All Terrain and High Mobility Vehicles [Archive]

buglerbilly

20-01-10, 02:46 PM

TPI Composites Successfully Tests its All Composite Military Vehicle

First-of-its-kind prototype saves 900 pounds compared to traditional HMMWV and provides a more durable alternative

07:57 GMT, January 20, 2010 SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.

TPI Composites, Inc. today announced its All Composite Military Vehicle (ACMV) has successfully completed both accelerated durability testing and road testing. It is believed to be the first completely composite tactical vehicle to accomplish such a milestone for the U.S. Army. These are significant steps toward integrating advanced composite materials into tactical vehicles which will provide a lighter, more durable option and provide the Army with the ability to:

• Traverse treacherous terrain while safely transporting troops and cargo
• Add personnel protection
• Add payload such as vital communications systems or ammunition
• Reduce corrosion and certain maintenance expenses
• Improve fuel efficiency in theater

The military's High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) was selected as the platform of the vehicle. The body structure of the ACMV, including the frame rails, were constructed of composite materials and contain no metal. Standard HMMWV drive trains, suspensions and other accessories were fastened to the composite body with methods similar to those used for steel and aluminum HMMWVs.

"We are very pleased with the performance of TPI's All Composite Military Vehicle," said CEO Steve Lockard. "A vehicle like this gives the U.S. Army several significant options to improve its HMMWV fleet. Not only will this vehicle give our troops increased mobility, its lighter, high-strength composition will allow for significant fuel efficiency and potentially allow for the addition of enhanced armor or greater payload. This is a huge step forward in military vehicle engineering."

The ACMV prototype was tested by Defiance Testing & Engineering in Troy, Michigan between October 9, 2009 and November 2, 2009. It was tested on a 4 post tire coupled vehicle test simulator. The vehicle was sent to Chrysler's Chelsea Proving Grounds for 85 hours, representing a 50,000 mile road test. The data represented a severe off road schedule typically used for light trucks and sport utility vehicles, commonly referred to as "L4S". The vehicle was tested in two different configurations – ballasted and un-ballasted. Other project team members that supported the program included the University of Delaware's Center for Composite Materials.

The ACMV was also tested at Nevada Automotive Test Center (NATC) between December 2008 and May 2009 and was subjected to the following performance tests:

• Static stability (tilt table)
• Dynamic stability (NATO double lane change)
• Dynamic stability (steady state turning)
• Ride quality and peak acceleration
• Peak vertical acceleration.

The vehicle was also tested for 5,000 miles on a mission profile-representative course. The road test consisted of 1,500 miles of primary roads, 1,500 miles of secondary roads and 2,000 miles of cross-country travel. The ACMV performed very well at NATC and Defiance exhibiting no significant structural failures.

"We're proud to apply our expertise in composite technology to assist the military in providing a lighter, safer, more durable vehicle for U.S. troops," said Lockard. "From our beginnings as a custom yacht manufacturer to the wind turbine blades we supply to GE Energy and Mitsubishi Power Systems to our military products, TPI has a heritage of innovation in composite manufacturing."

The next and last significant phase of testing of the ACMV is blast testing which is likely to take place in the first half of 2010.

This is not TPI's first entree into applying advanced composites in military vehicles. The company has designed and built improved HMMWV Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) hoods. It also designed and prototyped the first All Composite Cab for the Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) platform. Like the ACMV, the HEMTT cab has successfully completed several tests required by the Army. In each case, TPI has reduced significant vehicle weight and produced parts that enhance vehicle payload and personnel protection.

buglerbilly

21-01-10, 10:41 PM

Supacat Unveils Contender for New U.K. Vehicle

By andrew chuter

Published: 21 Jan 2010 14:36

LONDON - Supacat has taken the wraps off its contender to supply British forces fighting in Afghanistan with a new generation of light protected patrol vehicles (LPPVs). The company has delivered the SPV400 to the U.K. Ministry of Defence for trials alongside machines from two other suppliers in hopes of replacing the Snatch Land Rover with a better protected vehicle.

Trials at the Millbrook Proving Ground are to start in the next few days ahead of a possible urgent operational requirement order of, initially, up to 400 vehicles for British troops in Afghanistan. Other orders from the U.K. military could follow. The program remains unfunded for the moment, but if the order goes ahead, as is expected, a decision on a winner is likely later this year with deliveries due to start next year.

The trial pitches Supacat's SPV400 against the new Ocelot vehicle design from Force Protection Europe and Ricardo Specialist Vehicles and an offering from NP Aerospace.

Before the Jan. 20 publication of the SPV400 prototype's picture, only the Force Protection Ocelot vehicle had been seen publicly. The company rolled out its vehicle in time for the Defence Systems & Equipment International show here in September.

A fourth team short-listed by the MoD for the trials failed to provide vehicles after prime contractor Babcock withdrew at the last moment. Babcock said the Zephyr vehicle provided by design partner Creation UK needed more work to achieve survivability and maturity goals.

Supacat didn't mention by name the Snatch Land Rover replacement program in its news release, as the British MoD has forbidden all the contenders from making any public comments on the politically sensitive LPPV.

The company, a key supplier of high-mobility vehicles such as the Jackal and Coyote to British forces in Afghanistan, said a second prototype SPV400 would join an unnamed trials program toward the end of January.

The British Army is looking for a vehicle of about 7.5 metric tons and a little more than 2 meters wide, and offering new levels of protection compared with the discredited Snatch Land Rover, which has been blamed by the media, politicians and others for a number of roadside-bomb-related deaths.

buglerbilly

22-01-10, 06:46 AM

The first real-life shot I've seen..............

http://www.supacat.com/news/latest-news/q/date/2010/01/20/spv400-prototype-is-revealed/

buglerbilly

26-01-10, 12:50 AM

Force Protection to brief on Ocelot at International Armoured Vehicles 2010 exhibition

13:23 GMT, January 25, 2010

Visitors to the Force Protection stand (no.420) at the International Armoured Vehicles 2010 exhibition will be able to receive technology briefings on Ocelot, the new light protected patrol vehicle designed, developed and funded by Force Protection and Ricardo plc.

Since the middle of 2009 Ocelot has been put through an extensive series of blast and ballistic testing at Force Protection’s own blast range in the US. In addition automotive trials have been conducted at the Millbrook Proving Ground in the UK and the Ricardo facility in Shoreham. This series of tests has demonstrated the effectiveness of Ocelot’s unique ‘skateboard’ armoured spine configuration and pod design in terms of both survivability and mobility.

Ocelot’s highly versatile design enables a range of special-to-role pods to be mounted on the skateboard. The pods, which can be easily changed in the field as the need arises, have been designed for roles such as patrol, fire support or protected logistics. Four wheel steering is common to all configurations and the vehicle can be transported in a C-130 or underslung from a Chinook.

David Hind, Managing Director of Force Protection Europe, said, “The next generation of protected vehicles must meet a range of stringent demands. High levels of survivability and repairability must be combined with manoeuvrability, the flexibility to perform a number of roles, easy maintenance and light weight. Ocelot is equally suited to operations in desert, jungle, mountainous or urban environments. While non-threatening in appearance, it provides levels of protection never before achieved in a vehicle of this size and weight. We firmly believe Ocelot will meet the global need for a new class of light protected patrol vehicle”.

Force Protection will also be briefing on the Buffalo route clearance vehicle and the Cougar MRAP. Now in highly successful service with the US Army, Buffalo is the most advanced mine protected clearance vehicle in the world, with a ‘V’ shaped monohull chassis that directs the force of the blast away from the occupants, and with a large articulated arm for ordnance interrogation and disposal. The vehicle can be configured for multiple missions and is specifically designed to be repaired in the field. Renowned for its outstanding survivability performance in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Cougar is in service with a range of militaries, including Canada, Hungary, Italy, Poland, United States and the UK.

buglerbilly

29-01-10, 02:34 AM

JLTV Teams Begin Government Prototype Construction

JLTV designs: Lockheed-BAE, General Tactical Vehicles, BAE-Navistar

Prototypes to incorporate design revisions from CDR prior to thorough testing

08:32 GMT, January 28, 2010 The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, or JLTV Technology Development (TD) phase industry teams have begun to build government prototypes, engineering an unprecedented blend of mobility, payload capacity and survivability - building a light tactical vehicle that will withstand improvised explosive device (IED) attacks, drive quickly through diverse terrain and transport beneath a CH-47 or CH-53 helicopter.

The three teams awarded contracts for the 27-month TD phase - BAE-Navistar, General Tactical Vehicles, and Lockheed-BAE - have incorporated design revisions from their independent preliminary and Critical Design Reviews (CDR).

“The Joint and International JLTV program is one of the first Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition programs to embrace the principles of ‘Competitive Prototyping.’ Through the efforts of three contractors to build JLTV variants we can validate requirements and reduce risk,” said U.S. Army Colonel John Myers, the project manager for Joint Combat Support Systems.

“Independent CDRs provide the Army and Marine Corps with the opportunity to assess the technical maturity of each team's design relative to the TD phase requirements. As we progress from Preliminary Design Reviews to CDRs, each team further refined their design - Then we move into the build process. What the Government sees coming out of the CDR is what we should see in hardware when the vehicles are delivered for testing,” said Army Lt. Col. Wolfgang Petermann, product manager for JLTV.

Prior to testing, a series of independent test readiness reviews will serve as a checkpoint, ensuring that the vehicles were built as designed; the idea is to make sure that what was delivered on paper is the what is subsequently delivered in hardware, Petermann said.

“Shortly after the test readiness reviews we will begin full vehicle testing, beginning with safety certifications. We will then move into performance and RAM [reliability and maintainability] testing. We will conduct user evaluations with soldiers and Marines to verify requirements suitability,” Petermann said. “This is a robust test program not typically seen in a TD [technology development] phase.”

The prototypes will undergo 20,000 miles of RAM testing per vehicle, Peterman said.

In addition to prototype testing, each of the three JLTV industry teams delivered armor coupons and a number of ballistic hulls for blast-test evaluation at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md.

Industry partners have also conducted a series of subcomponent tests to include examinations of the adjustable height suspension, power integration capabilities, C4ISR architecture and blast-testing of the ballistic hulls, Petermann said.

“We have seen many mature individual technologies. The challenge will be seeing them integrated,” Petermann said.

At the end of the rigorous testing schedule, the prototype vehicles will go through extensive prototype live-fire tests where they are attacked in combat-like conditions by weapons most likely to be used by current and future enemies.

The TD phase is aimed at informing and refining the requirements for the JLTV family of vehicles through prototyping in order to reduce risks and lower costs of production. Upon completion of the 27-month TD phase, the government will conduct a new, full and open competition for a follow-on Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase, leading to the awarding of two contracts.

“Our intent is to come out with an RFP for the EMD phase with a low-risk, executable and affordable set of requirements. We anticipate an RFP release for April 2011 - to be followed by a contract award in fourth quarter 2011,” Petermann said.

Following a Milestone C decision in 2013, the Army plans to purchase 55,000 JLTVs and the Marines plan to buy 5,500. Full production is slated for 2015, Petermann said.

The Army-Marine Corps JLTV program will produce a fleet of tactical vehicles that can support a range of mission sets.

“We are developing a family of vehicles and companion trailers that can be used in any operational environment - low intensity conflict to high intensity conflict-Major combat operations to hybrid warfare. We have the SOCOM [Special Operations Command] requirements built into the vehicle, meaning no follow-on modifications will be necessary to accommodate their mission profiles - thus increasing commonality with the operating forces,” said Lt. Col. Ben Garza, JLTV program manager, Marine Corps.

Other requirements include building a vehicle that can generate 30 kilowatts of exportable power, drive when tires are shot, accommodate scalable armor solutions and extra spall liner and embedded diagnostics.

“The unarmored Humvee used to have great payload capacity and off-road mobility, but when you added armor it threw it off balance. We want to regain that off-road mobility we had with increased survivability - all on one transportable platform,” Garza said.

Currently, there are three payload categories which cover 10 JLTV configurations. Category A, the smallest category will have a combat transport weight of 14,322 pounds and supports a 3,500-pound payload while armored. Category B is somewhat larger supporting a 4,500-pound payload while armored; Category C supports a 5,100-pound payload while armored. The Category C vehicles will also address shelter and ambulance requirements. The entire family of JLTV is transportable by tactical assets (CH-47, CH-53, C-130), greatly reducing the burden on strategic assets such as the limited quantity of C-17 and C-5 aircraft.

Also, JLTV family of vehicles will be able to adjust its suspension to a height of 76 inches or less in order to board Maritime preposition force ships, Garza said.

----
By Kris Orborn

buglerbilly

02-02-10, 11:51 AM

No More Army Humvees; Lots More MRAPS

By Colin Clark Monday, February 1st, 2010 4:03 pm

The Humvee, which replaced the Jeep, will no longer be bought by the Army.

While Arnold Schwarzengger certainly helped boost the Hunvee’s public profile, it has never achieved the legendary status of the Jeep and its
vulnerability to land mines (aka IEDs) made it something of a anachronism until much heavier armored versions were deployed.

While the service won’t buy any more Humvees, the Army is not getting rid of them.

“The Army is not buying more Humvees but other people buy Humvees so the line is not terminated. We envision the Humvee to be an enduring part of the Army fleet for a long time,” Army Lt. Gen. Edgar Stanton, the military deputy in the Army comptroller’s office, told reporters during a Q and A session after the Army budget briefing today.

While announcing that the Army’s “needs for this vehicle have been met” for new Humvees, the Pentagon also made clear that the need for MRAPs of various stripes have certainly not been met.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said that Central Command has a requirement for 10,600 more MRAPs. He broke the buy down, saying that the Pentagon plans to buy 6,600 more M-ATVs, the more agile off-road MRAPs made by Oshkosh, and another 4,000 regular MRAPs. Most of those will go to Afghanistan. There is $1.1 billion requested in the 2011 budget for MRAPs, according to the OSD budget overview.

buglerbilly

02-02-10, 10:44 PM

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

The Ground Truth

Posted by Paul McLeary at 2/2/2010 9:25 AM CST

MRAP being pulled out of the mud in Afghanistan. (USAF pic)

One of the undercovered aspects of yesterday $708 billion Pentagon budget proposal was the announcement by Secretary of Defense Gates that he was seeking an additional 10,600 Mine Resistant-Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles to stack on top of the 15,000 already in use in Iraq and Afghanistan. Not all of those trucks will be the hulking monsters we have come to know over the past coule years, however -- 6,600 will be the M-ATV, the new Oshkosh-made lighter, more maneuverable version of the MRAP that is currently being deployed to Afghanistan. But that still means 4,000 new MRAPs are on the way, despite the fact that the vehicles have proven themselves so ill-suited for Afghanistan that the Pentagon ordered the rush development of the M-ATV to partially replace it. And for those keeping score, M-ATV orders are at $4 billion and counting.

Gates said yesterday that the fiscal year '10 supplemental calls for more than $1 billion to complete the MRAP program, while the fiscal year '11 request includes $3.4 billion to “sustain it." Over the past three years the Pentagon has sunk more than $26 billion into the MRAP program in an emergency procurement binge to try and counter the roadside bombs that have claimed the majority of American lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. With this new request and the M-ATV orders we can revise that number to almost $35 billion over four years for armored vehicles.

Until yesterday, we had been told for months that the MRAP program was over, and that no more vehicles would be purchased – an assertion which obviously no longer holds. Similarly, don’t believe that the $3.4 billion in sustainment costs is the final number we’ll see. As I wrote in December, the Pentagon announced that it was sinking $776 million in to MRAP upgrades in late 2008. Part of this overhaul is the upgrade that many MRAP suspension systems are receiving in theater. Oshkosh Corp. is in the process of refitting 2,500 Cougar MRAPs made by Force Protection and BAE Systems-produced RG-33 MRAPs with its TAK-4 independent suspension system designed for the rough terrain of Afghanistan. So far, contracts for the suspension retrofit total about $190 million, with more than 1,500 vehicles having been upgraded, according to Oshkosh.

But with so many more vehicles to be sent to theater, and so many more upgrades to make, the MRAP program looks to be with us for quite some time.

buglerbilly

03-02-10, 01:52 PM

EADS Defence & Security Supports the Safe Transport of Wounded Persons In Danger Zones

(Source: EADS Defence & Security; issued Feb. 2, 2010)

EADS Defence & Security (DS) and Mowag, the subsidiary of General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) which makes the armoured Eagle IV vehicle, will enable the German Armed Forces to quickly and safely transport ill and wounded soldiers through danger zones.

The companies involved developed an armoured ambulance system for the German ISAF troops operating in northern Afghanistan. As part of an order placed by the Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB), Defence Electronics (DE), an integrated activity of DS, will equip a total of 20 vehicles with medical installations.

Apart from the necessary medical equipment, the requirements specify the provision of sufficient space to transport a wounded person lying down as well as the medical staff responsible for the care of the wounded such as a doctor, a rescue assistant or paramedic.

The ambulance version of the Eagle IV is designed for the role of a “mobile medical unit” (in German: “Beweglicher Arzttrupp” – BAT) for the Bundeswehr. This unit is to safely transport all severities of ill and injured from the site of occurrence to a medical facility whilst providing emergency medical care.

Bernd Wenzler, CEO of Defence Electronics, commented on this, saying: “Based on to the many years of experience that we have in the field of armoured transport and mobile military ambulance systems, and thanks to our expertise in integration, we were able to fully comply with the Bundeswehr’s requirements. For their soldiers on operations abroad, the German Armed Forces ordered an armoured ambulance which can fully meet the very demanding requirements for deployment in crisis regions.”

Defence Electronics is an integrated activity of EADS Defence & Security (DS). DS is a systems solutions provider for armed forces and civil security worldwide. Its portfolio ranges from sensors and secure networks through missiles to aircraft and UAVs as well as global security, service and support solutions. In 2008, DS – with around 23,000 employees – achieved revenues of EUR 5.7 billion. EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2008, EADS generated revenues of EUR 43.3 billion and employed a workforce of about 118,000.

-ends-

buglerbilly

03-02-10, 09:25 PM

Corps Keeps Buying Growlers (The Jeep Kind)

This is such a humongous waste of money and resources! The unit cost is obscene...........ALWAYS has been!!!

More perusal of the service budgets reveal details of the Corps interest in the Internally Transportable Vehicle, a modernized version of the Jeep Willy that is designed to fly in the belly of an Osprey.

The Corps’ original plan was to pair this mini-me vehicle with the Expeditionary Fire Support System 120mm mortar and storm them Warsaw Pact style off the backs of the Osprey’s diminutive loading bay. But many doubt that capability (I for one have never seen it tested and I can’t imagine having flown a lot in Ospreys that the entire suit can fit in the cargo bay).

Yet the Corps keeps buyin’ ‘em.

According to the budget submission, the Corps wants to pay General Dynamics of St. Petersburg, Fla., $28 million to purchase 73 ITVs in the Light Attack Vehicle configurations — in other words, not the 120mm towing version.

Funds will support procurement of 73 ITV Light Strike Vehicles (LSV). The vehicles will be fielded to support upcoming Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) deployments to OEF. The procurement will also support production line activities used for the Expeditionary Fire Support System ( EFSS). The combined procurement of the ITV and EFSS prime mover platforms will allow production line operations to continue until the EFSS needs are fully satisfied. The unit costs for the ITV variants are impacted based on quantity differences and the negotiated prices derived from the negotiations.

I know there’s a lot of caveats here, but that comes out to around $380K per vehicle. Some of the money is being used for spares and other support costs, but if I’m reading the documents right (page 285) it looks as if the base cost for each ITV is around $273,000. That’s a lot of jack for an unarmored max-4-man minijeeep.

Better have some Corinthian Leather seats, burled wood paneling and full DVD/GPS entertainment system with Bose boosters for that kind of coin.

– Christian

buglerbilly

04-02-10, 10:16 PM

Exsandgroper

05-02-10, 02:17 AM

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

French Army Gets Aravis

Posted by Christina Mackenzie at 2/4/2010 8:35 AM CST

The French army has taken delivery of the first four heavily protected Aravis vehicles out of the 15 ordered in a €20 million contract from manufacturer Nexter Systems. Crew and maintenance personnel will start training on these vehicles immediately.

The Aravis is a 4-wheel drive, 12.5 ton air-transportable vehicle which is heavily protected against mines and IEDs. It can carry up to 7 fully-equipped personnel, has a small turret with a 12.7mm gun and has seven cameras on the outside so that those inside can see the environment immediately surrounding the vehicle.

Aravis are designed for reconnaissance missions and will be used by the units in Afghanistan which operate the Buffalo and Souvim anti-improvised explosive device (IED) vehicles.

The remaining 11 vehicles will be delivered before the end of April.

photo credit: Nexter Systems

Talk about reinventing the wheel, for a small order. It can carry 7 against the Bushmasters 10, "'anti-blast device", V-shaped anti-mine plates and a spall liner with the crew citadel. Not an Monocoque all-welded steel hull and is based on the light truck chassis Mecedes-Benz U-5000, with no better protection than the Dutch version of the Bushmaster.

Full spec's from this site
http://www.armyrecognition.com/french_army_france_wheeled_armoured_vehicle_uk/aravis_nexter_systems_wheeled_armoured_vehicle_per sonnel_carrier_mine_protected_iod_ied_multi-functi.html

Cheers

McDethWivFries

05-02-10, 03:41 AM

but it is the French tho, dont they have to be different with everything? (o;

buglerbilly

05-02-10, 05:10 AM

Victoria's tragic Black Saturday fires have been the catalyst for some potentially life-saving inventions.

INTERESTING LOOKING.............

Liam Ferguson, who helped his family to save their home in the Latrobe Valley, has drawn on his experiences to design the Amatoya, an off-road fire reconnaissance vehicle.

The 24-year-old designer devised the Amatoya for his honours-year project at Monash University. It can penetrate rugged terrain to provide assessments of fire movements and withstand being engulfed by a blaze.

The Amatoya has a seat for the driver and one for an operator to remotely control two heavy-duty water cannons on the roof. It has a water supply of 1800 litres. A thermal-imaging camera would help the crew to identify fire hot-spots.

buglerbilly

09-02-10, 12:42 AM

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

M-ATVs Need More Armor, Pentagon Pays Up

Posted by Paul McLeary at 2/8/2010 12:38 PM CST

SecDef Gates standing in front of an M-ATV (Pic: Dept. of Defense)

Oshkosh has signed contracts worth some $4 billion and counting to supply over 6,600 of its “MRAP light” M-ATVs – which military officials say is desperately needed to traverse the unpaved roads of Afghanistan — to Army units whose hulking MRAPs sometimes prove too heavy to navigate the Afghan terrain.

Four billion, even in the realm of today’s increasingly bloated defense budgets, is still some serious money, but money well-spent if the M-ATV proves its worth in combat. Lighter by several thousand pounds than the average MRAP, the big selling point for the vehicle was that it was both lighter than the MRAP while offering similar protection.

But how much lighter is it really going to be?

Oshkosh Corp. announced today that it has inked a deal with the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command Life Cycle Management Command to supply more than 625 add-on armor kits for its M-ATV in an order worth more than $84 million. The deal brings the total awards the company has won to $107 million for more than 795 EFP kits. This begs the question: are all M-ATVs going to need these bolt-on kits? If so, how much does this add to the overall cost of the program?

Secretary of Defense Gates sure sounded like he wanted to order up even more M-ATVs during his budget briefings last week, and I would be surprised if the number of trucks capped out at its current 6,600 level. If all of these trucks received the extra armor—even if the number stayed at 6,600—that would mean about $800 million more dollars tacked on to the program. And all this is after the Pentagon has already spent close to $30 billion on an MRAP program it plans on mothballing after the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan wind down.

The kits Oshkosh is providing are useful, and necessary, given the threats they will soon face in Afghanistan. According to the company,

The order calls for Oshkosh to provide explosively formed penetrator (EFP) protection kits for the tactical vehicle that is currently being shipped to Afghanistan, with delivery of the kits expected to begin in April 2010 and be completed by the end of August 2010. The kits will include EFP armor, base door armor and a door-assist mechanism.

In the release, the company said that its TAK-4 independent suspension system “allows the M-ATV to accept add-on armor while maintaining its agile maneuverability and a full payload capacity of up to 4,000 pounds.”

Add-on armor kits have become the order of the day, with everything from MRAPs to Humvees to Strykers to Bradleys to now, M-ATVs receiving bolt-on kits in theater. But they also add weight while driving up the advertised cost of the vehicle. It will be interesting to see how much, and how many, the M-ATV will receive.

Sorry Mr McLeary, I like a lot of what you write about BUT on this occasion you have failed to identify the fact that the MATV has always been designed for add-on armour and the armour itelf has always been deemed necessary for certain tactical conditions. Obviously current events in Helmand province are such conditions one would have thought IF one bothered to think!

buglerbilly

11-02-10, 10:53 AM

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

Pros and Cons of Strykers in Afghanistan

Posted by Paul McLeary at 2/10/2010 11:38 AM CST

In July 2009, the 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, replaced Canadian forces in the Arghandab valley in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, and by the end of the year the mission had already taken its toll: more than 30 had been killed and over two dozen Strykers severely damaged due to roadside bombs. The 1st Battalion, 17th Regiment alone lost 21 men, with dozens more wounded.

The Army Times’ Sean Naylor embedded with the 1/17 in the fall, finding discontent in the ranks and a popular company commander relieved from command, in a blockbuster piece of wartime reporting that showed what General McChrystal’s counterinsurgency guidance looked like once it hit the ground, and how commanders interpreted the general’s orders in the thick of the fight.

But questions of strategy aside—or as some might say, counterinsurgency tactics masquerading as strategy—the question remains, after so much success in Iraq is the Stryker running up against its limitations in Afghanistan? I've got a piece in the February issue of DTI looking at the issue.

David E. Johnson of the Rand Corp., a specialist on military transformation, told me that “I think Stryker is perfectly appropriate for some places we go,” but “I don’t think it’s particularly designed to function well in Afghanistan—it’s really an infantry carrier that is useful in situations where you’re facing a fairly low level of violence, or with an enemy of relatively unsophisticated means. I think it’s going to be a problem in Afghanistan mainly because of terrain and because of the weapons we’re finding there.”

That said, Strykers have gained a lot of fans in the Pentagon over the past several years, and the Army is shedding two Heavy Brigades in favor of Stryker Brigades over the next couple of years. “Strykers are going to be with us for a while,” concludes Dean Lockwood, a weapons analyst at Forecast International. “With the size of some of the IEDs they’re getting, it wouldn’t matter if it was a Stryker, an MRAP or an Abrams tank—they’re going to be destroyed.” He also notes that much of Afghanistan’s unpaved terrain is “rifle and rucksack country that is not a place for vehicles, but everyone wants to use [Strykers] because of the connectivity that they’ve got with the communications package. I think it’s more an issue of how they’re being employed rather than the vehicles themselves.”

There's much more over at DTI.

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/dti/2010/02/01/DT_02_01_2010_p34-197451.xml&headline=Bad%20Roads%20And%20IEDs%20Bedevil%20Afgh an%20Strykers

buglerbilly

13-02-10, 12:31 AM

Image Reports from the recent International Armoured Vehicles Expo held in London

The MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) made its international debut at the International Armored Vehicles exhibition. The display was in accordance with the Pentagon's plan to offer MRAP and M-ATV vehicles to allied forces, taking part in the ISAF coalition operations in Afghanistan.

Oshkosh also brought the new SandCat to London; the high-speed, highly-protected, highly-maneuverable vehicle that can be specifically configured to fulfill a variety of roles in any type of mission. The SandCat is tailored to meet operational environments, giving the perfect balance of mission performance, protection and payload to meet rigorous demands.

Sandcat - originally designed by Plasan, is being marketed by Oshkosh as a command and utility armored vehicle.
(They've just recently gotten small orders for this vehicle)

Iveco brought an enhanced and improved version of the Light Modular Vehicle (LMV), currently operational with several military forces in Afghanistan.

Iveco designed the LMV as a light and versatile command and liaison vehicle. The current version is heavier and more protected, adapted to more demanding roles.

Total Mobility Vehicle is unveiling at the International Armored Vehicles a new family of vehicles designed for extreme off-road mobility. Known as the TMV 6x6M, the off-road utility vehicle is the first of a series of such vehicles, designed for military applications. A civil configuration is also in development.

The TMV 6x6M has an armour-clad, fully enclosed "bath tub" hull that houses all major components, offering significantly greater protection from mines and IEDs than conventional vehicles. Additional protection to the crew and passengers is provided by a composite cab and composite rear pod for troop carrying applications. the vehicle is designed to provide high levels of protection against ballistic threats.

© Copyright 2010 - Defense Update, Online Holdings International.

buglerbilly

14-02-10, 12:23 AM

U.S. Army Upholds Oshkosh's FMTV Award

By KATE BRANNEN

Published: 12 Feb 2010 18:51

The U.S. Army has decided that Oshkosh will keep its $3 billion contract for the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV), the company announced today.

The U.S. Army has upheld its award of FMTV (Family of Medium Tactical Trucks) to Oshkosh. (OSHKOSH DEFENSE)

BAE Systems and Navistar both filed protests after the contract was awarded last August. The selection of Oshkosh unseated BAE Systems as the provider of the armored trucks.

After the protests were filed, the bids of all three competitors for the FMTV program were reviewed by the by the Government Accountability Office, which recommended the Army re-evaluate the bids using new scoring.

The Army reviewed the bids and made the decision to uphold its contract with Oshkosh. It also canceled the Sept. 4 stop-work order it had issued, Oshkosh said.

"We are very pleased the Army affirmed its original decision that Oshkosh Corporation's FMTV bid clearly represents the best overall value for the Army, the taxpayers and the Warfighter," said Robert G. Bohn, Oshkosh chairman and chief executive officer, in a written statement.

The FMTV re-buy program is a five-year, firm fixed-price requirements contract for the production of up to 23,000 vehicles and trailers, as well as support services and engineering, the company said.

buglerbilly

14-02-10, 12:50 AM

International Armoured Vehicles 2010

More shots from the show via Army Recognition..............

The new truck/utility fro TMV, looks a beast but no idea of the background and support behind this company............

buglerbilly

14-02-10, 01:02 AM

TMV Limited 6x6M high mobility military transport vehicle

General information

The TMV 6x6M is new lightweight wheeled military trucks 6x6 designed and manufactured by the British Company TMV Limited. The rapidly-changing marketplace, with a continually-evolving insurgent threat, has given birth to the unique, six-wheel drive, six-wheel steer, TMV 6x6M. This, the first in a line of British-designed, purpose-built vehicles from TMV, focuses on the logistical requirement for highly-manoeuvrable military transport weighing up to eight tonnes GVW. Significantly, the modular design concept enables product extension to 4x4 and 8x8 variants. The vehicle is scheduled for production in early 2011, following extensive field trials, with 4x4 and 8x8 variants to follow. By nature of time constraints and practicality, the majority of current vehicle solutions in this category have had to be based on existing chassis technologies, adapted for purpose. As such, they are inevitably compromised in certain aspects. Furthermore, continually-changing deployment requirements focus on the need to deliver multiple assets with low utilisation rates and a high logistic footprint and, in answer to the insurgent threat, a fresh approach to both ballistic and blast protection.

Variants :

Some variants in prototype version, available in 4x4 and 8x8 configuration.

Technical data

Armament
At this time, the prototype version is not armed, but we can suppose that the TMV 6x6M can be armed for his self-protection.
Protection

The TMV 6x6M is equipped with an armour-clad, fully enclosed "bath tub" hull that houses all major components, offering significantly greater protection from mines and IEDs than conventional vehicles. Additional protection to the crew and passengers is provided by a composite cab and composite rear pod for troop carrying applications. the vehicle is designed to provide high levels of protection against ballistic threats. The TMV 6x6M is based on established aerospace and racing car construction principles, features a structural V-shaped tub chassis of stainless steel, entirely clad with blast plate, to provide enhanced levels of protection against mines and IEDs, married to the usage of new generation, high-technology construction materials.

Propulsion
The TMV 6x6M is powered by a Cummins ISBe5 in-line four-cylinder, 4,500cc turbocharged, water-cooled diesel engine, with a power output of 147 kilowatts (200bhp), generating up to 900Nm of torque. This enables a limited top speed of 85mph/137 kph, combined with first-class dynamic performance and driveability. Internal diesel fuel tanks enable a typical vehicle range of 700 miles/1,120 kilometres. High power-to-weight ratio, coupled to permanent six-wheel-drive and adaptive six-wheel-steer configuration, ensure a very high degree of on-road and off-road performance, with excellent manoeuvrability and approach/ departure angles (52% and 50% respectively), due to minimal front and rear overhang. Fully-independent air suspension ensures passenger comfort, and adjustable ride height allows the centre of gravity to be kept low for higher speed use, but crucially allows the vehicle to ride higher when a mine or IED threat is anticipated.

Accessories
The six-wheel steer system is adaptive, and can be programmed to allow touch-button change of steering configuration per axle, according to specific needs in the field. All TMV 6x6M controls and instrumentation are integral within a single multi-functional electronic module mounted on the vehicle dashboard. A menu-based system allows touch-button access and scroll-through adjustment of all major dynamic functions of the vehicle, together with a default electronic instrument display when in normal drive mode.

Specifications

Armament
No weapons at this time

Country users
United Kingdom prototype

Designer Company
TMV Limited

Accessories

Adjustable suspension, single multi-functional electronic module for the vehicle controls and instrumentation
Crew: 2 soldiers
Armor: STANAG 3 ballistic, STANAG 2 blast.
Weight: 7,500 kg
Speed: 137 km/h maximum speed on road
Range: 1,126 km

Dimensions
Lenght, 5,7 m; Width, 2,1 m; Height, 2,23 m

buglerbilly

14-02-10, 01:27 AM

Hawkei Light Protected Vehicle, Australia

Type: Light protected vehicle
Crew: Four to six soldiers (including driver)
Designer and manufacturer: Thales Group
GroupWeight7,000kg
PayloadUp to 3,000kg

Full specifications
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hawkei is a lightweight protected vehicle designed and developed to meet the requirements of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The vehicle is manufactured by Thales Australia for the Department of Defence's Land 121 phase 4 programme that aims to replace the Australian Army's Land Rovers. The vehicle is named after a stealthy species of death adder Acanthophis Hawkei, a native of Australia. The Hawkei is a prototype vehicle and can accommodate six soldiers. It is designed to be protected from blasting and ballistic missiles.

The vehicle weighs approximately 7,000kg and is developed as a next-generation light mobility vehicle. It was officially launched on 29 September 2009 and will replace unarmoured Land Rovers. The Hawkei can be airlifted by a C-130 Hercules transport or other standard cargo aircraft. It can travel at a maximum speed of 100km/h over a range of more than 1,000km.

Hawkei has been tested against improvised explosive devices (IED) to ensure that its design allows maximum protection. Tests were conducted to gather the data and modernise the blast management system equipped in the vehicle. The first series of mine blast test on the Hawkei vehicle's passenger compartment were completed on 26 November 2009.

The total cost of the project is estimated at $1bn. The Hawkei was showcased at the Armoured Vehicles Australia event held at the Hyatt Hotel, Canberra, on 4 November 2009.

"The Hawkei design encompasses high levels of blast and ballistic protection."Orders and deliveries

The forecast report of the ADF stated that orders for the Hawkei would not exceed more than 1,300 vehicles.

The first prototype of the vehicle will be delivered to ADF at the end of 2010 with trials scheduled for 2011. The contract will be awarded in 2012, followed by production.

Hawkei design

The Hawkei design encompasses high levels of blast and ballistic protection. The vehicle is designed to incorporate the future system requirements of adaptive campaigning with C4I (command, control, communications, computers and intelligence) capabilities. It can be upgraded for specific missions. The integral V-shaped monocoque hull and blast absorption system provide objective level blast protection.

Hawkei's hull is designed to protect the vehicle from blasts while incorporating high levels of tactical and operational mobility, and allow easy conversion between variants. The vehicle's adaptable ballistic protection technology is designed for air transportation, and is reconfigurable by a two-person crew in under half an hour without using specialised devices or equipment.

Armament

A remotely controlled weapon station (RCWS) is installed in the Hawkei vehicle. It is an automated control weapon station principally used for light and medium-calibre weapons. The RCWS can accommodate remote control weapons encompassing 5.56mm, 7.62mm, and 12.7mm machine guns, 40mm automatic grenade launchers, anti-tank missiles and observation pods.

The RCWS can accommodate weapons up to 12.7mm machine guns and is manufactured by Samson Technologies Corporation, US.

Contractors

Thales Australia is the prime contractor in the design and development of Australia's Hawkei lightweight mobility vehicle. Boeing, Plasan Sasa and PAC Group are partners of Thales, supporting the Hawkei project.

"The Hawkei is a prototype vehicle and can accommodate six soldiers."Boeing Defence Australia provides integrated logistic support (ILS) to Thales during the design and development of the Hawkei vehicle. In August 2009, Boeing Defence Australia was awarded a contract by Thales Australia to offer ILS for its Hawkei protected mobility vehicle. The contract encompasses supporting Thales during the design and development phase of the Hawkei vehicle to ensure the vehicle lasts longer while saving costs.

Armour solution provider Plasan Sasa is supporting Thales Australia to achieve the highest levels of protection in the Hawkei lightweight vehicle.

PAC Group has worked closely with Thales Australia to provide a flexible production capability.

Engine

The Hawkei vehicle is powered by a Steyr V6 diesel engine and is manufactured by Steyr Motors GmbH, Austria. The inline starter or generator offers sufficient level of electrical power to drive the C4I and mission equipment.

buglerbilly

24-02-10, 03:04 PM

USMC Awards Textron Marine & Land Systems and Granite Tactical Vehicles Team Contract for Upgraded HMMWV Test Vehicles

(Source: Textron Inc.; issued February 23, 2010)

NEW ORLEANS & MOUNT AIRY, N.C. --- Textron Marine & Land Systems, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. company, and Granite Tactical Vehicles Inc., announced today the receipt of a contract to deliver three upgraded High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs) to the United State Marine Corps Warfighting Lab for testing.

The three upgraded HMMWVs in M1114, M1151-A1/REVB and M1165 configurations are scheduled to be delivered in March 2010 for mobility, thermal and durability performance testing. Independent and USMC blast and ballistic testing on the vehicle has been completed. The vehicle will be on display in outdoor space #3332 at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Winter show in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. from February 24-26. Textron Marine & Land Systems also will be located at booth #1324.

“Working with Granite Tactical Vehicles, we have modified the up-armored HMMWV platform to increase the vehicle’s survivability, while enhancing its mobility and payload capabilities,” said Textron Marine & Land Systems General Manager Tom Walmsley.

“We have been working diligently since 2004 on a solution to better protect our soldiers against the evolving threats they face in combat situations around the world,” said Granite Tactical Vehicles President Chris Berman. “We are confident in our solution’s performance and survivability, and look forward to the outcome of the USMC testing.

Textron Marine & Land Systems and Granite Tactical Vehicles have teamed on the development of affordable, lightweight, crew survivability solutions for light tactical vehicles. Granite’s innovations in survivable and mobile light armored vehicles are being combined with Textron Marine & Land Systems’ engineering and lean process manufacturing expertise to provide a valuable near-term solution for warfighters.

Textron Marine & Land Systems has manufactured the Armored Security Vehicle (ASV) for the U.S. Army since 2004, and has delivered more that 2,400 units. The ASV has maintained exceptional operational readiness and combat availability rates as vehicles log more than 30,000 miles per year in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Granite Tactical Vehicles Inc. designs, develops, manufactures and delivers armored vehicles for a broad spectrum of clients including private security contractors, law enforcement and various government agencies. Granite Tactical Vehicles’ products have been field tested with great success on missions including convoy protection, personnel movement & relocation, rescue operations and cargo delivery.

-ends-

buglerbilly

25-02-10, 02:39 PM

Plasan Announces Delivery of 5,000 Armor Kits (excerpt)

(Source: Plasan; issued February 24, 2010)

Plasan, a global leader in the field of combat-proven survivability and armor solutions for vehicles, airborne platforms and personal protection, today announced that it has delivered 5000 armor kits for the U.S. Army's MRAP All Terrain Vehicles (M-ATV) as a subcontractor to Wisconsin-based Oshkosh Defense. Since the beginning of the contract in July 2009, Plasan has met all of its delivery milestones for 7 consecutive months.

Mr. Dan Ziv, President and CEO of Plasan, says: "We are proud of our continued success in meeting this ambitious production schedule. Plasan continues to work with our local subcontractors to meet the growing demand for M-ATVs and exceed our own high expectations of protecting warfighters. As soldiers building for soldiers, Plasan understands the vital need for armor solutions."

On June 30 2009, the U.S. Department of Defense awarded a $1.05 billion contract awarded to a team led by Wisconsin-based Oshkosh Corporation and Plasan North America to produce 2,244 M-ATVs for deployment in Afghanistan. Since that time, additional orders for M-ATV armor kits have grown on a monthly basis. In August, Plasan won an additional contract for the delivery of 1,700 armor kits as an Oshkosh subcontractor.

These orders were supplemented with additional contracts for 352 armor kits in September, 923 in October, 1000 in November, 400 in December 2009, 600 in January and a most recent addition of 1,460 armor kits in February 2010. The U.S. Department of Defense has contracted Oshkosh and Plasan to produce a total of 8,079 M-ATVs to protect troops serving in Afghanistan.

Plasan credits this rapid delivery capacity to the application of its modular Kitted Hull concept. Under this concept, developed by Plasan, the armor parts can be produced in parallel at multiple locations allowing the flexibility to increase and decrease capacity in minimum risk. In addition this form of work leverages the OEM capability for assembly and allows it better control on the process - the parts and components are sent to the vehicle's manufacturer where they are applied to the vehicle at the assembly line,. Kitted Hull technology enables cost-effective assembly of armored vehicles, responding quickly to increases in production volume as the needs of the end-users change.

As a global company with locations in Israel, North America and Europe, Plasan is a worldwide market leader. Plasan's production capabilities are complemented by a comprehensive supply chain that encompasses suppliers of materials, equipment and solutions in strategic locations worldwide. This extensive network enables the production capacity flexibility necessary to expand or reduce production volumes according to demand.

-ends-

buglerbilly

25-02-10, 02:40 PM

Navistar Defense Showcases MaxxPro Dash with DXM Independent Suspension at AUSA

(Source: Navistar Defense; issued Feb. 25, 2010)

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. --- Navistar Defense, LLC today will showcase its enhanced International MaxxPro Dash Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle with independent suspension for attendees at the 2010 Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Winter Symposium and Exposition.

“The Dash with DXM independent suspension demonstrates our work in improved performance as we continue to bring our significant design force to bear on product improvements for our warfighters,” said Regis Luther, vice president, military products and initiatives. “We are also focused on the swift delivery of this capability and have designed kits and rolling chassis to quickly retrofit the remainder of the MaxxPro and 7000 Series fleets if needed.”

The enhanced MaxxPro Dash with DXM independent suspension offers added mobility for off-road travel while still providing warfighters with Category I MRAP survivability protection. A number of other added features that are included on the enhanced Dash include insulation and door upgrades, as well as an inclinometer, which acts as a level and measures side slope during vehicle operation.

The DXM independent suspension solution is provided by Hendrickson Truck Suspension Systems and AxleTech International. Navistar selected this no-compromises suspension system after conducting an extensive trade study. The DXM design also minimizes the effort needed to integrate the system onto existing MaxxPro and 7000 Series vehicles should the military be interested in retrofitting the company’s fleets.

On February 16, Navistar received an order for 1,050 Dash vehicles, bringing the company’s total MRAP orders to 7,494. Navistar also has provided more than 8,100 International 7000 Series vehicles to the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police. These vehicles can also be upgraded with the DXM independent suspension.

Navistar International Corporation is a holding company whose subsidiaries and affiliates produce International brand commercial and military trucks, MaxxForce brand diesel engines, IC Bus brand school and commercial buses, Monaco RV brands of recreational vehicles, and Workhorse brand chassis for motor homes and step vans.

-ends-

buglerbilly

25-02-10, 02:41 PM

Oshkosh Corporation Receives $640 Million Award to Supply 1,460 Additional M-ATVs

(Source: Oshkosh Defense; issued Feb. 23, 2010)

OSHKOSH, Wis.---Oshkosh Corporation announced today it has received an additional $640 million award from the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command Life Cycle Management Command (TACOM LCMC) to deliver 1,460 MRAP All Terrain Vehicles (M-ATV).

To date, Oshkosh has received awards valued at more than $4.74 billion for 8,079 M-ATVs, as well as spare parts kits and aftermarket in-theater support.

"Our Armed Forces have Oshkosh's full assurance that these highly mobile, life protecting vehicles will continue to be a top priority because we understand the urgency of the situation," said Robert G. Bohn, Oshkosh Corporation chairman and chief executive officer. "From day one, Oshkosh Corporation and our employees have been committed to meet or exceed the M-ATV delivery requirements, while simultaneously producing our other quality advanced tactical wheeled vehicles and meeting all other contractual obligations."

