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Archive for the ‘Mobility’ Category

Light Hybrid Vehicles in the Portfolio: Rheinmetall Acquires Dutch Startup REEQ

Monday, March 18th, 2024

Rheinmetall has acquired the Dutch startup REEQ, thereby expanding its vehicle portfolio to include innovative light hybrid vehicles. At the beginning of March 2024, the technology group’s Dutch subsidiary Rheinmetall Defence Nederland B.V., which is part of the Vehicle Systems Division, acquired 100% of the shares in the Dutch start-up REEQ. Rheinmetall is thus expanding its portfolio of lightweight tactical vehicles and also taking the step towards hybrid technology with a fully electric drivetrain in a military vehicle. Both parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

With its vehicles, REEQ has developed a new generation of mobility that combines tactical transport with a mobile energy source (microgrid) and is fully prepared for autonomy. The technology was developed and is produced in the Netherlands.

Currently, REEQ’s vehicle portfolio consists of an Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV), a side-by-side buggy and a quad, all three with exactly the same fully electric drive train. Through the acquisition of REEQ, Rheinmetall is able to serve the Dutch and European market in the field of light tactical mobility, both manned and unmanned, in combination with a microgrid solution. Rheinmetall’s industrial strength and the innovative power of a start-up complement each other. Within the Rheinmetall Group, REEQ retains its status as a start-up in the field of development. The further development and series production of these vehicles will also take place in the Netherlands.

With this acquisition Rheinmetall is responding to the many calls from Dutch politicians and defense leaders to contribute with industrial strength and specialization to the operational user and strengthening of the defense industry. With the development and production from the Netherlands, the strategic autonomy and the Dutch position in the field of military electrification and autonomy in the international defense industry has also been strengthened.

Located in the city of Ede, Rheinmetall Defence Nederland B.V. is part of the Vehicle Systems Division and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH. Rheinmetall AG is one of the world’s leading technology enterprises.

REEQ is a Dutch start-up and has been in existence since 2018. In that year REEQ carried out a first innovation project regarding electromobility in the military sector on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Defence. In later years, REEQ has developed further in this field of experience.

Mack Defense Awarded Contract by U.S. Marine Corps to Develop Medium Tactical Truck (MTT)

Thursday, March 14th, 2024

ALLENTOWN, PA (March 12, 2024) – The U.S. Marine Corps awarded Mack Defense a 12-month contract for the initial development of a new Medium Tactical Truck (MTT) fleet. The new family of vehicles will replace the Marine Corp’s Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement fleet (MTVR), which includes cargo, dump, wrecker, tractor and re-supply trucks supporting air-ground task force combat support missions.

The Marine Corps initial development requirements for the MTT fleet will focus on three cargo variants consisting of 10- 15- and 20-foot cargo bed configurations with hybrid-electric technology for reduced fuel consumption, extended range and reduced noise for silent watch capabilities. A 70% off-road and 30% on-road mission profile will be supported by a 60-inch fording capability to traverse through water up to five feet. The vehicles will feature a 10-kilowatt on-board power generator and will have the capacity to deliver 30-kilowatts of external power. Advanced driver safety and force protection systems will be key features.

“We were confident in our ability to meet the needs outlined by the U.S. Marine Corps,” said David Hartzell, president of Mack Defense. “Being chosen for the initial development phase of this program confirms that the U.S. Marine Corps recognizes Mack Defense has the proven experience in developing tactical vehicle platforms that incorporate the latest system designs and technologies to meet the strict requirements outlined for the MTT.”

As part of the initial development phase, Mack Defense will provide a detailed engineering technical data package for three MTT cargo variants. Mack Defense will incorporate an open systems architecture, ensuring the U.S. Marine Corps can integrate future technological advancements into the next generation of medium tactical vehicles.

“Mack Defense is uniquely positioned to design the MTT variants incorporating the latest hybrid propulsion technologies to achieve significant fuel consumption reduction,” said Brent Cring, director of engineering at Mack Defense. “Advanced driver safety systems provide military-grade mobility and ensure the safety of deployed Marines worldwide.”

Mack Defense is currently in the testing phase of another significant defense program. Recently, three Common Tactical Truck (CTT) prototype vehicles, based on the commercially available Mack® Granite® model, were delivered to the U.S. Army for testing and soldier evaluations. The vehicles will be evaluated to determine final requirements to modernize and replace the Army’s fleet of 35,000 heavy tactical trucks. The MTT program leverages technology developed for the CTT program including hybrid technology, active safety, open-systems architecture, and military grade mobility.

Alcon Celebrates 15 Years of Dedicated Defence Braking Success

Wednesday, March 13th, 2024

Alcon Components Ltd, the highly acclaimed UK-based brake and clutch company, is celebrating the key milestone of 15 years since supplying their first fully designed for Defence caliper. The company has deep roots in the highest echelons of motorsport and performance automotive that have been extended, over time, to include multiple other specialist sectors. As well as a considerable 25(+) years in defence and
security, Alcon has also effectively diversified into aerospace ground support, agriculture, mining, emergency services, leisure off-road, light commercial, off-highway and electric vehicles.

