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Indian Express
7 months ago
Showing posts with label Armoured Vehicles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Armoured Vehicles. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Flaws in K21 infantry fighting vehicle design confirmed
By Jung Sung-ki
Critical flaws in the design of the K21 amphibious infantry fighting vehicle have been found following an investigation of the up-to-date vehicle, one of which sank during a river-crossing exercise July 29, an official at the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said Wednesday.A soldier died when the 25-ton vehicle sank. This was the second time that a K21 has sunk since the vehicle entered service last November after 10 years of development.
According to investigators, a pump in the vehicle doesn’t work at its maximum river crossing speed of 7.8 kilometers per hour. The pump is supposed to displace 175 liters of water.The K21 has often been referred to as a key export item in the coming years. Doosan DST and DAPA have said the vehicle offers better firepower, mobility and survivability than the U.S. Army's M2A3 and Russia's BMP-3.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Private Indian Companies to Compete for Development of Future Infantry Combat Vehicle for Indian Army
Three Indian private companies with ambitions in the defence sector won a major battle when they were invited to compete, on level terms with the public sector, in developing a Future Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) for the Indian Army. In the FICV project, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has conceded almost everything that the private sector has demanded since it was allowed into defence production in 2001. The MoD will fund 80 per cent of the development cost of the FICV. And, with the army looking to buy in quantity, economies of scale are guaranteed during production.
For those who did not read yesterday’s Business Standard, four Indian companies — Tata Motors, the Mahindra Group, L&T and the MoD-owned Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) — will submit proposals on August 25 for designing and building 2,600 new-generation FICVs. Two vendors with the best proposals will be invited to develop a prototype each, contributing just 20 per cent of the expense. Then, after the army chooses the better design, the winner will build 65-70 per cent of the army’s requirement of FICVs; the runner-up will build the rest.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
DRDO's Combat Vehicle Development Unit
The Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVR&DE) is tasked with the design, development and testing of tracked combat vehicles and specialised tracked vehicles, has several projects in hand. Apart from the focus on Arjun Main Battle Tank (MBT) Mark II, it is also designing and developing the state-of-art futuristic main battle tank (FMBT), which is expected to cater to the requirements of the Army. "The Army expects the FMBT to be ready by 2020."
Casualties are inevitable in battle and the CVR&DE's armoured ambulances come in handy. Equipped with airconditioning and heating facilities, it is designed for speedy evacuation of casualties and has excellent mobility for operation in various terrain. Another piece of equipment is the Carrier Command Post Tracked BMP-II (CCPT), designed to function as a self-propelled (SP) artillery command post. It affords nuclear, biological and chemical protection and protection against small arms. "We recently got an order for 50 CCPTs, each costing around Rs 3-4 crore.".
Thursday, July 22, 2010
FNSS Unveils Amphibious Assault Bridge (SYHK) System
Turkish Amphibious Assault Bridge SYHK) concept is similar to the German M3 Amphibious Bridging and Ferrying System. SYHK Amphibious Assault Bridge is designed by the FNSS Defence Systems Inc to carry the weights up to 70 tonnes. Project started in 2007 and its serial production is expected to start for Turkish Army in 2012 once trails are completed. Turkish army in first phase will purchase 52 SYHK Turkish Mobile Floating Assault Bridge.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Mahindra & Mahindra to Start Manufacturing RG-31 Mine Protected Vehicle
Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) and UK’s BAE Systems will soon start manufacturing the RG-31 — a mine-proof vehicle — in the country for the Indian Army and police forces operating in Maoist strongholds. Sources in M&M, which has entered the defence automotive business, said the automobile major was also looking at producing the FH77 B05 Advanced Howitzer, already in use in the country. BAE Systems has supplied 165 mine-proof vehicles to the Indian Army and another 600 to the US, UN and Canadian forces. The monocoque hull of the RG-31, made of welded armour steel, is supposed to protect occupants against anti-tank mines and has a modular interior layout. The vehicle can be configured as an armoured personnel carrier, ambulance and surveillance vehicle. The air-conditioned vehicle can carry up to 10 people.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Pakistan is Seeking AH-1W and Apache-64 D Attack Hhelicopters
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Indigenous Defence Industry of United Arab Emirates
This is the NIMR II with the MBDA-Rheinmetall automated turret
Ali al Dhaheri could not have known he was trailblazing an indigenous defence industry for the UAE when he set up Adcom Systems in the late 1980s. The company, now with a turnover in the hundreds of millions of dollars, produces advanced aeronautical products such as jet-powered, remote-controlled unmanned aircraft, called drones, used as targets by trainee air force personnel.
“Over time we … evolved from being hobbyists to professionals,” says Mr al Dhaheri. “We found that we had a mind to develop things by ourselves.”
Adcom has produced thousands of target drones for about 12 customer nations. It is also focusing on more advanced drones, called unmanned aerial vehicles, which includes a partnership with a Malaysian company, Composite Technology Research Malaysia.