The Oshkosh M-ATV is the newest MRAP model, developed in response to an urgent need in Afghanistan. The vehicle is specifically designed to operate on the country's harsh mountainous terrain and unimproved roads while providing protection levels equal to or better than those of legacy MRAPs. Able to overcome steep, rocky and rugged terrain, the vehicle uses the Oshkosh-patented TAK-4 independent suspension system for superior cross-country mobility, including a 70 percent off-road profile capability and 16 inches of independent wheel travel. Oshkosh has received orders to supply more than 2,400 TAK-4 systems for legacy MRAP upgrades for improved off-road mobility in Afghanistan.

The company has received orders to provide replacement parts and spare-parts kits concurrent with M-ATV production, as well as to provide field service representative (FSR) support in Afghanistan. With global operations that include service, repair and parts distribution, Oshkosh is able to support the M-ATV program's full life-cycle sustainment as needed.

Existing Oshkosh facilities have the capacity, highly skilled workforce and proven manufacturing capability to deliver this M-ATV order and vehicles for all other Defense programs, including the U.S. Army's Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV), as well as the capability to meet any surges in production.

Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, is an industry-leading global designer and manufacturer of tactical military trucks and armored wheeled vehicles, delivering a full product line of conventional and hybrid vehicles, advanced armor options, proprietary suspensions and vehicles with payloads that can exceed 70 tons. Oshkosh Defense provides a global service and supply network including full life-cycle support and remanufacturing, and its vehicles are recognized the world over for superior performance, reliability and protection.

buglerbilly

25-02-10, 02:55 PM

Oshkosh Defense unveils new vehicles at AUSA Winter 2010

February 24, 2010

Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, is displaying two new tactical wheeled vehicles in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., today through Friday (Feb. 24-26) at the annual Association of United States Army (AUSA) Winter Symposium and Exposition. Two new variants of the MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) are making their debut at the event, as is - for the first time in the Oshkosh booth - an Oshkosh truck from the US Army's Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV).

"This AUSA event is a great opportunity for Oshkosh Defense to demonstrate our support for the US Army and showcase our newest offerings to military personnel across all ranks," said Andy Hove, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president, Defense. "The face-to-face conversations taking place at this show allow us to gather important feedback and information, which we use to continually improve our military vehicles."

The new utility and ambulance M-ATV variants on display at AUSA offer new capabilities and mission profiles while maintaining the durable, best-in-class mobility and superior crew protection of the original M-ATV offering. Utility and ambulance M-ATVs were developed to allow military operations to provide critical casualty care and resupply services in unforgiving landscapes where tactical missions must operate. The M-ATV has provided superior off-road mobility for harsh mountainous terrain and unimproved road networks in places like Afghanistan. To date, the company has received orders valued at more than $4.74 billion to supply 8,079 M-ATVs, spare parts kits and in-theater aftermarket support.

Oshkosh also is displaying a vehicle from the company's newest truck fleet, the Army's FMTV. The Army awarded Oshkosh with the FTMV competitive rebuy contract on Aug. 26, 2009, which was sustained by the Army on Feb. 12 following a GAO directed review. The FMTV is a series of vehicles consisting of up to 23 variants and 17 different models, ranging from 2.5-ton to 5-ton payloads. Oshkosh now has a five-year, firm fixed-price requirements contract for the production of up to 23,000 vehicles and trailers, as well as support services and engineering. Oshkosh is currently working on an initial FMTV delivery order valued at $280.9 million for the production and delivery of 2,568 trucks and trailers. Oshkosh already produces the Army's Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles (FHTV).

-ends-

Later variants............

buglerbilly

25-02-10, 03:10 PM

Feb. 24, 2010, 7:30 a.m. EST

Force Protection, Inc. to Debut Joint All-Terrain Modular Mobility Asset (JAMMA) Vehicle and Feature Interactive Display of its Survivability Solutions

LADSON, S.C., Feb 24, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Force Protection, Inc. /quotes/comstock/15*!frpt/quotes/nls/frpt (FRPT 5.29, +0.02, +0.38%) , a leading American designer, developer and manufacturer of survivability solutions, will debut the Joint All-Terrain Modular Mobility Asset (JAMMA) vehicle at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Institute of Land Warfare's Winter Symposium in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., February 24-26, 2010 at booth #109.

JAMMA is the only armor-ready, four-occupant, hybrid, high-performance off-road vehicle that can be transported inside the V-22 Osprey helicopter. It is equipped to handle high speeds during extreme off-roading, on highways and through urban terrain. JAMMA is also capable of rapidly adapting to and being armored for specific mission profiles such as reconnaissance, rescue/recovery, med-evac and mobile security.

"We believe there is an ongoing need for our U.S. troops and allied forces to have access to lighter, highly mobile vehicles," said Michael Moody, Chairman and CEO of Force Protection, Inc. "The JAMMA vehicle has been designed from the ground up to be the new standard in light tactical vehicles and its light weight, high strength structure provides a wealth of multi-role mission configurations for its end-users. The JAMMA represents a different type of survivability solution focused on speed, mobility and concealment."

JAMMA satisfies the requirements of special operations user groups. It has optimized rollover protection and features an attachment system with threat-specific armor that can be easily attached or removed in virtually any environment. The vehicle includes stadium seating that protects the driver while allowing 360-degree return fire and features a state-of-the-art hybrid engine that optimizes vehicle efficiency and generates 22kw continuous exportable power.

Force Protection, in collaboration with Raydon Corp., a global leader in simulation products and solutions, will also showcase Raydon's Buffalo MPCV simulator. This training system instructs war fighters on how to visually detect IEDs and interrogate them using the Buffalo's unique interrogation arm/crane. This training system will help war fighters improve their route clearance skills, learn the latest tactics, techniques, and procedures for route clearance. The Buffalo crewmembers view the virtual battlefield through four 40-inch LCD monitors. With a 180 degree field of view (FOV) from an elevated seating position crews can detect IEDs and interrogate suspected IEDs with the hand held controls for the interrogation arm/crane. Crews are able to get an up close look at the suspected IED with a camera with zoom lens and maneuverable spotlights which enable crews to provide their night missions successfully.

"Force Protection has been instrumental in getting MRAP vehicles to our war fighter in Iraq and Afghanistan and there is no doubt they have been invaluable in the fight. We are very excited to be showcasing our Buffalo training system (MPCV) alongside Force Protection at Winter AUSA. Training our troops on route clearance best practices and preparing them to use MRAPs before they deploy is essential to mission success," said Mike Vollmar, CEO, Raydon Corporation.

Michael Moody continued, "Having Raydon's Buffalo simulator along with the JAMMA at AUSA Winter gives us the opportunity to showcase different types of survivability solutions to potential customers. We are pleased to have Raydon Corporation join in our AUSA Winter demonstrations."

The company's booth will also feature an interactive touch-screen video wall that provides detailed information regarding its full range of survivability solutions, including an overview of its Total Life Cycle Support services, as well as information regarding Force Protection, Inc.'s products and employees who are working to save heroes lives around the world.

More images here..........

http://www.counton2extras.com/assets/frameReader/index.php?redirectURL=http://www.forceprotection.net/products/jamma/

buglerbilly

25-02-10, 03:15 PM

More JAMMA details..........

* Width: 60 in. (basic V-22 variant)
* Height: 60 in. (basic V-22 variant)
* Gross Vehicle Weight: 7,500
* Payload: 3,000
* Engine: 6 cyl. Turbo Diesel, Hybrid Electric Motor
* Horsepower: 214 (Diesel), 100 (Hybrid-Electric)
* Torque: 398 lb. ft. @ 1800 RPM
* Drivetrain: 4 wheel drive
* Exportable Power Capacity: 25kW
* Miles per gallon: 21 (targeted across all drive circles)
* Max Road Range (Miles): 450
* Sustainable Highway Speed at GVW: 90 mph
* Operational elevation before performance degradation: Up to 10,000 ft. ASL
* Operational Ambient Temperature range: -30 deg F to 135 deg F

A visionary project dating back to 2005, the TAC-V Joint All-Terrain Modular Mobility Asset (JAMMA) family of vehicles has been developed to be a genuine technology leap over existing military armored all-terrain vehicles in performance, modular functionality and overall capabilities.

The TAC-V JAMMA V-22 ITV variant, the foundation cornerstone of the JAMMA family of vehicles, has been built to satisfy the requirements of special operations user groups. Engineered with the multi-mission, multi-functional V-22 Osprey in mind, the JAMMA V-22 ITV variant is the only armor ready, four occupant, hybrid, high performance off road vehicle in existence that is capable of being internally transported inside that aircraft.

In addition to a multitude of vehicle configurations available in the 60″ wide V-22 ITV variant, an 80″ wide, extreme off-road performance suspension is available on the same core vehicle, which maximizes the internal cargo space of the H-53 and H-47 aircraft. This wider suspension variant – the JAMMA RECONDO variant – has greatly enhanced off-road performance and load carrying capabilities. The overall functionality, frontline deliverability and performance capabilities of these two variations of the same core JAMMA vehicle greatly surpass any existing vehicle in this size and class.

Some of the unique features of the JAMMA family of vehicles include an armor attachment system that allows threat specific armor to be easily and readily attached to or removed from the vehicle in virtually any environment; stadium seating that allows the driver to be comprehensively armored while also preventing the driver from blocking the fire arcs of the other vehicle occupants; and, optimized occupant roll-over protection with full fields of fire on the move.

In addition to all of its other beneficial attributes, the TAC-V JAMMA V-22 ITV variant is available with a diesel/JP8 engine, or, with a state of the art hybrid driveline that optimizes the vehicle’s efficiency and generates 25kW continuous exportable power.

buglerbilly

26-02-10, 12:59 AM

More images then I stop.............

Joint All-Terrain Modular Mobility Asset (JAMMA) Vehicle debuted at AUSA Winter

Force Protection, Inc. (FRPT 5.28, +0.01, +0.19%), a leading American designer, developer and manufacturer of survivability solutions, will debut the Joint All-Terrain Modular Mobility Asset (JAMMA) vehicle at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Institute of Land Warfare’s Winter Symposium in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., February 24-26, 2010 at booth #109.

JAMMA is the only armor-ready, four-occupant, hybrid, high-performance off-road vehicle that can be transported inside the V-22 Osprey helicopter. It is equipped to handle high speeds during extreme off-roading, on highways and through urban terrain. JAMMA is also capable of rapidly adapting to and being armored for specific mission profiles such as reconnaissance, rescue/recovery, med-evac and mobile security.

“We believe there is an ongoing need for our U.S. troops and allied forces to have access to lighter, highly mobile vehicles,” said Michael Moody, Chairman and CEO of Force Protection, Inc. “The JAMMA vehicle has been designed from the ground up to be the new standard in light tactical vehicles and its light weight, high strength structure provides a wealth of multi-role mission configurations for its end-users. The JAMMA represents a different type of survivability solution focused on speed, mobility and concealment.”

JAMMA satisfies the requirements of special operations user groups. It has optimized rollover protection and features an attachment system with threat-specific armor that can be easily attached or removed in virtually any environment. The vehicle includes stadium seating that protects the driver while allowing 360-degree return fire and features a state-of-the-art hybrid engine that optimizes vehicle efficiency and generates 22kw continuous exportable power.

Force Protection, in collaboration with Raydon Corp., a global leader in simulation products and solutions, will also showcase Raydon’s Buffalo MPCV simulator. This training system instructs war fighters on how to visually detect IEDs and interrogate them using the Buffalo’s unique interrogation arm/crane. This training system will help war fighters improve their route clearance skills, learn the latest tactics, techniques, and procedures for route clearance. The Buffalo crewmembers view the virtual battlefield through four 40-inch LCD monitors. With a 180 degree field of view (FOV) from an elevated seating position crews can detect IEDs and interrogate suspected IEDs with the hand held controls for the interrogation arm/crane. Crews are able to get an up close look at the suspected IED with a camera with zoom lens and maneuverable spotlights which enable crews to provide their night missions successfully.

“Force Protection has been instrumental in getting MRAP vehicles to our war fighter in Iraq and Afghanistan and there is no doubt they have been invaluable in the fight. We are very excited to be showcasing our Buffalo training system (MPCV) alongside Force Protection at Winter AUSA. Training our troops on route clearance best practices and preparing them to use MRAPs before they deploy is essential to mission success,” said Mike Vollmar, CEO, Raydon Corporation.

Michael Moody continued, “Having Raydon’s Buffalo simulator along with the JAMMA at AUSA Winter gives us the opportunity to showcase different types of survivability solutions to potential customers. We are pleased to have Raydon Corporation join in our AUSA Winter demonstrations.”

buglerbilly

03-03-10, 03:29 PM

Latest Hummer BUT with new armoured capsule.............

Armored, Blast Protected Capsule for the HMMWV

Photo above: The armored, blast protected capsule designed by Granite Tactical Vehicles for the HMMWV. Photo via: Textron Marine & Land Systems

In February 2010 Textron Marine & Land Systems and Granite Tactical Vehicles Inc. have won the first order for three modified High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs) for evaluation by the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab. The three vehicles will demonstrate upgraded configurations of HMMWVs with armored, blast-protected capsules mounted on an M1114, M1151-A1/REVB and M1165. The Marines will test the vehicles' mobility, thermal and durability performance in March 2010. The corps have already completed blast and ballistic testing on the vehicle.

The vehicles are modified with blast-protected armored capsules developed by Granite, to increase the vehicle's survivability, while maintaining the high mobility and payload capabilities, the HMMWV had in the past. The Granite capsule for the HMMWV was designed by former Navy S.E.A.L. Christopher Berman, founder of Granite Tactical Vehicles. Berman’s idea is to retrofit existing HMMWVs with the armored, blast-protected V-shaped capsule.

Since the fully protected monocoque capsule replaces the passenger compartment of the HMMWV, including the add-on armor, the weight distribution and gross vehicle weight are within the vehicle's limits, maintaining the HMMWV's mobility and stability. As can be seen from the photos on this page, the modufied vehilce is slightly wider and higher than a standard unprotected HMMWV.

Textron Marine & Land Systems and Granite Tactical Vehicles Announced their teaming agreement in January 2010.

© Copyright 2010 - Defense Update, Online Holdings International.

buglerbilly

04-03-10, 11:43 PM

M-ATVs hit the ground with sticky doors

March 4th, 2010 | Programatics | Posted by Rob Curtis

Since getting the new vehicles in January, the at least one external door latch has failed on all of 2-12 INF’s M-ATVs. Op-sec prevents me from saying exactly how many that is, but its a section-plus.

A sergeant described the problem, “When we get out of the vehicle to shoot a rocket or something, we have to make sure the door stays open.” If it closes, he said (and later showed me) the only way to get the door open is to have someone crawl through the vehicle and use the inside door handle.

He told me that on his truck, it’s the drivers door. On other trucks, it’s different doors. Other members of the platoon were quick to confirm the busted latch problem as a critical problem with the new trucks.

However, they were quick to point out that overall they are very happy with the M-ATV. They like its smaller turning radius, as compared to the MRAPs, that allows them to pull a u-turn to help other vehicles in an ambush.

They went on to say they truck s don’t get stuck and have protected the occupants from small arms fire.

On the downside they would have liked more cargo room in the passenger cab; they don’t like having to get out and grab ammo cans from the truck bed during a firefight.

The unit’s forward observer told me the side windows are too small for him to direct fires. During the first engagement he ran from inside the M-ATV, he ended up kicking the door open so he could see where his rounds were landing. From then on, he’s been riding in the unit’s MRAPs, instead.

buglerbilly

25-03-10, 02:18 AM

U.S. Army to Refurbish Humvees, Not Buy More

By KATE BRANNEN

Published: 24 Mar 2010 15:07

Having concluded that it has more Humvees than it needs, the U.S. Army will use Humvee-procurement funds to refurbish existing ones instead, Army Secretary John McHugh told lawmakers March 23.

"We are developing a reprogramming request for the unexpended monies available in the Humvee procurement program that's working its way towards the [Pentagon] comptroller, [Robert] Hale," McHugh told members of the House Appropriations subcommittee on defense.

Humvee manufacturer AM General may compete for the refurbishing work, which could allow their production line to stay open longer, McHugh told the subcommittee.

"We've tried to be as sensitive as we can to the manufacturing base which we're concerned about, but there's only so far we can go and limits we have to respect," he said.

A recent portfolio review of Army vehicles determined the service has exceeded its requirement for Humvees, McHugh said. Following the review, the Army recently terminated its contract, in a process McHugh called "a drawdown" rather than an abrupt end.

There are about 8,000 Humvees "currently on the lot, waiting for the Army to accept," he said. Moreover, the Army will buy another 2,662 vehicles through an option in the existing contract, he said. The production line will stay open at least until the end of 2013, allowing the Army to fulfill its sales to foreign customers and other services. These account for an additional 8,995 vehicles, McHugh added.

"And after that, we expect the Humvee to still be a part of our vehicle fleet, but it'll be much adjusted in its activity based on what we've experienced in Afghanistan," said McHugh.

The Army requested $1.3 billion in 2010 to purchase 8,120 Humvees, but did not request any procurement funding for the vehicles in 2011. There is funding in the 2011 budget request for Humvee purchases for the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps.

McHugh said the price tag of a new Humvee is roughly $184,000, while a refurbishment means "taking the old platform, in most cases stripping it right down to the frame, and rebuilding, and that costs between $90,000 and $100,000."

buglerbilly

16-04-10, 02:40 PM

Lockheed Martin Delivers First JLTV Technology Development Vehicles for Testing Ahead of Schedule

(Source: Lockheed Martin; issued April 15, 2010)

SEALY, Texas --- Lockheed Martin today delivered the first two of seven operational Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV), and one companion trailer, to the U.S. Army and Marine Corps for Technology Development (TD) phase testing.

The vehicles, two JLTV Category B Infantry Carriers, feature a curb weight of 15,500 pounds and were signed over to the Department of Defense, ahead of schedule, in an acceptance ceremony today.

Within days, Lockheed Martin plans to deliver two JLTV Category A General Purpose vehicles, each weighing in at less than 13,000 pounds (curb weight), one more Category B Infantry Carrier, one Category B Command and Control On-The-Move vehicle, one Category C Utility Carrier, and three more companion trailers. These vehicles are undergoing final acceptance preparation and will be delivered next week, also ahead of schedule.

The U.S. military services will conduct a 12-month test and evaluation effort at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD, and Yuma Proving Grounds in Yuma, AZ, as part of the 27-month JLTV TD phase.

"Today's ceremony commemorates our commitment to provide the Warfighter with the lowest-risk, most technically innovative, survivable and affordable vehicle possible," said Steve Ramsey, vice president of Ground Vehicles at Lockheed Martin. "We are delighted to deliver mature, tested and fully capable vehicles to the Government ahead of schedule."

Lt. Col. Wolfgang Petermann, the U.S. Army's product manager for JLTV, was on-site during the vehicle delivery, reiterating the importance of the TD phase. "The TD phase will demonstrate the integration of mature technologies as a complete system, providing the Services with an assessment of the technical and performance risks relevant to entering the Engineering Manufacturing Development (EMD) Phase, and it will establish an achievable set of requirements for the JLTV Program," he said.

Also present for the ceremony was a representative from the Australian Department of Defence. In January 2009 Australia entered into a Land Force Capability Modernization (LFCM) Project Arrangement (PA) for the TD phase of the JLTV program, enabling tactical vehicle interoperability and integration between U.S. future forces and Australian land forces.

Since October 2007, Lockheed Martin-Team JLTV has invested in and built five test vehicles: the original JLTV Category B variant, which is designed as an infantry carrier, was unveiled in October 2007; the Utility Vehicle Light Category C variant, which is designed with a focus on payload, was introduced in February 2008; the General Purpose Mobility Category A variant, which is designed for logistical support, was unveiled in October 2008; our second generation Infantry Carrier Category B variant; and the 'Command and Control on the Move' Category B variant, which made its public debut in February 2010.

"Our Lockheed Martin test vehicles have undergone extensive testing and have accumulated more than 70,000 combined test miles, more than half of which have been conducted off-road to simulate mission conditions. This prior experience with Lockheed Martin-owned vehicles helped ensure the vehicles we begin delivering under contract to the Government today are ready for rigorous Government testing," added Ramsey.

The Lockheed Martin-led JLTV Team includes:

-- BAE Systems, providing advanced armor solutions and production facilities for high volume assembly;
-- Alcoa Defense, supplying materials experience, design services and aluminum components that give the vehicle its structural strength at reduced weight; and
-- JWF – Defense Systems, offering state-of-the-art machining and cost-effective fabrication.
-- Lockheed Martin serves as the prime contractor and design agent, providing systems engineering, platform integration, design expertise, advanced systems, and program and supply chain management.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2009 sales of $45.2 billion.

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buglerbilly

23-04-10, 04:10 PM

Oshkosh Defense Receives $44 Million Award for MTVR Upgrade Kits

20:15 GMT, April 22, 2010 OSHKOSH, Wis.

Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), announced today it has received an award valued at more than $44 million, but not to exceed more than $89 million, from the U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM) for more than 5,750 upgrade kits for the Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR). Work is expected to be completed in September 2010.

Oshkosh will deliver more than 950 weapons-mount kits that allow the installation of motorized Marine Corps Transparent Armor Gun Shields (MCTAGS), which replace the gunner protection kits on up-armored vehicles. Oshkosh Defense also will supply 2,000 door-upgrade kits to support MTVR non-reducible-height armor kits used on trucks that were armored in 2005 to 2007. The kits will make the doors common with those on MTVRs using the reducible-height armor kits, which Oshkosh began producing in 2008.

Additionally, Oshkosh will deliver MTVR Troop Carrier upgrades. This upgrade includes 800 dual-ladder kits, which can be installed in place of single ladders for improved ingress and egress, as well as more than more than 1,000 seatbelt kits to support the Troop Carrier’s occupants and more than 1,000 lift-point kits for improved transportability. The MTVR Troop Carriers and non-reducible-height armor kits were developed and installed on vehicles beginning in 2005 following an urgent need from the field.

The Oshkosh MTVR is an all-terrain, multipurpose tactical vehicle used by the Marines and Navy Seabees. The MTVR is available in several variants for the transportation of troops, materials or equipment. The vehicle features an off-road 7.1-ton payload capacity and an on-road 15-ton payload capacity. The vehicle uses the Oshkosh-patented TAK-4 independent suspension system, which has undergone more than 500,000 miles of government testing and helps the vehicle achieve a 70 percent off-road profile capability. Oshkosh has delivered more than 10,000 MTVRs.

buglerbilly

23-04-10, 04:11 PM

buglerbilly

28-04-10, 04:13 PM

Oshkosh Defense Receives $79 Million for M-ATV Protection and Remote Weapon System Kits

18:42 GMT, April 27, 2010 OSHKOSH, Wis.

Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), has received two awards valued at more than $79 million from the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC) to supply more than 1,750 add-on rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) protection kits and more than 1,000 kits to support remote weapon systems for the MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV). Work for both orders is expected to be completed in September 2010.

The award for RPG protection kits is valued at more than $68 million and installation will be completed in-theater. The award for remote weapon system kits is valued at more than $11 million. Oshkosh will install these kits on the production lines and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) will install the kits on previously delivered vehicles. Remote weapon systems allow fighting crews to operate from within the vehicle, even when on the move.

“The M-ATV is designed to accept these kits and other add-on packages and still deliver exceptional survivability and performance capabilities for operations in Afghanistan,” said Ken Juergens, Oshkosh Defense vice president and general manager, Joint Programs. “We are committed to working with our Armed Forces to ensure they have the most advanced, well-protected and mobile vehicles needed to carry out missions in challenging environments.”

The Oshkosh M-ATV uses the company’s patented TAK-4 independent suspension system. The proven technology delivers superior off-road mobility and allows the M-ATV to accept heavier armor, such as add-on explosively formed penetrator (EFP) armor packages, while maintaining a full payload of 4,000 pounds. Additionally, the vehicle’s bolt-on armor permits in-theater upgrades to meet mission demands and rapid repair of armor panels for quick turnaround times.

To date, Oshkosh has received awards valued at $4.9 billion for 8,079 M-ATVs, as well as spare parts kits, upgrade kits and aftermarket support. Oshkosh also has leaned forward using its own time and resources to create an M-ATV family of vehicles with the ambulance and utility variants. The variants, built around the same highly mobile, well-protected platform, have the potential to deliver critical casualty care and resupply services in harsh environments like those found in Afghanistan.

buglerbilly

29-04-10, 03:06 PM

GTV Delivers JLTV Technology Development Vehicles Ahead of Schedule

(Source: General Tactical Vehicles; issued April 28, 2010)

LIVONIA, Mich. --- The General Tactical Vehicles (GTV) team of General Dynamics Land Systems and AM General delivered today seven Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs), four trailers and supporting equipment ahead of schedule to the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps for Technology Development (TD) phase testing.

The TD phase includes a 12-month test and evaluation process at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, in Aberdeen, Md., and at the Yuma Proving Grounds in Yuma, Ariz. This follows GTV's previous ahead-of-schedule deliveries of armor samples, ballistic hulls and spare parts.

"Our GTV JLTVs provide increased protection, payload and performance for the Soldiers and Marines," said Don Howe, GTV senior program director. "I am very proud of the effort demonstrated by our GTV team, including our supplier network, to deliver a balanced solution that meets or exceeds the technical and programmatic challenges of the very demanding JLTV program.

"The GTV team's significant experience with deployed global forces gives us unique and valuable insight into the needs of the warfighter," added Howe. "Delivering ahead of schedule, within budget and under-weight underlines our proven track record of dependability and performance."

Drawing from the combined experience of General Dynamics and AM General in building and supporting tactical and combat vehicles, GTV's vehicle design provides an armored crew capsule with an optimized V-shaped hull for protection against mines and IEDs, a state-of-the art C4 architecture that accommodates future force technology capabilities, high-performance and off-road mobility and deployability by land, sea and air.

"Our robust, disciplined and focused system-engineering approach placed the warfighter at the center of product design. GTV has developed an innovative family of vehicles and trailers that meet weight, transportability, survivability and mobility requirements while achieving greater than 95 percent commonality of components to reduce parts, maintenance and training needs," said David Caldwell, GTV deputy program director.

LTC Wolfgang Petermann, U.S. Army JLTV product manager, took delivery of the GTV JLTV vehicles. Petermann said, "The JLTV Technology Development (TD) phase is intended to validate the integration of mature technologies as a complete vehicle system, rebalancing payload, protection and performance while maintaining transportability and expeditionary capabilities. The JLTV TD phase is accomplishing what it was intended to do, giving the Army, Marine Corps and the Australian Army an accurate assessment of the technical and performance capabilities and risks associated with entering the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) Phase. The TD phase will establish a realistic set of requirements for the JLTV, which our warfighters need."

An official from the Australian Department of Defence also attended the ceremony. In January 2009, Australia entered into a Land Force Capability Modernization Project Arrangement for the TD phase of the JLTV program, enabling tactical vehicle interoperability and integration between U.S. and Australian forces.

GTV has invested in additional JLTV vehicles and trailers as part of its independent R&D program. "We are continuing our own extensive testing for reliability and durability to complement the government effort and prepare for the next phase of the JLTV development program," said Howe. "We're also continuing to evaluate emerging technologies – taking advantage of our JLTV's built-in capacity for technology insertion, growth opportunities and product improvements."

General Tactical Vehicles is a joint venture between AM General and General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, formed to provide the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps a low-risk, affordable, technically advanced and economically sustainable solution to their Joint Light Tactical Vehicle requirements.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 91,200 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.

AM General designs, manufactures, and supports the world's leading all-purpose vehicles for military, commercial, and consumer customers. As creator and builder of the famous HMMWV (Humvee), AM General has transformed the vehicle from a basic utility truck to a fully-armored, combat support vehicle to meet the changing needs of the military and to support more than 70 mission areas. AM General has more than 3,000 employees at major facilities in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, plus a strong supplier base that stretches across 43 states.

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buglerbilly

30-04-10, 02:02 PM

Oshkosh Develops M-ATV Variants

Apr 29, 2010

By Michael Fabey

There are pics earlier in this thread.............

About two-thirds through a highly successful production schedule for its 8,079 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All Terrain Vehicles (M-ATVs), Oshkosh Corp. is now pushing for M-ATV versions specially designed to carry cargo or work as ambulances.

The cargo-carrying utility M-ATV variant also is specially designed to utilize legacy High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) shelters.

“There’s been a lot of interest,” said Ken Juergens, vice president and general manager for Joint Programs at Oshkosh Defense. “What we need are the requirements.”

The Pentagon picked Oshkosh to develop and deliver a M-ATV model to take the place of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles that the military had come to rely on so heavily in Iraq.

The traditional MRAP proved unsuitable for service in Afghanistan. Roads would collapse under the heavy vehicles, they would often roll over on the poor, twisty mountainous roads, and the vehicles’ suspensions could not handle the rough rides there, especially for off-road missions.

MRAP and M-ATV procurement helped make wheeled vehicle acquisition programs the fourth-highest Pentagon expense, with more than $8.5 billion spent for contracts and contract modifications in 2008 alone, according to an Aerospace DAILY analysis of federal contracting data provided by the National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting (Aerospace DAILY, March 5, 2009).

While some of the traditional MRAPs are being upgraded to better handle the Afghanistan work, U.S. forces have relied more on the Oshkosh M-ATVs for missions in the country. But some of the missions are still constrained by the lack of capability of other vehicles needed for certain missions.

Looking to overcome those constraints, the M-ATV utility model can carry up to two-and-half tons, giving U.S. forces greater access to remote areas with cargo to set up a remote outpost. Shelters can serve the command-and-control (C2) function, maintenance truck or other specialized-mission equipment, Juergens said.

Outfitted with the shelters, Juergens said, the M-ATV standard, utility and ambulance vehicles can be put to greater use to support operations in more remote areas because of their increased protection, payload and off-road mobility.

“It’s a combat multiplier,” he said.

Photo: US Army

buglerbilly

04-05-10, 05:04 PM

BAE Systems-Navistar-ArvinMeritor Team Delivers First Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV) to U.S. Army and Marine Corps

Australian JLTV Prototypes to Follow in June

09:35 GMT, May 4, 2010 ARLINGTON, Va. | BAE Systems, through its U.S. Combat Systems line of business, teammates Navistar Defense and ArvinMeritor, are proud to announce an on-time delivery of its Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) prototype vehicles to the U.S. Army and Marine Corps. The prototypes will undergo a 12-month rigorous government test and evaluation period as part of the JLTV Technology Development (TD) phase.

The BAE Systems -- Navistar -- ArvinMeritor team handed over seven JLTV prototype vehicles and four companion trailers to the U.S. Army in a ceremony last week at the Navistar Defense productions facility in West Point, Miss. The mix of vehicles included two JLTV Category A General Purpose vehicles, four JLTV Category B Infantry Carriers, one Category C Utility Carrier.

In January 2009 Australia entered into a Land Force Capability Modernization (LFCM) Project Arrangement (PA) for the TD phase of the JLTV program, enabling tactical vehicle interoperability and integration between U.S. future forces and Australian land forces. In support of the Australian Department of Defence, the team is now focused on completing the build of three additional variants and a companion trailer that will be delivered in June. These vehicles are designed to be highly compatible with the U.S. variants, ensuring interoperability between forces, yet tailored specifically to meet the needs of the Australian troops.

"Our rich history and extensive experience with combat vehicles has allowed us to develop a JLTV family of vehicles design that represents a balance between performance, protection and payload," said Ann Hoholick, vice president and general manager of New Vehicles and Amphibious Systems for BAE Systems. "We have invested heavily in the development of the technology and capabilities that a platform like JLTV could provide to the modern day war fighter."

The JLTV design incorporates lessons learned from the U.S. Department of Defense's Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle program and features the latest in lightweight, advanced armor and a V-shaped hull design to provide maximum crew protection.

"The BAE Systems - Navistar - ArvinMeritor team brings a balance of military, production and automotive experience to the program," said Archie Massicotte, president of Navistar Defense. "We work hard to provide vehicles that are safe to operate and survivable against current threats. We also understand that our design needs to be flexible so it can evolve ahead of future threat levels."

The team builds off the three companies' current leadership in armored and tactical vehicle development and support. Combined, the BAE Systems - Navistar -- ArvinMeritor team maximizes JLTV program value through proven capabilities, lean manufacturing and extensive worldwide logistics support.

The team draws on top talent from across the country. Sites participating in the development include: York, Pennsylvania; Ontario, San Diego and Santa Clara, California; Dearborn Heights, Sterling Heights and Troy, Michigan; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Johnson City, New York; Austin, Texas; Nashua, New Hampshire; Reston, Virginia; Melrose Park and Warrenville, Illinois; Fort Wayne, Indiana; West Point, Mississippi; Huntsville, Alabama; and Laurinberg and Aiken, South Carolina.

Company or Organisation Portrait:

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 GBP 22.4 billion (US$ 36.2 billion).

Navistar Defense is an affiliate of Navistar International Corporation (NAV 49.71, +1.37, +2.83%) , a holding company whose subsidiaries and affiliates produce International(R) brand commercial and military trucks, MaxxForce(R) brand diesel engines, IC Bus(TM) brand school and commercial buses, Monaco RV brands of recreational vehicles, and Workhorse(R) brand chassis for motor homes and step vans. It also is a private-label designer and manufacturer of diesel engines for the pickup truck, van and SUV markets. The company also provides truck and diesel engine service parts. Another affiliate offers financing services.

ArvinMeritor, Inc. is a premier global supplier of a broad range of integrated systems, modules and components to original equipment manufacturers and the aftermarket for the transportation and industrial sectors. The company marked its centennial anniversary in 2009, celebrating a long history of 'forward thinking.' The company serves commercial truck, trailer and specialty original equipment manufacturers and certain aftermarkets, and light vehicle manufacturers. ArvinMeritor common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ARM.

buglerbilly

10-05-10, 01:14 PM

Hy-DRA stealth ATV launched at SOFEX

By Peter Felstead
10 May 2010

The Hy-DRA stealthy ATV prototype demonstrating how it can be used as a highly mobile weapon platform, in this case mounting an M134 mini-gun. (Raytheon)

Better pics from the SOFEX show to follow later this week...........

US prime Raytheon is entering the automotive market with an innovative new all-terrain vehicle (ATV) aimed at the special forces market.

Officially launched at the Special Operations Forces Exhibition (SOFEX), held in Amman, Jordan, from 10-13 May, the Hybrid-Defense Reconnaissance Assault (Hy-DRA) vehicle is a small, stealthy all-terrain platform employing hybrid electric drive (HED). With one forward seat for the driver and two back seats facing forwards, the Hy-DRA can carry three fully equipped soldiers, act as a weapons platform or carry one soldier and two litters to extract wounded personnel.

Weighing 2,400 lb (1088.6 kg) with a length of 3.378 m and having a 1.524 m 2 cross section, the Hy-DRA can be a single internal load inside a Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, multiple loads inside a Chinook medium-lift helicopter or can be underslung from a Black Hawk utility helicopter. The vehicle's top speed and range is 60 mph (96.6 km/h) and 350 miles (563 km) in hybrid mode or 50 mph and 18 miles in stealth (electric) mode. It can carry 1,000 lb of cargo or tow 3,000 lb.

182 of 802 words
Copyright © IHS (Global) Limited, 2010

More info on the vehicle................

The vehicle uses a diesel engine to power a generator, driving four in-hub motors for the four wheel drive. While moving in 'stealth mode' HyDRA can achieve speed up to 35 mph. Otherwise, hybrid powered (diesel and electrical) sustained speed top 125 mph. The hybrid electric drive offers good fuel efficiency of about 35 mpg. The vehicle can carry an M2 (0.50 Cal) or Mk-19 or minigun on a turret mount and an M240/249 on a swing arm. The vehicle has a curb weight of 2,400 lbs. carrying a crew of three, and a complement of weapons and supplies, HyDRA is internally transported in a CV-22 Osprey, CH/MH-53, CH/MH-47 and C-130. It is capable of towing 1.5 tons or carrying heavy loads of up to half a ton. Besides its role as primary propulsion for the vehicle, the four 40hp motors can also perform as generators, providing 30 kW of power for external use.

Marc 1

13-05-10, 01:47 AM

Besides its role as primary propulsion for the vehicle, the four 40hp motors can also perform as generators, providing 30 kW of power for external use.

How does it do that? The 4 in hub motors will only act as generators on the overrun, to slow the vehicle and recapture the energy otherwise wasted in braking. This is only useful for providing a small amount of energy back to the vehicle battery, not for providing a source of continual exportable power. The only way this vehicle could provide 30kw of power from its wheel motors for external use is if it was being slowly rolled down a very steep continuous slope or towed by something big.

The 30kw of power would come directly from the generator not from the wheel motors.

buglerbilly

15-05-10, 02:32 PM

First public presentation for the light Strike vehicle PHOBOS at SOFEX 2010.

United Kingdom British Phobos light strike wheeled attack vehicle picture The design engineers here at Aerco have been working with Tim Bentley of PHOBOS/FilthyBoy on the electrical design of a new militarised version of the FilthyBoy buggy that has caused a stir in the world of extreme motorsports. The nature of warfare is changing, resulting in new requirements for vehicles.

Whilst there is a persistent need to protect troops from mines, roadside bombs and IED’s using highly armoured patrol vehicles, the consequent escalation in armour and protection has led to vehicles designed to move troops across country and rough terrain becoming increasingly heavy and cumbersome to the point where they may be described as “mobile pillboxes”.

The PHOBOS system has been developed to provide an operational and commercial solution for forces and organisations requiring a Light Strike Vehicle capability. Based around a core design that ensures high levels of parts commonality and minimizes the time from order to delivery, PHOBOS can be configured to satisfy a range of operational requirements.

buglerbilly

16-05-10, 04:18 AM

New truck from Defense Venture group with interesting video linked here...........

Announcement from ealrier this year..............

Feb 02, 2010 11:09 ET

Indigen Armor Unveiling Purpose-Built, Armored, Tactical Truck in Charlotte, NC -- February 22, 2010

CHARLOTTE, NC--(Marketwire - February 2, 2010) - Defense Venture Group (DVG) and its subsidiary Indigen Armor will host a debut of their Non-Standard Tactical Truck (NSTT) on Monday, February 22, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina, from 4-8 pm.

This "Invitation Only" event is the culmination of two years of internal research and development. The NSTT is a 4-door, 4-wheel drive, turbo diesel pickup truck. It offers scalable armor packages to meet multiple threat levels, is able to ford water up to 36" deep, and can run on JP8 and other military diesel fuels. Internally transportable in an MH-47 helicopter, the NSTT can accommodate a variety of low-profile or overt tactical body styles.

An ideal, lightweight alternative to the heavy legacy defense vehicles in service today, the NSTT is perfect for special operations, military and quasi-military organizations that need a reliable and robust off-road capability in high threat environments.
Following the recent successful life cycle testing that measured the forces and their effects on the truck, Ron Griffin, Vice President of Engineering and Prototyping, stated, "We ran the NSTT through a rigorous combination of cross country, secondary roads, and primary highway profiles and were elated with the performance and reliability of the vehicle." Chris Cathers, General Manager of Indigen Armor, added, "Through our mature design, engineering, and manufacturing experience, we have been able to combine the benefits of increased performance, payload and protection while meeting stringent helicopter transportable requirements. I have no doubt that this vehicle will receive the highest marks for mobility, reliability and maintainability within the military community."

Invitees include industry leaders from aerospace and defense, government, academia and the private sector. As this event is by invitation only, interested parties who wish to attend should contact Defense Venture Group directly. Proof of U.S. Citizenship required. By request, the NSTT will be unveiled without body panels so that the armored safety cell, suspension, and internal mechanisms can be easily viewed.

buglerbilly

18-05-10, 04:19 AM

Hy-DRA stealth ATV launched at SOFEX

Close-up images from the show................

buglerbilly

22-05-10, 01:46 AM

Israel's Extreme Strike Vehicle: ZIBAR Mk2A new Israeli all-terrain vehicle is on display at Eurosatory 2010 for the first time.

The vehicle, 'Zibar Mk II' is the second generation of the Zibar M, an all terrain light vehicle developed by Israel's top off-road vehicle specialist Ido OffRoad Center (IORC). According to Ido Cohen, owner and chief designer of the vehicle, the company has received significant orders for the vehicle and is gearing to expand its production lines, by teaming with local companies for manufacturing and marketing of the Zibar. At the Eurosatory 2010 exhibition Zibar MkII is displayed at the booth of another Israeli company – Hatechof, which cooperates with IORC on the international marketing. The manufacturing of the vehicles will be done at Israel's Automotive Industries (AIL) plant in Nazareth, where the Israeli Storm vehicles are produced.

Sofar more than 20 Zibar vehicles are operational. One of the applications currently operational overseas is the Mobile Support Vehicle (MSV) offered by Aeronautics Defense Systems. The MSV takes advantage of Zibar's extreme mobility, transporting a mast-mounted stabilized multi-sensor payload to locations inaccessible by other vehicles. MSV uses an eight-meter telescopic mast, concealed in the vehicle, carrying the stabilized multi-sensor payload or a scanning thermal imager (SPIDER), both delivered by Controp Precision Systems. Initial production versions of the MSV are operational with some desert patrol unit in Israel and by foreign paramilitary and security organizations.Apture™

The new model Zibar MkII is slightly larger than the Zibar M and is standardized in several configurations – a standard double-cab, pick-up and long configurations accommodating four to six passengers. Current models are configured for security, VIP and military scout vehicles.

The vehicle is designed for a Gross Vehicle Weight of up to four tons, carrying a payload of 1.6 tons. In addition, an armored capsule version is also in the plans, offering B6/B7 protection level against small arms while the high V-shaped hull offers protection from mines and IED blasts. The armored version weighs 4.5 tons, carrying one ton of useful payload. According to Ido Cohen, the armored capsule replaces part of the vehicle's tubular space frame and rigid roll cage, therefore saving about half a ton of 'dead weight' with armored components providing ballistic protection and structural strength. Both versions are fully air-conditioned and are designed to operate efficiently in desert conditions and at very high temperatures.

Breaded at an off road stable, Zibar M was designed to excel in extreme terrain and Zibar MkII is no exception. The vehicle is powered by a GM Vortec 6.2 litre V8 diesel developing 403 braking horse power (BHP) at 5800 RPM, (417 lb/ft torque at 4300 rpm). The engine is mated to a 6 speed automatic gearbox and heavy duty part time transfer case - basically a Cadillac Escalade power train. Active suspensions coil over shock absorbers with dual spring airshock, both taken from the desert racing world, are used for rear and front axles. Using large truck size tires with this small but powerful vehicle renders a platform with extreme performance. According to Ido Cohen, when deflating the 42" x13.5 R17 tires down to a pressure of 4psi, Zibar MkII has a minimal ground pressure, enabling negotiation of steep dunes or rocks with ease. With approach angle of 90 degrees, and departure angle of 80 degrees, and ground clearance of 370 mm under axles, Zibar MkII can effectively negotiate obstacles, climb rocks, climb steps 0.75 meters high and cross ditches 0.8 meter wide, handle side slopes of 60%. It is also designed to move through thick vegetation in jungle areas, slashing through mud and fording without preparation water obstacles of depths up to 0.85.

Extremely capable offroad, Zibar MkII also performs like a sports car on the highway. Accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in seven seconds, it has a top speed of 180 km/h. Fully loaded with combat payload, Zibar MkII can travel over 700 km on a single fuel tank.

The same technology used for the Zibar M vehicles is now being implemented for the development of a future all-terrain load carrier for the infantry. This optionally driven vehicle will be capable of hauling over one ton of cargo, enough to sustain an infantry squad in combat. It will have dual front and rear steering, centrally located engine and all-wheel drive, providing warfighters an helicopter-borne support vehicle that will follow them everywhere they go, providing rapid, safe and reliable cargo delivery in any terrain.

This is Mark 1 for those that don't remember..............

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

buglerbilly

31-05-10, 04:59 PM

Finnish Defence Forces has receives 60 new SISU 8x8 Military Trucks

07:11 GMT, May 31, 2010

One of my all-time favourite high-mobility protected trucks..............

Finnish military vehicle supplier, Sisu Defence Oy, has handed over 60 High Mobility SISU 8x8 Military Trucks to the Finnish Army. The delivery was received by the Minister of Defence, Jyri Häkämies, at Sisu factory in Raasepori, Finland, on 24 May 2010.

The delivered trucks are equipped with effective mine protection and feature a cabin of armour steel. Additionally, some of these trucks are planed to be used in international crises management operations. The latter are also equipped with ballistic protection meeting the requirements of the intended use.

Sisu 8x8 Military Trucks feature a modular protection system. Thereby, the ballistic and NBC protection of the vehicles can easily and quickly be integrated or dismounted, even in the field.

The delivery also includes a training, servicing and spare parts programme. The value of the delivery altogether is approximately € 26 Million, excl. VAT.

buglerbilly

03-06-10, 02:43 PM

Team SPAWAR Marks 5,000 M-ATV Integration Milestone

(Source: US Navy; issued June 2, 2010)

5,000 vehicles in the timeframe is a Hell of a total...............!!!