Having been supplying heavy duty brake kits for armoured vehicles to companies such as Jankel and Jaguar Land Rover since the 1990’s, the very first bespoke Alcon defence project was an iron caliper solution for Ricardo started in August 2008. Alcon were asked to provide prototype calipers for a modified RWMIK Land Rover that was going to be demonstrated to the UK MoD that October. Alcon designed, manufactured, and
tested a six-piston aluminium billet caliper within six weeks that was used on the demonstrator vehicle. They received an order for production components in November 2008, which allowed the company to tool up for their first production iron caliper, delivered in early 2009.

This project was shortly followed by an order from Supacat to improve the Jackal braking system that had become overmatched by the addition of heavy armour systems, to meet increasing threats in Afghanistan. This project included iron calipers, braking discs, and friction pads. The iron caliper range is now firmly embedded into the Alcon offering across multiple applications, alongside their aluminium high performance and motorsport ranges.

Alcon’s journey into the defence and security sector has been split across three different strategic approaches: off-the-shelf kits for companies armouring SUVs; bespoke braking solutions for OEMs; and the
supply of braking solutions to established axle manufacturers who sell into defence and the off-highway vehicle markets (amongst others). Across all three areas, Alcon’s defence and security business has grown 500% in the last 2 0 years and their specialist vehicle division now delivers around 20% of Alcon’s total annual revenue, on average.

Since the first bespoke Defence project was delivered in 2008, Alcon’s defence and security customer base has grown steadily to include over 15 defence vehicle OEM’s with bespoke Alcon braking solutions including BAE, QinetiQ, Patria and Supacat. On the kit side, Alcon has sold off-the-shelf kits to over 50 armouring companies including JLR, Babcock, Jankel, UTAC and many others, for vehicles including Toyota, Ford,
General Motors, Jeep, Lexus, Land Rover, Mercedes, Nissan, Chrysler (Dodge/RAM) and Skoda. Axle customers have included AxleTech, BASE, SISU and PRM Newage with the heaviest single caliper having been designed for AxleTech (now Cummins) weighing 27kg each. Vehicle weights range from 1,500kg to 60,000kg and applications range from heavily armoured tracked vehicles to lightweight side-by-side ATVs plus, everything in between.

Jonathan Edwards, Group Sales Director at Alcon said: “Working in defence and security makes us
exceedingly proud as we know that the improvements in performance and safety that our braking systems deliver, help to save the lives of those operating in dangerous and harsh environments with militaries and NGO’s. In the last 25(+) years, we’ve worked with over 80 different defence and security customers and in that time, we’ve manufactured and delivered tens of thousands of brake components for this sector.

The transition from aluminium to iron calipers in 2008 was a pivotal move for us as it has since opened up wide-ranging opportunities in specialist areas other than defence”. He added: “We’ve absolutely proven ourselves to be the place to come to for bespoke or off-the-shelf braking solutions that increase performance, reduce weight, improve safety, and reduce through-life costs. Today’s celebration of success is a proud moment for me and for the entire team. I thank all our defence and security customers for trusting in us and we look forward to continuing to deliver our ongoing growth plans in this important marketplace”.

GM Defense’s ISV Completes United Arab Emirates Armed Forces Summer Trials

Thursday, March 7th, 2024

GM Defense’s Infantry Squad Vehicle completes grueling off- and on-road tests across complex terrain

WASHINGTON, D.C. — GM Defense LLC, a subsidiary of General Motors (GM), announced its Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) completed the 2023 UAE Armed Forces Summer Trials hosted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) General Maintenance Corps. Held over several days, Summer Trials evaluates whether vehicles can meet the technical and tactical needs of UAE Armed Forces and other regional countries. The UAE continues its evaluation post-vehicle exercise to officially recognize completion status. The ISV received certification of completion stating the vehicle successfully passed Summer Trials following both phases of evaluation.  

GM Defense’s ISV completed all phases of the Summer Trials, which included traveling nearly 2,000 kilometers across highways, sand dunes, soft sand tracks and rocky walls. The phases, which include continuous driving with maximum payload capacities, are designed to test vehicle capability in rugged combat conditions, including extreme climate and diverse terrain. In addition to the mobility trials, the ISV completed the Maintenance Trial, which included two days of field repairs testing, and maintenance and recovery evaluation to help potential customers assess ease of repairs and sustainability.

“This was GM Defense’s first time sending a vehicle to UAE Summer Trials, and our successful completion is a testament to the strength of our ISV and to the expertise and dedication of our team,” said Steve duMont, GM Defense president. “Through completion of all phases, we’ve demonstrated that we can successfully leverage the advanced technologies of our parent company, General Motors, to deliver a highly capable off-road vehicle that can meet the needs of defense and government customers in the UAE and throughout the region. Our Summer Trial achievements are a key step forward in our planned growth in the region as we seek to offer the ISV and its variants to this important customer base.”