As well as aircraft superstructure, Adcom produces sensitive navigational technology such as the drones flight control units – which take 500,000 positional readings per second – at its workshops in Musaffah, he says. The company plans to increase the size of the workshops by 4,600 square metres.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
India Orders Armoured Troop Carriers, Night Vision Devices and other Equipment Worth Rs 296.95 Crore
As part of its plan to arm paramilitary troops, including those operating in Naxal-hit areas, with high-tech weapons, government has sanctioned procurements of armoured and bullet proof vehicles besides arms valuing nearly Rs 300 crore.
The Union Home Ministry in the last one month has sanctioned 119 TATA Light Armoured Troop Carriers (LATC) worth Rs 49.90 crore and 98 bullet proof Mahindra Rakshaks and three LATCs at a cost of Rs 37.97 crore, Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters today.
The ministry has also approved procurement of night vision devices for rifles at a cost of Rs 184.80 crore, besides 146 automatic grenade launchers and 47,030 grenades are also been bought from a Russian firm Rosoboron Export at a cost of Rs 22.95 crore.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Australia - Defence's spending debacle
In the mid-1990s, Defence decided it wanted a new anti-submarine torpedo that could be deployed on frigates, helicopters, and patrol aircraft. Phase 1 of this acquisition started in March 1998. Twelve years and two months later, $391 million has been spent and there's still no torpedo. The whole thing would be substantially over budget if they hadn't eliminated three of the five platforms the torpedo was originally supposed to be deployed on.
The $16 billion F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is well on its way to becoming as iconic a debacle as the Collins class submarine. The Seasprite helicopter was cancelled in 2008, because it was already running seven years late, and we'd already spent $1 billion on it. The upgrade of the M113 armoured personnel carriers are three years overdue.The Wedgetail airborne early warning program is four years overdue. The Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter: also four years overdue, and mired in contractual disputes. The Auditor General found the M113 upgrade had been characterised by "poor project management practices; ineffective project planning; inadequately defined project objectives; and technical problems"..............................................Read More
Friday, February 19, 2010
Namer ICV Expands Merkava into a Family of Combat Vehicles
The Namer program is a major element in the IDF US$60 billion 'Tefen 2012' five-year modernization plan currently underway. The new vehicle utilizes much of the advanced command and control systems developed for the IDF ground forces digitization program (Zayad), the vehicle will be supporting the new Battle Management System for the dismounted Infantry, designed by Elbit Systems to support the dismounted 'Integrated Advanced Soldier' (IAS) system.Beyond the Merkava tank and Namer ICV, the Merkava family of vehicles also includes a tactical support vehicle, providing maintenance and support for the combat team. An armored ambulance is also being configured, replacing the vulnerable M-113. Preparations for both missions are already configured in the Namer design................................................Read more @ Defense-Update
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Growing Defence Cooperation Between India and US
by Gulshan R. Luthra
The India-US defence cooperation seems to be steadily growing with Washington now offering its latest Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) F-35 Lightning-II aircraft to India. But in the long run, there could be limitations over issues of transfer of technology (ToT) that India mandates now for major arms deals.Representatives of Lockheed Martin, which is developing the aircraft, had indicated in the past that the aircraft could be available to India if the Indian Air Force (IAF) opted for the F-16 Super Viper in its quest for some 200 Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MRCAs) but recently the company made a presentation to the Indian Navy without this condition.
Lockheed Martin’s Vice President for Business Development Orville Prins told India Strategic defence magazine that the presentation about F 35 was made to the Indian Navy recently after it expressed interest in the newer generation of aircraft for its future carrier-based aircraft requirements.Although the best of the weapon systems in the US are developed by private companies, the funding for their research and development is provided by the government, which exercises control on the resultant products and their sale to any foreign country. ToT is a serious issue and in most cases, technology, particularly source codes, is not shared even with Washington’s best allies in the West or the East.
Lockheed Martin apparently made the presentation to India after an authorisation by the US Department of Defense (DOD), but Prins pointed out that the F 35 could be sold only after clearance from the US State Department, for which bilateral negotiations between New Delhi and Washington would need to be held once India expressed its interest.The US is steadily emerging as a new supplier of sophisticated arms to India, which urgently needs to replace and augment its mostly outdated Soviet-vintage systems with high technology weapons of the 21st century.
Beginning 2002, when an agreement for the sale of 12 Raytheon’s artillery and short-range missile tracker system, the AN/TPQ 37 Weapon Locating Radars (WLRs) was signed, the US has supplied systems worth nearly $ 4 billion.The figure though is much lower than what India still spends on air, land and sea systems from Russia. For instance, India has already committed to buy 280 SU 30 MKI aircraft, several ships, missiles and more.
US companies are steadily making presentations in India, and the acquisition of WLRs has been followed by deals for Boeing P8-I Multimission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) for anti-submarine operations in the Indian Ocean, Harpoon anti-shipping missiles, Lockheed Martin’s six C 130J Special Operations aircraft with an option for six more, one amphibious transport dock ship Trenton, named INS Jalashwa, and its six onboard Sikorsky helicopters at nominal rates.
