "What makes the armoured engineer vehicle special is that it has to be able to cope with extreme situations. Unlike a regular excavator, it has to be able to withstand temperatures ranging from -40 to 60 degrees Celsius. Endurance tests have shown this is to be the case, as a result of which we have now reached product maturity. I am delighted to be in a position to hand over the powerful Leopard AEV to armasuisse before the end of the year."

The armoured engineer and mine clearance vehicle features a powerful hinged-arm excavator with a quick-release coupling allowing the excavator bucket to be exchanged for a number of other engineering devices including a bulldozer system with innovative cutting and tilt angle settings and a double-winch system consisting of two 9 tonne capstan winches. If the need arises, the dozer blade can be swapped for a full-width mine plough. This turns the vehicle into a high performance minefield-breaching system that is also capable of clearing field fortifications and installing or clearing obstacles and barriers.

Prior to the AEV's release to the troops, which is timed to coincide with the 3rd military training intake in 2012, training in the vehicles will be given to the professional cadre of the Armed Forces' training units and Logistics maintenance specialists.

[buglerbilly]

BAE Systems wins Swedish BvS10 contract

18 January 2012 - 10:39 by the Shephard News Team



It doesn't say here but one presumes it includes the add-on belly armour that came out of Brit experiences in Afghanistan?

BAE Systems has announced that it has been awarded a contract from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, FMV, for the BvS10 armoured all-terrain vehicle. Under the contract BAE Systems will provide 48 vehicles and an extensive initial support package.

According to the company, the contract award follows the down-select of the BvS10 on 5 Jan 2012. It provides options for an additional 127 vehicles and an even more comprehensive sustainment package which could include in-theatre support. The initial value is £65 million, which would more than triple if all options are exercised.

The FMV launched the competition in June 2011. Contract-specific features on the BVS10 include enhanced crew ergonomics and protection, integration of the Protector remote weapon station, radio and battlefield management systems. Smoke grenade launchers will also be fitted to give 360 degrees coverage around the vehicle.

BAE Systems said the 48 BvS10s will be delivered in troop carrier, command vehicle, ambulance and logistic carrier variants. They will be manufactured in the newly-refurbished production facility in Örnsköldsvik with first deliveries in October 2012 and the final vehicle to be delivered in November 2013.

Sweden will join the UK, the Netherlands and France in operating the BvS10.

[buglerbilly]

Monday, January 23, 2012, 06:14 PM

Russian armoured units in Chechnya are now equipped with the new main battle tank T-72BM.

The Russian armed forces will replace the outdated T-72B1 main battle tanks by new modernized tank T-72BM for the troops deployed in Chechnya. This is a rearmament program fo the Southern Military District which started last year.


Russian T-72B1 main battle tank


The new main battle tank T-72BM is deployed now to all armoured units in the Chechen Republic.

Laste year, Russian motorized units stationed in the Republic of Nort Ossetia, Dagestan region and military base in Abkazia were rearmed with the latest generation of Russian man battle tanks T-90, infantry fighting vehicle BMP-3 and wheeled armoured vehicle personnel carrier BTR-82A.

The main battle tank T-72BM is a modification of the T-72B1. This new version of tank is equipped with second generation of armour protection, computerised fire control and can fired new anti-tank missile. Currently, personnel of tanks units are trained on this new tank.

[buglerbilly]

Wednesday, February 1, 2012, 08:11 AM

Indonesia has ordered 60 Russian made armoured infantry fighting vehicles BMP-3.

Russia is set to sell up to 60 infantry fighting vehicles BMP-3 to Indonesia in a deal worth more than $100 million, the Izvestia newspaper cited an unnamed military source as saying on Tuesday, January 31, 2012.


Russian army BMP-3 Armoured Infantry Fighting Vehicle

The deal will be finalized on February 10, the source said, adding that 20 BMP-3 vehicles will be delivered before the end of the year.

The BMP-3 is a Russian tracked amphibious infantry fighting vehicle, successor to the BMP-1 and BMP-2, which entered service with the Russian army in 1990 and made its first public appearance the same year.

The Russian army stopped purchasing the vehicles in 2010.

The state-run weapons exporter Rosoboronexport declined to comment.

The Kurganmashzavod arms plant said it would produce modified vehicles for Indonesia.

[buglerbilly]

Eye Candy: China’s New Armored Vehicles



Here are your pics of the day; they show China’s latest infantry fighting vehicle equipped with new, thicker bolt-on armor up close and in action. These new tracs appear to be part of China’s new class of armored vehicles that recently entered service as an eventual replacement of the older Type 86 and 89 armored vehicles. Click here for older posts showing you the command post, engineering, recon and big gun versions of the trac.







Via China Defense Blog.

Read more: http://defensetech.org/2012/02/07/eye-candy-chinas-new-armored-vehicles/#ixzz1lmKFtNLd
Defense.org