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. --- Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic marked a milestone June 1 by integrating the 5,000th Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) All Terrain Vehicle.

The SSC Atlantic M-ATV integration team installs command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment into the M-ATVs. These vehicles are then shipped to Afghanistan to aid the Soldiers and Marines on their daily patrols. SSC Atlantic is responsible for the prototyping, testing, integration, installation and quality assurance of all advanced C4I equipment on the M-ATVs.

SSC Atlantic has integrated nearly 16,000 MRAP vehicles and 5,000 M-ATVs. More than 8,000 M-ATVs – the next generation of MRAPs – have been authorized. The M-ATV answers an urgent and compelling requirement to protect warfighters with a highly survivable, off-road capable vehicle. The M-ATV mission is for small unit combat operations in highly restricted rural, mountainous and urban environments that include mounted patrols, reconnaissance, security, convoy protection and communications.

Like the MRAP integration, the M-ATV project is truly a team effort involving the vehicle manufacturers, the Defense Contracting Management Agency, industry partners, Marine Corps Systems Command, Army Joint Program Office, Army 841st Transportation Battalion, Military Sealift Command, Air Force 437th and 315th Airlift Wings, for shipping by air, Army Sustainment Logistics Command, Joint Base Charleston, Naval Weapons Station and the Coast Guard.

Since the M-ATV is within the MRAP family of vehicles, it is managed by the MRAP Joint Program Office, with the Marine Corps executing the joint program on behalf of the Navy (lead service).

"What you are doing here is very important to the warfighter," said Brig. Gen. Michael Brogan, commander, Marine Corps Systems Command and Joint Program executive officer, MRAP. "Every time an M-ATV goes outside the wire, it saves lives. The government furnished equipment being integrated at SPAWAR plays a key role in that."

"Because of what you do, our warfighters can execute their mission with confidence in the protection and capability provided by the MRAP vehicles," Capt. Bruce Urbon, SSC Atlantic commanding officer, told the assembled crowd at the SSC Atlantic integration facility. "For this, you should be very proud. I know that I am proud of the whole team."

Pentagon records indicate that improvised explosive devices, also known as IEDs, are not only the top killer of NATO forces in Afghanistan, but remain the top strategy of Taliban and insurgent forces opposed to the military effort in that country. IEDs are also a favorite with terrorists and resistance fighters in Iraq and it is part of the SPAWAR mission to ensure that America is not only out-fighting, but out-thinking the enemy.

At the start of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan casualties due to IEDs were sufficient to change the tone on the battlefield, according to Gen. George Casey, U.S. Army chief of staff. Today, IED casualties are down more than 65 percent in Iraq and though increasing in Afghanistan due to increased military activity. The addition of SPAWAR technology will make these vehicles not only tough, but smart.

Team SPAWAR is committed to responding to battlefield threats as they develop and to bring the best technology to the nation's warfighters.

The completion of the 5,000th M-ATV just days before the nation honors the sacrifice of all of veterans Memorial Day makes the debut all the more special. It is SPAWAR's mission to develop the best tools for our warfighter and both the MRAP and the M-ATV vehicle modifications go a long way to creating battlefield superiority for Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Coast Guard, and Marines.

-ends-

buglerbilly

05-06-10, 02:04 AM

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

View from the Aberdeen Proving Grounds

Posted by Paul McLeary at 6/4/2010 1:18 PM CDT

Yesterday, the Army and the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program office invited a bunch of journalists up to the US Army Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland to enjoy the sweltering temperatures and take test rides in the three remaining competitors in the running for the lucrative JLTV contract.

In October 2008, the Army awarded three 27-month Technology Development contracts to General Tactical Vehicles, a joint venture between General Dynamics and AM General; BAE Systems; and Lockheed Martin to develop prototypes of the vehicle for testing. Each company was present at Aberdeen, and following are some pictures DTI took of the event.

(R to L: BAE Systems, GTV, Lockheed Martin)

BAE Systems

GTV

Lockheed Martin

And some action shots:

Pics: Paul McLeary

buglerbilly

05-06-10, 04:00 AM

DOD Buzz

Testing Begins on JLTV Prototypes

By Greg Grant Friday, June 4th, 2010 4:14 pm

The Army and Marine Corps have begun testing competing industry designs for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, a new lightweight replacement for the venerable Humvee that will offer better protection against IEDs and better off-road mobility. Click here for a slideshow.

The Humvee was never intended to carry all the additional armor that was slapped on it as troops fought on IED strewn battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan; the vehicle’s performance and reliability suffered as the engine and suspension sagged under the added weight.

The Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicles, thousands of which have been fielded in recent year, were stop gap measures intended to rapidly field vehicles with much greater IED protection. Some MRAP versions weigh up to 20-tons and have proven ill suited for Afghanistan where roads are scarce.

The services are taking an entirely different approach with the JLTV. It’s designed from the ground up to be a combat vehicle — not a garrison vehicle like the original Humvee — with excellent off-road mobility and IED blast protection. The services aren’t rushing it into production either, they want to take the time to develop a fighting vehicle designed for a wide range of combat environments.

The Army wants 60,000 of the vehicles, the Marines want 5,500. While program officials said the final number the military intends to buy is constantly changing, it will be the military’s largest tactical wheeled vehicle program. The program could well be worth $40 billion; big stakes for the competing industry teams. Full JLTV production is planned for 2015.

The Army and Marines were hoping the JLTV would cost less than $250,000 a copy, but program officials now concede its likely to cost at least twice that; an up-armored Humvee costs about $200,000.

The services took delivery on May 3 of JLTV prototypes from three industry teams: BAE Systems, General Tactical Vehicles, a joint venture between General Dynamics Land Systems and Humvee builder AM General, and Lockheed Martin. Each team provided 7 JLTV test vehicles.

The JLTV prototypes delivered by the three industry teams each feature some variation of an armored crew “capsule” a blast defecting hull and high ground clearance to get stand-off from IED blasts.

The BAE and GTV vehicles come with a modified V-shaped hull designed to vent explosive energy. The Lockheed Martin vehicle uses an inverted U-shape to vent blast energy.

The new JLTVs have just begun a 12 month technology development phase, testing vehicle performance, blast protection and reliability as well as any new technologies the industry teams built into their vehicles.

The ongoing tests here at Aberdeen will help the services to further refine JLTV requirements, some of which have yet to be finalized, said Army Lt. Col. Wolfgang Petermann, JLTV program manager. The technology test phase will tell them whether the requirements are realistic or “did we ask for a bridge too far,” he said.

“The key will be striking the right balance between weight, mobility and protection,” said Petermann. All three industry offerings are “on target” for the weight requirement, he said.

The JLTV will come in three payload categories and different “scaleable” armor packages. The JLTV “family” of vehicles will come in a 2-seat command and control variant, a four-seat standard version, a six-seat troop carrier, a cargo hauler and an ambulance.

The Category A general purpose vehicle will have a 3,500 pound payload. The larger Category B infantry carrier has a 4,500 pound payload. The Category C cargo hauler will have a 5,100 pound payload.

The JLTV’s standard armor package, or “A Kit,” is designed to withstand IED blasts and provide a “threshold” level of ballistics protection against machine gun rounds and high explosive fragments. On battlefields where larger IEDs are encountered, the JLTV will be outfitted with a heavier “B Kit” armor package which adds thicker armor, thicker ballistics glass and a V-shaped underbelly armor.

Program officials said an additional even heavier armor package will be provided to protect troops against the deadly explosively formed penetrators (EFP). The JLTV is also designed to carry the Tactical Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) Airbag Protection System (TRAPS) built by Textron Defense Systems.

For firepower, the JLTV can be fitted with machine guns, the Mk-40 grenade launcher or the Common Remotely Operated Weapons System (CROWS), that allows crews to fire weapons from under armor protection.

The weight of the new vehicles has become the program’s biggest sticking point. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Conway recently told Military.com that a 20,000 pound JLTV is too heavy for his expeditionary service.

While the Army can accept vehicles that weigh 20,000 pounds, the Marines need something significantly lighter, he said. Conway worries that if the JLTVs are too heavy the Marines won’t be able to fit many of them on their amphibious ships.

The JLTV requirements state the vehicle must be able to be sling loaded below the Army’s CH-47 and Marine CH-53 helicopters and internally aboard the Air Force’s C-130 tactical lifter. It also must

The curb weight of the vehicles, with no armor package affixed, is supposed to be less than 12,000 pounds. The 4-seat JLTV has a curb weight of about 13,000 pounds; adding the B-Kit armor package and weapons increases the weight to about 19,000 pounds.

The 6-passenger version of the JLTV weighs about 23,000 pounds with the B-Kit armor package. “The six passenger is too heavy for the Marine Corps,” said Dean Johnson, the Marine Corps deputy program manger for JLTV.

The Marine threshold for air-transportability is 16,800 pounds, which includes armor, one day of supply, the crew and their gear. “We can beat that,” he said. Yet, to keep the vehicles “lightweight” will require tradeoffs in other areas, program officials acknowledged.

To fit on Maritime Prepositioning Ships, the vehicles cannot be higher than 72 inches. So, all of the vehicles are outfitted with adjustable air suspension that can raise the vehicle chassis up to 20 inches off the ground to provide blast clearance and then lower it to just five inches off the ground to allow it to fit onboard ships and inside the C-130.

The services will evaluate the vehicles from the three industry teams, then down-select two teams for the engineering, manufacturing and development (EMD) phase. The request for proposal for the 24 month EMD phase will be released in June 2011 with a planned contract award for December 2011.

Read more: http://www.dodbuzz.com/2010/06/04/testing-begins-on-jltv-prototypes/#ixzz0pwKM8LX8

Slide show related to the Trials............

http://www.military.com/slideshows/jltv.html

buglerbilly

05-06-10, 04:26 AM

And now the video (from Defense Tech)................

First Look: Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV)

We spent the day at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md., yesterday riding around in the three entrants for the Army-Marine Corps Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) competition; the Humvee replacement as it’s often called. The industry teams are: BAE Systems, General Tactical Vehicles (GTV) — a joint venture between General Dynamics Land Systems and Humvee builder AM General, and Lockheed Martin.

They wouldn’t let us shoot the inside of the vehicles for security reasons, but they all pretty much resembled later iterations of the Humvee, a little cramped (particularly the 6 seat infantry carrier), though with plenty of extra goods such as blast seats, more computing and electrical power, flat panel monitors and functioning air conditioning.

The ride in all three JLTVs was impressively smooth and the vehicles had plenty of power climbing hills and obstacles. The JLTV family of vehicles will come in 2, 4 and 6 seat versions, along with a cargo hauler and ambulance. The program folks say they’ll provide MRAP level protection against IED blasts. The planned buy is 60,000 for the Army and 5,500 for the Marines; full production is planned for 2015.

Some video of the three JLTV entrants for your enjoyment (click below for all 3):

JLTV Demo-Lockheed Martin:

JLTV Demo-GTV:

JLTV Demo-BAE Systems:

See linked thread for the video, I still haven't worked out how to transfer Adobe Flash product? :dunno

http://defensetech.org/2010/06/04/first-look-joint-light-tactical-vehicle-jltv/#more-7480

– Greg Grant

Read more: http://defensetech.org/2010/06/04/first-look-joint-light-tactical-vehicle-jltv/#more-7480#ixzz0pwR2R9Im
Defense.org

Ecky

05-06-10, 10:00 AM

You stated:

... I still haven't worked out how to transfer Adobe Flash product? :dunno

I assume transfer= download to your local machine.

To extract embedded flash video from websites I use Firefox with DownloadHelper (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3006/?src=mostshared) add-on.
You get a FLV format video playable with VLC media player (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VLC_media_player).

Ecky

buglerbilly

05-06-10, 10:11 AM

You stated:

I assume transfer= download to your local machine.

To extract embedded flash video from websites I use Firefox with DownloadHelper (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3006/?src=mostshared) add-on.
You get a FLV format video playable with VLC media player (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VLC_media_player).

Ecky

Nope! I mean transfer to here on this site...........YouTube dead easy, other formats not so............

buglerbilly

07-06-10, 04:25 AM

Mobility Vs. Survivability

JLTV Could Suffer as U.S. Army, Marines Diverge

By KATE BRANNEN

Published: 7 June 2010

After years of fighting side-by-side in MRAP armored vehicles, the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps are striking out in different directions.

The Army is making vehicle and crew survivability its main priority in its Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) program, while the Marine Corps is determined to reclaim its role as an expeditionary force that relies on lighter vehicles that can quickly be transported around the world.

The diverging paths return the two services to their definitional roles, but they also represent fundamentally different perspectives on how forces should fight - and could undercut the services' joint effort to build a replacement for tens of thousands of Humvee utility vehicles.

"We need to get lighter," Lt. Gen. George Flynn, commander of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command, told reporters June 3 at the Pentagon. "And sometimes, when you look at your vehicle strategy, you have to take a look at the environment that you're going to operate in. There's a protection that comes from mobility. If you can move fast and if you can move on unpredictable routes, you can not necessarily armor up as much."

The Army, on the other hand, has set very aggressive protection requirements for its GCV, which is now expected to be tracked and weigh 50 to 70 tons.

There's really no way around 50-plus tons when a vehicle has to carry 12 soldiers, have a gun turret, and accept upgradable armor as IEDs get better, said one source familiar with the program.

Critics point out that at 70 tons, the GCV would be the heaviest infantry fighting vehicle in existence - as heavy as the Abrams tank.

But Army leaders note that the top weight includes scalable armor that would be used only when needed.

"This whole idea about deployability is much, much easier to talk about on this side of the next war, but on the other side of the next war, when people are shooting at you, survivability really, really means something," Gen. Peter Chiarelli, vice chief of the Army, told an audience at the Army's armor conference last month in Ft. Knox, Ky.

Again, a difference in approach: Brig. Gen. Michael Brogan, commander of the Marine Corps Systems Command, told lawmakers in March that vehicle and body armor is not the only way to lower troops' risk.

"Our protection philosophy must also include training our leaders in personal protective measures that provide flexibility and protection scalability," Brogan said March 17 before the House Armed Services seapower and expeditionary forces subcommittee.

"Where speed, tactical maneuverability, environmental and terrain consideration dictate the most important capabilities needed in our vehicles, we will carefully consider the tradeoffs in conventional heavy armor protection versus the operational requirements for performance," Brogan said. "These tradeoffs are not taken lightly and they are done with full consideration that our Marines will be taking the vehicles into harm's way."

JLTV Debate

Together, the services are working through the tradeoffs between survivability and transportability in the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program, where the Marine Corps has raised concerns about vehicle weight.

"Although weight is a huge operational and tactical concern for both the Army and Marines, it is really more of a problem for the Marine Corps at the strategic level because of their 'get there the fastest with the mostest' expeditionary mandate," an industry source said.

Key among the Corps' concerns is "weighing out" a ship before it is "cubed out:" creating a load that makes the ship too heavy to maneuver long before its cargo spaces are filled.

"It's hard to tell the Navy how to design an amphibious ship if we don't know what the weight is of all the equipment that we're going to put on it," Flynn said.

While the Marine Corps remains committed to the JLTV program, it is also pursuing lower-cost and lighter-weight upgrades to its Humvee fleet that may eventually compete with JLTV funding. Chief among these is the Small Combat Tactical Vehicle Capsule (SCTVC) developed by Textron Marine and Land Systems and Granite Tactical Vehicles. The bolt-on capsule fits onto the chassis of existing Humvees. With the capsule, the vehicle weighs less than an up-armored Humvee, yet is much better protected.

Textron and Granite Tactical Vehicles also intend to enter the SCTVC in a competition to win an Army contract to upgrade Humvees, according to Mark Savarese, vice president of business development for Textron Marine & Land Systems.

The companies have delivered six vehicles to the Marine Corps for testing.

The Marine Corps Warfighting Lab at Quantico, Va., completed blast and ballistic testing on the vehicle, and this August, they will do hot-weather testing, according to Marine Corps spokesman Lt. Col. Roger Galbraith. After that testing is complete, the Marine Corps will make a decision whether or not to move forward with the program, he said.

If the Corps decides to go down this road instead of sticking with the JLTV program, it can use the money saved to help pay for the "much-maligned" Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle, "which they really, really want," the industry source said.

MRAPs' Fate

The services also have to decide how to use their MRAPs. While the Army first thought it would put most of them into equipment sets that units could choose to leave home, the service is now considering putting more of them directly into units.

At the armor conference, Chiarelli said it's well-known that other services don't want MRAPs because they don't fit on ships.

"But as soon as we go anywhere where you need that level of protection, the first thing you hear is 'Where are the MRAPs?'" he said.

Flynn said the Marine Corps is considering the issue in its still-under-construction ground tactical vehicles strategy.

"We're looking at what is the right mix for the Marine Corps," he said. "For example, not every battalion is going to have a full complement of MRAPs."

But if Marines are headed into an environment with IEDs, they could go to the vehicle pool and get the right vehicles for the mission, he said.

Flynn said the service is evaluating three categories of vehicles: heavy, medium and light. Heavy includes tanks and amphibious assault vehicles, Light Armored Vehicles fall into the medium category and light are the up-armored Humvees and JLTVs.

"Anytime you finish up a major conflict or you are at the end of major conflict or you've just experienced a major conflict, everybody then says, 'OK, what should we do with the future force?'" Flynn said.

The Marine Corps and the Army are going through that process now, re-establishing their roles while grappling with what they have experienced in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"After eight-plus years of doing this, it's easy to default to the Marine Corps as a second land army," Flynn said. "But, we're not. We have a role in these two fights; we've performed that role as part of the joint force. What we're trying to say now is 'OK, what is the Marine Corps? What is the role of the Marine Corps in the future?'"

The answer to that question is a "sea-based force that is truly expeditionary and responsive," Flynn said.

While the services may be making different choices when it comes to survivability versus mobility, it does not necessarily signify a disagreement, Flynn said.

"I think the United States needs a heavy capability; I think the United States needs a sea-based capability," Flynn said. "This joint tool kit truly has to have multiple tools."

The services will continue to work closely together, he added.

"We don't always agree, but we do get a lot of synergy out of working together and by knowing what each other are doing," Flynn said. ■

E-mail: kbrannen@defensenews.com

buglerbilly

07-06-10, 04:27 PM

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

XTREAM - A new All-Terrain Armored Vehicle from Israel

Posted by Noam Eshel at 6/5/2010 7:12 AM CDT

Hatehof company unveils the all-terrain XTREAM patrol vehicle at the Eurosatory 2010 exhibition. The new all-terrain 4x4 armor protected vehicle is designed to carry up to 4.6 tons of payload or seven passengers, under full armor protection.

Unlike vehicles based on commercial frames, like the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle and other models, the XTREAM uses an armored monocoque capsule as a rigid structure, carrying all automotive components. This capsule provides basic protection, meeting STANAG 4680 Level 3, and level 2a/2b mine protection.

Hatehof also offers B-Kits, enhancing the capsule's protection against mines, small arms and IEDs, to level 4. Additional protection against RPGs and IEDs is available through an additional layer, available as a 'C-Kit', offering enhanced protection against higher threats.

The vehicle is equipped with a turbo-charged Cummins ISB-6.7 liter engine and automatic transmission. Designed for off-road mobility, XTREAM can manage slopes up to 60 degrees, a side slope of 36 degrees and climbing steps up to half meter high. To further enhance off-road mobility and enhance ride comfort, the vehicle can be equipped with rugged, active dampers and springs, central tire inflation system and rear steering. According to Yuval Marshak, Chief Marketing Officer at Hatehof, the vehicle has already completed mobility and survivability tests, demonstrating outstanding field performance.

Hatehof and Elbit Systems have teamed up to display the new vehicle with Elbit Systems' new Dual Remote Weapon Station (DRWS), a new concept derived from the company's medium size Remote Controlled Weapon Station. It offers a stabilized dual-axis assembly, mounting two weapons in parallel. The primary weapon can be a 40mm automatic grenade launcher, or 12.7mm heavy machine gun, the secondary a 7.62 mm machine gun, or any type of alternative lethal-or non-lethal weapon.

The XTREAM to be displayed at Eurosatory will also demonstrate command, control and battle management consoles, and an integrated life-support system, comprising Nuclear Biologic Chemical (NBC) protection, air conditioning, automatic fire control and auxiliary power unit (APU). The vehicle also carries the company's battle proven IED jammer – the EJAB, developed by its Elisra subsidiary.

Photo credit: Hatehof Ltd.
Dual Remote Weapon Station: Elbit Systems

buglerbilly

08-06-10, 02:53 PM

Army Tests New Tactical Vehicle

(Source: U.S Army; issued June 4, 2010)

CHURCHVILLE TEST AREA, Md. --- The Army is testing a new vehicle looking to eventually replace the iconic Humvee. Officials said the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle will offer increased protection and performance.

The Army took a group of reporters to a dirt test track about 30 minutes from Aberdeen Proving Ground June 3 to put the new vehicles through their paces. At first glance, the JLTV looks heavier and safer than current light tactical vehicles. The armor plating and bullet-proof glass will offer better protection for the warfighter, officials said.

The vehicle has different configurations, which seat four to six people.

The JLTV project is a joint project, but also international. The vehicle is a collaborative product between the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Army, the Australian government and three American industry teams.

"There are three contractor teams working on a common phased set of requirements," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Wolfgang Petermann, project manager. "The vehicles have a little bit different design solutions built into them."

Petermann said the contractors delivered the vehicles on schedule and within cost requirements of the contract. "What you'll see is a balanced solution," he said. "The key attributes for JLTV are to keep that balance, but also to reduce life-cycle costs for the services. We've improved reliability, maintainability. We've designed the vehicle to be, one, reliable, but when it does break down, it is easily repairable."

Petermann said another requirement is transportability. "We need to be able to get to the fight by a C-130 (airplane) or CH-47 or CH-53 helicopter. We have to be able to get down to different decks on shipping," he said. "We have maintained an expeditionary capability for the services."

The contractors for the project are BAE Systems, General Tactical Vehicles and Lockheed Martin. During the 15-month design and build phase, industry teams interpreted military's requirements to come up with their own vehicle prototypes. Officials said the design and build phase ended May 3 when the contractors delivered the vehicles.

The JLTV has now entered a technology development phase giving the team an opportunity to demonstrate "mature technologies integration" as a complete system.

Petermann said the group will conduct performance tests on the vehicles at Aberdeen Proving Ground to "provide an assessment of the technical and performance risks." The team will also conduct tests at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz., to assess vehicle reliability.

United States Army Research, Development and Engineering Command tank and automotive engineers from the unit's research center near Detroit have been on the job from concept to testing. The Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center assists throughout product development, officials said.

"Our Advanced Concepts Group over in TARDEC from the beginning has taken a look at our requirements from the standpoint of what is achievable," said Chris Brouwer, C4I chief systems engineer with the project. "They've given us that first look on what they think we're going to get with the requirements we have. Because of the work TARDEC did, we were fairly confident what we would end up with."

When the project team had requirements changes, TARDEC engineers would update their concepts.

"They would say, 'this is what we think industry is going to provide you,'" he said. "It really gave us an early benefit as far as what our requirements were actually driving into the design of the vehicle."

Brouwer was on the team three years ago writing the original requirements and scope. "It's been a great project so far," Brouwer said. "It's very rewarding to see the vehicles out here on the track and performing quite well."

-ends-

buglerbilly

09-06-10, 03:41 PM

06/08/2010

"Force protection is our mission": Wisent – a Class 4 protected command and mission-specific vehicle

Outstanding levels of tactical, operational and strategic mobility, compelling combat effectiveness and maximum survivability are key requirements expected of modern military vehicles today – whether they are designed primarily for combat, command and control, mission-specific roles or transport. In contemporary conflicts, where the threat is often asymmetric yet deadly, protecting troops deployed in harm's way from hostile fire, IED attacks, CBRN agents and even extreme climates conditions has become a top priority for commanders worldwide: around the clock and in every branch of every service.

This is reflected in the current procurement plans of the armed forces of many nations, including the Bundeswehr's GFF/GTF project to develop protected C4I and mission-specific vehicles as well as protected transport capacity.

The prototype of the Wisent, a German GFF Class 4 vehicle combining high mobility with excellent protection against ballistic, landmine, IED and CBRN threats. Road testing, which began in October 2008, only a few months after the last Eurosatory, has been successfully completed, as has protection qualification. Still to come are the climate trials, which will also take place in 2010, the final stage in the comprehensive testing programme.

The prototype's robust design and mobility made it a clear standout – among other events, it mastered the roll test track with obvious ease.

A critical factor in the Wisent's excellent performance is the vehicle's running gear. Unlike its rivals, Rheinmetall did not opt for a run-of-the-mill COTS solution during the development phase, but decided instead to engineer a chassis oriented to the special requirements of the military right from the start. In the 8 x 8 configuration, the vehicle weighs 26 tons, attains a top speed of 105 km/h, can handle gradients of 60% and, compared to the Fuchs/Fox armoured transport vehicle, is comparatively quiet.

Another striking feature of the Wisent is its high degree of modularity. At the subassembly level, the vehicle's designers took care when selecting the components for the axles to ensure that, apart from individual wheel suspension (used for the first time in a vehicle of this class), real axle steering would always be available as an option. This is especially relevant with regard to the 6 x 6 and 10 x 10 transport versions of the vehicle.

The greater-than-average modularity and variability of this vehicle apply equally to its wide array of potential missions. The heavily protected, air-conditioned multipurpose build-on module of the 8 x 8 version of the Wisent can be powered either by a high-performance motor generator unit or externally via a multi-voltage connection, thus enabling autonomous dismounted operation with no need to keep the engine running. Switching mission modules takes roughly 45 minutes.

Among other roles, the Wisent 10 x 10 can serve as a platform for heavy equipment modules; or it can transport two 10 ft.-containers, in which case a built-in vehicle crane assures autonomous loading and unloading as well as a hazardous goods transport capability. The loading bay of the 6 x 6 version, which features drop-down sides, makes loading and unloading cargo easy.

The Wisent also lends itself to the integration of a remote control weapon station, thus meeting customer requirements for more robust capabilities. Extensive use of identical parts for all members of the Wisent vehicle family ensures very low lifecycle costs.

Serial production of the Wisent could begin as early 2012 in Kassel, a traditional centre of excellence of the German automotive engineering and armoured vehicle industries.

buglerbilly

15-06-10, 03:01 AM

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

Special Forces Getting New M-ATVs

Posted by Paul McLeary at 6/14/2010 8:22 AM CDT

Oshkosh Defense announced on June 3 that it has received an undefinitized award valued at more than $67 million to reconfigure more than 420 MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) variants for the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM).

Work will begin in August on the program, with delivery expected between September and November 2010. Oshkosh has received awards valued at more than $5 billion for 8,079 M-ATVs—3,448 of which have been shipped to Afghanistan—which includes things like spare part kits, upgrade kits and support. The M-ATV SOCOM variant will be quite different from the model being used by the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, featuring a modified cargo deck and larger front windscreens for increased visibility.

The rear storage is accessible through an armored cargo access hatch in the passenger capsule, which can seat five while operating a Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station or four with a gunner.

buglerbilly

15-06-10, 03:25 AM

Lockheed To Send Right-Hand-Drive JLTV to Australia

Posted by Bradley Peniston | June 14th, 2010

By BRADLEY PENISTON – Lockheed Martin plans to ship one of its prototype Joint Light Tactical Vehicle to Australia on June 23 — one in which the driver sits on the right side.

Lockheed Martin's JLTV rumbles through a 2008 test.

“It’s a mirror-image JLTV,” said Morri Leland, a Lockheed international business development director.

Australia, which is seeking to replace more than 1,000 vehicles, is funding part of the U.S.-led JLTV development effort. Officials there have not yet decided whether to buy the new vehicles.

buglerbilly

15-06-10, 03:44 AM

This is very much what the SOCOM MATV will look like.............

buglerbilly

15-06-10, 04:12 AM

JLTV prototypes roll out on Army testing sites

By Matthew Cox - Staff writer

Posted : Sunday Jun 13, 2010 10:26:33 EDT

You'd have to wonder exactly what advantage JLTV is going to give above what is already achieved by MATV?

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — Both the Army and Marine Corps intend to begin fielding the JLTV in 2015 as a replacement for the venerable Humvee in combat operations.

The services plan to spend $175 million on the program over the next two years.

The Army plans to field 60,000 of the new vehicles, which are designed to provide soldiers with increased mobility and reliability over the Humvee while offering protection on a par with the mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicle.

Program officials have begun the technology demonstration phase of the effort, which involves prototypes from BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin and General Tactical Vehicle, a dual venture between AM General and General Dynamics Land Systems. Each company delivered prototypes across three weight classes in early May.

Over the next 12 months, the prototypes will undergo testing at Aberdeen Test Center and Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz. The results will help complete program requirements in preparation for a full and open competition scheduled to begin next summer.

“We’ll say, ‘OK did we get it right or did we ask for a bridge too far in requirements?’ ” Army Lt. Col. Wolfgang Petermann, product manager for the Army’s JLTV program, told reporters at a June 3 prototype demonstration.

Reporters had a chance to ride in two different styles of prototypes.

The prototypes, from each of the three companies, rolled over the hills, dips and bumps on the dirt test track with ease.

The four-seat Category A vehicles are the lightest of the prototypes so they can be loaded into a C-130 aircraft as well as sling-loaded from CH-47 and CH-53 helicopters. They have a payload of about 3,500 pounds.

The Cat A’s will “support those early-entry requirements, so units have that combat capability, so they can hit the ground and get moving right away,” Petermann said.

There will also be a Category A Enhanced Protection variant, which will provide more armor protection when needed.

The Category B vehicles will have six seats, more armor protection and a payload of up to 4,500 pounds. Category C vehicles will be designed for the support role and have payloads of up to 5,100 pounds.

All the JLTV prototypes are designed to provide “MRAP-like protection” to passengers from the powerful, homemade bombs that have become commonplace on battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan, said Dean Johnson, deputy program manager for the Marine Corps JLTV program.

They have a base armor package, but have suspensions and attachment points to handle additional armor packages capable of stopping sophisticated explosively formed penetrator bombs known as EFPs. The hulls are either V-shaped or an inverted U-shape on the Lockheed prototypes to redirect the force of bomb blasts away from the vehicle.

All the seats are designed to be attached from the walls to better protect passengers. Seats attached to floor of the vehicle, like those on the Humvee, transfer the blast energy to the passengers.

The windows and windshields on the JLTV are smaller and positioned closer to the ceiling than on the Humvee to provide better protection. All the prototypes are designed to offer improved rollover protection over the Humvee.

In addition to protection, all the prototypes are equipped with the option to have a turret gunner or the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station, or CROWS, which lets the soldier track and kill targets from a computer monitor inside the safety of the vehicle.

The prototypes seem to offer a smoother ride than the Humvee, and the high-tech suspension systems can be adjusted for varying terrain.

“The ride quality is significantly better ... so the soldier is not as beat up when he gets where he is going,” Petermann said.

All the JLTV vehicles and the accompanying trailers are equipped with adjustable suspension so they can be raised or lowered to fit inside the tight confines of transport ships and aircraft cargo holds.

Once the technology demonstration is complete, program officials will finish the requirements for JLTV and issue a request for proposal in June 2011.

The plan is to award two contracts in December 2011 for prototypes that will enter the Engineering, Manufacturing and Development phase.

The Army plans to begin fielding the final versions of the JLTV in mid-2015.

In addition to improved performance, the JLTV is being designed to be more reliable with 4,400 to 6,600 miles between failures — that’s three times less than the failure rate experienced in the current fleet, Petermann said.

Once completed, the JLTV will be “as fast, as off-road mobile, as nimble as a Humvee; it has a better ride and it’s survivable,” Johnson said.

A new ride

Here is a look at three makers’ prototypes for the lightest class of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, called Category A JLTV:

BAE Systems

• Curb weight: 13,200 pounds.

• Combat weight: 20,850 pounds.

• Range: 364 miles.

• Payload: 3,500 pounds.

• Top speed: 82 mph.

General Tactical Vehicle

• Curb weight: 13,400 pounds.

• Combat weight: 20,400 pounds.

• Range: 300 miles.

• Payload: 3,500 pounds.

• Top speed: 76 mph.

Lockheed Martin

• Curb weight: 12,600 pounds.

• Combat weight: 20,400 pounds.

• Range: 400 miles.

• Payload: 3,500 pounds.

• Top speed: 74 mph.

Note: Prototypes for the JLTV program remain under development and specifications may change.

buglerbilly

17-06-10, 10:46 PM

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

JLTVs Making the Rounds

Posted by Paul McLeary at 6/17/2010 8:56 AM CDT

Earlier this month the U.S. Army invited a bunch of journos up to the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland for a look at the three Joint Light Tactical Vehicle variants still in the running for the 60,000-vehicle contract to build the Humvee of the future. For a bit of a recap, in October 2008, the Army awarded 27-month Technology Development contracts to three bidders: General Tactical Vehicles, a joint venture between General Dynamics and AM General; BAE Systems; and Lockheed Martin to develop prototypes of the vehicle for testing.

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Wolfgang Petermann, project manager for the JLTV program said that the Army has completed the ballistic hull testing on the vehicles provided by the contractors, and that the competition has now entered into its performance testing phase. Final requirements for the vehicle and its three variants will be drawn up and a request for proposal issued in June 2011, followed by the winnowing down of competitors from three to two who will be awarded contracts for prototypes that will enter the Engineering, Manufacturing and Development phase in December 2011. If all goes well, plans call for final versions of the JLTV to be fielded for testing by mid-2015.

(When?! IF it takes this long the programme is dead, overcome by events...........we should have Bushies, Copperheads and the Extended Cab versions in service along with Hawkei or whatever else "may" succeed. The US will have MATV and its further developments along with upgraded Hummers............you are starting to see less room for JLTV and little benefit from adopting the same)

In a nod to the Marine Corps, which has made noise about leaving the Ground Combat Vehicle program and have had their doubts about the JLTV being light enough for their amphibious needs, Petermann was careful to point out that “we have maintained an expeditionary capability for the services.” But real questions remain about how committed the Marines are to the program, given that the service has been actively pursuing a lighter-weight, lower-cost option in the form of the Small Combat Tactical Vehicle Capsule (SCTVC) developed by Textron. Designed as a bolt-on capsule that fits on the chassis of existing Humvees, the design—which has already completed USMC blast and ballistic testing—weighs less than an up-armored Humvee while offering better protection.

Also present at the demonstration was Australian Army Lt. Col. Robin Petersen, who said that his country’s armed forces was preparing for delivery of variants from the American manufacturers to begin their own testing for possible future buys. DTI asked him what operational requirements the Aussies had that may differ from those laid out by the Pentagon, and he admitted that he didn’t see a whole lot of difference between what the two allies are looking for. “We came up with very similar requests,” he said. The countries are “fighting the same fight, facing the same threats,” in Afghanistan, and have similar outlooks of what future needs will be, he said.

Gubler, A.

18-06-10, 02:16 AM

(When?! IF it takes this long the programme is dead, overcome by events...........we should have Bushies, Copperheads and the Extended Cab versions in service along with Hawkei or whatever else "may" succeed. The US will have MATV and its further developments along with upgraded Hummers............you are starting to see less room for JLTV and little benefit from adopting the same)

Not quite so Bug. I very much doubt you will see a Hawkei in service before 2015 - it is less away along the path of development than JLTV. JLTV offers a range of advantages over MATV and similar particularly being of much lighter weight, better armour and better systems integration. If you want a good PMV-L today then there are plenty like the Eagle (not the lightweight Eagle offered for L121-4), the SandCat and others (incl MATV). But all of these are heavier and have less optional extras than the JLTV.

L121-4 should have been an OTS acquisition rather than another longwinded developmental project (JLTV or 50% Aussie JLTV class vehicle). With a vehicle like the SandCat you could have brought a mix of regular Ford trucks and SandCats (Ford trucks with armour) rather than G-Wagens and whatever L121-4 provides. So much cheaper to buy and sustain (a fleet of 2,000-3,000 common vehicles) and in service yesterday. But that would have meant some kind of strategic guidance and flexibility being provided to defence procurement in Australia! Like that will ever happen!

buglerbilly

18-06-10, 05:54 AM

No Hawkei until 2015? One could beg the question WHY????

And yes I do know most, if not all of the answer to that rhetorical question............unfortunately!!!

Your comment about SANDCAT/F450/550 is well taken and I pretty much agree on most of it. We have, again, gone down the Gucci path for what is a Joe Bloggs requirement..........now I'm sure Joe likes wearing Gucci BUT its not exactly relevant for a lot of our requirements aside from STUPID requirements for longevity that mean the Army's utlity fleet is out-of-date for half its life.

I did notice that GD Europe made comments about why they withdrew from the UK patrol vehicle programme. They felt the weight limitation was in itself too limiting to future Sales Overseas where possibly a more realistic approach was taken.

Strategic guidance and flexibility..........hmmmmmmmmmmm 'nuff said!

Gubler, A.

18-06-10, 08:33 AM

No Hawkei until 2015? One could beg the question WHY????

What is at Eurosatory is just a rolling mock up. It has done no ballistics testing, no long distance driving and so on. AFAIK it doesn't even have an engine in it and has done no driving at all. Thales isn't exactly Toyota and the Hawkei is not a new Camry so it will take years for them to bring it to a ready for service level, even with the help from other companies like Sasa. JLTV on the other hand are well into their endurance driving programs and ballistics testing. Since the whole Australian RFT for L121-4 is predicated on a JLTV level vehicle - rather than an Aussie assembled OTS vehicle - the starting lines are well behind the competition.

We could have SandCats in service now and costing pennies to buy spare parts except for all this procurement BS!

buglerbilly

18-06-10, 10:32 AM

But that's the point, irrespective of Thales not being vehicle designers they do have some experience with Bushmaster and its further development to Copperhead and Extended Cab versions. It still shouldn't take 5 years to get to prototype or pre-production testing..............driving programmes first year, ballistic and mine testing from month 9 or 10.........there is little doubt ballistic or mine testing will fail.............you then boil down to rolling stock longevity and modifying the design to ease production and manufacturing............

Raven22

18-06-10, 01:16 PM

AFAIK it doesn't even have an engine in it and has done no driving at all.

It does have an engine and they have driven it.

Gubler, A.

19-06-10, 07:00 AM

It does have an engine and they have driven it.

So they are at the level Bushmaster was in 1994? I support the idea of leveraging ADI aka TA to build a PMV-L but they need to be given time. The real time to contract them for a demonstrator and so on was in 2005 when it was bluntly obvious to anyone with half a brain that the Landrover replacement had to be protected. For this Army to spend at least 10 years in Afghanistan without a proper PMV-L is just unacceptable.

Raven22

19-06-10, 10:28 AM

The few people I know that have seen the real Hawkei reckon its a piece of shit anyway. Mind you, they are the sort of people that think everything new is a piece of shit, so that might not be all that enlightening.

That Army doesn't have a PMV-L in service in Afghan isn't a huge problem, as I doubt the powers that be would let one be used outside the wire anyway. Even ASLAVs are only allowed to travel on ground that has been proven by engineers or Bushies, so I doubt they would let a 7-ton Hawkei do much.

Gubler, A.

19-06-10, 11:24 AM

The Hawkei is a great PR campaign and Plasan Sasa don’t built bad armour but it’s nothing else: Thales media and Sasa armour. It is certainly no mini Aussie built Bushmaster.

The actual mini Bushmaster was the PTS Protector 2 which is an actual Australian company and they would actually be built in Australia with an Australian steel monocoque hull. But defence and the government in all their wisdom (sic) instead chose to shortlist to three overseas designs with only 50% Australian component rather than the 80% of the Protector 2. A vehicle which has already undergone <7kg blast tests at Aberdeen!

Instead we have a European and an American and a half European, half American company competing to assemble foreign designed and built components in Australia against an all American vehicle.

Exsandgroper

19-06-10, 12:13 PM

Raven22

19-06-10, 12:16 PM

Technically the computerised welding machine thingie doesn't work yet, so it is still manually done.

Gubler, A.

19-06-10, 12:20 PM

There were plenty of "experts" in the early days of the Bushmaster saying it was a pile of shit. especially the welding, this was before they set up the computer controlled welding of the hull.

Lets not forget that the original contractor for the Bushmaster managed to sell Defence a vehicle with NO mine protection that was supposed to be a mine protected vehicle... and it all had to be designed in after contract signing! The story of the Bushmaster is one of the woe of Defence contracting - the only reason it didn't end up with the usual list of horro (Seasprite, Terra, etc) is Army actually got some vehicles in the end and they were pretty good.

The Hawkei is however a Plasan Sasa armour suite with a Thales Australia designed vehicle system inside it. Apart from the snake naming it shares nothing with the Bushmaster and pretty much everything TA has to build Bushmasters except final fitout won't be used. Especially since TA will have another 1,000 odd Bushmasters to build to provide the L121 utility vehicles.

Exsandgroper

20-06-10, 04:49 AM

What is at Eurosatory is just a rolling mock up. It has done no ballistics testing, no long distance driving and so on. AFAIK it doesn't even have an engine in it and has done no driving at all. Thales isn't exactly Toyota and the Hawkei is not a new Camry so it will take years for them to bring it to a ready for service level, even with the help from other companies like Sasa. JLTV on the other hand are well into their endurance driving programs and ballistics testing. Since the whole Australian RFT for L121-4 is predicated on a JLTV level vehicle - rather than an Aussie assembled OTS vehicle - the starting lines are well behind the competition.

We could have SandCats in service now and costing pennies to buy spare parts except for all this procurement BS!

Extracts from a Thales press releasse on the 26 May 2010.

This decision by government reflects the maturity of the Hawkei’s design, its class leading performance, and rapid progress made in testing and validation. The vehicle has completed more than 10,000 kilometres of both on-road and off-road testing, meeting all its performance benchmarks and exhibiting high levels of reliability.

The Hawkei has also successfully passed an extensive series of mine blast, side blast and ballistic protection tests, demonstrating that its technology is able to provide the highest levels of protection for Australian soldiers.

“Thales and our partners are already fully mobilised and well advanced with the vehicle proving program. Our next series of vehicles are already under construction, and we are on track to meet the ambitious timetable to deliver prototypes for Army testing by the end of the year.”

Cheers

Raven22

20-06-10, 05:03 AM

The Hawkei prototype that Thales has got hasn't driven 10 000km, nor has it been blown up.

At a guess I'd say they were talking about the Plasan doner vehicle that has passed testing.

Exsandgroper

20-06-10, 07:36 AM

The Hawkei prototype that Thales has got hasn't driven 10 000km, nor has it been blown up.

At a guess I'd say they were talking about the Plasan doner vehicle that has passed testing.

Nobody said that a prototype had been blown up. I believe around twenty Bushmaster hulls were blown up before they fiinally got it riight, with Plasan help that should not happen again.

Cheers

Gubler, A.

20-06-10, 11:53 AM

Nobody said that a prototype had been blown up. I believe around twenty Bushmaster hulls were blown up before they fiinally got it riight, with Plasan help that should not happen again.

Bushmaster and Hawkei are apples and oranges. All of the Bushmaster armour experience is effectively junked to pursue the Hawkei and anyway TA doesn't have access anymore to much of the human expertise. Sasa however have plenty of armour know how and their own trials range so they would have blast tested the armoured hull in Israel. That the Hawkei vehicle system has driven 10,000km by May 2010 is no great achievement. The not-short listed 80% Australian PTS Protector had driven 40,000km by November 2009. And inside a monocoque armoured hull...

Gubler, A.

22-06-10, 03:22 AM

BAE SYSTEMS – NAVISTAR DEFENSE – ARVINMERITOR TEAM DELIVERS AUSTRALIAN JOINT LIGHT TACTICAL VEHICLE PROTOTYPES

21 June 2010

ARLINGTON, Virginia - BAE Systems, through its U.S. Combat Systems business, along with partners Navistar Defense and ArvinMeritor, delivered three right hand drive operation configured Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) prototypes in a ceremony today in West Point, Mississippi. Each of these prototypes will be sent to Australia for durability testing that mutually supports both U.S. and Australia interests.

The BAE Systems – Navistar – ArvinMeritor team handed over a Category A General Purpose vehicle, a Category B Command and Control on the Move and a Category C Utility vehicle. The vehicles are designed to be highly compatible with the U.S. variants, ensuring interoperability between forces, yet tailored specifically to meet the needs of the Australian military.

“Our team has taken a user-centric design approach that provides the foundation for a future family of vehicles that can be modified to meet the needs of our military as well as those of our global allies,” said Ann Hoholick, vice president and general manager of New Vehicles and Amphibious Systems for BAE Systems. “We look forward to continuing to improve and enhance our offerings as we receive feedback from our military customers.”

In January 2009, the U.S. and Australia entered into a Land Force Capability Modernization Project Arrangement for the Technology Demonstrator phase of the JLTV program, enabling tactical vehicle interoperability and integration between U.S. future forces and Australian land forces.

“Australia’s participation in the JLTV program will help reduce overall program risk through the testing and evaluation of additional prototype vehicles,” said Mark McCoy, the U.S. Army’s product manager for JLTV. “As our military prepares for future coalition operations, similarity of tactical vehicle solutions across allies will enhance global interoperability and reduce the maintenance and logistical burden.”