Over the last few weeks now, the Indian Ministry of Defence has sent firm orders, or Letters of Request (LoR) for 10 C 17 Globemaster III strategic lift aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and 145 Bofors M 777 ultra light howitzers the Indian Army badly needs for its mountain operations.The competing gun from Singapore Technologies lost out as the company was mired in allegations of corruption in an Indian Ordnance Factory Board scam.
Originally, a Swedish company, Bofors, was purchased by the US United Defense in 2000, and later acquired by the US arm of BAE Systems. In fact, as the US Administration had imposed restrictions on the sale of military equipment to India after the 1998 nuclear tests, President Bill Clinton went out of the way to allow United Defense-Bofors an exception to sell its guns to India if the Indian Army opted for them.
The Indian Army is badly in need of various types of artillery guns, and keeping in mind the developments in the neighbourhood, the Indian government recently cleared the acquisition of this ultra light howitzer in a government-to-government deal under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme. The gun has been deployed with excellent results in the rugged mountains of Afghanistan. Made with titanium alloys, the M777 is about 40 per cent lighter than a standard gun and can be easily transported under-slung by a helicopter.
Bofors has been much maligned in India due to the allegations of corruption in the sale of its 155 mm FH 77B guns in the mid-1980s. Operationally, however, these guns played a significant role in India ‘s victory in the 1999 Kargil War to evict Pakistani intruders from the Himalayan heights on the Indian side of the border.India has also deployed the gun at the highest battlefield in the world at Siachin. Ferrying them to those daunting heights in parts and then assembling them has been a tedious job by itself for the Army.
LoRs for both the C17 and M777 have been issued only in the past couple of weeks. India has less than 20 IL 76 Soviet-supplied IL 76 aircraft, which will mark 25 years of their induction in April 2010.The C 17 has nearly double the capacity of an IL 76 but full load on an aircraft is never really carried as it hinders its range and fuel capacity. Unlike the IL 76, the C 17 can be refuelled midair for much longer flights, and needs only two pilots and one loadmaster for operations, that is half the crew of what the IL 76 requires.
Despite its massive size, the C 17 can take off and land on unpaved grassy fields like a football ground at very steep angles, an important capability in battle conditions. It’s the same for C 130J. On offer is also Northrop Grumman’s Hawkeye E2-D, a battle management and electronic warfare aircraft that can operate from carriers or land.Like the Boeing P8-I, this aircraft is also under development for the US Navy, and if the Indian Navy opts for it, then it would get this highly sophisticated technology at nearly the same time as the US Navy.
According to Orville Prins, Lockheed Martin had also given demonstrations on “the world’s most advanced shipboard anti-missile Aegis system,” which had been used two in 2008 to shoot down a satellite apparently as part of technology demonstration by Washington.Boeing’s Integrated Defense Systems head for India, Dr Vivek Lall, describes this transfer as “unprecedented.” The US is steadily opening its stable of sophisticated weapons to India. But how far India goes in buying the US systems will largely depend not only on the technology and price offered, but also on the transfer of technology that most major deals now warrant as a policy.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Navistar will Deliver 114 Medium Tactical Vehicles to Israel by June 2010
“Medium tactical vehicles provide a solid base for our U.S. business and our ability to customize these vehicles allows Navistar to also support the mission needs of allied armed forces,” said Archie Massicotte, president, Navistar Defense. “We are honored to help serve U.S. allies and we will continue to focus on growing our foreign military sales in 2010.” Based on Navistar’s commercial International WorkStar, or 7000 Series, platform, vehicle variants for Israel will include cargo, recovery and tow trucks. Parts and service are not included in the contract.
Though the company will target growth in markets outside the United States as part of its 2010 strategy, the company remains dedicated to its U.S. customers. Under Navistar’s four-year STS contract, the company will provide hardware to accompany work conducted under the previous MRAP STS engineering award announced November 9, which is also a four-year contract for up to $78 million. Navistar’s STS awards allow the company to improve MaxxPro MRAP vehicle reliability, support combat issues encountered in theater, as well as provide new vehicle enhancements.
“As one of the leading providers of MRAP vehicles, we have a duty to evolve our vehicles to help counter changing in-theater threats,” said Massicotte. “Both our STS contracts will enable us to quickly serve those who require new vehicle features to tackle the road - or lack of road - in Afghanistan.” The company currently supports several vehicle fleets for the U.S. armed forces, including more than 6,400 MaxxPro MRAP vehicles.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Israel Seeks U.S. Help for Merkava 4 based Namer APC
By barbara opall-rome
Three U.S. companies will compete to produce major elements of Israel's Merkava tank-inspired armored personnel carrier (APC) for the Israeli Army, an effort that could evolve into a licensed U.S. production program worth billions in domestic and export orders, defense and industry sources said.
Known here as Namer, the Israeli program will be executed in phases, with Israel's Ministry of Defense-owned and -operated Tank Production Office serving as lead system integrator of U.S.-produced content and locally provided weaponry and subsystems. Defense sources say the multiyear effort will initially mean hundreds of millions of dollars for the winning bidder and tens of millions in industrial cooperation orders for local industry.
If approved by the Pentagon, the program would trail only the Israel Air Force's planned buy of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters in terms of Israeli outlays of annual U.S. military aid. The contenders are BAE Systems, General Dynamics Land Systems and Textron Marine and Land Systems. In interviews last week, executives from all three companies confirmed keen interest in the program and plan to respond to an MoD request for proposals (RfP) released last week.
"We view the Namer as a very important win-win for us and for Israel," said Mark Savarese, vice president for strategy and business development at Textron. "We're excited about the opportunity to rekindle the heavy armor capability that we haven't done for a while, since we built Stingray tanks; and to produce parts of a fighting vehicle to support a key ally of the United States."
Executives from BAE and General Dynamics declined to discuss potential sales beyond the Israeli Army, but touted their respective expertise and production capacity for the Israeli program. "As the world's leading provider of infantry fighting vehicles, BAE Systems is very interested in partnering with the Israel Defense Forces and Israeli industry in such an important effort," said Garrie Doman, director of communications for BAE's U.S. Combat Systems.
Likewise, Robin Porter, media manager for General Dynamics Land Systems, said the firm's role as sole provider of U.S. Army main battle tanks offered "an excellent match" for Israel's Merkava APC/IFV program.Brig. Gen. Yaron Livnat, director of Israel's Tank Production Office, said Israel was not promoting the Namer for the U.S. Army, although as underwriter of U.S.-based production, the U.S. government had rights to royalties and intellectual property.
"I expect we'll have terms and conditions built into the contract to provide for such scenarios. Obviously, we would be proud if our vehicle ends up protecting Americans," he said. "But right now, our focus is on meeting the critical operational needs of the Israel Ground Forces."Livnat said he and other MoD representatives have been engaged for nearly a year with prospective partners, and plan to host industry conferences during the coming months to answer questions and clarify points contained in the RfP.
"We've asked them [U.S. bidders] for incremental, distributed proposals that start off modestly but could grow into a megaprogram if the bids are on target and we choose to activate all our options," Livnat said.The Namer is a direct derivative of the Merkava Mk4 design, with the same suspension, engine, tracks, periscopes and basic multilayered armor as the renowned Israeli main battle tank. But program officials emphasize that it was designed from the beginning as a heavy fighting vehicle and troop carrier, rather than a modification to existing vehicles.
It features a new air filtration system and a powerful new diesel air conditioning system that allows for keeping the 11-man crew cool without powering up the main engine. The Namer will be outfitted with indigenous remote control weapon stations, C4I gear, active protection and other systems specially suited for infantry combat.MoD's Tank Production Office built three prototypes in a record 17 months, with the first battalion operational with Israel's Golani brigade since last summer."We took calculated risks in the design effort, going directly to cut material from computer models. There were no mockups; we went directly to the Namer," Livnat said.
Israeli Firms' Angst
Israeli defense officials say they have a 10-year funding commitment, not only to expand its Merkava Mk4 force, but for the weapons and subsystems planned for Namer. U.S.-funded production of Namer components and kits will benefit Israeli industry, they say, by freeing up more funds for long-term Merkava orders as well as high-volume, Israeli-funded subcontracts for the hugely expanded APC fleet.
Passy said he was speaking for most of the 200 companies and factories associated with the Merkava tank program, which provide income for thousands of households throughout the country. "We praise the renewed emphasis on the need for more tanks and heavy armored vehicles. We also believe that the people making the decisions now truly want to preserve the capabilities of our industry.
"But once they start to outsource critical production functions of our armored industry, it's only a matter of time until the Namer, as well as the Merkava production line, gets transferred to America, where they can pay for it with U.S. aid money."Brig. Gen. Yoav Har-Even, chief of staff of the IDF's Ground Forces Command, said the Namer embodies lessons from Israel's 2006 Lebanon War, which places a premium on unfettered ground maneuvering warfare in all types of battle conditions. "The Namer is not just another APC. It's the most advanced weapon infantry fighting system in the world," he said Dec. 9.
Har-Even said the Army needs as many Namers as possible in the shortest amount of time, and the U.S.-based production program represented the best option for obtaining this urgent capability. "It's going to change our concept of maneuvering. I'm not talking only about protecting our forces; but empowering them with the ability to fight effectively in all theaters under all conditions," he said.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Australian M113A1 APCs Conduct Final Operational Patrol in East Timor
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M113A1 Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) have a long and proud history in the Australian Army since they were first introduced in 1965. After nearly 45 years of service to the nation, three M113A1’s, one of which saw service in Vietnam, had their last street patrol in East Timor before being cleaned in preparation for shipping back to Australia.