The JLTV prototype vehicles will undergo reliability and blast testing in Australia, as well as tropical environment testing.

“Lessons from recent conflicts highlight the importance of protected mobility in the modern battlefield,” said Australian Army Lt. Col. Robin Petersen, JLTV Cooperative Program Personnel and Australian JLTV Program Manager. “The requirements of the JLTV program closely align with our requirements; we face similar capability gaps and threats.”

BAE Systems is Australia’s largest defense company, employing more than 6,000 people who support customers at 100 locations across Australia. As a global company, BAE Systems draws on the resources and strengths of its people around the world to help deliver the most efficient, value-for-money solutions to the Australian Defence Force.

The team builds off the three companies’ current leadership in armored and tactical vehicle development and support. Combined, the BAE Systems - Navistar – ArvinMeritor team maximizes JLTV program value through proven capabilities, lean manufacturing and extensive worldwide logistics support.

Higher res at http://imagegallery.baesystems.investis.com/default.aspx?catid=348

buglerbilly

22-06-10, 08:09 AM

Somebody else posted some news! *swoon*

Here's some human sized pics..................first, vehicle by itself.........the Ute version

Secondly, vehicle plus accompanying trailer..............the troop carrier version

buglerbilly

22-06-10, 10:44 PM

500th Jackal rolls off Babcock production line

19:09 GMT, June 21, 2010 Babcock has delivered its 500th high mobility transporter (HMT) vehicle, of which the majority and best known is the Jackal weapons mounted 4x4 patrol vehicle1, since the original contract to produce the vehicles under an MoD Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) contract for Afghanistan in 2007.

Jackal vehicles are produced by Babcock under an alliance with Supacat, the prime contractor and design authority. Supacat is responsible for design, development, prototyping, integration and programme management, while Babcock takes responsibility for detailed production planning, purchasing and manufacture at its Devonport facility.

The vehicles are built by a dedicated team of up to 130 Babcock employees at Devonport working on a pulse production line, along with a smaller project management team of some 25 people.

The pulse production line involves dividing the total manufacturing activity into a series of 12 equally balanced packages or ‘cells’, and the vehicle is physically moved, or ‘pulsed’ from one area assembly to the next on a daily basis. Application of a ‘lean’ philosophy has identified and eliminated any non value-adding activities, and serves to ensure that the demanding delivery schedules and critical quality and reliability requirements are met. This is coupled with highly effective supply chain management to reduce lead times, ensure quality and reliability, manage obsolescence, and ultimately drive down the cost of construction and ownership.

Production runs at a rate of one vehicle per day. Under the existing contract, a further 45 Jackal 2a vehicles are to be delivered by August 2010.

Babcock Land Systems Director Chris Dunn comments: “The Jackal vehicle has been a resounding success, having proved its versatility, combining speed and manoeuvrability with unparalleled cross-country performance over Afghanistan’s harsh terrain. We are delighted to be working in alliance with Supacat to deliver these vehicles reliably and consistently within the shortest possible timescales. Further, we have established Babcock as a company that can be relied upon to deliver vehicles of exceptional quality at record pace and, being OEM-independent, we are also talking to other vehicle designers and prime contractors about building their vehicles for upcoming programmes in the UK and abroad.”

----
* Babcock (then DML) was building early versions of the Jackal for UK and US customers under subcontracts to Supacat as far back as 2002, and Supacat has also delivered a number of vehicles itself for the current UOR and to customers in Australia and Denmark. The total fleet size is now over 700 vehicles. The 500th Jackal delivered by Babcock this month does not include any built before 2007.

buglerbilly

22-06-10, 11:19 PM

U.K. To Add 28 Wolfhounds for Afghan Operations

By ANDREW CHUTER

Published: 22 Jun 2010 12:46

LONDON - British force protection capabilities in Afghanistan are being improved by a new order for additional Wolfhound armored vehicles, the Ministry of Defence has revealed.

An additional 28 Wolfhound armored support vehicles are being acquired from U.S. manufacturer Force Protection. The Wolfhound is a truck variant of the Mastiff mine-resistant vehicle. The Mastiff is the British Army version of the U.S. six-wheel-drive Cougar mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles.

The British also operate Force Protection's four-wheel-drive version of Cougar, known in the British Army as Ridgeback, and the heavyweight Buffalo machine.

The order could be among an expected raft of announcements June 23 when Peter Luff, the new minister for defense equipment, support and technology opens an MoD-organized vehicle and soldier technology event here.

The order for the Wolfhounds emerged as a result of a parliamentary answer to a question from the Labour opposition party about the number of vehicles the government had ordered since the general election in May.

Luff responded, saying the contract for the Wolfhound had been amended in early June 2010 to include an additional 28 vehicles.

About 97 Wolfhounds were originally ordered in April 2009 by the then-Labour administration as part of a 350 million pound tactical support vehicle program involving more than 400 machines of various categories.

The first of the vehicles are expected in theater this summer. The 2009 announcement by the MoD also included orders for Husky vehicles from the U.S. Navistar company and Coyote machines from local supplier Supacat.

The previous government tended to order vehicles for British forces fighting in Afghanistan in batches.

If the new Conservative led administration follows that trend its possible further orders could emerge over the next few days for Mastiff, Coyote, Husky and other types.

buglerbilly

24-06-10, 02:15 PM

Lockheed Martin Delivers Right Hand Operation JLTV Technology Development Vehicles to U.S. Government for Testing

(Source: Lockheed Martin; issued June 23, 2010)

SEALY, Texas --- Lockheed Martin today delivered two right hand operation Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV), and a companion trailer, to the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps and representatives of the Australian Army for Technology Development (TD) phase assessment and testing.

The vehicles, representing two of the JLTV payload category variants, were presented to representatives of the U.S. Department of Defense and the Australian Department of Defence in an acceptance ceremony at teammate BAE Systems' production facility in Sealy, TX.

The two variants included a JLTV Category B Command and Control on the Move and a Category C Utility vehicle, which is designed with a focus on payload. All vehicles feature right hand operation, but are otherwise identical to the U.S. vehicles. The U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps JLTV test team will begin reliability and performance evaluations upon receipt of the vehicles.

"Today's ceremony demonstrates our commitment to provide the Australian Defence Forces with a mature, low-risk family of vehicles, backed by over 70,000 miles of rugged and robust in-house testing," said Steve Ramsey, vice president of Ground Vehicles at Lockheed Martin. "With improved situational awareness, enhanced mission effectiveness and improved survivability, these JLTVs designed for the Australian Defence Forces will provide their testers a glimpse into the future of battlefield mobility."

Mark McCoy, the U.S. Army's product manager for JLTV, highlighted the advantages of international participation in the JLTV program, specifically noting how "participation can help reduce overall program risk through the testing and evaluation of additional vehicles."

"As our military prepares for future coalition operations, similarity of tactical vehicle solutions across allied forces will enhance global interoperability and reduce the maintenance and logistical burden," added McCoy.

The U.S. and Australia entered into a Land Force Capability Modernization Project Arrangement in January 2009 for the TD phase of the JLTV program, enabling tactical vehicle interoperability and integration between U.S. future forces and Australian land forces.

"Recent conflicts have highlighted the importance of protected mobility in the modern battlefield," said Australian Army Lt. Col. Robin Petersen, JLTV Cooperative Program Personnel and Australian JLTV Program Manager. "The requirements of the JLTV program are closely aligned with our requirements; Australia faces similar capability gaps and threats."

Since October 2007, Lockheed Martin-Team JLTV has invested in the design and build of seven test vehicles, representing various configurations of the Service's JLTV Category A, B and C variants.

The Lockheed Martin-led JLTV Team includes:

-- BAE Systems, providing advanced armor solutions and production facilities for high volume assembly;
-- Alcoa Defense, supplying materials experience, design services and aluminum components that give the vehicle its structural strength at reduced weight; and JWF – Defense Systems, offering state-of-the-art machining and cost-effective fabrication;
-- Lockheed Martin, serving as the prime contractor and design agent, providing systems engineering, platform integration, design expertise, advanced systems, and program and supply chain management.

Should the U.S. and Australia continue their JLTV partnership into the EMD phase, Lockheed Martin intends to include the strength of Australian industry in the JLTV design for both U.S. and Australian vehicles.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 136,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2009 sales of $45.2 billion.

-ends-

buglerbilly

06-07-10, 03:18 AM

Finnish Military Trucks Provide Logistical Versatility

SISU’s military trucks can carry various loads and weapon systems.

Interview with Olof Elenius, Managing Director of SISU Defence Oy

05:48 GMT, July 5, 2010 defpro.com | The increasingly demanding conditions of today’s military operations abroad, to which numerous armies around the world contribute such as in Afghanistan, require adequately protected and flexible logistical support which, however, remains capable to meet the military’s requirements at home. Stemming from the high demands of Finland’s manifold natural environment, SISU Defence Oy – a traditional supplier of military trucks to the Finnish Armed Forces – developed a versatile range of products based on 4x4, 6x6, 8x8 and 10x10 truck models for logistical and other defence-related tasks. Nicolas von Kospoth of defpro.com recently asked Olof Elenius, Managing Director of SISU Defence Oy, to present his company’s military truck solutions to the readership.

defpro.com: Mr Elenius, could you please give our readers a short overview on SISU Defence and its products?

Olof Elenius: A business group of Sisu Auto, SISU Defence designs, markets and manufactures SISU off-road trucks and special vehicles for military use. Sisu Auto’s core business is the design, manufacture, sales and servicing of factory-ready multi-axle special trucks. Sisu Auto was established in 1931.

SISU ETP series is a product family of armoured high mobility vehicles, built to carry loads in demanding conditions and to serve as a systems platform for different military applications. The versatile ETP series vehicles are designed to be armoured, have high top speeds and high average speeds in convoys as well as an excellent transportation capacity. They enable transportation in demanding terrain, off-road, and are built-up using standard components, hence providing favourable life cycle costs.

The SISU ETP product family consists of 4x4, 6x6, 8x8 and 10x10 models.

defpro.com: What has been the turnover and revenue of SISU Defence in 2009 and what is your outlook for 2010? Is the global financial situation and the troubled defence budgets of most countries of concern to SISU Defence?

Elenius: SISU Defence’s turnover for 2009 was on the level of approx. €25 million, and estimated turnover for 2010 is on the level of some €40 million. However, the turmoil in global financing and its effects on defence budgets are making the market more challenging for us.

defpro.com: Recently, the Finnish Army received 60 new SISU 8x8 military trucks. How many trucks has SISU so far delivered to the Finnish Army and what role does the domestic market play for SISU Defence?

Elenius: For several decades, the Finnish Defence Forces has been the main customer for SISU Defence, enabling the company’s reach in the international market. Still today, the domestic market has a decisive role for SISU Defence, with the export market’s relevance gradually increasing, though. Since 2000, the Finnish Defence Forces have acquired some 750 SISU trucks, altogether.

defpro.com: Some of the delivered trucks will be used in military operations abroad. What are the central lessons learned from current conflicts that you apply to today’s products?

Elenius: High mobility vehicles of the SISU ETP series have been designed to be armoured. Main components are chosen from reliable suppliers and are suitable for the most demanding operating conditions. Also, in addition to the standard EN590 diesel fuel, engines of the current ETP series accept the use of F34 and F54 fuels, an important feature from the theatre logistics point of view.

defpro.com: In particular, the threat of IEDs and ambushes in remote areas represent challenges to logistical assets and, consequently, also to military trucks. How does SISU Defence cope with the increased challenges for vehicle protection?

Elenius: Crew safety is a key feature in the SISU ETP series vehicles. Mine and ballistic protection of the SISU ETP series cabin has been tested in cooperation with Defence Forces and approved, in live tests as per STANAG 4569. This combination of mine and ballistic protection provides armouring against IED’s, too. Performance of the IED protection of the ETP series has been simulated with a sophisticated simulation programme. Also, the cabins are air-tight and can be equipped with NBC protection.

defpro.com: Do the trucks’ cabins rely on permanently integrated armour or do they also offer the possibility to flexibly apply add-on armour?

Elenius: SISU Defence has developed a modular solution for ballistic protection: The cabin is made of armour steel and equipped with fastening studs for add-on ballistic protection modules inside the cabin. The cabin looks the same with add-on ballistic protection modules in place, or without them. Add-on modules can be assembled on, or dismounted quickly, even in the field.

defpro.com: In June 2010, SISU presented an 8x8 military truck loaded with a Kongsberg NASAMS* launcher in Norway. For which weapon systems and logistical systems (e.g. bridge-layers) can SISU military trucks serve as a basic platform and in which defence programmes are you participating or planning to participate?

Elenius: SISU high mobility vehicles are equipped with a rotating-type firearm carriage with a NATO adapter as its standard. The cabin is made of armour steel, thus can easily carry other types of weapon stations, too.

The Finnish Defence Forces have SISU ETP 10x10 vehicles in use as platforms for KMW’s Leguan pioneer bridges. SISU ETP 8x8 vehicles and SISU A2045 4x4 vehicles have been chosen to serve with Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace AS’s NASAMS system, and SISU ETP 8x8 vehicles are also in production for the purpose of carrying medium range radar systems by Thales-Raytheon Systems Company.

defpro.com: Thank you very much, Mr Elenius.

buglerbilly

06-07-10, 02:20 PM

FP Meets With Potential Suppliers for Australia's $1 Bn Vehicle Contract

(Source: Force Protection, Inc.; issued July 2, 2010)

Force Protection has completed a series of discussions with potential suppliers across four states as it refines its Australian manufacturing plans for the $1 billion protected mobility vehicle contract.

The Australian Government in May announced that Force Protection was one of three Australian-based solutions to be given the opportunity to win the contract to manufacture up to 1300 next-generation protected mobility vehicles, under the 'Land 121 Phase 4' program.

Force Protection has again met with potential suppliers as well as State Government ministers and industry representatives in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia.

Force Protection Chief Executive Officer, Michael Moody, said discussions with suppliers last year had opened up several manufacturing options for its Ocelot vehicle across the four states, and it was important to further progress these discussions now that the company had been short-listed for the Australian Government contract.

"The reception we have received from both suppliers and government representatives over the past couple of weeks has been extremely positive, and confirmed our view that we can build a world class vehicle utilising the best of Australian military and automotive manufacturing expertise and know-how," Mr Moody said.

"We are committed to operating in Australia and we look forward to making further announcements about our plans."

Force Protection was one of the companies recently down-selected by the UK Ministry of Defence to tender for the Light Protected Patrol Vehicle Program - Demonstration, Production and Support Phases and has been awarded a contract by the UK MoD for the supply of two Ocelot light protected patrol vehicles for testing.

Its Ocelot vehicle has undergone significant development in conjunction with leading independent technology provider Ricardo to provide high levels of survivability together with exceptional cross country mobility, flexibility and value for money.

The Ocelot's capabilities have already been proven by a sustained program of blast, ballistic, automotive and manoeuvrability tests conducted since 2009.

The Ocelot can be maintained and repaired quickly in the field to ensure maximum availability, while its unique modular design enables the vehicle to be reconfigured in theatre within two hours to meet a variety of different roles, such as patrol, fire support and protected logistics.

Force Protection continues to test and refine the Ocelot vehicle, taking in to account the specific operational requirements for the Australian Defence Force.

Force Protection, Inc. is a leading designer, developer and manufacturer of survivability solutions, including blast- and ballistic-protected wheeled vehicles currently deployed by the U.S. military and its allies to support armed forces and security personnel in conflict zones. The Company’s specialty vehicles, including the Buffalo, Cougar and related variants, are designed specifically for reconnaissance and urban operations and to protect their occupants from landmines, hostile fire, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs, commonly referred to as roadside bombs).

-ends-

buglerbilly

08-07-10, 09:53 AM

Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon LAPV 6.X Concept

Mercedes-Benz Unveils Snazzy New Armored Patrol Vehicle

Mercedes-Benz has teamed with EADS to offer one of the coolest looking wheeled armored vehicles we’ve ever seen. Dubbed the G-Wagon Light Armored Patrol Vehicle (LAPV), this concept vehicle was unveiled at the recent Eurosatory defense expo.

The press release says the LAPVs monocoque full steel body and modular armor provides an unspecified level of ballistic protection and that it also comes with a mine deflecting armored floor and an IED jamming system.

While it’s not uncommon to see ISAF Mercedes-Benz vehicles driving around Kabul, this really looks custom built for the security obsessed Gulf state ridiculously wealthy set.

More photos of the Mercedes LAPV can be found at autoblog...........

Read more: http://defensetech.org/2010/07/07/mercedes-benz-unveils-new-armored-patrol-vehicle/#comments#ixzz0t4j0rlA5
Defense.org

McDethWivFries

08-07-10, 10:15 AM

that orange is a bit nonconducive to camo . . . might as well paint it white with a powder blue roof

buglerbilly

08-07-10, 10:30 AM

that orange is a bit nonconducive to camo . . . might as well paint it white with a powder blue roof

No shit.........unless your Dutch Army then Orange can apply especially as they are the only Army I know that has painted a LEO 2 completely Orange...............as a PR gimmick of course!

buglerbilly

08-07-10, 02:01 PM

IBD Presents New Disposable Windshield Protection

DWP is applied with a thin fluid film onto transparent armour.

Interview with Michael Rust, Performance Strategy Manager, IBD

05:44 GMT, July 7, 2010 defpro.com

Combat journalist Michael Yon once wrote “If you are going on a combat mission and soldiers have not cleaned all their windows to a sparkle, do not go with them. Soldiers with dirty windows are not watching for tiny wires in the road, nor are they scanning rooftops. [...] I will not go into combat with soldiers with dirty windows.” Not only dirt affects the soldiers in military operations, but also the effects of chipping and cracks. In particular in the remote and rocky environment of Afghanistan, factors such as changeover time and logistical supply are of great importance.

To reduce the burden of the laborious replacement of damaged windshields and the related supply chain requirements, German-based IBD Deisenroth Engineering (IBD) developed the Disposable Windshield Protection (DWP) concept. It enables soldiers to quickly repair or replace damaged transparent armour without extensive training and by keeping costs low. Michael Rust, Performance Strategy Manager at IBD presented this new solution which was also displayed at this year’s Eurosatory trade show.

defpro.com: Could you please describe the technical principle of IBD’s Disposable Windshield Protection?

Michael Rust: The Disposable Windshield Protection was developed to protect windshields on armoured vehicles against stone-chipping or stones intentionally thrown at the vehicle. The DWP consists of a thin transparent sheet that is mounted on the windshield by using the adhesive force of a thin fluid film between the windshield and the DWP. Stones will only damage the DWP, the windshield itself remains unaffected. The damaged DWP can simply be taken off without special tooling and be replaced by a new one. The product can be ordered for every vehicle.

defpro.com: The DWP has been presented at the Eurosatory 2010 trade show. What has been the feedback at the show?

Rust: Many potential users recognised the cost and logistic advantage of this new product. Especially military customers expressed their interest because they also see the possibility to significantly improve the availability of the armoured vehicles in service.

defpro.com: Is the DWP rather offered as a stand-alone solution or will it be part of IBD’s comprehensive Advanced Modular Armour Protection (AMAP) concept?

Rust: DWP can be fitted to all existing vehicles due to its easy and flexible application. Of course it can also be included in the design of protection kits from the beginning.

defpro.com: What has been the keynote in the development of the DWP: Further weight reduction of armoured vehicles or, rather, additional protection and safety?

Rust: The weight of the DWP is almost negligible compared to that of transparent armour. The focus was to reduce the large amount of damaged windshields. Although the DWP’s principle task is not to provide additional protection and will not by itself protect against small arms fire, it will reduce the effects of stone-chipping and cracks. As stones may also be intentionally thrown at vehicles in peace-keeping missions or civilian security operations, it contributes to increase crew safety.

defpro.com: How does the DWP improve logistical support and servicing in military operations? Can DWP be easily replaced by maintenance workforces deployed to military operations abroad?

Rust: The replacement of a damaged windshield takes time, requires trained personnel and is very costly. The DWP reduces the amount of required spare windshields and the repair time and, therefore, helps to reduce maintenance costs. The replacement of DWP can be done by the soldiers themselves without special tooling and extensive training. In particular troops deployed to combat areas, including at forward operating bases, benefit from these advantages, including reduced changeover time and supply chain requirements.

defpro.com: To which other military platforms and systems, beyond windshields and windows of armoured vehicles, can the DWP be applied? Will the use of DWP with optical and optronic systems affect their performance?

Rust: Due to its good optical properties, DWP can also be used for other exposed devices like driver periscopes. However it is not intended for optical instruments in the far infra-red.

defpro.com: Which markets is IBD targeting with this new product? Is this solution also ready for use by civilian security forces?

Rust: The new product can be used on any military and security platform that can be affected by stone chipping.

defpro.com: Thank you very much, Mr Rust.

buglerbilly

12-07-10, 02:49 PM

Interesting little snippet that misses the point largely.............

Pentagon Contract Announcement

(Source: U.S Department of Defense; issued July 9, 2010)

Oshkosh Corp., Oshkosh, Wis., was awarded on July 2 a $23,634,480 firm-fixed-price contract. This contract is for the procurement of 792 months equal to 66 field service representatives for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All Terrain Vehicle in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Work is to be performed in Oshkosh, Wis., with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2012. Five bids were solicited with five bids received.

TACOM, CCTA-ADC-A, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-09-D-0111).

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Under this contract, the cost to the U.S. Army of each Oshkosh tech-rep – i.e., truck mechanic -- deployed to Afghanistan works out to $29,841 per month, or $358,098 per year. This is about 3.5 times as expensive as the annual cost of a military mechanic, including all benefits and perks.)

BUT Monsieur, Oshkosh has to pay War Zone Insurance rates and HIGH normal and hazardous pay rates to get people there. It also allows the Army and Marines to down-man to keep the teeth end of the scale higher...........it may "appear" to be high BUT not when you take into account all aspects

-ends-

Milne Bay

13-07-10, 12:06 AM

buglerbilly

13-07-10, 01:50 AM

Work is to be performed in Oshkosh, Wis., with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2012. Five bids were solicited with five bids received.

Umm ..........
I'm puzzled?

Why? Because Oshkosh got it for their own vehicles?

Field Service work is never a given for the original manufacturer to get. He has an edge, a significant edge, but he usually will compete with other companies who can also do the work, that's exactly what happened here...........the fact the work has to be done in what can be classified as a war zone could also cause a manufacturer difficulties in getting personnel to go, obtain the requisite personal Insurance coverages, or even have the resources to support this effort.

Remember, everything has to be competed for otherwise you won't get a good deal, which is a naive and stupid commment in itself in many, not all, cases.

buglerbilly

13-07-10, 01:53 AM

Performance Tests Begin For JLTV

Jul 12, 2010

By Paul McLeary

The U.S. Army and the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program office invited journalists to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., in June, to ride in the three vehicles that are in the running for the lucrative JLTV contract (DTI October 2008, p. 46).

In October 2008, the Army awarded three 27-month technology prototype-development contracts to General Tactical Vehicles—a joint venture between General Dynamics and AM General— BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin.

Lt. Col. Wolfgang Petermann, project manager, says the Army has completed ballistic hull testing of the vehicles and the competition is in the performance-testing phase. Petermann’s office will conduct performance tests at Aberdeen to “provide an assessment of the technical and performance risks,” and at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz., to gauge the reliability of the models. The Army expects the final procurement contract to be for 60,000 vehicles.

Once the technology-demonstration phase is complete, final requirements for the vehicle and its three variants will be drawn up and a request for proposals issued in June 2011. Two competitors will be awarded contracts for prototypes that will enter the engineering, manufacturing and development phase in December 2011. If all goes well, plans call for final versions of the JLTV to be fielded for testing by mid-2015.

Petermann says that one of the most challenging aspects of designing a truck that has the survivability of a mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle at vastly reduced weight, is to find the right balance among speed, mobility and protection on one hand, and transportability on the other. JLTVs must be movable by various methods to remote theaters, and quickly. When the program is complete, he says, “What you’ll see is a balanced solution.”

The program’s requirements are complicated by the fact that “we need to be able to get to the fight by a C-130 [transport plane] or CH-47 or CH-53 helicopter. We have to be able to get down to different decks on ships.” In a nod to the Marine Corps, which has made noise about leaving the Ground Combat Vehicle program, and has had doubts about the JLTV being light enough for amphibious needs, Petermann notes that “we have maintained an expeditionary capability for the services.”

It is also important to reduce life-cycle costs. To that end, “We’ve improved reliability and maintainability, and designed the vehicle [for easy repair] when it does break down.” To keep the trucks running as long as possible between tune-ups, he adds that specifications call for the JLTV to operate between 4,400 and 6,600 mi. between failures, which is roughly three times longer than the rate experienced in the current tactical fleet.

Present at the demonstration was Lt. Col. Robin Petersen of the Australian Army, who said his country’s armed forces were preparing for delivery of JLTV variants from the U.S. competitors to begin their own testing for possible buys. DTI asked what operational requirements the Australians have that differ from those of the Pentagon, and he admitted that he didn’t see much difference. “We came up with very similar requests,” he said. The countries are “fighting the same fight, facing the same threats” in Afghanistan, and have similar outlooks of what needs will be.

The big question for the JLTV program is whether the Marine Corps still plans to buy in. While the service says it is committed to the program, it has also been actively pursuing a lighter-weight, lower-cost option in the form of the Small Combat Tactical Vehicle Capsule developed by Textron Marine and Land Systems and Granite Tactical Vehicles. Designed as a bolt-on capsule that fits on the chassis of existing Humvees, the design—which has already completed Marine Corps blast and ballistic testing—weighs less than an up-armored Humvee and offers better protection.

As with so much else in the Pentagon’s budgetary pipeline these days, most everything is subject to change.

Credit: US Army

buglerbilly

14-07-10, 01:17 AM

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

Aussies on Board With JLTVs, Marines Not So Sure

Posted by Paul McLeary at 7/13/2010 11:06 AM CDT

Last month, I headed up to the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland for a demo of the three Joint Light Tactical Vehicle variants still fighting it out for the final Pentagon contract for the Army's replacement for the iconic Humvee. The way the competition is currently playing out, plans call for two competitors to be awarded contracts for prototypes that will enter the engineering, manufacturing and development phase in December 2011. If all goes well, plans call for final versions of the JLTV to be fielded for testing by mid-2015.

While there I also had the opportunity to speak with Australian army Lt. Col. Robin Petersen, who said his country’s armed forces were preparing for delivery of JLTV variants from the U.S. competitors to begin their own testing for possible buys. I asked him what operational requirements the Australians have that differ from those of the Pentagon, and he admitted that he didn’t see much difference. “We came up with very similar requests,” he said. The countries are “fighting the same fight, facing the same threats” in Afghanistan, and have similar outlooks of what needs will be.

The big question for the JLTV program is whether the Marine Corps still plans to buy in. While the service says it is committed to the program, it has also been actively pursuing a lighter-weight, lower-cost option in the form of the Small Combat Tactical Vehicle Capsule developed by Textron Marine and Land Systems and Granite Tactical Vehicles. Designed as a bolt-on capsule that fits on the chassis of existing Humvees, the design—which has already completed Marine Corps blast and ballistic testing—weighs less than an up-armored Humvee and offers better protection.

As with so much else in the Pentagon’s budgetary pipeline these days, most everything is subject to change.

buglerbilly

21-07-10, 04:31 PM

Force Protection Selected to Continue in Canadian TAPV Program

(Source: Force Protection, Inc.; issued July 20, 2010)

LADSON, S.C. --- Force Protection, Inc., a leading designer, developer and manufacturer of survivability solutions and provider of total life cycle support for those products, today announced it has received notification from the Government of Canada that it has been selected to continue in the procurement for the Tactical Armored Patrol Vehicle Project (TAPV).

Force Protection responded to the Solicitation of Interest and Qualification (SOIQ) phase with their Cougar 4x4 and 6x6 variants in June 2010. In addition to the two Cougar variants, seven vehicles from other equipment manufacturers have been selected in the TAPV program to now move into the Request for Proposal (RFP) phase. The procurement is for up to 600 vehicles and related long term support services. Contract award to the final selected bidder is expected in 2011.

Randy Hutcherson, Chief Operating Officer of Force Protection, Inc. commented, “We are pleased that we have been selected to continue in the TAPV competition in Canada. The Cougars and Buffalos currently in service with the Canadian Forces are proven to save lives and perform critical missions to the efforts in Afghanistan. We look forward to responding to the request for proposal and continuing to build on our strong relationship with the Canadian Forces.”

Force Protection, Inc. is a leading designer, developer and manufacturer of survivability solutions, including blast- and ballistic-protected wheeled vehicles currently deployed by the U.S. military and its allies to support armed forces and security personnel in conflict zones. The Company’s specialty vehicles, including the Buffalo, Cougar and related variants, are designed specifically for reconnaissance and urban operations and to protect their occupants from landmines, hostile fire, and improvised explosive devices (“IEDs”, commonly referred to as roadside bombs).

-ends-

buglerbilly

21-07-10, 05:37 PM

GTV delivers right-hand operation JLTV technology development vehicles on schedule

July 21, 2010

The General Tactical Vehicles (GTV) team of General Dynamics Land Systems and AM General today delivered two Right-Hand Operation (RHO) Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs), one companion trailer and supporting equipment on schedule to the US. government for Technology Development (TD) phase testing in support of the US. and Australia's Land Force Capability Modernization Project Arrangement (PA). The PA enables tactical vehicle interoperability and integration between the two countries. Delivery of the RHO JLTVs follows GTV's previous ahead-of-schedule deliveries of armor samples, ballistic hulls, seven vehicles and four trailers and spare parts for the TD phase.

Test and evaluation of the RHO JLTVs includes a five-month reliability and durability test and evaluation process at the Monegeetta Proving Ground in Monegeetta, Victoria, Australia. Test site management for GTV will be performed by General Dynamics Land Systems-Australia and supported by Australian in-country suppliers.

"Our RHO JLTVs provide increased protection, payload and performance for the Australian Defence Force, as well as over 90 percent commonality with the GTV JLTV vehicles delivered to the US. Army and Marine Corps in April," said Don Howe, GTV senior program director. "I am very proud of the effort demonstrated by our GTV team, including our supplier network, to deliver a balanced solution to meet the technical and programmatic challenges of the very demanding JLTV program, the US. government and the Australian Defence Force."

"The GTV team's significant experience with deployed global forces gives us unique and valuable insight into the needs of the Australian Defence Force," added Howe. "Delivering on schedule and within budget underlines our proven track record of dependability and performance."

Drawing from the experiences of General Dynamics and AM General to build and support tactical and combat vehicles, GTV's vehicle design provides an armored crew capsule with an optimized V-shaped hull for protection against mines and IEDs, a state-of-the-art C4 architecture that accommodates future force technology capabilities, high-performance and off-road mobility and deployability by land, sea and air.

"Our robust, disciplined and focused system-engineering approach placed the American Warfighter at the center of product design. GTV has developed an innovative family of vehicles and trailers for the United States that meets transportability, survivability and mobility requirements while achieving maximum commonality of components to reduce parts, maintenance and training needs," said David Caldwell, GTV deputy program director.

"As our military prepares for future coalition operations, similarity of tactical vehicle solutions across allies will enhance global interoperability and reduce the maintenance and logistical burden," said Mark McCoy, US. Army JLTV product manager. "Australia's participation in the JLTV program will help reduce overall program risk through the testing and evaluation of additional prototype vehicles."

The JLTV TD phase is intended to validate the integration of mature technologies as a complete vehicle system, rebalancing payload, protection and performance while maintaining transportability and expeditionary capabilities; give the Army, Marine Corps and the Australian Defence Force an accurate assessment of the technical and performance capabilities and risks associated with entering the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) Phase; and establish a realistic set of requirements for the JLTV program.

GTV has invested in additional JLTV vehicles and trailers as part of its independent R&D program. "We are continuing our own extensive testing for reliability and durability to complement the government effort and prepare for the next, full-and-open competition phase of the JLTV development program," said Howe. "We're continuing to evaluate suppliers in Australia for emerging technologies, should the US. and Australia continue their JLTV partnership into the EMD phase - taking advantage of our JLTV's built-in capacity for technology insertion, growth opportunities and product improvements."

Source: GTV

buglerbilly

26-07-10, 08:28 PM

New Truck To Show The Way for Acquisition Reforms

August 2010

By Stew Magnuson

ABERDEEN TEST CENTER, Md. — Program managers for the $60 million joint Army-Marine Corps program to build a new vehicle to replace the aging humvee rolled out three new prototypes here recently and put them through the paces on a hilly test track in the Maryland woods.

But it was more than a debut for the hopeful joint light tactical vehicle vendors. The trucks were high-profile examples of the competitive prototyping movement, a congressionally mandated method of acquiring technology that proponents say will reduce cost overruns and lessen the risk of failure for military hardware development programs.

It could be another five years before the JLTV vehicles begin to be produced in large quantities, and competitive prototyping — at least for trucks — is proven to be a success or not. Observers are wondering if this is truly a solution to the Defense Department’s well-known acquisition woes, or if it’s just a flavor of the month. There are also concerns that the per-unit cost of the trucks will be too high.

Meanwhile, JLTV program managers said the new strategy is working well so far. They are aware that the process for the way the trucks are being developed is being watched as closely as the vehicles themselves.

“I think this is kind of the poster child” for competitive prototyping, said Dean Johnson, the JLTV deputy program manager and the Marine Corps’ representative on the program. “Competition is a wonderful thing. It is the American way.”

Three vendors are providing a series of prototype vehicles — BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin and General Tactical Vehicles, which is a consortium of AM General and General Dynamics Land Systems.

Army and Marine Corps officials will run tests on the 21 variations of vehicles they have received, collect performance, protection and payload data, and then use what they learn to refine their requirements.

After that process is finished, there will be an open competition to select participants in the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase. Two vendors will be selected for that contract. They may or may not be one of the three who provided the prototype vehicles.

“As we get those results from that testing, we’ll feed that back into our requirements and say, ‘OK, did we get it right? Or did we ask for a bridge too far in the requirements?’” said Army Lt. Col. Wolfgang Petermann, JLTV program manager.

“Contractors are helping us inform our requirements and then anybody can compete,” he added.

“Competitive prototyping is working,” Petermann told National Defense. All three manufacturers delivered their vehicles on time and on budget. “And we’re meeting our performance requirements.”

In one example, all three vehicles are exceeding the miles-per-gallon expectations. During the next phase, the program can raise the bar as far as fuel efficiency, Petermann said.
In a typical technology development phase, acquisition managers would be running tests on individual components. It has skipped ahead, and the program is now putting the vehicles through the paces as a system, he noted.

The buzzwords are “gaining knowledge” and “reducing risk.”

The theory is that program managers are learning how much of the so-called iron triangle — performance, protection and payload — they can get out of the trucks. Forcing the manufacturers to use, reliable, proven technologies reduces the risk that new and untested components might insert into the program.

“Our requirement is mature technology,” Petermann said. “What technology industry decides to bring, that is up to them. As long as you can meet all of our requirements, we won’t direct them to a specific” component.

Whether the acquisition community and contractors believe that competitive prototyping is the future is currently not up for debate. It’s the law of the land.

The Weapons System Acquisition Reform Act passed in 2009 requires that prototypes be produced for major weapons acquisition programs prior to Milestone B, which is the point where independent review boards must give a thumbs up or thumbs down to a program before it can proceed to the engineering and manufacturing development phase. The law allows the services to request waivers for some programs, though.

“We have gone a step further … and taken a whole integrated system look so we can further reduce risk for the program as it goes into the EMD phase,” Petermann said.

Don E. Howe, senior director of General Tactical Vehicles, said he has been through many acquisition programs as a vendor, but never anything like competitive prototyping.

“They don’t want to spend a lot of time finding out that things can’t be done,” he said of the Army and Marine Corps.

The process has been open so far, he said.

“We have shared with them the good news, and we have shared with them the bad. Because when you are developing one of these products from scratch, trying to fit in all the different requirements, balance that iron triangle, it’s tough sledding, let me tell you. The Army knows that and the Marine Corps knows that,” he said.

Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems declined to be interviewed on the competitive prototyping process.

To facilitate communications, the program has an integrated product team for each vendor so they know who to go to when they have concerns and questions. Each team has a manager, a test and evaluation specialist, a command, control, communications, computer, intelligence (C4I) expert and a Marine Corps representative.

They report to the program manager what is and isn’t working, and good ideas that can be shared with other teams. They can determine where one team might be struggling and let them know how the other two teams are approaching the problem. This also makes for better “firewalling,” so proprietary information can be protected, said Chris Brouwer, C4I chief on the program.

Nancy Spruill, director of acquisition resources and analysis at the office of the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, told the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, that competitive prototyping in JLTV program is “already working.”

“We are able to conduct more effective developmental testing, improve the design solution, and increase our confidence in the system cost estimates,” she said in a hearing that investigated the first year of the acquisition reform act.

Key will be not overburdening the process with excessive reviews, she added. Prior to the EMD phase, one independent review must certify that the technologies in the JLTV program are mature enough to proceed.

“The lead time to design and deliver capability is already too long. As a result, we intend to ensure that process agility in not undermined with more ‘checkers’ than those being ‘checked,’” she said.

Johnson said he has heard criticism that competitive prototyping may add time to the process. The current tests will last one year through May 2011. Using the data gathered, a new request for proposals will be issued in June 2011, and two vendors will be selected in December for the EMD phase. That will last two years. Officials hope to reach a Milestone C decision, where an independent review board makes a decision whether the trucks can enter full-rate production, in 2013. If JLTV passes that review, production would begin in 2015.

“Some would say that [competitive prototyping] adds time to the program length. I would argue that what you do on the front end saves you time on the back end,” Johnson said.

The method has the endorsement of the Government Accountability Office. Michael Sullivan, director of acquisition and sourcing management at GAO, said requiring programs to invest more time and resources up front, refining concepts through early systems engineering, and developing technologies and prototypes before starting systems integration is in line with the good practices GAO has been recommending for years.

The wild card is interference, he warned.

Programs that have pursued “risky and unexecutable” acquisition strategies have won funding in the past. Such programs must be denied funding before they begin, he said.

“This will require sustained leadership from the secretary of defense, the under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, and the military services and the cooperation of support of Congress,” Sullivan said.

At this stage, competitive prototyping could be a misnomer, given that the program managers say that after the current phase, the competition will be opened up again to select two vehicles for the engineering phase. And the winners of that contract may or may not be one of the three testing their trucks.

How realistic is it that BAE, Lockheed Martin or General Tactical Vehicles will be bypassed for other manufacturers? There were four other teams who competed to take part in the technology development phase, but lost out. They could potentially step in.

“Anything is possible. I would never say never,” said Nathaniel H. Sledge Jr., a retired Army colonel and former program manager.

“They’re hedging their bets saying that they don’t have to buy any of them. That’s true,” he continued. “But why would you go through all of this if you don’t have an intention to eventually purchase one of these trucks? That would be an expensive science or research project.”

If competitive prototyping in the technology development phase is only about refining requirements, then he questioned its value.

“If that’s their sole reason, it’s not sufficient because that’s a waste of money,” he said. “You can refine your requirements by collecting data in the field in war theaters.” Operators can be asked what they think needs to be added to the next generation of vehicles.

“But you do find out the art of the possible when you do these tests because some of the guys in the field ask for things that may not be realistic,” Sledge noted.

Competitive prototyping has been tried in the past, although the JLTV is the largest program to attempt it so far, he added.

At the end of the day, the process is supposed to be more efficient, and therefore, save taxpayers money.

However, there is a risk that the program may deliver a vehicle that has a per-unit cost that is too expensive. The Army intends to purchase roughly 55,000 vehicles, although that number is still being debated within the service. The Marine Corps’ number has been steady at 5,500. The prototypes delivered more closely resemble the mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles that were rushed into the field during the Iraq war, than the humvees they are intended to replace. The MRAPs provided the protection needed, but were expensive, with some models costing as much as $800,000. Up-armored humvees are in the $150,000 range.

We are “evolving it into something that is achievable, affordable, and in the end gives us a balance between all the requirements that we are trying to trade against one another,” said Johnson.

However, how much capability the two services want to spend on each vehicle is for them to decide, he added.

“We’re really trying to make this program affordable … but we don’t in the program office make those trades,” Johnson said. JLTV program managers inform the Marine Corps and Army how much it will cost to add a certain feature. It will be up to their “customers” on how much they want to pay.

Sullivan warned House members that this has been a pitfall in the past. The Pentagon has taken steps to improve its rigor in providing reliable cost estimates, but “more independence, methodical rigor, and better information about risk areas like technology will make estimates more realistic,” he said.

However, “realism is compromised as the competition for funding encourages programs to appear more affordable,” he added.

Program officials hope to also save some development funding through an international partnership. Australia has chipped in and additional $30 million and contributed three personnel to the current development phase.

The Australian government is on its own fact-finding mission, explained Lt. Col. Robin Petersen, one of the three staff members sent over.

Australia entered the program to seek data, schedule and cost estimates. Like the Defense Department, there has been no decision whether it will proceed with the program. And like the U.S government, there is no commitment to buy any of the vehicles from the three vendors.
“We came up with very similar requirements ... that’s why we looked at what the U.S. is doing,” he said.

“We are fighting the same fights. We are encountering the same threats and facing the same issues that the U.S Army faces in terms of the JTLV program,” he added. The Australian army uses C-130s, and CH-47Fs as well, so has the same mobility requirements.

There are political sensitivities as far as buying from foreign manufacturers, he said. He named three manufacturers capable of doing the work in Australia, all of them subsidiaries of international vehicle manufacturers.

“Australian taxpayers are also very sensitive to where they spend Australian money,” Petersen said.

After the current testing phase is finished, there will be a decision as to whether the Australian armed forces want to continue in the cooperative agreement, or go its own way.

Australia will receive seven right-hand drive prototypes from the three vendors, which will be shipped to proving grounds in that nation. They will perform about 15,000 miles of testing there, and that data will be shared with the U.S. program. JLTV program managers can use the three personnel however they see fit, Petersen said.

Johnson said the process is working.

“I’ve been in the business for a long time. And it is working. It is working for us and we will press forward into a fairly low risk EMD phase,” he said.

buglerbilly

26-07-10, 08:30 PM

Next-Generation Light Truck Program Has Tall Orders to Fill

August 2010

By Stew Magnuson

ABERDEEN TEST CENTER, Md. — Improved performance, protection and payload: Military officials want all three to be included in its new truck.

Army and Marine Corps officials debuted three prototypes made by three different manufacturers recently. And none of their solutions look anything like the humvees they hope to one day replace.

After about five months of work, BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin and General Tactical Vehicles — a joint venture between General Dynamics and AM General — each delivered a total of seven prototypes, all with different weight classes or configurations, for the JLTV program to test.

None of the vendors is guaranteed that its truck will be chosen for the next phase. Program managers insist that these prototypes will be used merely for collecting data so they can refine requirements for the next stage of development.

Program managers have a long list of needs, many of which were not big concerns when the humvee was in development 30 years ago.

The emergence of the roadside bomb as the weapon of choice for insurgents is driving the need for more protection; and the current climate calling for fiscal restraint in the federal government is demanding that the next generation of light tactical wheeled vehicles be easy to maintain, and have improved fuel efficiency.

These requirements may be at odds. The heavier the vehicle the more fuel it takes to move it. A series of mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles were rushed into the field in response to the improvised explosive device threat. These trucks were intentionally tilted heavily toward the protection part of the equation. The services now want to know if they can have it all: safety for the troops, reliable, rugged parts and the ability to carry added armor, soldiers, marines, and all their equipment.

To further complicate the process, the Army and Marine Corps must balance their desires. The marines want a truck that is easily transportable to fit their expeditionary nature.
Weight is the number one problem his team encountered, said Don E. Howe, senior director of General Tactical Vehicles.

“You can meet the protection levels, the payload requirements. You can meet the performance requirements, in most cases that can be done,” Howe said. But keeping the trucks light enough to be transportable on rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft such as the CH-47 Chinook and the C-130, along with the transport ships the Marine Corps use, makes the weight issue complex, he said.

“You have to meet certain weight profiles. That’s where the challenge is. And it will continue to be a challenge on this program as long as these vehicles are in existence,” Howe predicted.
Army Lt. Col. Wolfgang Petermann, JLTV program manager, told National Defense that “we are on track with our weight,” but there will be refinements made on the requirements for the engineering and manufacturing development part of the process, which follows the current technology development phase.

Meanwhile, officials are asking the three vendors to deliver an eighth variation of their prototypes by September, a subvariant of the B models, which are designed to carry payloads of 4,000 to 4,500 pounds.

Dean Johnson, deputy program manager and the Marine Corps’ representative on the program, said the need to balance weight and protection prompted the services to ask for the new vehicle.

“We’re trying to drive that weight down as low as we can,” he said.

Managers must make trade-offs to reach these sometimes conflicting needs. The new prototype will have the same chassis as the six-passenger B model, but to make the weight and protection requirement, will only have seating for four.