Three Black Hawk S70’s, also on operational deployment in East Timor, over-flew the APCs as they turned and headed back to base.“This is a big milestone for the 1st Armored Regiment to see the last M113A1s on an operation,” Troop Leader, LT Nathan Scott said. “The end of forty years of proud history.”
Driving LT Scott’s vehicle, Lance Corporal (LCPL) Zachery Williams, who at 21 years of age was born 23 years after the APCs came into service with the Australian Army, praised the simplicity of the M113A1.“Part of the reason the vehicle has been so successful is its simple design,” LCPL Williams said, speaking from experience as a certified driver, loader and gunner on the Abrams M1A1 AIM tanks.
“The M113 is easy to maintain and keep running”. LCPL Williams said.“It is also straight forward to upgrade, and there have been many variations of the vehicles since its introduction in the 1960s.”The M113A1s have been an important part of Australia’s mission in East Timor since they were first used to secure the Dili area when INTERFET inserted in 1999.
Since 2006 the APCs have been used to carry the Quick Response Force (QRF), made up of Australian and New Zealand infantry who were dispatched to deal with any outbreaks of civil unrest in the capital. With the improved security situation in East Timor, the New Zealand Queen Alexandra Mounted Rifles will now transport the QRF in Pinzgauer armored light operational vehicles.
LT Scott said his troops have worked closely with the Kiwis to ensure that they could pick up where the M113A1s left off and the camaraderie between the armoured personnel has been high. “With there being an ANZAC Battle group here in East Timor, I think it was great this morning to have a New Zealand troop sergeant out here on the last M113A1 operational patrol. It embodies the ANZAC spirit.”
The six M113A1s that have been in service in East Timor arrived with the International Stabilisation Force following the outbreak of violence in East Timor in 2006.After they return to Australia the vehicles will be converted into M113AS4s.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Saudi Arabia Orders 724 Light Armored Vehicles (LAV) for $2.2 billion
General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada has been awarded a $2.2 billion U.S. foreign military sale contract for the supply of 724 Light Armored Vehicles (LAV II) for an unnamed customer, thought to be the Royal Saudi-Arabian National Guard. Vehicle deliveries will begin in April 2011.Ten variants of the vehicles will be produced based on a common chassis derived from the 8x8 LAV II model, also used by the Canadian forces. Vehicles provided under this contract will be the LAV II version – a 300 horsepower 8x8 vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of up to 32,000 lbs (14,500 kg). The vehicles will be produced in 10 different variants. The new order could improve GDLS' competitive position regarding the planned procurement of a new armored vehicle for the Canadian Army.
Joint Light Tactical Vehicles get ready for 2010 Testing
By the end of 2009 the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle Program Office expects the three contractors to provide technology development and demonstration vehicles and associated equipment for performance and reliability testing by U.S. army, Marines and Special Operations Command users. According to Kevin Fahey, Army program executive officer, the current evaluation phase is designed to assess the maturity and integrability of the different technologies submitted by the three industry teams selected for the demonstration. Following the 27 month program a production decision is expected by the end of 2014, with full-rate fielding to begin in 2016.The program has received a lot of international attention, too. Australia and India both signed agreements to provide development support and share the associated costs, and other countries have expressed interest in participating as well. Israel, Canada and the U.K. are also following the program closely.
Earlier in November 09 the models designed by General Tactical Vehicles (GTV), the joint venture between GDLS/AM General has successfully completed the Critical Design Review (CDR). GTV was the first JLTV contractor to meet this milestone, enabling them to proceed to the production and testing of the vehicles and trailers scheduled for delivery for the U.S. government by spring of 2010. Second to pass CDR was the BAE Systems/Navistar team completed this milestone. The BAE Systems-Navistar team has developed two JLTV prototypes for internal testing that have provided valuable information being used in the CDR. Their JLTV design also incorporates lessons learned from the deployment of MaxxPro and RG33 type Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, being produced by the two partners. Next, in line is the Lockheed Martin, expected to complete the process soon.
JLTV will arrive in time to modernize the U.S. military tactical vehicle inventory, which is riding today on the 40 years old HMMWV designs back in the 1970s. The military’s fleet of Humvees, estimated at about 160,000, was developed in the 1970s and delivered in the early 1980s. It was the first example of the 'family of vehicles' approach, replacing a number of light and medium vehicles with a common platform designed with high mobility, effective payload capacity and modularity, providing a common platform for utility, liaison, patrol, and mission-specific roles. Although it had the capability to apply light armor for combat missions it was never designed to survive as a direct combat vehicle.
When these vehicles proved vulnerable to roadside bombs in Iraq and, increasingly, in Afghanistan, the military responded by applying armor plating, bulletproof windows, protected weapon stations and electronic defensive equipment that overloaded the vehicle's engine and electrical supply. This evolution brought the typical Humvee from the original designed maximum gross vehicle weight (GVW) of about 12,000 pounds, closer to 18,000 pounds. The vehicle is way overweight, underpowered, lacking the mobility is was designed to provide and does not have the payload to do its missions.
On the other end of the weight scale is the MRAP behemoth, which was bought off the shelf, rapidly fielded and being improved and modified to meet the shortcomings and limitations that evolve through operational use. Currently being deployed to Afghanistan are the lighter weight variants of the MRAP, known as M-ATV. While being more adaptable to the rough terrain, these truck based vehicles are much heavier and limited in their growth capacity, compared to the planned JLTV.
In contrast to the rapid evolution of the Off-The-Shelf MRAP that focused primarily on protection, and left the other aspects for future improvements, the military is taking the time to design its next generation vehicle to meet the user's current and future expectations in operational use, while focusing on reliability and maintainability and commonality.
Fahey emphasized the benefit of designing the next-generation light tactical vehicles from the ground up for their specific use rather than simply being adapted to meet operational requirements. The biggest challenge in a joint program, Fahey said, is agreeing to a common set of requirements. The Marine Corps puts the highest emphasis on making the vehicles lightweight to meet its mobility requirements. The Army tends to focus more on troop protection.
Defense-Update
Ukraine to sell BTR-4 armored vehicles and An-32 transport planes to Iraqi military
Ukraine has signed a deal to deliver $550 million (338 million pounds) worth of arms to Iraq, an official said on Friday, in what local media said was part of the country's largest-ever arms deal.Ukrainian arms firms will sell around 400 BTR-4 armored vehicles and 10 An-32 transport planes to Iraq's military, said Stepan Havrish, the deputy head of the council of national security and defence council, Interfax news agency reported.
Ukrainian daily Delo reported on Thursday that Kiev had negotiated a $2.4 billion deal with the Iraqi government, to be financed by the United States, which would be the largest arms deal in Ukraine's history.Ukraine was a centre for arms production in the Soviet Union and remains a major exporter of armoured vehicles and anti-missile defence systems.It is one of the United States' closest allies in the former Soviet Union.
The BTR-4 is a 8x8 wheeled armoured personnel carrier designed in Ukraine by the Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau as a private venture. The prototype was unveiled at the Aviasvit'2006 exhibition held in Ukraine in June 2006. The BTR-4 medium-armored vehicle is well suited for rapid reaction forces and marine corps carrying up to fully equipped infantrymen/marines in addition to the three-man crew.
It has been designed to operate on road and cross country in extreme climates and adverse weather at day/night with temperatures ranging from -40 to +55 Celsius. The BTR-4 medium-armored vehicle is well suited for any land or infantry marines forces carrying up to fully equipped soldiers in addition to the three-man crew. KMDB is developing several versions derived from the BTR-4 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC).
The BTR-4K is a command vehicle featuring a 7-man crew, communications equipment and a combat weight of 20t; BRM-4K is a reconnaissance vehicle featuring six-man crew, communications and reconnaissance equipment and combat weight of 20.7t; BREM-4K is a four-man, 19t repair and recovery vehicle equipped with crane, winch, etc; BTR-4KSh is a command and staff vehicle featuring a combat weight of 18t, communications equipment and a 7-man crew; BSEM-4K is an 18.6t ambulance; MOP-4K is a 21t fire support vehicle fitted with a 120mm gun and 40 rounds.
Variants :
BTR-4K : Command Post
BTR-4Ksh : Staff and command vehicle
BRM-4K : Reconnaissance armoured vehicle
BREM-4K : Repair and recovery vehicle
BSEM-4K : Medical support vehicle
MPO-4K : Fire support vehicle with a 120 mm gun
BTR-4 BAU : With a two gun 23 mm turret
Armament
In its base configuration, the BTR-4 is armed with a Grom weapon station whose armament – 30 mm gun, automatic grenade launcher, 7.62 mm machine gun and 4 anti-tank missile launchers is fully stabilized in two planes. The BTR-4 can be also equipped with the GROM, Shkval or BAU 23x4 weapon stations. GROM includes a 30mm gun with 360 rounds, a 30mm grenade launcher with 150 rounds, a 7.62mm machine gun with 1,200 rounds and four Konkurs or Baryer anti-tank missiles. Shkval module consists of a 30mm gun with 360 rounds, 30mm grenade launcher with 150 rounds, a 7.62mm machine gun with 2,000 rounds and two Konkurs or Baryer anti-tank missiles. The BAU 23x2 includes two 23mm automatic guns with 400 rounds and one 7.62mm machine gun with 2,000 rounds.
Protection
The vehicle layout is similar to Pandur, Piranha and AMV — the driver and commander are sitting in the front of the hull, the engine is in the middle, troops are in rear. The troops egress is through the rear door. The BTR-4 hull consists of three compartments: front compartment is the driving station; middle compartment contains the vehicle's powerplant; and rear compartment which acts as the troops and fighting compartment.
The basic version featuring ballistic protection against medium-caliber firearms weighs 17.5 tons. The basic version featuring ballistic protection against medium-caliber firearms weighs 17.5 tons. One version, can also be fitred with add-on amour, with this feature, the BTR-4 providing the highest level of protection, weights around 25-ton. The vehicle has a modular protection design.