The weight will stay the same,” said Johnson. “The functionality will come on to a smaller platform.”

Program engineers are looking at components made of composite materials, and other items that could be lightened in order to hit the weight targets.

Petermann said one pleasant surprise so far has been the fuel efficiency requirement. On average, the JLTV officials are seeing about 20 percent better miles-per-gallon results than what was demanded.

“We’ll see the requirement go up because we can meet it,” he said.

While ballistic trials have been completed, the program has not completed reliability and performance testing. Each vehicle will undergo about 20,000 miles of testing at Aberdeen and at the Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona. The Australian military, a partner in the program, is receiving right-hand drive vehicles in August, which will be tested at its facilities.

Along with the B variant, there are the As, which should carry 3,500 pounds and the Cs, which have a 5,100 pound payload requirement. All three must come with trailers. Category B has heavy guns, TOW missiles and ambulance versions.

In this current phase, officials are looking for reliability rates three times longer than what is found on the humvee. In short, the services want the vehicles to go thousands of miles longer between breakdowns. And when they do need repairs, vendors are being asked for vehicles that are easy to fix and have 85 percent common parts among the variants, Petermann said.

Two items on the list that may be dropped, Petermann said, were road departure warning and collision avoidance systems.

“In a tactical environment, there may not be a road. So is there really a need for it?” Petermann asked.

buglerbilly

27-07-10, 03:34 PM

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

BAE Redefines the Security Blanket

Posted by Robert Wall at 7/27/2010 3:29 AM CDT

BAE Systems is hoping to put a new spin on the security blanket

(credit: BAE Systems)

The company, which is increasingly seeing its fortunes tied to the ground vehicles business, has unveiled what it calls a "stealth overcoat." The covering is designed to suppress the vehicles radar signature and thermal signature, as well as providing camouflage to reduce the visual signature.

With hostile forces increasingly having access to IR sensors, the thermal signature suppression is seen as particularly vital.
BAE Systems says the material is tough enough to withstand the harsh operating environments it would have to be used in.

buglerbilly

27-07-10, 11:32 PM

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

They Don't Let You Do This With An F-22

Posted by Bill Sweetman at 7/27/2010 8:59 AM CDT

Yes, we do have live-fire testing for military aircraft, but it's a pretty restrained affair compared to what the UK's Supacat company just did to its new SPV400 prototype.

The company says that the vehicle passed its fourth series of blast tests last week, and the prototype used has been repairable each time.

Protection levels are classified, because SPV400 is aimed at the UK's urgent operational requirement for a Light Protected Patrol Vehicle (LPPV). Its mission is to replace the under-armored Snatch Land-Rovers, which were originally developed for use in Northern Ireland but have been used in Afghanistan to go where heavier vehicles cannot.

The SPV400 is a six-place vehicle with an all-composite crew pod from NP Aerospace, using UK-developed armor technology. It's competing with the Force Protection/Ricardo Ocelot for the GBP200 million LPPV program.

buglerbilly

28-07-10, 03:41 PM

Force Protection and SNC-Lavalin Announce Partnership

(Source: Force Protection Industries, Inc.; issued July 27, 2010)

LADSON, S.C. --- Force Protection Industries, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Force Protection Inc., a leading designer, developer and manufacturer of survivability solutions and provider of total life cycle support for those products, and SNC-Lavalin Defense Contractors, Inc., a Canadian-based provider and one of the leading engineering and construction groups in the world, today announced the formation of a strategic partnership to collaborate on the solution for the Canadian Government’s Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle (“TAPV”) program.

Force Protection Industries, Inc. previously announced that it has been selected by the Canadian Government as one of the competitor companies to provide up to 600 vehicles and related long term support services, with contract award to the final selected bidder in 2011.

Randy Hutcherson, Chief Operating Officer for Force Protection Industries, Inc., said, “We are very pleased to partner with SNC-Lavalin, a highly-respected and experienced company in the Canadian defence sector, to provide the winning solution for the TAPV project. Force Protection Industries and SNC are committed to providing the Canadian Forces with the safest, most reliable vehicle while investing in Canadian industry. We are looking forward to working with SNC as they have a wide range of capabilities and experience that will help shape the winning technical, support, and industrial and regional benefit solution for the Canadian government that will help save the lives of Canadian soldiers.”

Peter Langlais, Senior Vice President and General Manager for SNC, commented, “Force Protection is bringing its expertise in design and supportability for its highly successful Cougar vehicles as the platform for the TAPV solution. Cougars are currently in use by Canada and have been instrumental in ensuring the safe transport of the men and women of the Canadian Forces. The Cougar TAPV will be specifically designed to meet the Canadian Government’s requirements. The primary manufacturing and supportability will be completed in Canada, and Force Protection and SNC will work closely together with other Canadian partners to ensure that Canadian troops get the best possible solution available in terms of safety and performance, as well as a great value for the government.”

Force Protection, Inc. is a leading designer, developer and manufacturer of survivability solutions, including blast- and ballistic-protected wheeled vehicles currently deployed by the U.S. military and its allies to support armed forces and security personnel in conflict zones. The Company’s specialty vehicles, including the Buffalo, Cougar and related variants, are designed specifically for reconnaissance and urban operations and to protect their occupants from landmines, hostile fire, and improvised explosive devices (“IEDs”, commonly referred to as roadside bombs).

-ends-

buglerbilly

06-08-10, 03:44 PM

Russia set $1 Billion for 1,700 Foreign Light Armored Vehicles

August 6, 2010 at 9:40 am

The Russians are interested i buying 1700 locally assembled M65 LMV from Iveco. Photo: Iveco

I'm quietly astonished by this as there appears to be a number of designs in Russia that could suit the purpose. What is relevant tho is that all of them have CRAP seat designs almost guaranteed to maximise casualties, something the LMV has is an excellent seat design............still a wee puzzle tho?

The Russian Defense Ministry is going to set up a joint assembly line with the Italian automaker Iveco to produce LMV M65 tactical vehicles in Russia, the Kommersant daily reported today. The decision is raising significant opposition among local manufacturers. The local alternative to the Italian vehicle is the Russian Tigr ( Gaz-233014 ), also dubbed as the ‘Russian HMMWV’. This vehicle has entered service with the Russian Army in 2006. The Tigr was developed by the privately owned company Russkie Mashiny. The Russian vehicle is currently going through a modification, applying a balanced armor and mobility package that will bring it to par with comparable western designs and will position it competitively with the locally produced LMVs.

The LMV M65 is a light multirole armored vehicle developed in 2001 by Iveco Defense Vehicles. It is designed with high level of protection against anti-tank and anti-personnel mines, small arms and IEDs. The LMV has successfully operated in Iraq and Afghanistan, primarily with the Italian forces. The Brits have recently deployed to Afghanistan their ‘Panther‘ version of the vehicle.

According to the Russian sources, the local production of the vehicle could be done by the Russian state corporation Rostekhnologii, currently negotiating with Iveco on launching the joint venture with planned minimum capacity of 500 vehicles per year. The production could utilize one of the assembly lines of truck manufacturer KamAZ and. The vehicles are destined for the Russian Interior Ministry and Federal Security agencies. The Russian Defense Ministry plans to spend about one billion US$ (30 billion rubles) on the program, acquiring 278 Italian vehicles in 2011 and 2012, and during the next two years the volumes of supplies will be increased to 458 vehicles per year. In 2015, the ministry will buy 228 vehicles and 75 vehicles in 2016. The cost per vehicle is expected to be around US$400,000.

buglerbilly

06-08-10, 05:00 PM

Phoenix International Introduces First LTATV Platform with High Power 24VDC System

09:57 GMT, August 6, 2010 ORANGE, Calif. | Phoenix International has announced the introduction of an 80 amp 24VDC auxiliary electrical system for its Prowler multi-mission Light Tactical All Terrain Vehicle. This capability is not available on or for any other vehicle in its class.

“This is a significant and unique contribution to Prowler’s role when used as a mobile communication and/or laser technology applications platform,” said Amos Deacon, CEO of Phoenix International. Deacon added that this particular product development delivers a new dimension of improvements and capability, all leading to a significant mission multiplier effect in Prowler’s military applications.

This on board COTS capability is the latest complement to the array of proven Prowler platform capabilities when employed as a mission critical component in ISR, SAR, Mobile Anti-Armor, Assault, Perimeter Patrol, Security and Logistic Support applications, Deacon commented.

The All Terrain Vehicle Corporation division of Phoenix International initially introduced the industry’s first “quad” ATV type vehicle with rack and pinion steering and automotive controls in 2002. This was the Prowler platform, purpose designed and built to provide a light but rugged, reliable, easily configurable and powerful, commercially available mobile resource that is operable in the harshest and most demanding of terrain, climate and environmental conditions.

The Prowler LTATV, known for its ability to perform in any terrain or climate with unmatched agility, features:

• powerful 750cc DFI SOHC 4 Valve V-Twin engine
• fully automatic dual range 2WD/4WD transmission
• low center of gravity, tight turning radius and high ground clearance
• 1550lb payload/3000lb towing capacity

buglerbilly

18-08-10, 04:52 PM

Supacat completes the 7th SPV400 Lightweight Protected Patrol Vehicle

13:55 GMT, August 17, 2010

Supacat has recently completed the 7th all-new, all-British Supacat SPV400, which is Supacat’s offering to win a UK Ministry of Defence £200 million Urgent Operational Requirement for a Light Protected Patrol Vehicle (LPPV) to replace the Snatch Land Rover. Following completion, the vehicle was delivered to the MoD in order for trials to be conducted prior to the announcement of preferred bidder, expected to be made soon.

Supacat’s rapid development of the SPV400 has seen all 7 vehicles built since December 2009. Vehicle 1 was blast tested in December 2009, vehicles 2&3 were delivered to the MoD for evaluation in January 2010 and were subsequently subjected to further trials by the MoD in April. Vehicles 4, 5 and 6 were blast tested in May, June and July respectively. Concurrently, vehicle 2 has been running back to back round the clock trials in operational conditions and vehicle 1 has been subjected to a demanding static four-poster rig test returning some impressive accelerated reliability results against repeated battlefield missions. Subsequently, vehicle 7 has been built to the very latest configuration and has had all of the upgrades and improvements incorporated as a result of the lesson learned throughout the development period. As a result, this vehicle is close to production standard.

“We are very proud of the progress we have made throughout this demanding development programme. Supacat has a reputation for being agile and for possessing the ability to deliver quality solutions in exceedingly short timescales; our development of SPV400 has clearly underwritten that reputation. SPV400’s design maturity is now advanced and this latest vehicle is already demonstrating that by delivering improved capability and reliability on trial”, said Nick Ames, Managing Director, Supacat Ltd. “The Supacat/NP Aerospace team believe it offers the best and a British solution – the SPV400. Its selection for LPPV would strengthen the UK’s innovation and engineering skills base and support manufacturing jobs, sustaining between 1000 and 1200 jobs throughout the UK. The SPV400 is an entirely British Export and will have a potentially huge international market should it succeed in the LPPV competition”.

Purpose designed to protect British troops from the threat of Improvised Explosive Devices in Afghanistan and perform patrol tasks in areas inaccessible to heavier vehicles, the Supacat SPV400 offers unprecedented levels of mobility and protection. This combination breaks new ground in military vehicle technology for a light patrol vehicle in the 7.5 ton class. Carrying a crew of six (2 +4), the SPV400 combines an integrated blast and ballistic protection system, including a protected all composite crew pod and V-shaped hull. On the desert plain it can reach speeds up to 80mph, comparable to the Supacat designed `Jackal`.

Over 90% of the SPV400 is UK sourced with a 30 strong supply chain stretching from Darlington, where Cummins UK produce the engine, down to Devon, where the SPV400 is designed by Supacat. Half of the key suppliers are concentrated in the West Midlands around NP Aerospace’s Coventry production facility where the SPV400 will be built. They include GKN Aerospace and GKN Driveline, Pailton Engineering, CSES Engineering, Park Sheetmetal Ltd, Garforth & Goodman, Christy Hydraulics, Dana UK Axles, AFS Ltd, Lighting Aerospace.

Supacat and NP Aerospace, are respectively world leaders in high mobility, all terrain vehicles and in composite armour protection systems. NP Aerospace designed the SPV400’s composite crew pod and protection system with access to the UK’s classified armour technology. The materials used offer protection from a range of threats and at much lower weight than a traditional steel design.

Both have significant experience in working with the British Army, with Supacat currently supplying the Jackal and Coyote vehicles while NP Aerospace integrates and supplies the Mastiff, Ridgback and Wolfhound vehicles.

buglerbilly

19-08-10, 02:15 PM

U.S. Army Acquires First Next-Generation Cargo Vehicles from Oshkosh Defense

(Source: Oshkosh Defense; issued Aug. 18, 2010)

OSHKOSH, Wis. --- Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, has delivered its first next-generation Palletized Load Systems (PLS) to the U.S. Army. The new PLS model, known as the PLS A1, features design improvements creating a more secure and robust vehicle for logistics missions that face increased combat exposure.

“Working closely with our Army customer, Oshkosh has improved the PLS to provide our troops increased protection and mobility demanded in today’s critical distribution and resupply missions,” said Mike Ivy, vice president and general manager of Army Programs for Oshkosh Defense. “The military can only move as fast as its supplies. Improved armor, common with the proven armor solution on the HEMTT A4, and enhanced off-road capabilities will better protect logistics missions from blasts and other threats. PLS A1 updates make a good truck even better and will secure the vehicle’s role in Army logistics operations for many years to come.”

The vehicle, developed to load and unload a variety of heavy-payload cargo, now features a Long Term Armor Strategy (LTAS)-compliant cab, a 600-horsepower engine and a six-speed transmission. It also uses the Oshkosh-patented TAK-4 independent suspension on the front axle positions, which provides greater off-road mobility and enhances protection in harsh terrain, like Afghanistan.

The initial deliveries of 11 vehicles are part of an order for more than 725 PLS vehicles issued under the U.S. Army’s existing Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles (FHTV) contract. Production for this order is scheduled to be completed in September 2011.

The PLS is the backbone of the Army's distribution and resupply system. Built to carry ammunition and other critical supplies needed in battle, the PLS has proven its ability in front-line resupply missions in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. Together, the PLS truck and trailer form a complete system that reduces the need for forklifts or other material-handling equipment. They both carry a demountable cargo bed, also known as a flatrack, which features a 16.5-ton payload capacity.

The PLS is a part of the Army’s Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles (FHTV), produced by Oshkosh, which also includes the Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT A4) and the Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET A1). Oshkosh works with armed forces to deliver world-class vehicles that are built to withstand harsh combat conditions and overcome challenging terrain.

Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, is an industry-leading global designer and manufacturer of tactical military trucks and armored wheeled vehicles, delivering a full product line of conventional and hybrid vehicles, advanced armor options, proprietary suspensions and vehicles with payloads that can exceed 70 tons. Oshkosh Defense provides a global service and supply network including full life-cycle support and remanufacturing, and its vehicles are recognized the world over for superior performance, reliability and protection.

-ends-

buglerbilly

20-08-10, 02:40 PM

Army Determining Cost, Scope of Humvee Recap Program

Will Operate Huge Fleet for Years Despite New Programs

By KATE BRANNEN

Published: 16 August 2010

The U.S. Army is working to better manage its weapon portfolios, including a tactical wheeled vehicle fleet with 154,000 Humvees that will be with the Army for years to come.

"We're going to have them in the Army for a long time because no matter what, it's going to take a long time to replace 150,000 vehicles," said Kevin Fahey, program executive officer for combat support and combat service support.

After reviewing the tactical wheeled vehicle portfolio, an effort led by Gen. Peter Chiarelli, vice chief of staff of the Army, the service concluded that it had reached its requirement for Humvees. With the unveiling of the 2011 budget in February, the Army announced that it would halt Humvee purchases.

"The Army made the decision that basically, we have bought to the requirement," Fahey said. There were many reasons behind the decision, but the number of mine resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles bought over the last few years was an important factor, he said. Of the 154,000 Humvees, roughly 60 percent of them remain unarmored.

Even with MRAPs and the next-generation Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, the Army will still need to manage its large fleet of Humvees for many years to come, Fahey said. "That's where the idea of a recap program came up."

After releasing a request for information in the spring and collecting responses, the Army is reviewing what could be done to improve the Humvee and how much would it cost.

"We're also working through the process of how would we get it funded if we come up with what we believe is a cost-effective recap," Fahey said.

Recap is not a reset. The goal of a recap program is to improve the vehicle's capabilities, not return it to its former condition, he said.

If recapping Humvees costs the same as buying new ones, the Army might select to do the recap if it brought additional capability, Fahey said.

Of the Army's various portfolio reviews, the tactical wheeled vehicle was "probably the most challenging," because of the number of items and vehicles being considered, Fahey said.

"Combat vehicles are important and they're at the tip of the spear, but in numbers, they're a magnitude less," he said.

There are roughly 30 versions of the Humvee and 18 different kinds of medium tactical vehicles. Heavy vehicles are a little easier because they are fewer in number, Fahey said.

The Army is rewriting its tactical wheeled vehicle strategy.

"The driving question, first and foremost, is, how many do we need and how many to meet the missions and functions of tactical vehicles?" Fahey said. "And that's the tough part because unlike combat vehicles, tactical vehicles are with every unit in the United States Army, Reserve and Guard."

After deciding how many are needed, the next priority is to establish how much is needed to armor the fleet, he said.

These issues will be addressed in the Tactical Wheeled Vehicle Strategy. A similar document was written last year but now is being updated to include the MRAP-All Terrain Vehicles and what was learned through the portfolio review, Fahey said.

"We worked really hard to get a good baseline on the status of each vehicle - where is it and what condition is it in," he said.

The Army's emerging Tactical Wheeled Vehicle Strategy "is lock step with the Marine Corps," said Fahey. "Everything we do affects them also, especially when you're talking light tactical vehicles."

The Army is also preparing to send to Congress a Tactical Wheeled Vehicle Acquisition Strategy. This document will outline what the Army is doing from an acquisition perspective to buy and sustain the equipment.

buglerbilly

20-08-10, 05:00 PM

Jackal keeps proving its worth in Afghanistan

An Equipment and Logistics news article

20 Aug 10

When purchase of the latest batch of Jackal vehicles was announced at Defence Equipment & Support's Defence Vehicle Dynamics event in June 2010 it took the number of Jackal vehicles procured for UK forces to more than 500.

Jackal 2 vehicles in Afghanistan
[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

The announcement, by Defence Equipment, Support and Technology Minister Peter Luff, to procure another 140 of the 2A version of the weapons-mounted patrol vehicle at a cost of £45m was another vote of confidence in a vehicle which has enabled British patrols to keep in touch with the enemy, often in the toughest of Afghan terrain. Around 40 of the Jackal 2As are due to be delivered this month.

Jackal is the best known of the high mobility transporter vehicles delivered by Babcock over the last few years. The original contract to produce the vehicles was signed as an Urgent Operational Requirement in 2007. The contract has since delivered with huge success.

Jackal vehicles are produced by Babcock under an alliance with Supacat, the prime contractor and design authority. Supacat is responsible for design, development, prototyping, integration and programme management, while Babcock takes responsibility for detailed production planning, purchasing and manufacture at its Devonport factory.

Perfect partnership has been the key for the project co-ordinators at Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S). Alan Stephen, DE&S' high mobility transport vehicle project manager, said:

"The success of the Jackal programme has been grounded on a combined effort between the project team and industry, who have shown great will to achieve and the ability to take risk to continue delivery.

"My team is thoroughly committed to achieving the best solution for the soldier on the ground, as early as possible, as economically as possible.

Jackal vehicles in production at Babcock
[Picture: via MOD]

"We can't rest on our laurels though, and are continually examining ways of making an excellent vehicle even better. Regular good communications direct with theatre and excellent backbriefs from returning brigades assist in identifying where we should be looking at improvements.

"Of course it does help motivation that it's a very well-liked vehicle which has delivered an important capability to Operation HERRICK."

The vehicles are built by a team of up to 130 Babcock employees working on the Devonport pulse production line, along with a smaller project management team of 25.

The pulse production line involves dividing the total manufacturing activity into a series of 12 equally balanced packages or 'cells', and the vehicle is physically moved, or 'pulsed', from one area assembly to the next on a daily basis.

Application of a 'lean' philosophy has identified and eliminated any non-value-adding activities, and serves to ensure that the demanding delivery schedules and critical quality and reliability requirements are met.

This is coupled with highly effective supply chain management to reduce lead times, ensure quality and reliability, manage obsolescence, and ultimately drive down the cost of construction and ownership. Production runs at a rate of one vehicle a day.

Babcock Land Systems Director, Chris Dunn, said:

"The Jackal vehicle has been a resounding success, having proved its versatility; combining speed and manoeuvrability with unparalleled cross-country performance over Afghanistan's harsh terrain.

Troops in Jackal vehicles provide reassurance to the local population in Lashkar Gah
[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

"We are delighted to be working in alliance with Supacat to deliver these vehicles reliably and consistently within the shortest possible timescales.

"Further, we have established Babcock as a company that can be relied upon to deliver vehicles of exceptional quality at record pace and, being OEM [Original Equipment Manufacture] independent, we are also talking to other vehicle designers about building their vehicles for upcoming programmes in the UK and abroad."

Jackal - the story so far...

In service are three Army variants based on the high mobility transporter - the 4x4 Jackal in three variants (1, 2 and 2A), the 6x6 Coyote and the 6x6 MEP (Military Enhancement Programme) vehicle.

The MEP was procured as the base vehicle for the Soothsayer programme, which was cancelled in 2009 - 35 vehicles were produced.

The first Jackal contract was placed on 28 July 2007, and the first vehicles entered service in November 2007 - vehicles were in theatre in early 2008.

Follow-on buys occurred in 2008 to bring the total to more than 200.

On 9 April 2008, the contract was signed for more than 100 more Jackals - these were at the Jackal 2 build standard and entered service in August 2009.

On 12 May 2010, a contract was signed for around 140 Jackal vehicles, at the Jackal 2A build standard.
Approximate contract value of the various buys is £174m for Jackal 1 and £45m for Jackal 2A.

More than 70 Coyote vehicles have been built - the Coyote is the light vehicle in the Tactical Support Vehicle family and entered service in August 2009.

The Jackal 2 contract and the Coyote contract were awarded together, with the number of vehicles changing during the buy - the combined value of the two contracts is £140m.

This article is taken from August 2010 edition of desider - the magazine for Defence Equipment and Support.

buglerbilly

24-08-10, 11:05 AM

Someone PM'd about these vehicles and this part of Overlander.........here are the pics.......

Mercedes Benz G-Wagon 4x4 and 6x6:

03/02/2010

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has taken delivery of its first new Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon cross-country vehicles - the first to be delivered on Australian soil. These first locally delivered vehicles, nine in total, follow on from the initial hand-over of the first two units at the G-Wagon’s factory in Austria, which took place late last year.

All eleven vehicles so far delivered are part of the 1200-strong tactical fleet order placed by the ADF in October 2008, a national undertaking known as “Project Overlander”. As planned, all vehicle units delivered to-date have been both on time and budget.

The Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon military vehicles being delivered to the ADF include:

Four-wheel-drive station wagons;

Four-wheel-drive cab-chassis units;

Six-wheel-drive units in both single- and dual-cab chassis configuration

All vehicles are powered by the German auto-maker’s proven 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 engine, the popular powerplant fitted to many of the marque’s passenger cars, SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicles) and vans.

Specific models will be fitted with specialist modules built by Australian engineering firm G. H. Varley, and all model variants are being subjected to a rigorous test regime by the Australian Defence Force prior to full production later this year. Mercedes-Benz will also provide an armour-kit that can be fitted should armoured protection be required.

The delivery of these G-Wagons continues Mercedes-Benz’s long involvement with the Australian Defence Force, which includes the delivery and support of Unimog cross-country trucks, Actros 8x8 fuel tankers, buses and vans.

Mercedes-Benz also recently participated in the ADF’s trial of medium and heavy trucks. The ADF tested a range of Mercedes-Benz trucks including the latest armoured Unimog, four- and six-wheel variants of the Zetros truck, and the massive armoured 8x8 Actros (nicknamed ‘Optimus Prime’ - the animated “Transformer” character - by Canadian soldiers on deployment).

Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific meets the ADF’s specialised military requirements with its resources, component commonality and technical support base – the result of being part of one of the world’s largest and most advanced automotive manufacturers. Mercedes-Benz is confident it can meet all the requirements of the Australian Defence Force with its comprehensive military vehicle range, and its extensive Australian support base.

buglerbilly

26-08-10, 03:50 AM

Hybrid vehicle? Sort of a CanAm Trike crossed with a SkiDoo.............I somehow doubt its longevity in some of the rock-and-scrub Bush that predominates in huge chunks of places like Australia, Afghanistan etc

Sand-X Motors Introduce the Sand-X T-ATV Desert Patroller

From a Recreational Vehicle Developed for the Emirates' Royalty, the Tracked All-Terrain Vehicle Turns into a Special Operations Desert Warrior

Where conflicts are waged in remote inhibited and desert lands, mobility becomes a major concern for military planners. Movements are predictable and vulnerable, with convoy restricted to known transportation routes, where they are exposed to IED and ambushes. Elsewhere, security forces and border guards are tasked with exhaustive mission of sealing long and porous borders in an attempt to block illegal immigration, stop drug smuggling, and monitor pipelines and mines, eliminating theft of oil and minerals. For these tasks and many more, all-terrain mobility becomes a must.

The SAND-X T-ATV is build to cross the desert as fast and safe as possible and support the troops. SAND-X T-ATV pilots can cross the dunes in every directions and can follow the given navigation route or choose theirs own path without large detours. Hard reaching locations in the desert, so called black spots, are now easy, fast and safe accessible for land forces with this new generation of desert vehicles. Photos: Sand-X Motors

Defense-Update has reviewed several innovative manned and unmanned platforms, including tracked, wheeled all terrain vehicles, quad ATVs and motorcycles. But the new Sand-X Tracked-all-terrain vehicle (T-ATV), deserves a category in itself. Originally adopted as a recreational vehicle by the emirate's elite, it was recently introduced as a desert patrols vehicle, tailored for security and military market, special operations and military applications.

T-ATV is an ATV category defined by a hybrid traction system combining low-pressure tires supported by a continuous track in the back, providing the traction, adding stability and safety at all speeds, slope angles and terrain. Like a motorcycle or snowmobile The T-ATV is steered by handlebars. As the name implies, it is designed to handle a wider variety of terrain than most other vehicles.

The tires used can be matched for every terrain while the track, made of tough Kevlar composite, is designed for operation over different types of terrain including deep and dry sand, rocks, gravel and loose dirt, shallow water, mud, snow or ice. The vehicle is said to be much safer for riding off-road or when travelling over pavement and roads. The new militarized model of the Sand-X T-ATV introduced recently is powered by a Rotax 4 stroke fuel-injecting 1,200cc petrol engine, with automatic transmission, operating over such rough terrain without refueling at distances exceeding 350 km. The developer, Sand-X Motors of the UAE has recently introduced two versions of this recreational vehicle, designed for special-operations, military and security applications. According to the manufacturer, Sand X T-ATV is faster and safer than any other sand vehicle and can carry more gear combined with bigger fuel range for longer range operations.

The motorbike-style Control-handle acts on the two tires on the front-axle. This allows precise tracking and directional control. Furthermore the stability in the roll axis is dramatically increased. The point of gravity is exceptionally low and the Kevlar made track provides optimum grip for precise power and speed control. The risk of roll-over or directional instability is reduced to a minimum with the low center of gravity, and wide stance roll over protection. Furthermore, with a single track providing traction, the Sand-X T-ATV does not need any ground clearance to overcome obstacles. On desert missions teams riding the Sand-X can cross the terrain to the target in a straight line, through dunes, rocks or other obstacles impeding mobility with other vehicles.

Traveling cross country at high speed enables security teams or special forces to save time, effectively chase fleeting targets and control larger areas with fewer forces. The vehicle accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in less than three seconds, and can reach a top speed of 185 km/h cross country. It can carry a payload up to 300 kg weight, is equipped with extra strong cooling system supporting operations in tropical/desert conditions.

buglerbilly

01-09-10, 04:16 PM

U.S. Army Gets Revamped Cargo Trucks

Sep 1, 2010

By Michael Fabey

Specially fitted cargo trucks are now carrying the U.S. military logistics load in Afghanistan.

Designed to be stronger and more survivable than earlier designs, Oshkosh Defense’s Palletized Load Systems (PLS) vehicles have become a mainstay for the rough and rugged terrain in the country’s remotest regions.

“It has become [the] backbone of over-the-road logistics for Afghanistan,” says Mike Ivy, Oshkosh vice president and general manager for Army programs.

Historically, he says, the Army has used commercial-grade tractors and trailers for over-the-road logistics. “Those trucks don’t do well in Afghanistan,” he says. “Particularly in northern Afghanistan.”

Oshkosh has improved the PLS to provide troops the increased protection and mobility demanded in the region’s tougher distribution and resupply missions.

The PLS is a part of the Army’s Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles (FHTV), produced by Oshkosh, which also includes the Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) and the Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET).

Oshkosh recently delivered its next-generation PLS A1s, with enhanced off-road capabilities and better protection from blasts and other threats.

The Army has 725 PLS vehicles on order under the FHTV contract. “We have strong orders on the Army side through Fiscal 2011,” Ivy says.

Wheeled vehicle programs ranked fourth among the top Pentagon expenses in 2009, racking up about $3.6 billion worth of contracts and contract modifications, according to an Aerospace DAILY analysis of contracting data provided by the National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting.

Wheeled vehicles have become increasingly important as the Pentagon has transitioned from Iraq to Afghanistan, which has a far less developed road infrastructure.

“The recapitalization market is going to be much bigger going forward,” Ivy asserts. “As you have the soldier and Marine Corps head count go down, equipment is flowing out of Iraq and into the plant for recapitalization.”

Vehicles sent to Iraq to support the invasion will have different missions requiring upgrades and other work. “That business will probably carry on for some time, as [the] Army rebuilds the fleet for a postwar environment,” Ivy says.

In the case of the PLS, “We bring [them] in as carcasses and build into the A1 configuration,” Ivy notes. The work includes independent suspension installation and a new engine with more horsepower. The Army also wants to restore the mobility lost when it added armor to the truck.

buglerbilly

02-09-10, 03:13 AM

Luxembourg Orders Mine, Ballistic Protected Trucks from Scania

September 1, 2010 at 9:52 pm

Luxembourg will get Scania G480 all-terrain 8x8 trucks, similar to this G420 used by the Dutch Army. Netherlands bought 555 trucks from Scania in 2003.

Scania announced receiving new orders for 8×8 all-wheel drive, mine protected trucks from the NATO military procurement & sustainment agency (NAMSA), to deliver 13 Type 8×8 G 480 trucks for the Luxembourg Army.

The new, add-on mine-protected V-hull was presented at Eurosatory 2010 by Akers Krutbruk's. The armor system for the Scania truck was launched at Eurosatory in 2008, and was since installed on several hundred trucks. The design implements ballistic protection in an internal installation, thus maintaining a 'non aggressive' look. At the 2010 Eurosatory Akers introduced an additional facet of this system - an add-on V-shaped hull, attached to the standard chassis, improving the cab's protection from mine blast and IEDs. Photo: Noam Eshel, Defense Update

Scania will also deliver 18 additional trucks without mine protection. According to Scania, this is the first application of the new STANAG Level 3 armor on a 13 ton truck. These new trucks will mostly be used on peace-keeping missions. Scania in cooperation with Swedish armor expert Akers Krutbruk has developed an add-on mine protected V-hull tailored for these trucks. 28 of the trucks will be fitted with hooklift bodywork and three with recovery body. Deliveries will take place during 2011.

In addition, Scania announced another order for 88 logistics trucks from Sweden, part of an ongoing delivery agreement with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV). The new order includes 80 three-axle Scania G 400 6×2 logistics vehicles with hooklift bodywork. Four vehicles to be used for driver training are specified with four individual seats in the cab. FMV has also ordered eight four-axle Scania P 400 8×2 with crane and platform bodywork. These vehicles are fitted with the Scania Communicator 200 on-board data collector for remote follow-up of vehicle and driver performance via a web portal. Deliveries are scheduled for the first quarter of 2011. Scania introduced military vehicles built to meet NATO standard in 1998. Mine and ballistic protected vehicles were introduced in 2001.

buglerbilly

02-09-10, 03:17 AM

First Order for 1,700 Caiman Multi-Terrain MRAP Vehicles

September 1, 2010 at 7:49 pm

Caiman MTV. Photo: BAE Systems

BAE Systems will upgrade 1,700 Caiman Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, under a $629 million contract awarded by the MRAP Joint Program Office (JPO).

The upgraded vehicle will include a refurbished and improved armored capsule, derived from existing Caimans. Unlike the classic ‘floating floor’ blast-protected floor, the new capsule is integrated with ‘enhanced monolithic floor’, strengthened frame and blast protected seats, improving the survivability of the passengersand crew. The new vehicle uses an uprated automotive power train, chassis and independent suspension. The upgraded interior also includes an upgraded HVAC temperature control system to protect soldiers and critical computer equipment from hot and cold extremes. The vehicle’s improved mobility is achieved with a greater vehicle track width, a strong independent suspension and an upgraded powertrain.

The upgraded vehicle is designated ‘Caiman Multi-Terrain Vehicle (MTV)‘. These enhancements will provide greater levels of mobility and survivability required in Afghan theater of operation. “The Caiman MTV is a very adaptable configuration that can be customized to meet a variety of missions” said Dennis Morris, president, BAE Systems Global Tactical Systems.

BAE Systems introduced the Caiman MTV earlier this year following a rapid design and development program. The new award is the first order of the new vehicle. BAE Systems will deliver the first Caiman MTVs from its production line at Sealy, TX in November 2010. Further integration will continue by the Navy.

buglerbilly

02-09-10, 03:29 AM

Thales, Textron Selected to Compete for Canadian Next Armored Patrol Vehicle Program

September 1, 2010 at 11:20 pm

The Australian Bushmaster armor and mine protected vehicle. Photo: Thales

Two companies the Australian subsidiary of Thales and U.S. based Textron Marine & Land Systems have confirmed as qualified for the next stage in the Canadian selection process for future acquisition of about 600 Tactical Armored Patrol Vehicle (TAPV), to replace the current RG-31, LAV-2 (Coyote) and some of the light protected G-Wagon utility vehicles.

Mobile Survivable Vehicle from Textrone Marine & Land Systems. Photo: Tamir eshel
Textron plans to offer the ‘Mobile Survivable Vehicle‘ – a special 4×4 wheeled armored vehicle specifically designed to provide survivability, mobility and versatility in full spectrum operations over the toughest of landscapes. A typical configuration was displayed last year at the AUSA annual meeting. The armored hull is shielding troops from roadside bombs and blasts while providing large power reserves for future electronics enhancements with an ergonomically designed interior for optimum comfort and payload.

“Our team has been working diligently to develop and test this modern combat vehicle for the Canadian military to achieve the highest possible level of crew protection while maintaining the mobility and reliability of our combat-proven Armored Security Vehicle,” said Textron Marine & Land Systems General Manager Tom Walmsley. “We are offering the Canadian military the ultimate balance of survivability, mobility and lethality in a modern, ergonomically designed platform. It is a cost effective game-changing solution for Canada’s national security requirements for the next 25 years.”

The combat proven Bushmasterfamily of protected mobility vehicles includes patrol, command, ambulance, surveillance and target acquisition, direct fire support weapons and mortar vehicle variants and provides solutions for a wide variety of mission roles and applications including logistical support. Bushmasters have been deployed to Afghanistan for the past several years, where they are operated by the Australian and Dutch forces. For the TAPV program Thales intend to offer the base vehicle with various weapon systems, such as a remote weapons station, sighting and vision systems and several C4I options.

Anticipating the significance of local workshare in the program, Thales has entered an exclusive teaming agreement with DEW Engineering and Development ULC, on the assembly of the Bushmaster. In addition, Thales will be looking at further maximizing its Canadian Content Value and will be meeting with potential suppliers across Canada over the next several months. Thales’ first official supplier sourcing session will be during DEFSEC Atlantic 2010, in Halifax, September 9 – 10, 2010.

Other teams that competed for the program included Oshkosh offering the M-ATV, and the French Nexter offered the Aravis. Although the Canadians were explicitly seeking ‘Military off the Shelf’ (MOTS) vehicles, two companies preferred to submit new vehicles – BAE Systems offered the South African designed RG-35 and L-3, teamed with Israel’s Hatehof and Elbit Systems offered the new Xtrem.

jacktar

03-09-10, 06:55 AM

Canada Shortlists Bushmaster for Army TAPV Program

Thales Canada has welcomed the Canadian government’s announcement that the Bushmaster has been qualified for the next stage in selection process for the Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle (TAPV) Program.

”We are very pleased to have the opportunity to present the Bushmaster for Army testing next year as part of the Request for Proposal,” said Paul Kahn, Thales Canada President and CEO. “The Bushmaster is a highly mobile vehicle with outstanding ballistic, mine and improvised explosive device (IED) blast resistant characteristics that has been proven repeatedly in combat to save lives.”

With Bushmaster vehicles in-service in Iraq and Afghanistan with the forces of Australia, the Netherlands and other NATO Allies, Thales has a fully developed, independently tested and combat proven vehicle that is ideal for the Canadian TAPV program.

Thales Canada, in addition to its exclusive teaming agreement with DEW Engineering and Development ULC on the assembly of the Bushmaster, will be looking at further maximizing its Canadian Content Value and will be meeting with potential suppliers across Canada over the next several months. Thales’ first official supplier sourcing session will be during DEFSEC Atlantic 2010, in Halifax, September 9 - 10, 2010.

“The combination of Thales, DEW, and a variety of Canadian suppliers will not only give the government a “made in Canada” solution but will create and maintain jobs for Canadians for the next 25 years,” added Dave Spagnolo, Vice President of Thales Canada’s defence and security business.

The Bushmaster family of protected mobility vehicles includes patrol, command, ambulance, surveillance & target acquisition, direct fire support weapons and mortar vehicle variants and provides solutions for a wide variety of mission roles and applications including logistical support.

The base vehicle will be offered with various weapon systems, such as a remote weapons station, sighting and vision systems as well integrated electronic architectures and C4I options to enhance the vehicle mission performance.

Thales is a global technology leader for the Defence & Security and the Aerospace & Transportation markets. In 2009, the company generated revenues of 12.9 billion Euros (equivalent of $20.4 billion CAD) with 68,000 employees in 50 countries.

Thales Canada has 1,500 employees in Halifax, Montreal, Quebec City, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver working in Defence and Security, Aerospace and Transportation. Sales across Thales operations in Canada exceeded $540 million (CAD) for 2009, to a range of customers including urban rail service providers, civil aviation companies, and military and security agencies.

buglerbilly

03-09-10, 11:07 AM

Errr that was in the post immediately above...........

buglerbilly

03-09-10, 03:04 PM

Government Blast Testing of MRAPs May be Inadequate

(Source: Lexington Institute; issued September 2, 2010)

(© Lexington Institute; reproduced by permission)

Since the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan morphed into a lengthy battle of attrition with insurgents, the majority of U.S. and Coalition casualties have come from improvised explosive devices (IEDs). These have come in every type, shape and size from very simple fertilizer bombs in plastic jugs to sophisticated explosively-formed projectiles provided by Iran.

In response to the IED threat, the Department of Defense went on an unprecedented campaign to improve the protection of our forces. One way was by creating a special institution, the Joint IED Defeat Organization, to figure out all the ways to combat these infernal devices. Another was by proliferating unmanned aerial vehicles like the Scan Eagle and Shadow to provide overwatch of U.S. convoys. But the [principal] way the Pentagon has come up with for enhancing survivability is by providing the troops with specially-designed, heavily armored vehicles. These include the two most important and common classes of vehicles, the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP), which comes in a number of variants, and its newer MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV).

In addition, the military has uparmored the venerable Humvee and its medium truck fleets to add to their survivability. There is a plan to provide additional protection to the Stryker wheeled combat vehicle, including a V-shaped plate on the bottom to deflected explosions from underneath. If it isn’t armored it does not move outside the safety of a U.S. base.

There is no question that casualties in Iraq declined with the introduction of MRAPs and uparmored vehicles. Although U.S. casualties in Afghanistan are rising, this is due, in part, simply to the rapid increase in the number of troops deployed in that country. But it is also a function of the Taliban learning new ways of attacking U.S. forces.

One way that Afghan insurgents can seek to defeat new U.S. forces is by increasing the size of their IEDs or how they are deployed. Of course if the IED is large enough it could destroy even a 70 ton M-1 Abrams tank. But this would require a very large IED, one that would be difficult to deploy certainly in any large numbers and much easier to detect. However, the current generation of vehicles may be vulnerable to relatively small increases in the size of terrorist devices.

Every successful MRAP and M-ATV design has to meet a government-specified level of protection and to pass government-conducted blast testing. But these tests may be inadequate.

The United Kingdom, for example, has a much more stringent testing methodology that reflects a view of blast phenomenology different from that applied by the U.S. testing body. Under the U.K. methodology an IED of a given size could have much more lethal impact on a vehicle. In effect, if the British approach is right, some types of armored vehicles the U.S. is deploying currently to Afghanistan could have failed their blast tests. This is even before anyone entertains the possibility that the Afghan insurgents might increase the size of the average IED.

Our adversaries in Iraq and Afghanistan have proven that they are learning organizations that study their adversaries, looking for weaknesses. The Pentagon should not give them the gift of inadequate blast testing of vehicles specifically designed and built to protect our troops from IEDs.

-ends-

buglerbilly

06-09-10, 02:13 PM

General Dynamics Awarded Contracts for 70 Additional Eagle IV Vehicles for Germany

(Source: General Dynamics European Land Systems - Mowag; issued August 25, 2010)

VIENNA --- General Dynamics European Land Systems was recently awarded two additional contracts with the German Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung (BWB) for the delivery of 70 highly protected Eagle vehicles.

Sixty of the new vehicles will be added to the regular fleet of protected wheeled vehicles in the Bundeswehr, while ten of the new Eagle IV vehicles will be deployed to support the German Federal Police in Afghanistan. These two orders, signed in April and July, will increase the German Eagle IV fleet to a total number of 288 vehicles.

Within the framework of the “GFF Klasse 2” program – protected Command and Function vehicles – unprotected carrier vehicles of the Bundeswehr are being replaced by the Eagle IV to enhance the safety of German soldiers wherever they may serve. Due to its high deployability, agility and tactical mobility, the Eagle IV is suitable for the entire mission spectrum for this class of vehicles. The Eagle IV can be used for various missions by applying modular add-on kits. Furthermore, the substantial payload capability – which is significant, despite the high level of crew protection – supports the growth potential required to fulfill future requirements.

The first contract for the delivery of 198 Eagle was signed with the BWB in November 2008, following a two-year intensive comparative test. By May 2009 the first vehicles were delivered and deployed in Afghanistan, where they proved their outstanding reliability from the beginning of their active service. The delivery of the first 198 vehicles to the Bundeswehr will be completed in September 2010, three months ahead of the contractual delivery schedule.

The original contract with the BWB was expanded in November 2009 to include production and deli-very of 20 Eagle BAT (Protected Ambulance) vehicles. These vehicles will replace unprotected carrier vehicles currently in service with the Bundeswehr. The Eagle BAT will accommodate a driver and two medical personnel and will enable the transport and emergency treatment of patients under ballistic, mine and IED protection. Deliveries will take place within 2010.

All vehicles for the Bundeswehr and the German Federal Police will be jointly manufactured by General Dynamics European Land Systems-MOWAG in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland, and in Kaiserslautern by General Dynamics European Land Systems-Germany. Numerous other German suppliers are engaged in the manufacture and supply of many key components.

These orders reflect the strong relationship with the BWB and the Bundeswehr as a key customer for General Dynamics European Land Systems and underline the international success of the protected Eagle.

Facts about the Eagle vehicle

The Eagle sets the standard for protected wheeled vehicles in the weight class of up to 9.5 t. The vehicle has a length of 5.40 m, a height of 2.4 m and a width of 2.16 m. It reaches a top speed of 110 km/h on the road and manages gradients of up to 60%.

The 245 hp Cummins turbocharged diesel engine, in connection with an Allison 5-speed automatic transmission, the unique De Dion axle system with the patented roll stabilizer, the tire pressure control system and the permanent all-wheel drive give the Eagle superior on-road and off-road mobility. Thanks to the modular protection system, the Eagle offers a very high level of protection against ballistic threats, mines, and IEDs. Furthermore, the vehicle is equipped with an NBC overpressure system.

General Dynamics European Land Systems, headquartered in Vienna, Austria, is a business unit of General Dynamics and conducts its business through four European operating sites located in Spain, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. With more than 3,250 highly skilled technical employees, General Dynamics European Land Systems companies design, manufacture and deliver to global customers land systems, including wheeled (Piranha, Pandur, Duro, Eagle), tracked (ASCOD), and amphibious vehicles and bridging systems (M3, IRB, REBS), and other military goods.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 91,000 people world-wide. 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.