In its base configuration it is protected from small arms of 7.62 mm armored piercing balls from any distance. Besides, one of the additional protection sets can be installed in field conditions. The first one is for urban conditions. It is a bar armor to protect from hand grenade launchers and additional mine protection. For use in open space – it is an additional ballistic protection from ammunition up to 30 mm in caliber.
Propulsion
Various engines can be installed in the vehicle. In standard the BTR-4 can used the Ukrainian made 3TD two-stroke engine, with a maximum power of 500 hp. A 600 hp is also available. The BTR-4 can be powered by either 3TD 2-stroke diesel or DEUTZ 4-stroke diesel engines both developing 500-hp (or 600-hp). During amphibious operations it is powered by waterjets.
Accessories
The basic vehicle is fitted with a NBC protection system. The BTR-4 is fully amphibious, and he is propelled in the water with two propellers mounted to the back side of the hull. The driver is equipped with a day/night vision system.
It has been designed to operate on road and cross country in extreme climates and adverse weather at day/night with temperatures ranging from -40 to +55 Celsius. The BTR-4 medium-armored vehicle is well suited for any land or infantry marines forces carrying up to fully equipped soldiers in addition to the three-man crew. KMDB is developing several versions derived from the BTR-4 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC).
The BTR-4K is a command vehicle featuring a 7-man crew, communications equipment and a combat weight of 20t; BRM-4K is a reconnaissance vehicle featuring six-man crew, communications and reconnaissance equipment and combat weight of 20.7t; BREM-4K is a four-man, 19t repair and recovery vehicle equipped with crane, winch, etc; BTR-4KSh is a command and staff vehicle featuring a combat weight of 18t, communications equipment and a 7-man crew; BSEM-4K is an 18.6t ambulance; MOP-4K is a 21t fire support vehicle fitted with a 120mm gun and 40 rounds.
Variants :
BTR-4K : Command Post
BTR-4Ksh : Staff and command vehicle
BRM-4K : Reconnaissance armoured vehicle
BREM-4K : Repair and recovery vehicle
BSEM-4K : Medical support vehicle
MPO-4K : Fire support vehicle with a 120 mm gun
BTR-4 BAU : With a two gun 23 mm turret
Armament
In its base configuration, the BTR-4 is armed with a Grom weapon station whose armament – 30 mm gun, automatic grenade launcher, 7.62 mm machine gun and 4 anti-tank missile launchers is fully stabilized in two planes. The BTR-4 can be also equipped with the GROM, Shkval or BAU 23x4 weapon stations. GROM includes a 30mm gun with 360 rounds, a 30mm grenade launcher with 150 rounds, a 7.62mm machine gun with 1,200 rounds and four Konkurs or Baryer anti-tank missiles. Shkval module consists of a 30mm gun with 360 rounds, 30mm grenade launcher with 150 rounds, a 7.62mm machine gun with 2,000 rounds and two Konkurs or Baryer anti-tank missiles. The BAU 23x2 includes two 23mm automatic guns with 400 rounds and one 7.62mm machine gun with 2,000 rounds.
The vehicle layout is similar to Pandur, Piranha and AMV — the driver and commander are sitting in the front of the hull, the engine is in the middle, troops are in rear. The troops egress is through the rear door. The BTR-4 hull consists of three compartments: front compartment is the driving station; middle compartment contains the vehicle's powerplant; and rear compartment which acts as the troops and fighting compartment.
The basic version featuring ballistic protection against medium-caliber firearms weighs 17.5 tons. The basic version featuring ballistic protection against medium-caliber firearms weighs 17.5 tons. One version, can also be fitred with add-on amour, with this feature, the BTR-4 providing the highest level of protection, weights around 25-ton. The vehicle has a modular protection design.
In its base configuration it is protected from small arms of 7.62 mm armored piercing balls from any distance. Besides, one of the additional protection sets can be installed in field conditions. The first one is for urban conditions. It is a bar armor to protect from hand grenade launchers and additional mine protection. For use in open space – it is an additional ballistic protection from ammunition up to 30 mm in caliber.
Propulsion
Various engines can be installed in the vehicle. In standard the BTR-4 can used the Ukrainian made 3TD two-stroke engine, with a maximum power of 500 hp. A 600 hp is also available. The BTR-4 can be powered by either 3TD 2-stroke diesel or DEUTZ 4-stroke diesel engines both developing 500-hp (or 600-hp). During amphibious operations it is powered by waterjets.
Accessories
The basic vehicle is fitted with a NBC protection system. The BTR-4 is fully amphibious, and he is propelled in the water with two propellers mounted to the back side of the hull. The driver is equipped with a day/night vision system.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Putin prioritizes weapons procurement for Russian army
The Russian defense industry should focus its efforts on the production of modern weaponry, including tanks and armored vehicles, for the Russian Armed Forces, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday. "Our Armed Forces require new-generation weaponry to meet modern requirements," Putin said at a meeting with defense industry officials.