-ends-

buglerbilly

08-09-10, 03:05 PM

Navistar Defense to Produce Additional U.K. Tactical Support Vehicles

(Source: Navistar International Corp.; issued September 7, 2010)

Unofficially I've heard nothing but good reports of this vehicle.............seems to be held in high regard?

WARRENVILLE, Ill. --- Navistar Defense, LLC today announced that it received a second delivery order valued at $56 million from the U.K. Ministry of Defence for an additional 89 International MXT Husky vehicles.

The award follows the company’s April 2009 contract for 262 MXT Husky units for the U.K. Tactical Support Vehicle (TSV) program. All units will be utility variants.

“MXT Husky units are currently supporting missions in Afghanistan and the Ministry of Defence has placed priority on getting these additional vehicles into theater,” said Archie Massicotte, president, Navistar Defense. “Improvised explosive devices continue to threaten coalition forces and the MXT provides the protection and the mobility warfighters need to complete missions safely.”

The Husky is the medium variant for the TSV program and accommodates a four-person crew. The vehicle is equipped with a MaxxForce D 6.0 L V8 engine, Allison five-speed automatic transmission and also incorporates Plasan Sasa’s armoring solution.

Deliveries are scheduled to begin at the end of October 2010 and will be completed in early 2011.

Navistar International Corporation is a holding company whose subsidiaries and affiliates produce International brand commercial and military trucks, MaxxForce brand diesel engines, IC Bus brand school and commercial buses, Monaco RV brands of recreational vehicles, and Workhorse brand chassis for motor homes and step vans.

-ends-

buglerbilly

15-09-10, 03:27 AM

Textron Marine & Land Systems Teams with Israel’s MDT to Market the Tiger

September 14, 2010 at 8:23 pm

tamir_eshel

Textron Marine & Land Systems, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, and MDT Armor Corporation, a division of Arotech Corporation (Nasdaq GM: ARTX), today announced a teaming agreement to market, design and manufacture the Tiger Light Protected Vehicle.

“The Tiger is a high quality, off-road vehicle in the light armor segment that meets the needs of a wide variety of potential customers. With our lean manufacturing expertise and the low lifecycle cost of the Tiger we feel like this is an excellent teaming opportunity,” said Textron Marine & Land Systems General Manager Tom Walmsley.

The Tiger is based on a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) Dodge RAM 5500 platform, offering a cost effective, light protected class all terrain vehicle. The Tiger comfortably transports six to nine soldiers in an armor protected cabin offering effective ballistic and mine blast protection. The vehicle is designed to accommodate add-on armor enhancing protection to meet evolving threats.

The Tiger’s 8.8 ton Gross Vehicle Weight, including the standard armor package and 1.5 ton payload. It is powered by a Cummins 350 HP diesel engine, large wheels, and a 127-inch wheel base, Tiger offers exceptional all terrain capabilities. It is equipped with heavy duty off-road suspension to ensure comfortable ride for the crew and effective off-road mobility. The roof is designed to accommodate remote controlled weapon station, or man-operated turret.

According to Jonathan Whartman, MDT Armor Corporation Executive Vice President, the Tiger was designed as an affordable platform. MDT developed the armor solution separate from the chassis it rides on. “Our unique encapsulated cabin allows easy access to all components, or dismounting the entire cabin from the chassis” said Whartman. The armored cabin can then be installed on a new platform, therefore extending the armored vehicle’s service life and ensuring low life cycle cost. Vhartman added that by utilizing Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) Dodge platforms MDT ensures widespread support and cost effective maintenance.

buglerbilly

22-09-10, 03:36 PM

Navistar Defense Displays Military Vehicles for Future South African Truck Requirement

(Source: Navistar Defense; issued Sept. 21, 2010)

CAPE TOWN, South Africa --- Navistar Defense, LLC today showcased its International MXT and Navistar-Tatra ATX6 vehicles at the Africa Aerospace and Defence exhibition. The company plans to submit variations of these vehicles to compete for the future South African military logistic truck requirement.

“We continue to diversify our product portfolio to meet the needs of allied armed forces all over the world,” said Archie Massicotte, president, Navistar Defense. “Our MXT vehicle and the Navistar-Tatra ATX6 provide flexible platforms that can meet the future military needs of South Africa while also allowing for additional enhancements as mission needs evolve. In addition, the ATX family of vehicles provides solutions in 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8 configurations. ”

Today, the MXT vehicle is in operation in Afghanistan supporting the British Army. The vehicle has demonstrated exceptional survivability and off road performance in all environmental conditions. The vehicle utilizes Navistar’s manufacturing and engineering expertise along with survivability solutions developed by Israel’s Plasan Sasa.

The jointly-produced ATX6 is part of a family of vehicles offered by Navistar and Tatra, a.s. The ATX6 combines Navistar engine technology and other vehicle components with Tatra’s proven backbone-tube chassis design and independent suspension system. Tatra’s chassis concept uses swinging half-axles for world class tactical vehicle mobility and added resistance against chassis wear and tear.

Navistar International Corporation is a holding company whose subsidiaries and affiliates produce International brand commercial and military trucks, MaxxForce brand diesel engines, IC Bus brand school and commercial buses, Monaco RV brands of recreational vehicles, and Workhorse brand chassis for motor homes and step vans.

-ends-

buglerbilly

22-09-10, 05:03 PM

Ocelot chosen to replace Snatch Land Rovers on frontline

The Ocelot, a British built vehicle that can be rebuilt in a matter of hours, will replace the highly criticised Snatch Land Rover.

By Thomas Harding, Defence Correspondent, UK Daily Telegraph

Published: 1:48PM BST 22 Sep 2010

The patrol vehicle could save scores of lives with a specially designed V-shape hull and a highly manoeuvrable off-road capability.

It has been ordered by the Ministry of Defence, as part of an expected £200 million, 200 light protected patrol vehicle package, that will provide a major boost for the economy securing 750 British jobs. It could also lead to big export deals with both Australia and America said to be keen on buying it.

Huh? News to me, obviously I've not been keeping up..............."keen" is stretch of the truth............:sleep

The Ocelot presents a radical change by providing an armoured vehicle that has a high resistance to mines butcan also drive in extreme off-road conditions.

When The Daily Telegraph drove the Ocelot at Millbrook testing ground, Beds, through complex two foot deep ditches, down 30 degree slopes, over very rocky terrain and through deep muddy ruts it never once became stuck and gave passengers a reasonably comfortable ride.

Snatch Land Rovers have been responsible for 37 deaths including the killing of Cpl Sarah Bryant and three SAS soldiers who were forced to cross over a culvert in Helmand in 2008 where the Taliban had planeted a bomb.

Built by Ricardo, based in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, in partnership with Force Protection Europe, responsible for constructing the extremely robust Mastiffs, the Ocelot has been designed from scratch to withstand bombs with a v-shaped hull instead of a chassis.

“The whole architecture has been designed with survivability in mind from the outset rather than having survivability added to it which is what we have seen with most vehicles in Afghanistan,” said Graeme Rumbol of Ricardo.

The designers began with a clean sheet of paper last March and expect to build 10 a week if they are awarded the contract over the equally well-regarded competitor the SPV400 in July.

The speed and relative ease of development has been put down to “virtual engineering” with exhaustive computer testing before the first metal was cut.

The Ocelot’s simplistic design means its engine can be removed and replaced in 30 minutes. It also takes only two hours to swap “modules” – the main body - turning it rapidly from patrol vehicle into an ambulance or supply truck.

The vehicle, named after the wildcat, is also designed to drive away from ambush on three wheels. “It’s no good being able to survive the blast if you cannot survive the ambush,” said Max Pennelley, of Force Protection.

“This is a totally different vehicle to Snatch. It is many, many times more survivable. There really is no comparison between the two.”

With counter-insurgency needing troops to get among the people to win their support the Ocelot is small enough, at seven tons, to drive through narrow streets or over weak bridges without causing damage.

Peter Luff, the Minister for Defence Equipment, said: “Small, agile but highly protected, the LPPV is at the forefront of technology. It will offer troops unprecedented levels of blast protection for such a light vehicle, enabling them to carry out a wide range of tasks, whilst moving with ease through narrow alleyways or crossing bridges.”

The first vehicles will be ready for training by early next year.

buglerbilly

22-09-10, 05:07 PM

The formal announcement..............

New patrol vehicle further on the road to production

An Equipment and Logistics news article

22 Sep 10

Plans to provide troops in Afghanistan with a new generation of Light Protected Patrol Vehicle (LPPV) have passed an important milestone with Force Protection Europe announced as the preferred bidder by the Ministry of Defence.

The Force Protection Ocelot light protected patrol vehicle
[Picture: Andy Perryman, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

The selection of Force Protection Europe as the preferred bidder means contract negotiations will now begin to provide an initial order of LPPVs through the Urgent Operational Requirements process.

The first vehicles are expected to be available to troops for training in 2011. The total number will be subject to negotiation and announced in due course.

The LPPV has been designed to provide unprecedented levels of blast protection for a vehicle of its size, and will be able to carry a crew of up to six people. It will add to the wide array of protected vehicles already being used on operations in Afghanistan, including Mastiff and Ridgback.

Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Peter Luff, said:

The assemblies of the Ocelot light protected patrol vehicle can be changed and fitted in 30 minutes to customise it for specific missions
[Picture: Courtesy of Force Protection Europe]

"Small, agile but highly protected, the LPPV is at the forefront of technology. It will offer troops unprecedented levels of blast protection for such a light vehicle, enabling them to carry out a wide range of tasks, whilst moving with ease through narrow alleyways or crossing bridges.

"It will be a valuable addition to the vehicles already available to commanders in Afghanistan, and demonstrates the Government's commitment to providing our troops with the very best equipment on the front line.

"I'm delighted to announce that negotiations can now begin to get these vehicles out to theatre as soon as possible."

Chief of Defence Materiel, General Sir Kevin O'Donoghue, said:

The Force Protection Ocelot light protected patrol vehicle is put through its paces at Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire
[Picture: Andy Perryman, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

"A great deal of work has been done to get the programme to this stage. When it comes to vehicle technology, it is clear from this competition that British engineering is leading the way. Both proposed solutions reflect the significant progress made in the development of a new generation of small yet highly protected vehicles.

"The LPPV will offer huge benefit to troops in Afghanistan, as well as being a valuable asset to the Armed Forces in the future."

Force Protection Europe has confirmed that, subject to the satisfactory completion of contractual negotiations with MOD, all of the vehicles will be built and supported in the UK. It is estimated that around 750 jobs will be created or sustained in the UK as a result of this programme.

buglerbilly

23-09-10, 06:16 AM

Last report on this worth publishing...........

Force Protection Europe selected for LPPV

September 22, 2010

The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has selected Force Protection Europe ahead of Supacat as preferred bidder for its Light Protected Patrol Vehicle (LPPV) programme.

The 22 September selection of Force Protection Europe’s 4x4 Ocelot vehicle follows months of evaluation by the MoD which has been looking to replace in-service Land Rover Snatch and Snatch Vixen vehicles- highly criticised over recent years by troops operating in Afghanistan regarding levels of protection against improvised explosive devices.

An initial tranche of around 200 vehicles is expected to be procured with an in-service date early in 2011.The total programme however, has a requirement for some 400 vehicles with industry sources ensuring LWI that LPPV will remain unaffected by the ongoing Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR).

An official release from the MoD said contract negotiations would begin in order to ‘provide an initial order of LPPVs through the Urgent Operational Requirements (UOR) process’.

‘The first vehicles are expected to be available to troops for training in 2011. The total number will be subject to negotiation and announced in due course. The LPPV has been designed to provide unprecedented levels of blast protection for a vehicle of its size, and will be able to carry a crew of up to six people. It will add to the wide array of protected vehicles already being used on operations in Afghanistan, including Mastiff and Ridgeback,’ the statement continued.

Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology Peter Luff, said: ‘It will offer troops unprecedented levels of blast protection for such a light vehicle, enabling them to carry out a wide range of tasks, whilst moving with ease through narrow alleyways or crossing bridges.’

The Ocelot, which was developed in collaboration with Ricardo, comprises a 7.5-tonne vehicle including a 1.5-tonne payload. A modular protected pod solution could be manufactured in a number of variants including load bearing; fire support; flat-bed; troop carrier; ambulance and open-top vehicles.

Earlier in the year, Force Protection officials also confirmed that there was a MoD requirement for a weapons mount on board the LPPV, most likely to be either a 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), .50-calibre Heavy Barrelled weapon or 40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher.

In response, Supacat and NP Aerospace said they would continue development of its SPV400 vehicle. Managing director, Nick Ames, said the company would also target non-governmental organisations operating in conflict areas.

In May, Ocelot was down-selected by the Australian government to compete in the Land 121 Phase 4 projected for Protected Mobility Vehicle (Light PMV-L) prototype. That programme has a total requirement to provide up to 1,300 vehicles.

By Andrew White, London

buglerbilly

23-09-10, 06:30 AM

AAD 2010: OTT targets vehicle market gaps

September 22, 2010

OTT Technologies, a South African company, has launched two new vehicles to the international market at African Aerospace and Defence 2010. A company spokesman said that OTT was confident of success with both vehicles, which have an eye to specific gaps in the African market.

The first of these is the Samil 20 Hunter 4x4 light strike vehicle which has been developed privately by the company. The Hunter, which is based on remanufactured and customised Samil 20 truck chassis, meets the tough requirements inherent in Africa. The Hunter provides a high-level of cross country mobility while still being large enough to accommodate a commander, driver and five crew.

Although developed as a private venture, the company says that first batch of production vehicles is nearing completion and will be delivered to an undisclosed foreign customer. Hunter can be equipped with a variety of heavy weapon systems including ring-mounted 12.5mm or 14.5mm machine guns or 40mm grenade launchers.

The Hunter can also have up to three further machine guns on pintle mounts and smoke grenade launcher pods can be mounted at the front of the vehicle. The Hunter is powered by a Deutz cooled diesel engine delivering 124hp. The engine is coupled with a manual transmission and two-speed transfer case.

The vehicle has a gross weight of 7,700kg including a 2,000kg payload. Maximum road speed is stated to be 80kph and it has a range of some 800km with its standard 200 litre fuel tank.

Data sheet:

http://www.ott.co.za/Samil%2020%20Hunter%20Light%20Strike%20Vehicle_Eng lish.pdf

The other new vehicle the company has on display is its Puma M26-15 mine protected vehicle (MPV). The 4x4 vehicle is based on the Tatat 715 4x4 drive line. The spokesman said that the company tried to use as many commercial vehicle parts as possible in order to keep costs down and improve through life support.

The MPV has a gross vehicle weight of 8130kg and can carry a payload of 1000kg. This puts the vehicle squarely in the light MPV category. The Puma can carry up to ten personnel.

The vehicle has STANAG Level 1 ballistic protection. According to the company it also has landmine protection 'in excess of a single tank mine.' The spokesman added that 'the vehicle restores mobility in mine risk areas.'

OTT has designed a number of different variants of the MPV including a patrol variant with a 360° protected cuppola that can mount either a 12.7mm or 14.5mm heavy machine gun. Other configurations include armoured personnel carrier, tactical command and reconnaissance vehicles.

The company currently has one prototype and a more developed pre-production model of the vehicle which is currently undergoing trials with a foreign customer. OTT expects to have a production line for the MPV up and running by the end of the year.

By Darren Lake, Cape Town

buglerbilly

27-09-10, 03:02 PM

Casspir IV – Denel Introduces A Modern Version for the Legendary Mine Protected Vehicle (MPV)

September 22, 2010 at 3:20 pm

tamir_eshel

new features introduced with the new model are the use of modern, more powerful drive train with optional automatic transmission, improved protection and more ergonomic cabin. Photo: Denel

31 years after pioneering mine protection for vehicles with the first Casspir Mine Protected Vehicle (MPV) Denel unveiled today a new version of South Africa’s iconic mine-protection vehicle – Casspir MK IV. The new vehicle was launched today in Cape Town today, at the African Aerospace and Defence Expo (AAD) taking place at the Ysterplaat Air Force Base.

According to Ashley Williams, CEO of Denel’s subsidiary Mechem, responsible for the vehicle design, new features introduced with the new model are the use of modern, more powerful drive train with manual or automatic transmission, a stronger hull offering improved protection, including ‘up armoring’ with appliqué armor modules, a slightly wider and lower cabin, offering improved interior design.

“Mechem took the strategic decision to build this configuration again due to the great demand still in the market. In the last few years, most of these vehicles were re-manufactured from hulls bought from SAPS auctions and tender processes causing depletion in actionable stock. There was also concern over the supply of spare parts,” said Mr Williams.

According to Denel CEO, Mr Talib Sadik, Casspir had been the benchmark for the safe transportation of military personnel worldwide and the vehicle is the preferred Mine Protection Vehicle and Armored Personnel Carrier used by the United Nations. It has been used in combat in many of the world’s hot spots, from Afghanistan to Mozambique, by the South African National Defence Force, private security companies and police services. Casspir became famous in popular culture when it featured prominently in the Oscar-nominated film, District Nine. The first Casspir was built in 1979 by TFM.

Mechem also offers the ‘Steel Wheels’ counter-mine system for the Casspir, enabling the vehicle to destroy land mines without damaging the vehicle.

buglerbilly

28-09-10, 03:54 AM

Oshkosh Customizes the HMMWV for Rough Rides

September 27, 2010 at 5:54 pm

tamir_eshel

Oshkosh is offering to enhance the HMMWVs used by the U.S. Marine Corps, extending their off-road performance, speed and payload capacity, retaining their original mission capabilities with the additional armor added through the years of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Photo: Oshkosh Defense.

Is there any vehicle they are NOT going to stick TAK4 suspension on?

Oshkosh Defense is offering to upgrade the Marine Corps HMMWVs, enhancing its off-road mobility, maneuverability, and speed, while retaining, and even improving its ballistic protection and introducing V-shaped under armor for additional blast protection. The key for this miracle is the TAK-4 independent suspension system, customizing the tactical utility HMMWV into a customized off-road vehicle. Oshkosh is presenting the customized HMMWV at the Modern Marine expo in Quantico, VA.

Current U.S. Marine Corps operational protection requirements call for add-on armor to improve the vehicle’s survivability (i.e., the Up-armored HMMWV, M1151A1 with B1 armor kit). With this up-armoring, the vehicle weighs in more than 1.5 tons above its originally designed Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and experiences performance, ride quality and mobility degradations. “Oshkosh offers a new way forward for the Marine Corps’ light vehicle fleet, and does so using its proprietary TAK-4 suspension, which has been proven in theater on multiple vehicle classes,” Said John Bryant, Oshkosh Defense vice president and general manager, Marine Corps Programs. “The HMMWV with the TAK-4 system improves vehicle ride height and performance, ride quality and restores the original vehicle payload capability – allowing for additional under-vehicle armor protection for improved survivability.”

TAK-4 independent suspension installed on a HMMWV. Photo: Oshkosh

The new suspension offers the vehicle a 70 percent off-road profile capability. The new suspension restores a 2,500-pound vehicle payload capacity in addition to the armor and occupants. Introducing 14 inches of independent wheel travel, the HMMWV can overcome obstacles and navigate rugged, mountainous environments. The vehicle’s performance is also improved in 40 percent increase in the maximum speed and a 46 percent improvement in braking. With ground clearance increases to 17 inches, and additional payload capacity, an under-vehicle V-shaped panel can be added, to further improve survivability from mine blasts and IEDs. The higher ground clearance further improves mobility and occupant visibility.

“We continue to see vehicles equipped with the TAK-4 thrive in places like Afghanistan – where unimproved roads and rocky, rugged terrain make up the battlefields.” Bryant added. The TAK-4 independent suspension system has already been used on more than 10,000 Oshkosh Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacements (MTVR) operated by the Marine Corps and Navy Seabees. It is also used on Oshkosh MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV).

© 2010 Defense Update

buglerbilly

28-09-10, 02:37 PM

Navistar Defense Launches High-Mobility Medium Tactical Vehicle Based on Proven Truck Platform

(Source: Navistar Defense; issued Sept. 28, 2010)

QUANTICO, Virginia --- Navistar Defense, LLC today unveiled its new high-mobility medium tactical vehicle (MTV) at the Modern Day Marine Exposition in Quantico, Virginia.

Based on the proven International 7000-MV platform, the vehicle incorporates the DXM independent suspension and can also accommodate a variety of survivability and armoring solutions derived from the International MaxxPro Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle.

“Since receiving our first contract in 2005 to support security and rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan, we have provided more than 21,000 medium tactical vehicles based on the 7000-MV platform in 13 different variants,” said Archie Massicotte, president, Navistar Defense. “Now, we’ve enhanced this family of vehicles by incorporating survivability and independent suspension technologies that are in the field on our MaxxPro MRAP vehicles.”

The company recently completed building 1,130 MaxxPro Dash vehicles with its DXM independent suspension for fielding in Afghanistan. An additional 1,222 Dash units already in operation will also soon be retrofitted with the DXM suspension solution.

Capable of climbing a 60 percent gradient and maneuvering 40 percent side slopes, Navistar’s high-mobility MTV also incorporates automatic traction control, anti-lock brakes, self-diagnostics and advanced electronics systems. Additional options include MaxxForce D 9.3L and 13L powertrain offerings as well as a central tire inflation system (CTIS).

Navistar medium tactical vehicles are currently in operation in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Canada, Israel, Jordan and Taiwan.

Navistar International Corporation is a holding company whose subsidiaries and affiliates produce International brand commercial and military trucks, MaxxForce brand diesel engines, IC Bus brand school and commercial buses, Monaco RV brands of recreational vehicles, and Workhorse brand chassis for motor homes and step vans.

-ends-

buglerbilly

30-09-10, 02:09 AM

After U.K. Win, Ocelot's Maker Eyes U.S. Market

By KATE BRANNEN

Published: 29 Sep 2010 08:55

NOT too surprising that they are after USMC business in particular but interesting to read that they are looking at this vehicle (and others) in place of JLTV. The Marines are less than convinced about the supposed benefits of the latter..............the Australian programme is also mentioned............

QUANTICO, Va. - Having recently won a major British competition with its Ocelot vehicle, Force Protection is preparing to go after the American market, according to the company's chief operating officer.

Force Protection has briefed U.S. Army and Marine Corps leaders on the Ocelot, but the company wanted to secure a win in the U.K.'s light protected patrol vehicle (LPPV) program before pushing it aggressively in the United States, said Randy Hutcherson, chief operating officer for Force Protection, Ladson, S.C.

Remainder of article can be seen here...........

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4799770&c=AME&s=LAN

buglerbilly

30-09-10, 01:36 PM

Interesting guff (edited) on the OCELOT taken from a Battlespace report in the July edition..............

Force Protection Europe OCELOT

Visit to Ricardo

Before driving up to Millbrook on Tuesday April 26th to drive the Ocelot, the Editor visited Ricardo’s Shoreham-on-Sea facility to see the engineering behind the Ocelot.

“We are extremely pleased to have been able to work with Force Protection Europe to create this exciting new vehicle concept. Ocelot offers a highly practical defence vehicle solution to current and future operational requirements, while also providing unparalleled levels of occupant safety against the very real and present threats of a hostile theatre environment. This is just another example of how Ricardo is able to work with its partners and customers to deliver the very latest in automotive innovation and technology in truly exceptional defence vehicle solutions.” John Lake of Ricardo said.

“By starting with a clean sheet we have been able to create a design that is a complete departure from the usual practice of basing mine resistant vehicles on a standard chassis. We are confident that Ocelot not only meets today’s blast resistance requirements but those expected in the future. Ocelot exceeds the required mine protection level set for the UK MoD’s Light Protected Patrol Vehicle, while still meeting the targets for mobility, payload, size and gross vehicle weight. As a member of Team Ocelot, Ricardo was tasked with the design and development of the vehicle from the ground up. Given the short time frame, from February to November 2009, we had to be nimble on our feet as well as providing the best engineering solution to meet, what was, a very demanding Requirement. We used our expertise in the WMIK and SNATCH Vixen Programmes to design a build process which provides fast throughput. We aim to build 10 vehicles a week at Shoreham, with the powerpack being supplied by Ricardo in Leamington Spa and the pod, fully fitted out from Formaplex. The resulting vehicle is a wholly UK design and the IP rights rest with Force Protection Europe. ” John Lake continued.

Measuring 5.4m long by 2.3m high x 2.1m wide, Ocelot comprises a core automotive armoured spine or ‘skateboard’ onto which a number of alternative, special-to-role pods are mounted. Each of the pods can be easily changed in the field as the need arises and have been designed for roles such as patrol, fire support or protected logistics. Four wheel steering is common to all and the vehicle can be transported in a C-130 or underslung from a Chinook.

“We looked ‘outside the box’ particularly with the design of the armoured pod, given the weight restrictions, and looked at a number of Formula 1 suppliers who, of course, have expert knowledge in designing strong composite structures with structural strength. We chose Formaplex of Havant, a Formula 1 supplier, who together with QinetiQ supplied the armoured package. We also had to build in growth to the vehicle and to that end we used an Axletech system which will give growth to at least 10 tonnes if required. In addition to save weight and moving parts, we used a torsion bar suspension system which gives excellent cross-country capability, together with strength and rigidity. It is a first for a wheeled vehicle in this class. It also allows the vehicle to drive away in the event of damage or a blast to the system. The combination of the Steyr-Daimler-Puch 6 cylinder 4-stroke turbocharged diesel M160036-A 160kw engine coupled to the ZF 6-speed automatic 6HP28 gearbox, not only gives excellent performance but also saves 300kgs over the Cummins/Allison combination used by other vehicles. We have used the Steyr engine for other projects such as for a CVR(T) upgrade and it is an excellent engine. We have built the engine/gearbox configuration into a powerpack model, similar to those on a Main Battle Tank, which allows the whole module to be changed in less than 6 hours.”

John Lake showed the Editor the bare chassis ‘skateboard’, as it is known. The axles, wishbones and suspension units are mounted on the skateboard which has an armoured belly plate which houses the fuel tank, differentials, Axletech transfer box and Hydroboost Four Wheel ABS Hydraulic system. The powerpack which includes the bonnet is then bolted onto the front of the skateboard and the pod mounted onto the skateboard which mould the ‘V’ shape of the pod with the ‘V’ shape of the skateboard giving a continuous blast protection.

“A number of our readers have questioned your choice of 4 wheel steer?”

“4 wheel steer is a well established technology and has been used on a number of vehicles. We have refined the system with the ability of the vehicle’s computer system to cut in 4 wheel steer at under 15kph and to disable the system in the event of a computer fault. The system enables Ocelot, which is longer than its competitors to have a turning circle which is less than the current SNATCH 2 vehicle.”

The Shoreham facility was bulging with WMIKs awaiting the conversion to WMIK R+ under an order placed last year. We will cover WMIK developments in another feature.

“The place is humming, have you enough room for the Ocelot production?”

“Yes, we aim to finish the WMIK contract in November at which time we can ramp up for Ocelot. We have put through over 400 WMIK’s at Shoreham over the past year.”

“Will you build the vehicle if you do not win LPPV?”

“Yes, we see LPPV as one application for Ocelot. The vehicle is one of the contenders for Land 121 in Australia and we have had considerable interests for other variants from other customers including the USA. The Ocelot is conceived to mount various pods from WMIK types thru ambulances and load carriers to armoured patrol vehicles.”

In the patrol vehicle version of Ocelot there is seating for two crew and four dismounts. Access to the vehicle is through large rear doors, two top hatches or, if required, an oversized commander’s door. The V-shaped hull design means that the running gear does not intrude into the crew area, making movement from front to back easy and reducing the danger of damage to the running gear in the event of an attack. Bulkheads between vehicle crew and dismounts - and between them and the vehicle electronic equipment - give added protection.

“Ease of maintenance has been given high priority, with major assemblies able to be rapidly changed in the field, rather than having to recover the vehicle to a base workshop to carry out repairs,” John Lake continued.........

http://www.battle-technology.com/this_issue12a.asp

buglerbilly

30-09-10, 01:39 PM

The Drive

Force Protection was brave enough to put the Editor and Shaun Connors of Jane’s in the same vehicle under the watchful eye of PR consultant Mark Broughton. They were obviously confident enough that the vehicle would perform, and survive, under any possible criticisms that might emerge! None did, point proved! The Editor rode in the back in the ballistic seat whilst Shaun took the first drive. The crew cabin has limited space but provides a comfortable drive. One criticism voiced by Shaun and the Editor would be that the seats could be offset to give more leg room.

There is little doubt that, as confirmed by the various contractors in Team Ocelot, that Ocelot has been built with more than LPPV in mind. Ocelot has considerable scope for growth up to at least 10 tonnes and with the pod system configuration would be a natural shoe-in for OUVS Light, when and if the requirement resurfaces.

The Editor took control of Ocelot at the start of the challenging off-road circuit, whilst Shaun disembarked armed with his camera, no doubt to film any mishaps!

The route chosen was through the water splash across the rock climb, over the humps, and down the steep hills and round to the sand tracks ending with the mud route which consisted of a number of very challenging deep, muddy ruts. We then took the vehicle home on the high speed tracks.

Using a variety of gear configurations with the Diff locks engaged (The vehicle has front, rear and central diffs) on the most arduous terrain, Ocelot lived up to its name and glided over all the obstacles put in its way. The Steyr/ZF configuration proved well up to its worth providing the required torque to get the vehicle out of trouble. The advertised top speed of 110kph could have been easily achievable and indeed on the way home down the speed tracks we reached 55kph with ease.

We arrived back at base with no problems to report, with Shaun having a good variety of shots, none with the Editor stuck in the mud!

As we left, it was announced that Force Protection Europe had received a contract from the MoD for the purchase of two Ocelot vehicles for further testing in respect of the LPPV program.

David Hind said, “We are very pleased with how our own testing and development schedule has been progressing. Ocelot has been performing well in tests since the middle of last year and has demonstrated that it offers unprecedented levels of survivability and manoeuvrability for a vehicle of this size and weight.”

Graeme Rumbol, Global Vehicle Product Group Director for Ricardo plc, added, “The MoD has already completed a number of their own tests on two of our vehicles so we're delighted that they are now investing in these vehicles so that they can carry out further trials. Ocelot is building upon our existing long-standing relationship with the UK MoD which has most recently seen Ricardo carrying out extensive fleet upgrades to create the new RWMIK Plus standard of WMIK vehicle.”

buglerbilly

01-10-10, 01:51 AM

Lockheed Martin Common Vehicle Next Generation deliveries complete, ready for deployment

September 30, 2010

This is LM USA's version of the HMT/Jackal...............

The Lockheed Martin Common Vehicle Next Generation (CVNG), an armed lightweight military vehicle, is ready for its initial in-theater deployment. The CVNG is an upgraded configuration of the High Mobility Transport vehicle in use by US and allied armed forces. Deliveries of the upgraded vehicles were completed in June 2010, just four months after the contract award in February 2010.

The upgraded vehicles received enhanced blast and ballistic armor protection. Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor on the program, with the armor and other occupant survivability systems supplied by Jankel Tactical Systems LLC.

The CVNG's innovative and modular design delivers high levels of reliability and ease of maintenance. The vehicle easily supports five occupants plus a main gunner. Its open cab offers a 360-degree fighting platform, but armored panels enclose the cab for better protection. CVNG features a 4x4 or 6x6 configuration, with a removable third axel, and also offers a reconfigured modular cargo deck optimized for larger items. The lightweight vehicle is internally transportable on C-130, C-5, CH-53 and CH-47.

"Our customers recognize the new level of mission flexibility this vehicle brings to the battlefield," said MaryLynne Lubinger, program manager for CVNG at Lockheed Martin. "Our CVNG upgrades increase situational awareness, mobility, agility and top speed, and it's ready for use by our Soldiers in the world's most extreme environments."

"We are pleased at having been selected by Lockheed Martin for this important program for our Warfighters. We are looking forward to delivering similar success stories on other programs for the US Government," said Alec Mackenzie, president of Jankel Tactical Systems LLC.

Key survivability components of the upgrade include Jankel's modular blast and ballistic armor system and the company's Blast Limiting and Attenuation Seat Technology (BLASTech) mine/Improvised Explosive Device (IED) acceleration attenuating seating and pulse attenuation devices. Together, these systems significantly enhance the survivability of the vehicle crew during a mine/IED attack by reducing the incidence and severity of injury. Designed to overmatch the threat from anti-tank mines and improvised explosive devices, BLASTech has been tested extensively under international protocols and standards. Fully compatible with US FMVSS crash test standards, BLASTech seating is in service with the US Military and its allies, and has been proven repeatedly in combat to save lives and reduce the incidence and severity of injury.

Source: Lockheed Martin

buglerbilly

01-10-10, 02:03 AM

US Army exhibits Quantum's hybrid military vehicle

September 30, 2010

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc., announced today that its hybrid electric Clandestine Extended Range Vehicle (CERV), developed for and in cooperation with the US Army Tank Automotive Research Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), is on display at the US Army Exhibit booth at the 10th Anniversary National Conference of the Hybrid Truck Users Forum (HTUF) in Dearborn, Michigan Sept. 28-30th.

Quantum designed, developed and manufactured the highly efficient and powerful CERV specifically as an advanced military scout vehicle that is intended for rapid, covert ingress and egress operations during reconnaissance, surveillance, and target-designation missions. The CERV features Quantum's lightweight chassis and a new all-wheel-drive, diesel hybrid electric powertrain that produces in excess of 5000 lb·ft (6780 N·m) of maximum torque. The CERV is certified for flight on a number of military aircraft and is also the only hybrid vehicle currently certified for transport in the Osprey rotorcraft. The CERV incorporates Quantum's Q-Force drivetrain, which was developed by Quantum in its Lake Forest Advanced Vehicle Concepts Center. The CERV can maintain speeds of 80 mph (129 km/h) and climb 60% grades-all while using up to 25% less fuel than conventional vehicles of comparable size.

"We are pleased and excited that the US Army is showcasing the Quantum CERV at this powerful industry forum," said Alan P. Niedzwiecki, President and CEO of Quantum.

The Q-Force drivetrain, a variant of Quantum's Q-DriveTM drivetrain, is optimized for use with an efficient diesel (JP8) engine and configured to achieve 60% grades, can ford up to 30" of water, and other unique military requirements. The Q-Force is a series hybrid design which utilizes a 1.4 liter diesel engine mated to a 75kW generator. This is combined with power from a lithium ion battery pack to energize the vehicle's 100kW permanent magnet drive motor. The diesel hybrid design is unique in US light duty vehicles with nearly all other hybrids operating on gasoline. The Q-Force system takes advantage of the very high efficiency diesel engine to enable a high performance vehicle while achieving excellent fuel economy.

buglerbilly

01-10-10, 05:52 PM

buglerbilly

01-10-10, 05:54 PM

I meant to post this previously..............

Supacat to continue SPV400 wheeled protected vehicle development.

Supacat is continuing development of its all-new, all British Supacat SPV400 light protected patrol vehicle to meet international demand for this new class of vehicle in military and non-military markets.

The SPV400 is one of only two vehicles from an original field of 30 vehicle designs, which succeeded in being taken forward to the invitation to tender stage to meet the UK Ministry of Defence's demanding requirements for its new Light Protected Patrol Vehicle (LPPV), despite not being selected as preferred bidder. "We are very disappointed by the decision.

The SPV400 is a world class vehicle. Its development in such a short period of time is a huge achievement for the team", said Nick Ames, Managing Director, Supacat. "In addition to the interest from other armed forces, we perceive that NGOs and other civilian organisations operating in dangerous areas would benefit from the high levels of armour protection and off road mobility offered by the SPV400. Therefore we will be continuing to pursue international commercial opportunities for this world-leading vehicle technology".

26 September 2010

buglerbilly

08-10-10, 03:17 AM

Don’t Pimp My Ride: Marines May Stick With Humvees

By Noah Shachtman October 7, 2010 | 1:59 pm

BIG schism here between what the Army thinks is necessary and what the Marines want. To be honest its looking increasingly like the JLTV is overly complicated when what was needed was simple, basic, modular design along the lines of OCELOT for the UK requirement...........indeed perhaps this opens up opportunities for OCELOT and at least one vehicle was at the recent Modern Day Marine show held at the end of September. There is also the fact that the Humvee can be recapitalised with new TAK-4 suspension and the armoured module in replacement for the normal cab.........now whether the modified vehicle would cost less after rebuild than a new Ocelot is open to question but it may well prove to be a question well worth asking?

U.S. troops first started driving Humvees in the 1980s. At the rate things are going, they may keep on driving ‘em forever. In recent days, the Commandant of the Marine Corps and Army officials have complained that the Hummer successors are too heavy and too expensive. Which may put a decade-long effort to restock the military’s light tactical vehicle fleet in the ditch. Again.

Humvees are infinitely configurable, and are great off-roaders. But even with a loads of extra armor, they’re poor choices for bomb-rich locales like Afghanistan and Iraq. (Hummers’ square bottoms tend to absorb explosions, instead of deflecting them.) Plus: the things get crappy mileage, they don’t leave much room for passengers, and they’re not designed to hold to loads of electronics that modern infantrymen count on.

But programs to build Humvee replacements kept getting sidetracked. Emergency purchases of uparmored Hummers for the Iraq war messed with the development of a new vehicle. So did competing designs for the new Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, or JLTVs. Some were deemed too pricey; others just about “violated the laws of physics,” as National Defense magazine put it, by piling on so much armor onto a thin frame. The whole effort was sent back to the drawing board.

Then the Pentagon launched a crash program to buy tens of thousands of heavily armored Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles for troops in today’s wars. The 30-ton MRAPs — five or six times the weight of Hummers — were supposed to be niche vehicles, to fill a short-term need: keeping American forces safe from Iraq’s roadside bombs. “They were afraid they’d wind up with thousands of them in a big car park at the end of the war,” Defense Secretary Robert Gates told me last year. “My attitude was: If you’re in a war, it’s all in. I don’t care what we have left over at the end.”

Keen observers, like Sharon Weinberger, figured the MRAPs spelled trouble for any next-gen Humvee. “Who here in the Danger Room thinks the military, after spending billions on a “stopgap” vehicle like the MRAP, is going to have the cash to buy a dream fleet of replacement vehicles?” she asked in early 2007. Those questions became all-the-more acute as the Pentagon began buying all-terrain version of the MRAPs — ones that could go off-road, and weighed only 13 tons or so.

In late 2008, the military handed three teams of defense contractors about $120 million to develop prototypes of the JLTVs over the next 27 months. The idea was to combine the six-ton Humvee’s ability with the 30-ton MRAP’s toughness — and do it all in a vehicle under 10 tons, light enough to be carried by a C-130 cargo plane or a Chinook helicopter. From there, two companies would get engineering contracts, and then one company would snag the monster deal to build tens of thousands of the things. The idea was to have a final version ready to go by 2015 or so.

Despite the occasional miscue — like Lockheed flipping one of its trucks with a reporter inside — the project appeared to be broadly on track.

But lately, top Marines have been wondering — loudly wondering — whether the JLTV was light enough and cheap enough to buy in big numbers. 10 tons still sounds awfully big for a force that’s looking to move into a warzone quickly. Plus, the Marines already have all these Humvees and MRAPs in their arsenal.

“We’ve got thousands of up-armored Humvees out there sitting around [and we're] wondering what we’re going to do with them,” Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Conway tells InsideDefense.com.

Defense News reports that the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab is wrapping up testing of a protective capsule that could be bolted on to today’s Humvees, making them safer rides for the troops inside — and further undermining the case for the JLTV.

“There’s no way that the Marine Corps is going to be able to afford $300,000 a copy for a utility vehicle, so that starts out being way overpriced,” he adds. “I don’t think we’re going to have the money to buy new.”

If anything, Conway may be low-balling the JLTV’s cost. Fully loaded with weapons and radios and electronics, the final sticker price could be as much as $600,000, InsideDefense.com reports. Which has got the Army wondering, too, how many of the vehicles they should really buy. Rather than replace all of their Humvees, InsideDefense.com hears, the service is now mulling a plan to buy 50,000 vehicles — by 2035. Which means troops may still be driving Humvees more than a half-century after the U.S. military drafted ‘em into service.

Photo: General Tactical Vehicles

Read More http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/10/dont-pimp-my-ride-marines-may-stick-with-humvees/#more-32739#ixzz11j1RAq00

buglerbilly

10-10-10, 04:35 AM

Video of the Oshkosh modified Humvee c/w TAK-4 suspension and add-on armoured, shallow vee, belly plate..........this is not the armoured module mentioned above...........

http://shock.military.com/Shock/videos.do;jsessionid=754115CBE42B9FF47E4EEF75ADF86 147?displayContent=221043&page=1

buglerbilly

12-10-10, 02:53 PM

BAE Systems and IVECO Announce Business Agreement

(Source: IVECO Defence Vehicles; issued Oct. 12, 2010)

Project Vistula equates to our Project Overlander..........the original offers in 2004 were rejected as none being acceptable or to specification which is kinda hard to believe............:dunno

BENONI, South Africa --- BAE Systems Land Systems South Africa and Iveco Defence Vehicles announced today they have signed a teaming agreement to pursue the Vistula project for the South African Army.

This cooperation will bring together the expertise of two leaders in the defence industry. Both BAE Systems and Iveco have a global presence and experience which, combined with an appreciation of local needs, enables them to provide a strong service network, easy-to-repair technology, and prompt spare-part availability worldwide.

The intent of both companies is to generate consistent engineering and manufacturing work within South Africa. Both companies already support the South African Army vehicle fleet.

"This is a very positive cooperation for us," said Johan Steyn, Managing Director Land Systems South Africa. “The track record of these two companies will ensure a strong partnership.”

“We are delighted to join with BAE Systems for this project” added Flavio Marchesoni, S&M Director at Iveco Defence Vehicles. “This cooperation will fully exploit the potential of our experience achieved through more than 70 years in the military trucks business”.

BAE Systems is the premier global defense, security and aerospace company delivering 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. With approximately 105,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £18.5 billion (US $34.4 billion) in 2008.

Iveco designs, manufactures, and markets a broad range of light, medium and heavy commercial vehicles, off-road trucks, city and intercity buses and coaches as well as special vehicles for applications such as fire fighting, off-road missions, defense and civil protection. With annual sales of 11.2 billion Euro (US $ 16.2 billion) in 2008, Iveco employs over 27,000 people and runs 27 production units in 16 countries in the world using excellent technologies developed in 6 research centers.

-ends-

buglerbilly

12-10-10, 02:55 PM

Minister Inspects Vehicles for Afghanistan

(Source: Australian Department of Defence; issued Oct. 12, 2010)

Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today visited Thales in Bendigo to inspect the Bushmaster vehicles used by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan.

Bushmasters are made in Bendigo and are used to transport troops in the field.

Mr Clare was joined by the Member for Bendigo Steve Gibbons, the Chief Executive Officer of Thales Australia Chris Jenkins and Brigadier David Shields.

There are already 584 Bushmaster vehicles in service. A further 153 vehicles are expected to be delivered by March 2012.

Mr Clare said “These vehicles are saving the lives of Australian soldiers in Afghanistan”.

"When our troops move around in Afghanistan, they do it in Bushmasters made here in Bendigo.

"They have been hit hard by IEDs (improvised explosive devices) and have done an incredible job protecting the lives of the Australian soldiers inside.”

Thales has also sold the Bushmaster vehicle to the British Army and the Netherlands Army.

Mr Clare said the Defence Export Unit was working closely with Thales to pursue more overseas opportunities for the Bushmaster.

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buglerbilly

15-10-10, 03:58 PM

Force Protection Europe Awarded Preferred Bidder Status

(Source: UK MoD via Force Protection, Inc.; dated Oct. 12, web-posted Oct. 14, 2010)

Statement to the House of Commons by Peter Luff, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Defence Equipment, Support and Technology):

I am pleased to announce the successful outcome of the Light Protected Patrol Vehicle (LPPV) competition for a new vehicle to replace the existing Snatch Land Rovers and Weapons Mount Installation Kit (WMIK) vehicles on operations in Afghanistan. Following a rigorous trial and assessment phase, preferred bidder status has been awarded to Force Protection Europe for an initial tranche of 200 vehicles, subject to successful completion of contract negotiations.

This initial tranche will be procured through the urgent operational requirements process, and we expect the first vehicles to be delivered for training in 2011. Further buys of LPPV will be subject to the confirmation of our wider requirement, which will be confirmed by the strategic defence and security review and defence planning round.

Force Protection Europe's vehicle represents leading edge technology and will provide an unprecedented balance of protection, weight and agility for a vehicle of its class. The vehicle is a new design developed specifically to meet the requirements of UK armed forces, and is only now possible due to the considerable investment by the Ministry of Defence and UK Industry in this technology.