"We will continue buying the existing military equipment until the production of advanced weaponry has been set up in the country. However, we will procure only extensively modernized military equipment," he said.The prime minister put special emphasis on tanks and other armored vehicles "as they still form the core of any army" and significantly increase the maneuverability of troops on the battlefield.
Putin cited modified versions of the BMP-3M infantry fighting vehicle and the T-90 main battle tank as the key armored vehicles to be supplied to the Russian Armed Forces in the near future. He also said new armored vehicles should have unified and interchangeable platforms, while manufactures should provide reliable and efficient maintenance and repair services for their equipment.
RIA Novosti
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
South Korea’s K21 KNIFV
South Korea is steadily becoming a force to be reckoned with in the global defense market. Its world-leading shipyards are successfully building and and delivering vessels that include KDX-III AEGIS destroyers and Dokdo Class LHD amphibious assault ships. Its aerospace firms are beginning to see orders from the ROKAF and beyond for trainer (KT-1, T-50) aircraft, are partnering with Eurocopter to create a new medium helicopter (KHP), and will soon offer a compelling lightweight fighter (F/A-50). On land, the indigenous K1A1 tank was followed by the XK-2 “Black Panther,” which was exported to Turkey as the Altay. The K9/K10 mobile howitzer offering is expected to grab a significant chunk of that global market over the next decade. Now, a modern Infantry Fighting Vehicle looks set to round out those offerings.
Doosan is a large Korean conglomerate, whose best known brand is probably Bobcat construction equipment. Other offerings range the gamut, including South Korea’s Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets, Doosan Feed agricultural supplies, franchised “Donga” private schools; and the new Doosan DST subsidiary, which manufactures the K21 KNIFV. October 2008 saw the first major order placed, and now the first deliveries have taken place.
K21 KNIFV: Characteristics
Doosan is a large Korean conglomerate, whose best known brand is probably Bobcat construction equipment. Other offerings range the gamut, including South Korea’s Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets, Doosan Feed agricultural supplies, franchised “Donga” private schools; and the new Doosan DST subsidiary, which manufactures the K21 KNIFV. October 2008 saw the first major order placed, and now the first deliveries have taken place.
K21 KNIFV: Characteristics
The K21 leans toward the light end of the IFV spectrum, at 26 tonnes (about 28.67 tons), thanks in part to a chassis that will reportedly be built out of fiberglass. In addition to weight savings, this may avoid some of the mine lethality problems experienced by vehicles that use aluminum, which quickly becomes molten and creates additional hazards. As a point of comparison, the Bradley M2A3 and its aluminum chassis weigh about 33.5 tons, before reactive armor tiles are added. Doosan states that the K21 can travel at speeds of up to 70 km/h (about 42 mph) on land and 7 km/h (about 4-5 mph) in water, about the same as BAE’s M2 Bradley.
The vehicle is expected to share some systems with its companion, the new K2 Black Panther tank. An improved version of the K21’s D2840LXE V-10 turbocharged diesel engine is expected to equip the K2, and the vehicles are expected to share a semi-active in-arm suspension. Other expected commonalities, aside from standardized C4I equipment like Korea’s chosen battle management system, include an “active defense” system against incoming rockets ad anti-armor missiles. An unspecified armoring system that is expected to use a layered composite made of multiple different materials, but little is known except the fact that Doosan’s goal was a vehicle that could match the survivability of America’s M2 Bradleys and Russia’s BMP-3s. The fuel tanks are reportedly soft and self-sealing, in order to help absorb the impact of a projectile or blast. Automatic fire suppressors and other standard equipment will also be fitted.
Armament will include a stabilized 40mm cannon and coaxial 7.62mm machine gun for fire-on-the-move accuracy, along with the ability to mount 2 anti-tank missiles in a side box launcher. Doosan, which also plans to make missiles, refers to a “third generation Korean-made tank-to-tank missile in the future, which will allow it to attack tanks and helicopters.” That armament will be controlled by a “hunter/killer” arrangement that uses independent sensors and sights for the commander and the gunner, similar to Germany’s Puma IFV and the M2A3/M3A3 Bradley.
Wikipedia reports the current estimated cost of the vehicle at approximately KRW 3.2 billion. Exchange rates fluctuate, but if true, and if that price remains stable, it would be about $2.3 million per vehicle at March 2009 rates.
The firm intends to seek exports around the globe, which means it will compete with BAE’s powerhouse M2/M3 Bradley and CV90 offerings, Russia’s BMP-3, Singapore’s Bionix, and to some extent with Germany’s Puma at the high end of the tracked IFV market. It will also compete indirectly with wheeled APC/IFV options like General Dynamics MOWAG’s Piranha/LAV family, General Dynamics Steyr’s Pandur II, Patria of Finland’s popular AMV, France’s VBCI, and the German-Dutch Boxer MRAV.
Defense Industry Daily
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