LPPV is a UK design, and will be manufactured in the UK, creating or sustaining over 750 UK jobs. LPPV is also ideally placed to take advantage of the export market, which the Government are fully committed to supporting.
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buglerbilly

15-10-10, 04:00 PM

Rheinmetall and Timoney Join Forces In the Military Wheeled Vehicle Sector

(Source: Rheinmetall Defence; issued Oct. 15, 2010)

Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles GmbH (RRMV) of Munich has entered a far-reaching agreement with Timoney Technology Ltd. of Gibbstown, Ireland, to cooperate in the military logistic and tactical vehicle sector.

Under a license agreement, Timoney Technology will develop and produce independent suspension systems and power trains for all new RMMV vehicles equipped with all-wheel drive and independent suspension, including systems with two, three or four axles. Based on the Timoney power train technology in Rheinmetall's Wisent armoured transport vehicle, the result will be a new, high-mobility family of vehicles systematically designed to meet the needs of the military.

"This agreement represents a significant step in strategically positioning RMMV as a leading supplier of military wheeled vehicles", declares Dr. Gerhard Skoff, a member of RMMV top management. "By partnering with Timoney Technology, we're able to draw on their superior know-how in the field of advanced chassis technology, which bolsters our bid to occupy a leading position in the global all-terrain military wheeled vehicle market", adds Dr. Skoff.

Shane O'Neill, the Chief Executive Officer of TTL said "TTL are enormously excited to be closely involved with RMMV and proud that through TTL Ireland can offer such fundamental automotive engineering to RMMV and Germany, the country which invented the motor car and leads the world in this technology since 1885. TTL, by paying close attention to vehicle mission requirements, have produced the right product in the configuration needed by RMMV."

The new Wisent, an 8x8 all-wheel drive armoured vehicle, is a first example of fruitful cooperation between the two companies. During intensive qualification trials conducted under the Bundeswehr's GFF 4 procurement programme, the vehicle handled superbly and, thanks to its high-performance chassis, had no problem coping with even the most challenging off-road conditions.

Timoney Technology Ltd. is a global leader in the field of vehicle driveline technology and specialises the area of Independent wheel movement Driveline systems, Steering systems, Planetary Drive solutions, Transfer Cases, Drop-Boxes, Vehicle dynamics, Whole Body Vibration Analysis and vehicle design. Timoney serves the Construction, Fire Fighting, Vocational, Military, Mining and unmanned Vehicle markets.

Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles GmbH is a joint venture of Rheinmetall AG and MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG, established at the beginning of 2010. Combining Rheinmetall's cutting edge defence technology with MAN's robust automotive engineering, RMMV has quickly emerged as a major systems supplier serving the global market for military wheeled vehicles. The company now offers the world's armed forces a complete range of protected and unprotected transport, command and mission-specific vehicles.

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buglerbilly

19-10-10, 04:34 AM

New Zephyr 3-axle multi-role protected platform launched - as Creation formally opens its new HQ and Technical Centre

What on Earth makes them think they are going to make a buck on this design and vehicle? Its lready an over-crowded marketplace and there is absolutely nothing about this vehicle that makes it stand out from some/most of the others...........Jeez I 'm puzzled at how people manage to acquire funding for such a nebulous opportunity..............

UK, Hook, Hampshire - Monday, 18th October 2010 -- [ASDWire]-- Creation has marked the formal opening of its new Hampshire, UK headquarters and technical centre by revealing the latest development of its in-house and self-funded Zephyr protected vehicle programme. The Zephyr SRV ZX3 is a compact 12-tonne GVW three-axle platform, which can be configured to fulfil a wide range of roles, including troop carrier, weapons platform, cargo utility, command shelter, battlefield ambulance or light gun tractor.

The company has also announced the successful completion of its current blast, performance and mobility trials, within which Creation has provided its Zephyr SRV ZX2 protected patrol vehicle variant and blast seat for a range of specialist scientific and fully instrumented blast tests. The work is part of a wider multi-stakeholder collaborative programme, which is developing an advanced engineering data, vehicle integrity and incident analysis programme.

Hook, Hampshire ... Creation's new Headquarters and Technical Centre

The Right Honourable James Arbuthnot, Member of Parliament for North Hampshire and Chairman of Britain's Parliamentary Defence Select Committee, has formally opened Creation's new headquarters building and technical centre at Bartley Point in Hook, Hampshire, UK.

The 12,000 sq ft facility brings both Creation's design office and engineering workshop functions together under one roof for the first time. In addition to accommodating its escalating defence, automotive and materials handling sector business, the new facility will enable the company to undertake prototype build, specialist vehicle engineering and, if required, low volume production.

Creation founder and Managing Director, Bill Davis said, "Creation has passed an important milestone and now enters a new phase in its development. Since its formation in 1995, it has successfully delivered a wide range of projects from componentry, through powertrain and subsystems, to fully integrated vehicles. It is increasingly recognised in the global defence market as a leading designer and developer of innovative, versatile protected platforms and related land systems. Our own Zephyr programme and Universal Engineering's acclaimed Ranger - for which we were the automotive design partner - are good examples. British Engineering Excellence is alive, well, forward looking, responsive, ambitious, and world class".

Alan Stanley, Creation's recently appointed Chairman and former CEO of Pinzgauer said, "The Creation offering is special as it can provide a variety of options for users in terms of vehicle type - and a range of protection levels to meet user requirements. It is not a one size fits all solution - and yet it matches the competition on a like for like basis. I am very proud to be associated with Creation and its world class engineering skills and products".

Zephyr SRV ZX3 - compact 3-axle platform aimed at world markets

The new three-axle Zephyr SRV ZX3 variant, launched today, is designed to carry a payload of around 4 tonnes, depending on base vehicle specification and protection level - and will significantly widen the range of operational roles, body types and specialist applications for which the vehicle envelope can be configured.

These include troop carrier, cargo utility vehicle, command and control, Weapons Mounted Installation Kit (WMIK), reconnaissance and surveillance, battlefield ambulance or light gun tractor. Zephyr is also able to carry a range of roof-mounted options, including protected or remote weapons stations (PWS or RWS).

Body, crew and seating layouts for Zephyr ZX3 can be varied from two to twelve occupants, to suit operational requirements. Space is also allocated for weapons fit, communications suites, Situational Awareness (SA) systems and other electronic devices. Additional features include fully integrated Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) and the capability to support exportable power requirements.

All variants of Creation's Zephyr SRV programme are based on modular principles to provide high survivability, multi-role operational flexibility - and optimum mechanical and logistics serviceability. The Zephyr programme also includes a number of LFU (Legacy Fleet Upgrade) options, designed to add or enhance protection, extend operating life of existing fleet inventory or modify, convert and re-deploy assets to meet other applications and operational requirements.

Creation Managing Director, Bill Davis says, "The ZX3 configurations of the Zephyr programme have been brought forward to meet specific overseas user requirements. This follows formal requests to licence the three-axle design - and other configurations of the vehicle - for local manufacture and assembly overseas. Our future plans with this vehicle are now firmly focused on world markets, where we are supporting specific programmes and technology transfer initiatives either via our own local offices or through strategic alliances and partnerships".

- ends -

About Creation:
Creation is one of the UK's top, engineering-led, innovative, specialist design and technology businesses. It has developed - and proven a unique and highly successful formula engineering methodology, which enables the company to compress timelines between concept, design, prototype and production readiness. It is able to scale and apply this approach across a very wide range of design and engineering programmes and specialist requirements, including total vehicle architecture; componentry, sub-systems and powertrains; protected defence and security platforms and transporters; industrial plant and machinery; hydraulics and materials handling equipment; marine and leisure products.

Creation is run by a strong, passionate, hands-on, highly qualified and experienced team which delivers world-class engineering design, development and engineering services and products - supporting both national and international customer programmes and its own in-house projects. It is based in the UK - which remains Europe's leading - and one of the world's Centres of Excellence in automotive research and development. It also has a satellite office in India and is supporting design and technology transfer projects in the Middle East.

The company invests continuously in advanced design and analysis technology and has the systems capacity to support up to 50 active design stations at any one time.
The company has particular competencies in

. Automotive design, development & vehicle engineering
. Componentry, chassis engineering & sub-systems
. Protected defence land systems & security products
. Applications engineering & overt/covert special requirements
. Prototype build & low volume manufacturing
. Electronics, systems & informatics

Creation also provides consultancy services, acts as a design authority and has both alone and with others registered designs and IPR assets in a number of sectors. In addition to its own original designs, it has successfully delivered a number of major concept-up programmes for some of the world's leading OE manufacturers. Its recent work as automotive design partner for the acclaimed Ranger three and four axle MRAP vehicles, has established the company's reputation at the forefront of the sector.

buglerbilly

19-10-10, 03:41 PM

British top engineering teams' breakthrough with new blast incident analysis technology

UK, Hook, Hampshire, Monday, 18th October 2010 --[ASDWire]-- A combined collaborative programme between some of Britain’s top engineers, UK MoD and a number of specialist scientific and research organisations, has successfully developed a groundbreaking and advanced engineering data, vehicle integrity and incident analysis programme, which will significantly impact on future design and survivability of protected vehicle platforms.

In what is seen as a step change in current assessment, analysis and blast testing for vehicles – and measurement of the impacts on occupants, Creation has provided its latest Zephyr SRV ZX2 4x4 protected patrol vehicle variant and blast-mitigating seat package for a range of specialist scientific and fully instrumented blast tests. The work is part of a wider multi-stakeholder collaborative programme for the UK MoD, led by leading motorsport technology group, Cosworth with the involvement of GRM Consulting and DSTL, as well as Creation.

Two development programmes are involved – Blast Event Vehicle Integrity System (BEVIS) and Military Accident Data Recorder (MADR). Early results, advanced computer modelling and simulation – and finite element analysis, undertaken by the team, have established precise correlation between predictive and actual behaviour of both platform and seat during a blast incident – such as an IED or roadside bomb. In the past, analysis has been compromised by poor data and technical issues.

Creation Engineering Director, Robin Hall says, “This breakthrough is very much a team effort. We all knew where we needed our theoretical thinking to converge – but the real turning point came when we were able to define the critical measurement and sensor technology - and equally importantly, where and how to mount the devices to achieve the accuracy of the final results”.

The first stage of the project involved a chassis-only pre-test. In the second stage, engineers applied the same modelling, predictions and blast tests to a fully built Zephyr vehicle. In addition, the team installed a fully instrumented Hybrid III crash test dummy, correctly harnessed into a Creation blast mitigating seat, in order to study potential body shock, organ and skeletal injuries. The tests, verified to undisclosed international standards, have proved not only the blast mitigating capability of Creation’s Zephyr vehicle and special seat design – the occupant survived injury free – but have also confirmed a far better correlation between analysis, physical testing and instrumentation of platform behaviour than the UK MoD has ever seen previously.

The programme is the first step towards Cosworth’s electronics being installed in military vehicles in service, in much the same way as flight data recorders are fitted to aircraft. Through the BEVIS programme, the data can be used to determine the integrity of a vehicle structure after a mine blast event; whether it can be repaired and if so, what level of repair is required. In addition, the data can be logged so that cumulative damage can be assessed and appropriate remedial action taken.

MADR, the new Military Accident Data Recorder, will give medics and other professionals vital and immediate information about what forces the human occupant has experienced in the blast event. The data could then also be used forensically to reconstruct the events leading up to the blast event or accident. Ultimately, the information could be fed back to assist in training drivers and unit commanders – or advise truck manufacturers of required design changes or enhancements.

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buglerbilly

21-10-10, 03:01 PM

Army Testing Diesel-Electric Truck

(Source: US Army; issued Oct. 20, 2010)

WTF they testng it for, this should have been done 3-4 years ago!! They should be bringing it into MASSIVE service, what on Earth else do they think is going to give them a 17-20% reduction in fuel consumption? NOTHING thats what...........absolutely assinine approach by ALL Militaries when it comes to bringing Diesel Electric vehicles into service........ferkin incompetent cocksmokers...........:jerkit

ARLINGTON, Va. --- The Army is now testing a new Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck, or HEMTT A3 -– a 35,000-pound, diesel-electric-powered truck able to improve fuel economy by 20 percent and transport up to 100 kilowatts of exportable power.

The HEMTT A3 is now going through 20,000 miles of durability and performance testing at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. The testing is designed to assess capabilities such as max speed, grade climbing and fording, officials said.

The truck was also displayed in the Pentagon courtyard Oct. 15 by Oshkosh Defense as part of an Energy Awareness Month display.

"The Army operational and tactical need to reduce dependence on consumable fuels is a continuing science and technology challenge across the Soldier, Ground, and Air domains,” said Dr. Marilyn M. Freeman, deputy assistant secretary of the Army for research & technology.

The diesel-electric HEMTT A3 uses a diesel engine to power a generator – which in turn sends electrical power through cables to small motors on each of the axles. An ultra-capacitor is used to store energy.

“We have an A/C induction generator that takes the place of an automatic transmission on a conventional truck. We have power cables that run from the generator to inverters or drives that control the electric motors,” said Stephen Nimmer, director, engineering and programs, defense technology development, Oshkosh Defense.

The testing at Aberdeen will also examine the truck’s extreme-weather starting ability, checking to see if the truck functions as intended at below zero temperatures and extreme heat conditions such as 125 degrees Fahrenheit.

“At cold and hot temperatures we made sure the truck could export A/C power. At 125 degrees Fahrenheit, we evaluated the air-conditioning system to cool the cab to a certain level over a certain period of time,” Nimmer said.

The durability and performance testing are aimed at preparing the HEMTT A3 for formal production.

“We have gone into Aberdeen TRL (technology readiness level) 7. When we finish the testing we will have satisfied ourselves that the technology has matured to a TRL-8 level and we will be ready for full rate production and operational evaluation,” said Nimmer.

The HEMTT A3 has also been configured to power up a Phalanx weapons system to provide area protection. On Sept. 28, the Army’s Counter Rocket Artillery Mortar program, known as C-RAM, facilitated a successful live-fire demo at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz.

“The truck was exposed to rocket-propelled mortars and it had a perfect record of mortars tracked versus mortars intercepted. In the case of the Phalanx, we have hard-wired our generator to the Phalanx weapon electronic control system,” Nimmer said.

The truck was at the Pentagon as part of Energy Awareness Month efforts that officials said were aimed at highlighting scientific progress in areas related to energy efficiency and energy security.

“Our goal is to be strategically positioned with our partners in the research, academic and industrial communities to capture and evaluate new energy technologies whenever and wherever they occur,” said Freeman.

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buglerbilly

21-10-10, 03:04 PM

Force Protection Selects Manufacturing Base for Ocelot in Australia

(Source: Force Protection; issued October 20, 2010)

LADSON, S.C. --- Force Protection Australasia, a Force Protection, Inc. group company, today announced it had reached agreement with the South Australian Government to manufacture and support its Ocelot vehicle in Adelaide, if it is successful in securing the contract to manufacture up to 1,300 next-generation Protected Mobility Vehicles under the ‘Land 121 Phase 4’ program.

Chief Executive Officer, Michael Moody, said that following discussions with the State Government and potential suppliers, South Australia offered the most suitable manufacturing base for the Ocelot.

“Since we first met with the Government and potential suppliers in 2009, it has become clear that South Australia can provide the essential ingredients we need to successfully manufacture and support the Ocelot,” Mr Moody said. “This view was confirmed during my recent discussions with Premier Mike Rann.

“The South Australian Government has been very supportive and highly professional in its discussions with us. South Australia’s reputation as Australia’s ‘Defence State’ is well-founded. I certainly believe that with our Ocelot, the strength and capability of Force Protection and our collaboration with South Australia, we will have a compelling offering for the Commonwealth of Australia.”

Force Protection has identified a site within the Edinburgh Parks precinct, in Adelaide’s northern suburbs, as a suitable location for its proposed vehicle manufacturing base.

He said today’s announcement strengthened Force Protection’s commitment to operating in Australia, and looked forward to making further announcements about the company’s plans.

This is a significant step forward in the potential development of the Ocelot in Australia.

It also follows an announcement last month that the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) had selected Force Protection Europe as preferred bidder to supply its Ocelot for the MoD’s urgent operational requirement for the Light Protected Patrol Vehicle program (LPPV).

Mr. Moody concluded, “The Ocelot now has a first class endorsement from the United Kingdom and is ideally suited to the Australian requirement.”

Force Protection, Inc. is a leading designer, developer and manufacturer of survivability solutions, including blast- and ballistic-protected wheeled vehicles currently deployed by the U.S. military and its allies to support armed forces and security personnel in conflict zones.

Force Protection’s specialty vehicles, including the Buffalo, Cougar and related variants, are designed specifically for reconnaissance and urban operations and to protect their occupants from landmines, hostile fire, and improvised explosive devices (“IEDs”, commonly referred to as roadside bombs). Complementing these efforts, Force Protection is designing, developing and marketing new vehicle platforms (including the Ocelot and JAMMA) that provide increased modularity, speed, mobility and concealment with enhanced levels of blast- and ballistic-protection.

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buglerbilly

21-10-10, 03:12 PM

WTSI to Build Fuel Efficient Ground Vehicle Demonstrator

(Source: World Technical Services Inc. (WTSI); issued October 20, 2010)

GREENBELT, Md. --- World Technical Services Inc. today announced that it has received final design approval of a military ground vehicle demonstrator that could significantly improve fuel efficiency of light tactical vehicles. The U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center, or TARDEC, Executive Leadership Review Board approved the final design and authorized WTSI to build the Fuel Efficient Ground Vehicle Demonstrator.

Modeling and simulation performed collaboratively between WTSI and TARDEC engineers indicate the design is aerodynamically efficient and will exceed the Army’s fuel efficiency expectations while meeting all other performance requirements.

“As TARDEC’s partner, WTSI is committed to being an integral part of this cutting-edge technology to deliver a significant increase in vehicle fuel efficiency to support our forces in the field,” said William Sample, WTSI president. “It’s important to demonstrate innovation and perform our engineering work with exceptional rigor, attention to detail and depth of analysis as we address the need for improved fuel efficiency.”

A primary feature of the vehicle is a road-coupled, parallel diesel-electric propulsion system that will offer significantly improved fuel efficiency. The fully operational demonstrator is scheduled for delivery by October 2011.

WTSI made a diligent effort to leverage the expertise of Michigan’s automotive engineers and designers to pursue efficiency in every aspect possible and identify technologies that could reduce fuel consumption for military light tactical vehicles. The company launched an office in Troy, Mich., to support the Department of Defense through a contract with the National Automotive Center at the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command in Warren, Mich. The primary focus of WTSI’s Michigan operations is to provide excellence in computer-aided engineering, computer-aided design and systems integration for military ground vehicles such as the Fuel Efficient Ground Vehicle Demonstrator, which is a continuous collaboration project between WTSI and the U.S. Army.

World Technical Services Inc. supports federal government agencies by delivering high-quality services, including range operations and maintenance, base operations support, logistics and maintenance support, engineering, security and training, and construction. Headquartered in Greenbelt, Md., WTSI is a subsidiary of ASRC Federal Holding Company.

-ends-

Exsandgroper

23-10-10, 07:00 AM

Innovation saving our soldiers' lives
Gregor Ferguson From: The Australian October 23, 2010 12:00AM

SPECIAL REPORT
ONE of the undoubted success stories of the defence force deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan has been the performance of the Army's Bushmaster protected-mobility vehicles.
Despite the growing threat from Taliban improvised bombs, the Bushmaster, designed and built in Bendigo by Thales Australia, has protected Australian, Dutch and British soldiers from death and serious injury.

Now Australian defence planners are looking to the ADF's next generation of armoured vehicles.

Local research scientists and industry engineers are looking at the challenges of improving protection without adding to the weight and cost of vehicles.

There's no way of achieving the protection Diggers need without building a heavy vehicle.

Designers take a conservative approach and struggle as a result to balance protection against performance and payload.

Improved grades of armour steel are being developed, and while designers welcome this, they are still learning about their properties and behaviour.

The trial-and-error process of blast-testing prototypes is time-consuming and expensive, so designers still need to be conservative in design.

A new generation of computer models and virtual design tools would make the engineers' lives easier, according to Mark Hodge, chief executive of the Defence Materials Technology Centre, in Melbourne.

The centre, along with steel manufacturers Bisalloy Steels and BlueScope Steel, is working on this problem with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and the Defence Science and Technology Organisation, university researchers and Thales Australia.

Between them they're developing better steel for armoured vehicles, virtual design tools to help engineers make best use of these materials, and automated welding and fabrication processes to cut weight and cost.

The defence materials centre, funded by the DMO and some 27 industry, state government andr esearch partners, was set up in 2008 by Defence and the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research to help the defence forces and local industry benefit from ground-breaking research into high-technology materials that is carried out in Australia.

Just as aircraft designers can call on computer models to improve the aerodynamics or strength of an aircraft, one of the centre's most important research goals is to develop virtual models of steel armour's behaviour when hit by a projectile or blast.

No such models exist for armoured steel manufactured in Australia, so over-engineering is the only safe design approach.

Over the next 10-15 years the army plans to acquire 1300 light protected-mobility vehicles, worth more than $1 billion, in Project Land 121 Ph.4, and then to replace more than 1300 M113s, ASLAV light armoured vehicles and Bushmasters in Project Land 400. These projects will benefit from the centre's research because computer models and virtual design tools will help engineers optimise designs before building prototypes and testing them, Dr Hodge says.

The models will also incorporate new welding and fabrication processes being developed by Thales Australia and Bisalloy together with the University of Wollongong.

They're working on robotic welding techniques for high-hardness armour steel to provide more consistent quality and a quicker (and therefore cheaper) fabrication process, research leader Professor Huijun Li said.

His colleague, Dr Steve Pan, is working on lean automation techniques, integrating welding robots with computer-aided design systems used for armoured vehicles.

This could pay off, he said, by enabling the most efficient assembly and welding processes and making it possible to prepare a production line or introduce design changes with minimal disruption and factory downtime.

This was unglamorous work, but its potential benefits were massive, Dr Hodge said.

At a conservative estimate, Projects Land 121 Ph.4 and Land 400 will be worth more than $2 billion.

Reducing hull fabrication time (and therefore cost) while improving protection will strengthen local industry's argument for building the hulls of these vehicles in Australia.

That in turn will help meet Defence's industry policy goals by sustaining local skills and industry capacity.

Gregor Ferguson is a former DMTC research fellow

Cheers

buglerbilly

25-10-10, 06:19 AM

I think there is an armoured vehicle under there? :rofl Relates to this recent announcement..........

AUSTIN, Texas - BAE Systems has received an $11 million U.S. Army contract to produce bar armor kits that protect soldiers in ground vehicles from rocket-propelled grenade attacks. The company will continue to produce L-ROD® bar armor kits for the U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command's RG-31 Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicles.

Last November, BAE Systems received a $42 million contract for the bar armor kits. This latest award is for 390 kits and field service support outside the U.S.

Developed to provide RPG protection for Hummers and MRAP mine-resistant vehicles, L-ROD bar armor is a lightweight, modular bar-armor system made of an aluminum alloy. L-ROD provides protection against rocket-propelled grenades, or RPGs, with minimum impact to operational capabilities.

L-ROD has become standard equipment on the Army's MRAP Class III Buffalo explosive ordnance disposal vehicles.

"We've delivered more than 2,500 total kits to date, and now, more are on the way," said Neil Piscitelli, L-ROD director for BAE Systems in Austin, Texas. "The L-Rod kits have demonstrated value by helping to protect troops on the battlefield and save lives."

Weighing less than half of comparable steel designs, the low-cost L-ROD system bolts onto the vehicle without welding or cutting and can be repaired easily in the field due to its modular design. BAE Systems manufactures the L-ROD bar armor kits on an automated production line in Austin that opened last year.

L-ROD can also be found on Marine Corps Buffalo vehicles, MRAP Category I and II Cougar MRAPs, as well as the MRAP Category I RG-31. BAE Systems is also working on L-ROD variants for other MRAP-type vehicles as requested, and has provided the kits to NATO allies for use on their vehicles in theater.

Funnily enough I've seen very few pics of vehicles so equipped in Afghanistan..........

buglerbilly

25-10-10, 02:44 PM

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

Phoenix And Ocelot Debut In DC

Posted by Bill Sweetman at 10/25/2010 6:34 AM CDT

While the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program looks like it is in trouble, the UK is forging ahead with the somewhat similar Light Protected Patrol Vehicle (LPPV) - a six-occupant, highly mobile vehicle that can be armored up to at least Stanag 2 (a 6 kg mine) level.

Force Protection Europe and Ricardo, with their Ocelot vehicle, were selected in September as preferred bidder for the LPPV, over a team comprising Supacat and NP Aerospace. Ocelot is making its U.S. debut at the Association of the U.S. Army exhibition, which starts today in Washington, D.C.

However, a surprise at AUSA is the appearance of a vehicle that did not make it out of development in time for the LPPV tests: the Phoenix, developed by Supacat partner NP Aerospace and MIRA, a UK vehicle design consultancy. Earlier this month, at NATO's Future Soldier conference in Prague, NP Aerospace chief executive Roger Medwell provided a preview of the design. As Medwell put it: "I had to make my own vehicle to test my armor."

NP Aerospace is best known as the manufacturer of the controversial "Snatch" Land Rover. Developed for operations in Northern Ireland, it was pressed into service in Afghanistan because of its mobility, and more than 30 personnel have been killed in IED attacks on the vehicles. But, engineers associated with the design point out, it was not designed to survive a mine blast in the first place.

Medwell says that Phoenix provides the same protection as the UK's Ridgback - a Force Protection Cougar equipped with added armor by NP - at a weight of 12 tons versus 20 tons for the US vehicle. One key is a chassis-less design with front and rear automotive subframes attached to NP's pod, which is primarily made from moulded composite armor. Fuel tanks are carried under the V-hull, and radios and other equipment are in a separate compartment outside the main pod.

The basic vehicle tips the scales at 14,400 pounds empty and offers Stanag 2 protection, and it is designed to accept another 5,900 pounds of armor to reach Stanag 4 levels. A unique feature is that the added armor packs slide into spaces between the outer and inner shells - so that it's not possible for an attacker to tell from the outside what protection level is being carried. The Phoenix suspension has 19 inches of travel in its gas struts, and can be raised for maximum mine resistance and lowered for crew entrance and exit.

One question asked in Prague: Does Medwell think that the Phoenix will have a chance in the US, given what the questioner called the US Army's "almost religious belief in slabs of steel." Medwell commented that "the wind of change is coming. But you've got to build it like composite - you can't mimic steel."

buglerbilly

26-10-10, 03:54 AM

I found this an interesting concept........from a local young man with what I hope is a bright future........

Futuristic Truck for Safe Transportation of Necessary Supplies

This Aid Necessities Transporter (A.N.T.) was designed by Brian Lee. The vehicle is meant to safely transport food, water, medical equipment and housing items through any type of terrain.

The biggest advantage of the A.N.T. is that it can transport supplies 10 to 50 times its own weight. Being developed for the United Nations, the vehicle features two modes: transport and rapid. When the driver selects the transport mode, the A.N.T. will be able to carry somewhat less cargo compared to conventional trucks, but at a higher speed.

The rapid mode, allows the vehicle to spin its front wheel 90 degrees downward, which gives the transporter the ability to return faster for more supplies. It is worth mentioning that each wheel is powered independently. The vehicle can transport a special housing unit that can easily expand by rotating the side panels.

Within the temporary unit one can find medical supplies, food, and water. It is also equipped with generators that provide clean water and energy. Only one person can use the cabin of the A.N.T.

Industrial Design degree project.

A.N.T (Aid Necessities Transporter)

Everyday we are witnessing unavoidable effects of the global climate crisis more and more. The disasters created by this phenomenon are impacting all parts of the world and due to this, there is a high need for quick and effective aid response for those suffering areas. The A.N.T (Aid Necessities Transporter) is designed for humanitarian organizations such as the United Nations for transportation of food, water, medical supplies and housing units to disaster stricken areas. Having swift as well as all-terrain capabilities, the A.N.T incorporates a new efficient system of distribution running on two modes of transportation.
A.N.T is designed to enhance the abilities of international aid organisations, allowing them to reach more people faster, as well as delivering packages that are a compact solution of food and accommodation distribution. The package allows for the storage of food, temporary housing as well as electricity and clean water generation.

Read more here: http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-news/inventors-aid-truck-the-ants-pants-20101025-170af.html?from=age_sb

buglerbilly

26-10-10, 05:41 AM

Bushmaster plant slashes jobs Clare Quirk

October 26, 2010 - 1:48PM

A Bushmaster in action in southern Afghanistan.

The company that produces the acclaimed Bushmaster military vehicle is set to slash 100 jobs from its plant in a regional Victorian city.

The Bendigo Advertiser believes about 100 jobs will be shed from the plant in the goldfields town of Bendigo after the manufacturer, Thales, confirmed cuts to its workforce.

Federal MP for Bendigo, Steve Gibbons, said he was disappointed with the circumstances that lead to Thales Australia's announcement.

Advertisement: Story continues below Mr Gibbons said Thales had told him of the shock decision today, citing an 18-month lag in government contracts as the main reason, together with the adverse impact the strength of the Australian dollar was having on manufacturers across the nation.

Mr Gibbons said Thales' Bushmaster production was due to finish about May 2011. Even if the company is successful in selling its Bushmaster utility vehicle to more countries, there will still be a long lead time before production starts due to normal Defence Materiel Organisation processes.

"A final decision on the Australian Defence Force's Land 121 Phase 3 light truck program is due later this year and, if the Bushmaster utility is chosen, I'll be lobbying hard for the project to be fast tracked so production can get under way as quickly as possible," he said.

"Thales has told me they'd hoped new export orders would have been sufficient to see them through this difficult period.

"But while there has been a sale of 110 vehicles, that's not enough to sustain the company over the next 18 months or so.

"All Thales employees have played an important part in the success of the Bushmaster project and this is a bitter blow to those workers who will lose their jobs through no fault their own."

Mr Gibbons said he had arranged through the Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations for Centrelink to contact the company to discuss the redundancies and provide information for workers about the support available and how to access any assistance they need.

Comment was being sought from Thales.

Bendigo Advertiser

buglerbilly

26-10-10, 02:51 PM

BAE Systems to Showcase Sentinel at AUSA: A Multi-Mission Off-Road Vehicle

(Source: BAE Systems; issued October 25, 2010)

CINCINNATI --- BAE Systems will debut several military vehicles at this year’s Association of United States Army (AUSA) meeting and exposition, including spotlighting a different kind of vehicle —one that’s designed to bridge the gap between heavy duty commercial vehicles and military patrol vehicles.

Dubbed “Sentinel”, the off-road vehicle merges the best qualities of both light military and civilian commercial vehicles and offers multiple mission possibilities to a varied customer base.

“Sentinel is a true multi-mission vehicle in every sense of the word,” said Chris Chambers, line lead for BAE Systems. “Sentinel can be armoured to provide varying levels of mission-specific protection to the vehicle’s occupants. While it can also be fitted with defensive technologies it is also extremely agile and can easily and cost-effectively maintained with off-the-shelf components because it is built on an enhanced commercial truck chassis,” added Chambers.

Since Sentinel’s body design is both modular and adaptable, it can be customized to specific customers and their mission requirements.

“Every mission, for every customer comes with its own unique set of logistical and tactical challenges, “Chambers said. “Because of that, we knew Sentinel needed to be more than just a military or a commercial vehicle. It had to offer the best qualities and features of both in one flexible solution,” he added. “With Sentinel, we’ve created an on and off road vehicle that delivers the mobility, durability and solid performance, in an armour-ready, mission-ready design that today’s defense and security forces require.”

Sentinel is currently available in four base models, including:

---Patrol Platform – Equipped with a defensive technologies package and rear transport/storage compartment.
---Communications Platform – Equipped with radios and other electronic communications equipment.
---Surveillance/Observation Platform – Can be equipped with telescoping mast and electronic surveillance system.
-- Ambulance Platform – Can be equipped with medical treatment base, stretchers and up to two litters.

While Sentinel is designed for off-road use, because of its commercial frame and suspension it offers on-road capabilities and is “street legal,” providing the vehicles’ occupants with speed between missions, as well as increasing versatility.

Models include two-door, four-door and rear door with either a box or flat bed configuration. For surveillance missions, a scissors lift can also be mounted on the rear.

Sentinel is equipped with a 6.7 liter V-8 turbo diesel and boasts an impressive payload of 1.5 to 3 tons.

BAE Systems’ Cincinnati-based Platform Survivability business is a leading provider of protection, security and survivability solutions. It is a technology leader in lightweight materials, including composites, ceramic and transparent armor technologies, integrated vehicle armor systems, vehicle and aircraft survivability components and accessories. Not only is the company focused on the design, development and production of leading edge survivability products, its integration of advanced materials into manufacturing, rigorous product testing, and field trials, support the company’s focus on the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces.

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).

(ends)

BAE Systems Introduces Caiman MTV Ambulance

(Source: BAE Systems; issued October 25, 2010)

WASHINGTON --- Demonstrating its commitment to mission success and safety for warfighters, BAE Systems announced an ambulance configuration of the recently introduced Caiman Multi-Terrain Vehicle (MTV) at the Association of the U.S. Army’s (AUSA) 2010 Annual Meeting.

The Caiman MTV ambulance provides an effective combination of interior capacity, tactical mobility, operator comfort and survivability by utilizing its large interior volume to accommodate up to four litters, or six patients upright.

“In today’s conflicts, Army medical personnel face the same types of unconventional warfare threats as their patients,” said Chris Chambers, line lead for BAE Systems. “The Caiman MTV is truly patient-centric in that it allows medical professionals to focus on treating patients while keeping them protected from surrounding threats.”

Other features include a sophisticated HVAC system regulates the interior to protect patients and medical technicians from temperature extremes. In addition, the four litter configuration maximizes interior space and the rapid deployable ingress and egress ramp enables ease of patient loading and unloading. Other features include mobility upgrades that allow for greater wheel control and weight transition from axle-to-wheel to navigate over ice, sand and other rough topography, allowing medical personnel to reach patients in a variety of environments.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Joint Program Office (JPO) purchased a proof concept ambulance vehicle. The sale of the vehicle coincided with the completion of user juries by Army personnel. In anticipation of production, the assessments from the user juries will be used to improve the vehicle’s design.

The Caiman MTV ambulance is one variant in the Caiman MTV family. The Caiman MTV is an upgraded vehicle based on the combat-proven Caiman MRAP. In addition to ambulatory missions, it provides payload capacity for other specialized vehicle needs including troop transport and command and control on the move.

In all three configurations, the vehicle integrates a refurbished and improved armored capsule from an existing Caiman MRAP with a new high-power automotive power train, chassis and independent suspension. The adaptable armor system is designed to address operational threats, but can be removed to allow for weight reduction, or to incorporate improved materials.

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).

(ends)

BAE Systems Launches Integrated Smart V Solution for HMMWV

(Source: BAE Systems; issued October 25, 2010)

BAE Systems - The Integrated Smart V(TM) (ISV(TM)) solution from BAE Systems incorporates more than 60 years of survivability expertise into an affordable, lightweight monocoque V-hull package to significantly boost underbody blast protection in vehicles like the HMMWV. The ISV(TM) allows U.S. Armed Forces to quickly realize significant improvements in HMMWV survivability for current and future operations.

WASHINGTON --- BAE Systems introduced a lightweight monocoque V-hull HMMWV recap solution called the Integrated Smart V (ISV), at the Association of the U.S. Army’s (AUSA) 2010 Annual Meeting. The innovative solution leverages the company’s legacy of mine protection and survivability experience to offer a highly survivable, high-mobility multipurpose vehicle at a low-cost for the U.S. Army.

The central component of the ISV solution is a layered monocoque hull with a V-shaped underbody that totally encapsulates the crew, providing protection from all sides through an integrated hull that significantly boosts underbody blast protection. The design is based on fielded, battle proven solutions from BAE Systems’ mine-resistant vehicles used around the world.

“The ISV is cleverly designed to respond intuitively to side and underbody mine blast impacts,” said Chris Chambers, line lead for BAE Systems. “By using clips attached to the monocoque V-hull, the ISV provides a rigid, uncompromising protection solution at an affordable price,” Chambers added.

ISV reuses a large percentage of existing HMMWV components, including the power train and wheel assemblies, thereby saving on production and training costs. Sustainment savings come through ISV modularity, allowing battle damaged vehicles to be repaired in the field and enabling future upgrades.

BAE Systems’ ISV solution is built on mature V-hull technology that is currently in production on light tactical vehicles. The ISV allows the U.S. Armed Forces to quickly realize significant improvements in HMMWV survivability for current and future operations.

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).

-ends-

buglerbilly

26-10-10, 03:20 PM

Navistar Defense Grows MaxxPro Family of Vehicles with Tractor Variant and Ambulance Kit

(Source: Navistar Defense; issued Oct. 25, 2010)

Ambuance with Frag 6 kit, no shots of the Tractor yet.........more ambo shots at the bottom.............

WASHINGTON, D.C. --- Navistar Defense, LLC today launched both the International MaxxPro ambulance kit and the MaxxPro Tractor variant at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting and Exposition.

Since 2007, the company’s family of MaxxPro Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles has grown to include 11 different vehicle variants. The first six of these variants were developed in only 18 months.

“Our ambulance kit, which has received positive reviews from the U.S. Army Medical Department, can quickly turn any MaxxPro vehicle into a fully functioning ambulance and aid station - with full protection for both medics and patients,” said Archie Massicotte, president, Navistar Defense. “The kit does not require new vehicles. Thanks to the flexibility of our proven truck platforms, we are able to quickly develop new vehicle solutions as well as vehicle variants like the MaxxPro Tractor.”

Ambulance kits include an easy-to-use litter assist system as well as a protected work space benefitting medics and patients. This solution paired with the company’s DXM independent suspension helps medical aid navigate rough terrain to get where it is needed. While the kit is displayed this week on a MaxxPro Dash unit, the solution is available for other variants such as the MaxxPro Base and Plus.

Combining a proven truck platform with proven survivability solutions, Navistar today also introduced the MaxxPro Tractor into its MRAP family. This vehicle uses an A kit / B kit armor solution with MRAP-level protection available, to allow two- to three-man crews to carry out support missions. The vehicle is powered by a MaxxForce D 13L engine.

In addition to the MaxxPro Tractor, Navistar also offers two other MRAP utility variants, the MaxxPro Cargo and the MaxxPro Recovery Vehicle. All three utility vehicles utilize MaxxForce D engines and heavy duty chassis.

To date, Navistar has been contracted to produce more than 7,500 MaxxPro units as well as retrofit 1,222 units in theater with its DXM independent suspension solution. MaxxPro vehicles are currently in operation with U.S. forces as well as with six coalition forces.

Navistar International Corporation is a holding company whose subsidiaries and affiliates produce International brand commercial and military trucks, MaxxForce brand diesel engines,

-ends-

buglerbilly

27-10-10, 01:52 AM

The following are shots from BAE Systems showing the specific Ambulance variant, again equipped to Frag 6 armour levels...........

All rights reserved by BAE Systems Global Tactical Systems

All rights reserved by BAE Systems Global Tactical Systems

buglerbilly

27-10-10, 03:13 AM

Industry Preparing for the HMMWV recap

October 26, 2010

Among the heavier tactical vehicles on display were new versions of the BAE Systems’ Caiman Multi-Terrain Vehicle (MTV), configured to support Command and Control On-the-Move (C2OTM) assignments and ambulatory operations. Oshkosh displayed the latest reconnaissance version of the MRAP All Terrain Vehicle (MATV) . This vehicle carries crew of six plus gunner. The recce variant is equipped with mission specific technologies designed for missions such as route, zone and area reconnaissance. Recent models introduced with the M-ATV family of vehicles also includes SOCOM, Utility and Ambulance variants.

As the U.S. Army establishes its right mix of vehicles across the light, medium, and heavy vehicle fleets, new acquisition programs and recapitalization (recap) programs are weighed, assessing a cost effective mix that could meet the services’ planned budget cuts. As light vehicles are concerned, the army is still moving on two parallel paths,acquisition long term strategy developing the joint light tactical vehicle (JLTV) while pursuing low-cost recap of existing High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) for the near term.

Several companies at AUSA are addressing the planned HMMWv Recap opportunity, among them BAE Systems and Oshkosh. BAE is offering the application of it’s ‘Integrated Smart V’ (ISV) program coupled with lightweight monocoque V-hull and mine protection improving survivability through relatively cost high investment in modernizing the fleet of high-mobility multipurpose vehicles expected to remain in service for the long term. Oshkosh is also seeking HMMWV recap opportunities, offering the TAK-4 independent suspension for improved mobility. the new suspension also contributes to increased payload capacity needed for the survivability enhancement. In addition to its advanced suspension, Oshkosh incorporates a V-shaped hull and engine and powertrain upgrades to improve soldier survivability as well as off-road mobility and payload capacity.

AM General also displays he an armored HMMWV variants designed in association with Plasan. Unlike other upgrade designs that use monocoque capsules, Plasan designed the vehicle with a ‘kitted armor’, which does away with unused structures and material, therefore reducing the weight of the protected vehicle. As many of the components previously spliced in the center body are now moved from the protected cabin, significant weight sis offloaded from the frontal wheels and moved back, and well below the axles’ load level, enabling the armor protected vehicle to demonstrate very high protection while retaining the efficient off road mobility of early HMMWVs.

© 2010 defense-update.com

buglerbilly

27-10-10, 03:28 AM

U.S. Army Reaffirms JLTV Commitment

Posted by Bradley Peniston | October 26th, 2010 | AUSA 2010

By KATE BRANNEN – The U.S. Army released its new tactical wheeled vehicle plan Oct. 25, reaffirming that it will fill one-third of its light-vehicle requirements with Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs).

The Army Tactical Wheeled Vehicle Strategy, released Oct. 25, 2010. Click to download.

http://defensenews.com/blogs/ausa/files/2010/10/The_Army_TWV_Strategy_lq.pdf

Officials admit that the JLTVs are costly; the estimated price tag is more than $300,000 apiece, and that’s before equipping them with combat systems.

But the per-vehicle price is also less than that for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, which can cost from $430,000 to $900,000 apiece.

For now, the Marine Corps remains officially committed to the program, although officials have openly questioned the vehicle’s weight and, more recently, its cost.

Under the plan, dubbed “The Army Tactical Wheeled Vehicle Strategy,” the A variant will make up 70 percent of the Army’s JLTVs; the heavier C variant, 25 percent; and the command-and-control B variant, 5 percent.............

Read more here: http://defensenews.com/blogs/ausa/2010/10/26/u-s-army-reaffirms-jltv-commitment/

buglerbilly

28-10-10, 12:36 AM

Ares

A Defense Technology Blog

GD To Promote Bright Arrow

Posted by Bill Sweetman at 10/27/2010 10:01 AM CDT

General Dynamics and Israel Military Industries are close to an agreement under which GD will market IMI's Bright Arrow active protection system for armored vehicles, according to officials of the US company, and the system has just completed a round of tests in the USA.

On show in complete form for the first time at the AUSA show in Washington, Bright Arrow differs from some of its competitors in using blast to disable an incoming projectile. The weapon comprises a radar sensor and control suite, and an interceptor that resembles a fin-stabilized grenade. It is designed to be mounted on a remote controlled weapon system (RCWS) turret. Typically, two ready rounds will be carried in quick-change canisters.

In the event of an attack the weapon slews and fires into the path of the attacking missile or round, and aims to pass just below it, detonating as their paths cross. The effect is to detonate an RPG or to cause a long-rod penetrator to yaw and tumble, so that it slaps against the target rather than penetrating it.

Bright Arrow is designed for light vehicles - unlike some systems it has only one fire unit, covering a 360-degree angle, and it is relatively easy to integrate. It can also be coupled with a soft-kill laser for guided anti-armor weapons, and the weapon station can be coupled with a machine gun for immediate suppressive fire to discourage a second shot.

buglerbilly

28-10-10, 12:57 AM

(Edited from another post to make sure its included where it should be................)

LCTV

Also new from Oshkosh is the all-black Light Combat Tactical Vehicle (LCTV) demonstrator, a fast, four-seater diesel-electric vehicle built to show off new technologies. It is a no-chassis design with automotive subframes attached to a unibody armored pod supplied by Plasan. Its 400-hp engine is linked to a 250-kw. generator that drives two rear-mounted electric propulsion motors.

buglerbilly

30-10-10, 05:33 AM

KMW to Deliver 20 Dingo-2 Vehicles to Equip Norwegian Forces in Afghanistan

October 29, 2010

tamir_eshel

The Norwegian Army will get 20 new Dingo 2 armor protected vehicles to equip ISAF member forces operating in Afghanistan. Photo: KMW

The Norwegian Army has ordered 20 Dingo 2 vehicles to equip its forces operating as part of NATO forces in Afghanistan (ISAF). The manufacturer, Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) will deliver the first 10 vehicles will be delivered by the end of November 2010 with the remaining 10 to ship to Afghanistan in February 2011.

© 2010 defense-update.com

buglerbilly

02-11-10, 02:25 AM

Details on the Oshkosh LCTV plus one post above................

Oshkosh Defense Showcases Light Military Vehicle Technologies to Address the Evolution of the Modern Battlefield
Technologies Include Next-Generation TAK-4® Independent Suspension System

OSHKOSH, Wis. (Oct. 25, 2010) — Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK), today unveiled a vehicle to demonstrate the future of light tactical wheeled vehicles at the AUSA 2010 Annual Meeting & Exposition.

This vehicle, called the Light Combat Tactical Vehicle (LCTV), features the company’s latest advancements in off-road mobility, performance and protection for the U.S. military – including the next-generation of TAK-4® independent suspension systems. The new system provides increased off-road mobility, improved vehicle maneuverability and smoother ride quality.

“The LCTV technologies represent a forward-thinking, customer-guided approach to research and development, and more than 80 years of experience selling vehicles to the military,” said Ken Juergens, Oshkosh Defense vice president and general manager, Joint Programs. “Our new TAK-4 system will further expand the vehicles’ off-road capabilities to make military routes less predictable and Warfighters less susceptible to roadside attacks. Combined with our ProPulse diesel-electric powertrain and modular capsule design, the LCTV provides a glimpse into the survivability and mobility potential of the U.S. military’s light vehicle fleets.”

The ProPulse® technology delivers up to 20 percent improved fuel economy and has 70 kW of available military-grade power. The bolt-together capsule design – proven on the Oshkosh MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) and legacy MRAPs – allows for vehicle upgrades and continuous enhancements to the capsule without having to weld or conduct major fabrication.

The next-generation TAK-4 suspension system delivers 20 inches of independent wheel travel. It also uses a larger shock absorber to deliver an even smoother ride quality at increased speeds and is adjustable to reduce vehicle height for better transportability. Like the demonstration vehicle’s other technologies, it is scalable for use on light, medium and heavy fleets. Oshkosh’s current TAK-4 independent suspension system has been proven in combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, where it has been successfully integrated on multiple vehicle platforms to include the M-ATV, Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR), and other legacy MRAP vehicles.

Oshkosh’s ProPulse technology has been demonstrated on the Oshkosh Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) A3 and the Oshkosh MTVR, which are undergoing testing with the Army and Marine Corps respectively. “The modular nature of the Oshkosh ProPulse system allows for easy integration and flexibility for the future, such as the inclusion of fuel cells for power generation,” Juergens added.

The demonstration vehicle’s capsule is optimized for weight and survivability, utilizing the latest and most proven technologies and techniques available to the Warfighter. Oshkosh has a history of delivering advanced survivability solutions. Its (HEMTT) A4 was the first vehicle delivered to the U.S. military with an integrated A-kit/B-kit armor configuration.

buglerbilly

02-11-10, 05:15 AM

This is a pic of the MAXXPRO 6x6 Tractor announced at the recent AUSA show............

International MaxxPro tractor truck Navistar

Combining a proven truck platform with proven survivability solutions, Navistar today also introduced the MaxxPro Tractor into its MRAP family. This vehicle uses an A kit / B kit armor solution with MRAP-level protection available, to allow two- to three-man crews to carry out support missions. The vehicle is powered by a MaxxForce® D 13L engine.

buglerbilly

05-11-10, 04:21 PM

MLS scores in China

Written by Leon Engelbrecht

Friday, 05 November 2010 14:01

Mobile Land Systems (MLS), a South African armoured vehicle manufacturer established last year, says it has a contract worth R40 million to manufacture 11 mine-resistant armour protected (MRAP) vehicles in conjunction with a Chinese company associated with the People's Liberation Army and transfer know-how to the east-Asian giant.

MLS CE Dewald Hattingh says indications are that China may need as many as 10 000 MRAP vehicles to cover their internal needs and equip peacekeeping missions. The PLA is the largest military in the world mustering some three million soldiers, sailors and airmen, of whom some 2.5 million are in full-time service. It is said to operate over 8500 main battle tanks but just over 1000 infantry combat vehicles and 3500 armoured personnel carrier of various designs – and none mine protected.

Hattingh says he was invited by Poly Technologies to talks on the fringes of the DSEi defence exhibition in London in September last year. “After negotiations and a formulated RfP [request for proposal], we drafted a MoU [Memorandum of Understanding] on the 14th of September 2009 in London. I changed the design to accommodate the special requests for China and after a few visits to Beijing and the Chinese industry, the design was signed off,” Hattingh says.

Poly Technologies decided on Changan Industries, a major manufacturer of vehicles and ammunition in China, as MLS' Chinese manufacturing partner. Eight engineers visited South Africa in the first quarter of the year and some changes were made to the design and finally signed off. During this visit of three weeks, two hulls were build and the process demonstrated to the visiting engineers.

MLS next sent a prototype hull and component parts to Changan's Chong Qing facility and a team consisting of three South African engineers led by Tos Visser followed to assemble and transfer skills to their Chinese counterparts. The South Africans stayed for six weeks. Andre van Eeden chief designer at MLS partner Laser Sprint also visited China for a week to oversee aspects of the the process. “The first prototype vehicle was a huge success and a major achievement if one takes the distances and language barriers into consideration,” Hattingh says.

Hattingh notes Poly Technologies will be sending more engineers to be trained in the MRAP manufacturing process. Nine more vehicles will be part-manufactured in South Africa under the contract and exported to China in kit form for assembly there. Changan will take over manufacture at that point and is licenced to build 289 more vehicles. “We are committed to give close support and quality control assistance to secure our royalties,” Hattingh says. After that intellectual property will be handed over to Changan against a fee. “Our commitment is to assist with transfering of skills, providing parts and constant support for the project.”

buglerbilly

05-11-10, 04:27 PM

And more goes to China.............from Russia this time...........

High level government talks between Russia and China have successfully concluded and will see Russia supply China with Tiger SUV’s that are used by Russian special forces, China already has 50 of them but has ordered a further 10 vehicles, however Russia has denied China a license to produce the Tiger SUV in China. The further 10 vehicles will be delivered in CKD format and will be assembled by an unknown factory in Beijing.

buglerbilly

05-11-10, 05:44 PM

Duke of York launches scathing attack on 'hopeless' MoD

The Duke of York has launched an extraordinary attack on the “hopeless” Ministry of Defence for failing to order an armoured vehicle that could save British soldiers’ lives.

By Gordon Rayner, Chief Reporter, UK Daily Telegraph

Published: 1:54PM GMT 05 Nov 2010

The Duke of York slammed the Ministry of Defence's "hopeless" procurement process Photo: AP/Lai Seng Sin

Go for it your Illustriousness! Always liked his Old Man for the fact he never kept his gob shut, good to see one of his sons keeping up the tradition............

The Duke accused defence chiefs of sitting on their “fat backsides” and stalling on bringing in the British-built Ranger vehicles, which are said to have three times the blast resistance of troop carriers currently in use.

His controversial comments were made at the factory which manufactures the Ranger, which the Duke was visiting in his capacity as an ambassador for UK Trade and Industry.

http://www.rangervehicle.co.uk/intro.html

Last year the MoD said it had no immediate plans to order Rangers, but had asked for independent tests to establish the vehicle’s resistance to roadside bombs of the type used by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The Duke told executives at Universal Engineering in Weymouth, Dorset: “Why do they have to do blast tests? It's just increasing the cost.

“It just seems that because it takes time to get these things done - I would say to you that regrettably they will not get off their fat backsides.

“The MoD are completely hopeless at these kind of things.”

A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said the remarks were made in a private meeting and declined to comment further.

It is understood that the Duke was addressing members of the company’s board, and was unaware that a local journalist had been invited to witness the meeting.

The 50-year-old Duke, a former Royal Navy helicopter pilot and Colonel-in-Chief of five Army regiments, has regularly visited Afghanistan to see for himself the challenges faced by British service personnel.

After being shown a presentation of the Ranger in action, he agreed it should sell well internationally, adding: “This is supposed to be an export led Government recovery and this seems to be an excellent export product. I don't think I need convincing.”

But he suggested that if the armed forces pull out of Afghanistan by 2015, as the Government has suggested, the company will have “a problem” getting orders.

The £1 million Ranger has a unique “floating” crew capsule suspended above the V-shaped hull that gives it superb protection from roadside bombs. In tests, its armour plating withstood the impact from explosives equivalent to double the average amount found in a Taliban bomb.

Universal Engineering says it could have the vehicles in Afghanistan within six months of an order being placed.

The MoD argues it has already spent billions on US-built Mastiff and Ridgback trucks, which are less agile than Rangers.

John Scott, the Ranger program director, diplomatically said the company enjoyed a good relationship with the MoD and they understood the processes required for all procurement.

John Runyard, chairman of Universal Engineering, said: "He (the Duke) saw the export opportunities and thought the Ranger was a fantastic piece of kit.

“And it will help with the sustainability of jobs in the area.”

An MoD spokesman said the ministry had not ruled out ordering Rangers, adding: “The size and weight of the prototype Ranger vehicle is similar to that of our Mastiff and Ridgback vehicles that are already being used in Afghanistan.

“In the event that future operational requirements are identified for a vehicle of its type then the Ranger could be considered.”

Redcoat

06-11-10, 11:07 AM

"extraordinary attack"

Sorry - what is it that is extraordinary about this "attack" the sentiments are pretty much general the only "extraordinary" thing is that Andy is a serving officer so is probably earned himself an "interview without coffee"

buglerbilly

08-11-10, 02:42 PM

Defense Acquisitions: Issues to Be Considered as DoD Modernizes Its Fleet of Tactical Wheeled Vehicles

(Source: Government Accountability Office; issued Nov. 5, 2010)

The Department of Defense (DOD) is acquiring two new tactical wheeled vehicles (TWV): the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) and the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV). The $12.5 billion M-ATV is for use in Afghanistan; JLTV is the future replacement for vehicles like the High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV).

GAO was asked to assess (1) DOD's progress in rapidly acquiring and fielding M-ATVs, (2) JLTV's expected features and cost compared to other TWV, and (3) the extent to which the current plans for M-ATV and JLTV are consistent with the services' TWV investment strategies.

The M-ATV program has been successful, delivering well-performing vehicles ahead of schedule at an estimated cost of $12.5 billion. No major issues have been identified in testing and early fielding. In developing the M-ATV acquisition strategy, lessons learned from the acquisition of MRAPs in Iraq were applied. Like the earlier MRAPs, the M-ATVs did not require technology development, a key factor in the program's success.

As of late August 2010, 7,488 vehicles had been delivered to the government and 4,379 had been fielded to units in Afghanistan. Fielding is expected to be completed in December 2010. The urgent need for these vehicles resulted in their fielding and testing at the same time; however, source selection testing was conducted, and no vehicles were fielded until their safety was verified.

Jointly managed by the Army and Marine Corps, JLTV is expected to provide protection levels that are comparable to the M-ATV but without loss of payload or automotive performance. JLTV's acquisition costs are yet to be determined but are expected to be substantial. Unit costs could be over $800,000--somewhat less than M-ATV, with mission equipment making up more than half of the costs.

Unlike M-ATV and earlier MRAPs, JLTV has demanding projected requirements that necessitate technological and engineering advances. Key challenges are whether the vehicle can provide the performance and reliability required yet stay within the weight limits for helicopter transport. Difficult tradeoffs in requirements may be necessary.

At this point, it is a well-structured program with desirable features like a competitive technology development phase. This phase is scheduled to be completed by late fiscal year 2011, when DOD will decide if the program should enter the engineering and manufacturing development phase.

That is the point where JLTV should clearly demonstrate that its projected requirements can be met with available resources. Evidence of that match would include a completed preliminary design review and a technology readiness assessment that shows all technologies to be fully mature.

Current plans for M-ATV and JLTV dovetail with the objectives of the most recent Army and Marine Corps investment strategies. The implementation of those strategies, however, will be influenced by (1) the decision to continue producing new HMMWVs, recapitalize the existing HMMWV fleet, or both; (2) long-term funding for MRAP and M-ATV sustainment, and (3) specific cost and capabilities of JLTV.

The department-wide strategy for TWVs that DOD plans to prepare would benefit greatly from the resolution of these issues. To the extent this strategy captures the knowledge gained by the services, the strategy can reconcile the aggregate affordability and other implications of the various tactical wheeled vehicle programs with the competing demands of the department.

For example, at this point, the service strategies consider MRAP vehicles to be additive to the force structure, not offsetting quantities of HMMWVs or JLTVs. Any potential offsets between the MRAP vehicles and JLTVs, to the extent they are supported by cost-benefit analyses, could save both acquisition and support costs.

GAO recommends that DOD (1) ensure that the JLTV program clearly demonstrates a match between requirements and resources; (2) stage the timing of the DOD-wide TWV strategy so that it captures key knowledge; and (3) include in the strategy a cost-benefit analysis that could minimize the collective acquisition and support costs of the various TWV programs, and reduce the risk of unplanned overlap or duplication.

Click here for the full report (35 pages in PDF format) on the GAO website.

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d1183.pdf

(EDITOR’S NOTE: It is a sufficiently rare event for GAO to approve of the Pentagon’s management of its acquisition programs, so it is worthwhile to look at why it considered both of these programs to be successful.
In fact, GAO’s plaudits are all the more unexpected that, as the report notes, “M-ATV testing and fielding was highly concurrent,” a practice that GAO has repeatedly criticized in all other Pentagon acquisition programs.
In this respect, the report disappoints as it reveals no magic recipes: “DOD’s emphasis that the competing contractors provide only mature, non-developmental vehicles was a key element in achieving the M-ATV schedule objectives,” it states, while for JLTV “the acquisition strategy calls for an incremental, knowledge-based approach, reflective of best practices.”
In other words, the recipe for a successful program remains the same, and was confirmed by both M-ATV and JLTV programs: buy only when technology is mature.)

-ends-

Redcoat

09-11-10, 10:27 AM

new light weight armoured truck for Afghanistan - lol

An old friend from the seventies - not in the class of the modern equivalents but you can see where they are coming from

Gubler, A.

09-11-10, 11:37 AM

An old friend from the seventies - not in the class of the modern equivalents but you can see where they are coming from

I thought you were going to mention the original Mine and Ambush Protected vehicles. Made from soft steel and conveyor belt rubber, still survive the biggest boosted mine attacks as long as you didn't drive too fast.

Rhodesia of course.

buglerbilly

09-11-10, 03:54 PM

Mercedes-Benz LAPV 5.4 (ENOK) Handed Over to the Military

(Source: Daimler Commercial Vehicles; issued Nov. 9, 2010)

KOBLENZ, Germany --- Daimler AG has handed over the first series-production example of the Mercedes-Benz LAPV 5.4, military designation ENOK, to the Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB) and the army on the premises of the company-owned Mercedes-Benz sales and service outlet in Koblenz.

Procurement of these vehicles is part of the BWB project "Protected command and functional vehicle, Class 1". Their operational purpose is personnel transport and use as a carrier for a wide variety of military equipment. The compact exterior dimensions of the vehicle are a decisive advantage in this regard.

With the ENOK/LAPV 5.4, Mercedes-Benz is demonstrating its expertise in highly manoeuvrable, highly protected all-terrain vehicles at a new level. The three parameters of agility, protection and payload define the magic triangle that Mercedes-Benz has realised to perfection with this vehicle.

In standard specification the vehicles provide protection against ballistic threats and mines/IEDs according to STANAG/NATO standards (extended anti-mine protection is available as an option).

The powertrain of the ENOK/LAPV 5.4 is based on that of ther existing Mercedes-Benz G 280CDI off-road vehicle with special protection, which ensures the best possible supply logistics. The engine develops an output of 135 kW/184 hp and 400 Nm of torque at 1600 – 2600 rpm, with power transferred to the four wheels via a 5-speed automatic transmission with an integrated reduction gear and three fully engageable differential locks. This makes the vehicle particularly suitable for operations on extremely difficult terrain.

The vehicle is available in two variants: with five doors and fully armoured crew and cargo compartments, or with four doors and an armoured crew compartment and unprotected rear body structure.

With a payload of 930 kg and an operating range of approx. 700 km, a four-man crew is able to operate without support for several days.

45 vehicles have been ordered to date, and will be delivered to the BWB (Königswinter depot) by the end of 2010. The army is planning to take the vehicles into operation for the protection of its soldiers in Afghanistan in early 2011. Procurement of a further 100 vehicles is planned for 2011 and 2012.

-ends-

buglerbilly

10-11-10, 04:11 PM

This is a pic of the other version, the "Ute" four doors and an unarmoured tray body at the rear.............

buglerbilly

16-11-10, 05:07 PM

I meant to post this one earlier...........

Aravis Nexter, a new armoured to fight the improvised explosive devices IED in Afganistan.

On 25 October 2010, the highly protected armored vehicle (VBHP) Aravis Nexter was deployed for the first time in Afghanistan by the French Army. This vehicle is designed to carry, under armour protection, teams working to disable improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

The 11 vehicles arrived in Kabul by chartered jumbo jet at the end of September, and were taken over by a team of experts from the Technical Section of the Army (STAT) to convert them to fully-capable operational configuration. In three weeks, they were fitted with jammers, perimeter high-definition cameras, weapons, and communications and navigation system.

The vehicles have now entered operational service with the counter-IED mine disposal teams deployed in Kapisa and Surobi, and with the special section tasked with route opening in mined areas.

This latter section, deployed in the French area of responsibility, is a particularly appropriate response to the fight against improvised explosive devices, which is the main threat to NATO troops in Afghanistan.

Thanks to the vehicle’s state-of-the-art design, combat engineers now have a protection level that has been rarely achieved to date. The vehicle is also particularly suited to the Afghan theatre as its comfort level allows the crew to perform its mission for long durations; it also offers excellent mobility and easy handling. With a remotely-operated turret equipped with a 12.7 mm machine gun coupled with a thermal camera, the VBHP provides its crew with significant firepower to fight back if attacked.

Along with the SOUVIM route clearing system and the Buffalo armoured vehicle, the VBHP rounds out the route clearing capabilities available to French troops.

buglerbilly

17-11-10, 03:21 AM

Corps Looking at Capsules and Chimneys for Blast Protection

The commander of the Marine Corps’ top requirements office said Tuesday he’s shifting resources to provide a mix of new vehicles to modernize the force’s ground mobility and refitting the current fleet of 20,000 Humvees with new technologies that protect its crew from roadside bombs without putting on a lot of pounds in armor.

Lt. Gen. George Flynn, head of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command, told reporters at a small gathering in DC that he is keenly interested in outfitting some Corps units with the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle — despite calls by the debt commission to 86 the program — but his service can’t afford to replace its Humvee fleet with the high tech new vehicle.

One of the challenges we have is how to balance the ‘Iron Triangle’ of payload, protection and performance… Armoring is an important piece of what we do, but you have to balance that against mobility and equally as important is transportability. Everything has gotten heavier. The question is what technologies are out there to help us balance that issue of weight, mobility and transportability.

Flynn said the Corps was looking at specifically two technologies to add protection without a lot of weight: capsules and chimneys.

The way Flynn explains it, capsules are analogous to race cars which enclose their drivers in cocoons of protection in the event of an accident. If the stock car hits the wall at 210 mph, the car is destroyed but the driver walks away.

We’re testing those vehicles on an existing Humvee-type frame out at Yuma right now to see when you add a capsule to the vehicle what kind of mobility do you have and how does the frame hold up.

The chimney idea is to incorporate vent technology on vehicles to channel the blast waves of an IED detonation out of or away from the crew compartment of a vehicle.

I’m taking a look at an integrated protection solution that includes chimney technology. that allows you to mitigate the blast through an actual chimney that’s integrated into the vehicle.
Flynn added that current Marine Corps plans are to purchase around 5,500 JLTVs and have a fleet of 20,000 Humvees.

Read more: http://defensetech.org/#ixzz15VCX1pNt
Defense.org

buglerbilly

17-11-10, 12:53 PM

Valanx unveiled in Australia

November 17, 2010

The image above is the one issued with the public notice below........note the headlamps have changed from the earlier models in the other images...

The ‘Valanx,' BAE Systems' solution to meet the Australian Protected Mobility Vehicle - Light (PMV-L) and the US Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program requirements was publicly unveiled for the first time in Australia today.

The Valanx, being offered to the Australian Defence Force under Project Land 121-Phase 4, is the centrepiece of the BAE Systems stand at the 2010 Land Warfare Conference in Brisbane.

Valanx is the result of four successive generations of demonstrator and prototype vehicles developed by BAE Systems.

The JLTV and PMV-L programs will replace much of the Humvee fleet in the US and the Land Rover Perentie vehicle in Australia respectively.

Director of Land and Integrated Systems Kim Scott said: "We believe the Valanx offers the Australian Army the safest and most capable vehicle.

"It's built for the modern warfighter and delivers on the demanding balance required for the ‘Iron Triangle' of payload, performance and protection."

BAE Systems, along with partners Navistar Defense and Arvin Meritor, delivered three right-hand drive configured Valanx vehicles to the Australian Army in June 2010.

The Valanx vehicles and trailer have been undergoing trials at Army's test track in Monegeetta, Victoria since mid-2010, as part of the US Government's JLTV program.

In December, these vehicles will revert to Australian control for further evaluation against the Australian trials and evaluation program.

Local Field Service Representatives from BAE Systems Australia have been providing support for the vehicles at Monegeetta throughout the trials program.

Currently, the majority of Valanx's components are at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7, which is used to measure equipment maturity.

Mr Scott said the Australian vehicles were designed to be highly compatible with the US variants, ensuring interoperability between forces, while still being tightly tailored to meet the needs of Australian vehicle crews and commanders.

"At present, the US and Australian teams within BAE Systems are working together to examine candidate components and subsystems to enable Australian SMEs to participate in the global supply chain for the Valanx, should we be successful in the 50,000-60,000 vehicle JLTV program.

"This would provide 10-15 years of steady production for companies if selected."

The name Valanx is derived from the meaning of a phalanx - an ancient Greek formation designed to protect soldiers in combat - but introduces the "V" characteristic.

The Valanx has a signature V-shaped hull, designed to deflect a mine blast away from the vehicle, protecting the soldiers inside.

Source: BAE Systems

Raven22

17-11-10, 01:11 PM

My unit has been tasked to run range shoots for the JLTV prototypes during the trials early next year. Should be a good opportunity to see the prototypes, the only problem is that by the pam there is no one in the country able to run the range shoot because no one is qualified on the platforms. Still waiting for a solution to that one.

buglerbilly

17-11-10, 02:36 PM

Nice shot of the vehicle plus trailer.............neat looking combo............

buglerbilly

18-11-10, 01:41 AM

Marshall Land Systems and Thales Australia announce MOU

November 18, 2010

In a joint announcement Thales Australia and Marshall Land Systems announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which includes cooperation on vehicle opportunities in Australia, in particular LAND 121 Project Overlander.

The MOU covers areas where the two companies' capabilities, products and services complement each other, and where their interests can be jointly expanded, especially to provide turnkey solutions.

The MOU follows close co-operation between Marshall Specialist Vehicles Ltd and Thales UK on successful programs such as the Watchkeeper UAV, and through the close co‑operation developed on the Bushmaster Utility vehicles. The MOU will initially be serviced by Marshall Land Systems' company Marshall Specialist Vehicles (MSV), but will eventually migrate to the new Marshall Land Systems company in Australia Marshall Land Systems Pty Ltd.

Chris Jenkins, CEO of Thales Australia, said: "Thales Australia is committed to delivering innovative and flexible capabilities to our customers. Marshall Land Systems' expertise in vehicle modules complements our proven protected mobility credentials - a valuable partnership as we pursue opportunities in our land businesses, as well as other prospects."

"Additionally, integrating Marshall Land Systems into our supply chains will help generate employment opportunities in Victoria."

Peter Callaghan, Chief Executive of Marshall Land Systems, said: "We are delighted with this relationship. It builds on our core values of Quality and Integrity and reflects the close working and excellent co-operation the two companies have developed over recent years. It will initially concentrate on our Systems Integration, Military Shelters and Vehicle Engineering capabilities. We have already started identifying a whole range of supply partners in Australia, a move which reflects our long term commitment to developing Australian Industry Capability."

Addressing Marshall Land Systems' ambitions Peter Callaghan went on to say, "Obviously our first activity is with current Overlander phases, however MLS has had sufficient levels of interest on other programmes to develop this relationship and our new company further for other programmes in Australia and Asia Pacific."

Source: Thales Australia and Marshall Land Systems

buglerbilly

18-11-10, 01:55 AM

DARPA to Test new Lightweight Armor Solutions from Kairos

November 17, 2010

tamir_eshel

Kairos Partners, Inc announced today it was selected by DARPA to participate in the “Armor Challenge for Vehicles” with its new lightweight vehicle armor. The solution proposed by Kairos uses cutting edge technologies which combine metal matrix composites (MMCs) and three-dimensionally woven fiber composites into a uniquely effective passive armor solution that can be produced in any shape or thickness. The new lightweight material can be produced in high volume production, offering cost effective protection for current vehicles, as well as for future land, air, sea, and space platforms.

A ‘breeding ground’ supporting development and testing of innovative vehicle armor solutions, ‘DARPA Armor Challenge’ is identifying promising new armor concepts for military vehicles. Among the goals of Armor Challenge DARPA is seeking to identify advanced, lighter and cheaper vehicle armor, capable of defeating certain armor piercing rounds and fragment projectiles. The Vehicle Armor Challenge is primarily designed for inventors and small organizations that have limited resources to initiate full-scale armor development programs. “DARPA has given us a chance to prove our technology, and truly presents us with opportunity.” said Don Akers, President and CEO of Kairos Partners.

© Copyright 2010 - Defense Update

buglerbilly

19-11-10, 02:18 AM

Oshkosh Corporation puts concept vehicle to the test

November 18, 2010

Oshkosh Corporation announced today its first participation in the 43rd Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 off-road race Nov. 18-20 in Mexico. The Oshkosh Extreme Racing team will run its Light Concept Vehicles (LCV) through the rugged 1,061-mile desert course from Ensenada to La Paz.

Oshkosh engineers have designed the LCV to incorporate the company's latest advancements in off-road suspension and diesel-electric powertrain performance. The Oshkosh Extreme Racing team will be racing two vehicles in the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 as part of its rigorous testing protocol.

"Oshkosh engineers are dedicated to producing the most advanced vehicle technologies for a variety of highly-specialized industries," said Chris Yakes, Oshkosh Corporation vice president of Advanced Products Engineering and Oshkosh Extreme Racing team member. "In pursuit of next-generation technologies for future fleets, we've been testing our concept vehicles in remote locations in the United States, and we are now competing in the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 - our most intense challenge to date. We are excited about this opportunity."

The LCV includes the next-generation of TAK-4 independent suspension systems. The new system expands on the Oshkosh patented TAK-4 suspension by increasing off-road mobility, improving vehicle maneuverability and providing a smoother ride. The Oshkosh ProPulse diesel-electric powertrain design delivers improved fuel economy and can export significant levels of electrical power.

"Oshkosh got its start as a developer of severe-duty four-wheel drive trucks, so it is only fitting that it competes its latest concept vehicle in the most extreme off-road race - the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000," said Sal Fish, SCORE International's president and CEO, which has sanctioned and produced the event since 1975. "We've created a new class for the Oshkosh Extreme Racing Team based on their vehicle's unique capabilities, weight and dimensions, and look forward to seeing it perform."

The two Oshkosh Extreme Racing vehicles, numbered M1 and M2 for the race, will be driven by members of California Gold Racing (CGR), led by legendary race mogul Glenn Harris. As a member of the Oshkosh Extreme Racing team, CGR will also provide logistics support, while Oshkosh engineers will manage the pit crews and technical support for the race.

"We're looking forward to the race and its inherent ability to push our team and the vehicle technologies we've developed," Yakes said. "We expect to learn a lot from this event and will apply those learnings to our ongoing research and development efforts."

Source: Oshkosh

buglerbilly

19-11-10, 03:15 PM

Hawkei A Reality As Prototype Unveiled at Land Warfare Conference

(Source: Thales; issued November 17, 2010)

Thales Australia has unveiled its ground-breaking Hawkei prototype at the Land Warfare Conference in Brisbane. With over 20,000km of testing complete, the Hawkei’s rapid development from drawing board to working prototype is now a reality.

Chris Jenkins, Thales Australia’s CEO, said the company’s investment in the Hawkei and its close cooperation with world-leading partners had produced impressive results in a short timeframe.

“We’ve demonstrated that we can move quickly to develop a vehicle that is progressing very well in testing, thanks to the significant protected vehicles expertise we have gained from the highly successful Bushmaster program and the capabilities of our partners,” he said.

“Along with road trials, the Hawkei has also successfully passed a series of blast tests. “This achievement is the result of close collaboration with our partners Plasan Sasa, whose survivability systems expertise has been invaluable, as well as Boeing Defence Australia and PAC Group. All have been instrumental in ensuring the development program proceeds on schedule.”

The Hawkei has numerous advantages:

-- Large protected interior space for crew, equipment and stores
-- Four doors for easy access
-- Bushmaster levels of blast and ballistic protection
-- Advanced technology for rapid up-armouring in the field
-- Straightforward reconfiguration between variants
-- 7-tonne air-transportable combat configuration

In addition to the Hawkei’s technical advantages and low through life support costs, an expert development team with many years’ protected vehicle experience is available in Australia, guaranteeing dedicated customer service and supporting strategic Australian defence industry capability.

Thales is a global technology leader for the Defence & Security and the Aerospace & Transport markets. In 2009, the company generated revenues of EUR 12.9 billion (equivalent of AUD 22.7 billion) with 68,000 employees in 50 countries. With its 22,500 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers as local partners.

Thales Australia is a trusted partner of the Australian Defence Force and is also present in commercial sectors ranging from air traffic management to security systems and services. Employing around 3,500 people in over 35 sites across the country, Thales Australia recorded revenues of more than AUD1 billion in 2009.

-ends-

A few different versions, on paper only at the moment...................

SpecOps version..........

Utility version............

Ambulance..............

buglerbilly

19-11-10, 03:21 PM

BAE Systems – Navistar Defense – ArvinMeritor Team Delivers Enhanced Protection Joint Light Tactical Vehicle Prototype

(Source: BAE Systems; issued November 18, 2010)

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. --- BAE Systems along with partners ArvinMeritor and Navistar Defense have delivered an Enhanced Protection configuration of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) prototype to the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps.

“The military looks to JLTV to provide the improvements in protection, performance, and payload needed to fill the capability gaps between the HMMWV and MRAP families of vehicles,” said Ann Hoholick, vice president and general manager of New Vehicles and Amphibious Systems for BAE Systems’ U.S. Combat Systems. “This vehicle is similar to the three Category A prototypes that were delivered earlier this year and has been further improved to allow for enhanced and scalable survivability without sacrificing essential expeditionary capabilities.”

The team met this challenge by leveraging years of armor design and development experience, along with the innovative blast mitigation techniques that have been matured on BAE Systems’ Mine Resistant Armored Protection (MRAP) family of vehicles.

“The advanced design and engineering of the Meritor ProTec™ Series 30 High Mobility Independent Suspension will provide advanced protection, mobility and ride quality for the JLTV platform,” said Tim Burns, vice president of Defense and Specialty for ArvinMeritor.

This is the final prototype that the team will deliver during the 27-month technology development phase, which is expected to conclude in May 2011. The prototype vehicles will undergo continued government testing over the next several months to aid in the finalization of the requirements for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase of the program.

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).

-ends-

buglerbilly

19-11-10, 03:42 PM

Much better front view of the BAE JLTV for Australia.............its the Utility version

buglerbilly

22-11-10, 02:41 PM

Pentagon Contract Announcement

(Source: US Department of Defense; issued Nov. 19, 2010)

Navistar Defense, LLC, Warrenville, Ill., is being awarded $252,779,055 for firm-fixed-priced delivery order #0015 under a previously awarded contract (M67854-07-D-5032) for the procurement of 250 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected recovery vehicles (MRV) and contractor logistics support (CLS).

The objective of the MRV and CLS requirement is to support the warfighters and coalition forces that require assistance resulting from disabled vehicles during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Work will be performed in West Point, Miss., and is expected to be completed by the end of September 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $252,779,055 will expire on Sept. 30, 2011.

The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity.

-ends-

buglerbilly

22-11-10, 02:47 PM

Army Testing New FMTVs

(Source: US Army; issued Nov. 19, 2010)

ARLINGTON, Va. --- The U.S. Army is vigorously conducting reliability, durability and performance testing of its new Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., and Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz., as part of an effort to add thousands of new trucks to the fleet, service officials said.

The Army plans to build and deliver at least 10,000 new FMTVs as part of its requirements contract with Oshkosh Defense signed last August.

"Testing is going very well. The process involves 20,000 miles of reliability and durability testing - plus performance testing which is everything from [performance on] slopes to speed, endurance and payload capability," said Lt. Col. Shane Fullmer, the Army's product manager for medium tactical vehicles.

"Given what we've seen to date, we are in good shape to easily meet our reliability requirements," Fullmer said.

Additionally, performance testing and live-fire blast testing place the trucks in a range of different combat-relevant scenarios, he said. "We have to demonstrate a fording capability, a capability to put the truck up-hill with certain grades with certain payloads," said Mike Ivy, vice president and general manager for Army programs, Oshkosh Defense.

"If it is a tractor, it has to demonstrate a pull capability," Ivy said. "There are 17 different variants to the truck and each variant has different performance requirements, and so they test those trucks against those requirements." Testing is expected to conclude in the spring of 2011.

The new trucks are being built in accordance with the Army's Technical Data Package, specifications that include modular, replaceable armor and a built-in ring mount to place a weapon and gunners' protective kit on the roof of the cab, Fullmer said.

The modular armor approach means that the truck's cab is built with a small amount of built-on integrated armor designed with the ability to accept bolt-on armor plates to improve protection as missions dictate.

"You can take out the windows and put in new transparent armor, and you can put on armor panels that protect the truck from direct fire and IEDs," said Fullmer. "That is the truck that goes into the warzone. When you are done you can take the armor off for use in peacetime operations. We have more than 1,000 of those trucks in theater already."

The TDP, along with the forces of a full and open competition, allowed the Army to achieve significant savings.

The Army is essentially getting the same truck with the same performance at a reduced price, Fullmer said.

"The FMTV design is already protecting Soldiers in Afghanistan, and we are continuing to provide trucks to Soldiers in theater with the protection needed in combat and the performance capabilities needed during peacetime operations," said Fullmer.

At this time there are no specific plans for further improvements to the FMTV, but the program continues to review the state of current technology. "As technology becomes available that is low-risk and is an improvement, we will look at incorporating that into our truck over time," added Fullmer.

The Product Manager for Medium Tactical Vehicles operates under the leadership of the Project Manager for Tactical Vehicles, which falls under the Army's Program Executive Officer, Combat Support and Combat Service Support's portfolio, headquartered in Warren, Mich.

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buglerbilly

23-11-10, 01:28 PM

Navistar Defense to Provide 250 MaxxPro MRAP Recovery Vehicles

(Source: Navistar International Corporation; issued November 22, 2010)

WARRENVILLE, Ill. --- Navistar Defense, LLC today announced that it received a delivery order for 250 International MaxxPro Recovery vehicles from the U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command.

The $253 million order was placed under the company’s Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) indefinite delivery / indefinite quantity contract and includes contractor logistics support. This is Navistar’s eighth major MRAP variant.

Navistar originally unveiled the MaxxPro Recovery vehicle, also known as a wrecker variant, in February 2009 as a new utility vehicle offering.

“We believe that part of industry’s role is to recognize a potential need before it becomes an absolute necessity,” said Archie Massicotte, president, Navistar Defense. "For Navistar, that meant extending MRAP-level survivability to those running vehicle recovery and other support missions.”

Just last month, Navistar expanded its MRAP family of vehicles again with the launch of the MaxxPro Tractor and MaxxPro Dash Ambulance. The company’s ability to grow its vehicle portfolio, with little lead time, occurs through the use of the existing commercial vehicle platforms.

The MaxxPro Recovery vehicle is based on the same International WorkStar platform that lends its flexibility to the company’s growing family of vehicles. MRAP ballistic, mine and improvised explosive device (IED) protection will now aid two- to three-man crews as they retrieve damaged or mission-disabled vehicles and carry out other support missions.

The vehicle is powered by the MaxxForce 9.3D engine. Production of MaxxPro Recovery units will be completed by fall 2011.

Since receiving its original MaxxPro MRAP contract in May 2007, Navistar has emerged as one of the leading providers of MRAP vehicles. To date, the company has been contracted to produce more than 7,800 units.

“Winning orders like this is consistent with our plans to be a $1.5 to $2 billion annual business,” said Massicotte. “Not only do we have flexible vehicle platforms at the ready, but we have a growing network of engineers along with strong parts and sustainment organizations to keep us on target.”

Navistar International Corporation is a holding company whose subsidiaries and affiliates produce International brand commercial and military trucks, MaxxForce brand diesel engines, IC Bus brand school and commercial buses, Monaco RV brands of recreational vehicles, and Workhorse brand chassis for motor homes and step vans.

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buglerbilly

23-11-10, 01:30 PM

Fast Delivery – Norwegian Dingo 2 to Afghanistan Three Weeks After Order

(Source: Krauss-Maffei Wegmann; issued November 22, 2010)

MUNICH, Germany --- Only three weeks after the order agreement between the Norwegian Army and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) on October 29th this year, the first ten of 20 Dingo 2 heavily armoured vehicles have been delivered to a delegation of the Norwegian Armed Forces in Munich (Germany) under the lead of Major General Trond R. Karlsen, the head of the Norwegian Procurement Agency NDLO.

The vehicles are now on their way to Afghanistan, where KMW service personnel will make them operational for theatre. Parallel to the production of the vehicles, Norwegian soldiers were trained by KMW in maintaining and operating the Dingo 2.

Thus KMW demonstrates once again its ability for quick and reliable delivery and its world-known contribution to the protection of soldiers on the ground. “We are proud to work with such a remarkably professional and challenging customer as the Norwegian Army. They have selected the best protected vehicle in its class and we delivered them express in record time” says Frank Haun, CEO and President of KMW.

The Dingo 2 will be deployed as a patrol and protection vehicle. KMW also supports the Norwegian Forces with on-site service teams in Afghanistan to cover tasks such as maintenance, repairs as well as training of the crews.

The Dingo 2 is the safest and best-protected wheeled vehicle in its class with an outstanding performance on difficult terrains and under extreme climatic conditions. With over 700 vehicles delivered in different configurations, the Dingo is a trusted mission partner by six different European nations.

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 3,400 employees manufacture and support a product portfolio ranging from air-transportable, heavily armoured wheeled vehicles through reconnaissance, antiaircraft and artillery systems to heavy battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and bridgelaying systems.

In addition, KMW has wide-ranging system competence in the area of civil and military simulation, as well as in command and information systems and remote-controlled weapon stations with reconnaissance and observation equipment for day and night missions.

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buglerbilly

25-11-10, 04:17 PM

Marshall Land Systems provides Wolfhound with its loadbed

November 25, 2010

The Wolfhound Tactical Support Vehicle which has just entered operational service in Afghanistan is fitted with a load bed built by Marshall Vehicle Engineering, part of Cambridge based Marshall Land Systems.

Utilising a number of Military off the Shelf (MOTS) components, including drop sides and tail boards, Marshall VE delivered the load beds in less than three months following the award of a contract from load bed designers, Ricardo plc.

"Our knowledge of military load beds has been developed over many years, indeed decades and ranges from the supply of large logistic loadbed systems for the UK MOD Support Vehicle programme, of which nearly 4,500 have been delivered, to small utility systems for vehicles such as the Iveco LMV and Renault Sherpa Light. The Wolfhound contract demonstrates that within MLS we have both the knowledge and the manufacturing experience to deliver the quality solutions our customers want and to deliver them on time," said Peter Callaghan, Chief Executive of Marshall Land Systems.

Wolfhound can carry both palletised loads or loose stores in high threat areas making the vehicle capable of offering support to a range of users in Afghanistan.

Wolfhound is part of the Tactical Support Vehicle programme which has seen over 400 armoured support trucks ordered by the UK to accompany patrols and carry the essential supplies such as water and ammunition.

Source: Marshall

buglerbilly

30-11-10, 03:08 PM

UK MoD signs up for 200 Ocelot light protected patrol vehicles

Contract award gives Force Protection Europe two industry firsts

12:22 GMT, November 30, 2010 Force Protection Europe has signed a contract with the UK MoD to supply an order of 200 Ocelots, and an initial spares package, for the Light Protected Patrol Vehicles (LPPV) programme. The contract is valued at approximately £180 million and delivery of the vehicles is scheduled to be completed by Spring 2012.

The announcement means that Force Protection Europe’s unique new light protected patrol vehicle can now lay claim to two important industry firsts. The Ocelot will be the first ever British designed and built protected patrol vehicle to include a fully composite pod to protect the occupants. This innovative module has been developed by drawing on technology from the motorsports industry.

Ocelot will also be the first British military vehicle to accommodate the MoD’s new Generic Vehicle Architecture (GVA) requirements. The objective of the GVA project is to create a single, standard digital electronic and electrical architecture for UK vehicles that will enable crew to manage power and handle data efficiently on the vehicle, and for the vehicle to be easily adapted when the need arises.

The award is also a significant boost to Force Protection Europe’s supply chain which is 90 percent British by value.

Designed, developed and built in the UK by survivability specialist Force Protection Europe and automotive specialist Ricardo plc, together with Team Ocelot partners Thales, QinetiQ, Formaplex, DSG and Sula, Ocelot is the most highly protected and agile vehicle of its size and weight that is available today. A clean sheet design, Ocelot has undergone more than 12 months of rigorous blast and mobility testing before being chosen by the MoD.

David Hind, Managing Director, Force Protection Europe, said, “We are absolutely delighted to be awarded this important contract. Ocelot is a step change in protected mobility for this weight and class of vehicle and I am confident that it will be used to great effect in Afghanistan and any future operations. My number one priority now is to ensure that these vehicles are delivered to the MoD within the agreed timeframe. We are fully geared up to achieve this.”

Dave Shemmans, CEO of Ricardo plc said, “The Ocelot is a major advance in defence vehicle technology, offering an agile and highly flexible vehicle package with unparalleled standards of crew protection. We are pleased to have played a central role in developing this innovative new vehicle and look forward to working with Team Ocelot in the manufacture of the first 200 Ocelots for use by British forces.”

buglerbilly

30-11-10, 04:24 PM

The official announcement for this deal..............

200 new patrol vehicles to be built

An Equipment and Logistics news article

30 Nov 10

A £180m contract to build 200 Foxhounds, the Armed Forces' next generation of light protected patrol vehicle, has now been signed with Force Protection Europe (FPE).

The Force Protection Ocelot light protected patrol vehicle
[Picture: Andy Perryman, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

Foxhound, the British Armed Forces' name for the contract-winning FPE Ocelot vehicle, has been designed to provide unprecedented levels of blast protection for its size and weight.

Light and agile, the vehicle will allow troops to carry out a wide range of tasks in environments that may restrict larger, heavier vehicles - for example, moving with ease through narrow alleyways or crossing bridges.

Speaking at a Motorsport to Defence conference at the headquarters of the MOD's Defence Equipment and Support organisation at Abbey Wood in Bristol, Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Peter Luff, said today:

"I'm delighted that this important contract has been signed - it shows the real progress that's being made to ensure our front line troops are able to use these versatile and highly protected vehicles as soon as possible.

"Using state-of-the-art technology from a range of areas including the motorsport industry, this UK-designed vehicle demonstrates the Government's commitment to providing our troops with the world class equipment they need.

The assemblies of the Ocelot light protected patrol vehicle can be changed and fitted in 30 minutes to customise it for specific missions
[Picture: Courtesy of Force Protection Europe]

"The jobs created and sustained through the manufacture of the Foxhound will also provide a boost to local economies across the UK."

Foxhound incorporates Formula One racing technology and was devised by engineers from the World Rally Championship, McLaren F1 and BMW.

Its engine can be removed and replaced in just 30 minutes and it can drive away from an ambush on only three wheels. Crew and passengers also sit inside a protective pod, which can be quickly adapted to transform the patrol vehicle into an ambulance or supply truck.

The first vehicles are expected to be available to troops for training in 2011, and will add to the wide array of protected vehicles already being used on operations in Afghanistan, including Mastiff and Ridgback.

Chief of Defence Materiel, General Sir Kevin O'Donoghue, said:

"Procured as an Urgent Operational Requirement, this vehicle was designed specifically to protect against the threats faced by troops in Afghanistan - for example, its V-shaped hull will help it withstand the kinds of explosions caused by Taliban bombs.

The Force Protection Ocelot light protected patrol vehicle is put through its paces at Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire
[Picture: Andy Perryman, Crown Copyright/MOD 2010]

"Able to operate in extreme temperatures and navigate difficult terrain whilst also providing high levels of protection, Foxhound is ideal for current operational needs, but is also a valuable addition to our range of vehicles and will serve our Armed Forces for many years to come.

"A lot of hard work has been put into making sure this vehicle is delivered to the front line as quickly as possible and the signing of this contract represents excellent progress."

FPE - with headquarters in Leamington Spa - was announced as the preferred bidder for the contract in September this year. All of the British-designed vehicles will be built and supported in the UK creating or sustaining an estimated 750 jobs.