“Our completion of Summer Trials is a tremendous accomplishment for the ISV program and will give defense and government customers in the region great confidence in the capabilities GM Defense can deliver to meet mission requirements,” said Bradley Watters, vice president of International Business Development. “I was on the ground with other ISV team members, supporting the vehicle as it traveled in deep soft sand, hard-packed surfaces and over rocks, successfully completing eight consecutive days of testing in extreme heat (132 degrees Fahrenheit/56 degrees Celsius). Completing all phases of the mobility and maintenance trial will help open the doors to new growth in the Emirates.”

The completion of UAE Summer Trials follows GM Defense’s announcement of a signed cooperative agreement with Tawazun Council at the International Defence Exhibition and Conference in February 2023. The agreement facilitates business with the shared objective of delivering efficient and advanced solutions to military, security and government customers from the UAE and across the region in key technology areas of integrated vehicles; power and propulsion — including fuel cell and power generation; and autonomy and connectivity. For the latest GM Defense news, please visit www.GMDefenseLLC.com and follow GM Defense on LinkedIn.  

QuietKat To Showcase E-Bikes at IWA Outdoor Classics in Germany, Booth #3C-232

Thursday, February 29th, 2024

Eagle, CO – QuietKat Electric Bikes, a leader in off-road eBikes and a Vista Outdoor Inc. (NYSE: VSTO) brand, is thrilled to announce its participation at the IWA Outdoor Classics Trade Show in Nuremberg, Germany. Renowned for setting benchmarks in the outdoor and adventure sports industry, QuietKat will be showcasing its latest advancements in electric bike technology, specifically tailored for outdoor enthusiasts, hunters, and tactical professionals.

Leading Innovation in Outdoor Mobility

The participation of QuietKat at the IWA Outdoor Classics highlights the brand’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of e-bike innovation. The event will serve as a platform for unveiling QuietKat’s newest models, which are built to tackle the challenges of outdoor exploration and professional use. These e-bikes are designed with rugged durability, superior performance, and eco-friendly efficiency in mind, making them ideal for a wide range of outdoor activities.

Exclusive Product Demonstrations and Expert Consultations

Visitors to the QuietKat booth will be treated to exclusive demonstrations of the e-bikes’ capabilities featuring state-of-the-art technology. QuietKat’s team of experts will be on hand to provide insights into how these e-bikes can revolutionize outdoor adventures and professional operations, offering personalized consultations to attendees.

Sustainability at the Forefront

QuietKat is committed to promoting sustainable outdoor practices through its electric bikes, which provide an eco-friendly alternative to traditional transportation methods. By combining high-performance with minimal environmental impact, QuietKat e-bikes represent the future of outdoor exploration and professional mobility, aligning with the global movement towards greener solutions.

Experience the Future of Outdoor Mobility at IWA Outdoor Classics

QuietKat extends an invitation to all IWA Outdoor Classics attendees to visit their booth and discover the cutting-edge technology and design that make their e-bikes a must-have for any outdoor adventure or tactical mission. This is an unparalleled opportunity to experience the latest in e-bike innovation from a leader in the industry.

American Rheinmetall Vehicles and GM Defense Deliver Prototypes for First Phase of U.S. Army’s Common Tactical Truck Program

Wednesday, February 7th, 2024

American Rheinmetall Vehicles (Sterling Heights, MI) and GM Defense LLC (Washington, DC) have successfully delivered 3 prototype trucks for the first phase of the U.S. Army’s Common Tactical Truck (CTT) Program. The aim of the multi-phased program is to replace the Army’s family of heavy tactical trucks, with production of up to 40,000 trucks valued at up to $14 billion. The two powerhouse defense companies formed a strategic collaboration in 2022 to compete in the program; bringing together two world-class engineering and manufacturing giants to deliver a modern, tactical truck that focuses on Soldier safety and protection while enhancing capability through advanced technologies including advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), increased off-road mobility, cybersecurity hardening, superior survivability, autonomy readiness, and improved fuel efficiency among other critical emerging technologies. These capabilities, currently on most commercial vehicles, help reduce military vehicle accidents and lower the number of Soldiers exposed to dangerous convoy operations. 

The team’s offering, the HX3 CTT, is the latest generation of trucks in the highly successful, combat proven, HX family of trucks which are in service with a number of NATO and U.S. allied nations. The HX family of trucks derives from MAN Truck and Bus commercial truck offerings bringing a high degree of commerciality to the fleet, a priority for the Army in the CTT program. The HX3 CTT next-generation system has enhanced on and off-road mobility, integrated survivability, and an open digital architecture supporting ADAS, and enabled for autonomous vehicle operation. Combined with the open architecture, the commercial backbone of the HX3 CTT will support persistent modernization and allow for rapid increases in capability as technologies mature, to include robotic and autonomous operations. With a global footprint of 20 user nations, including our staunchest allies and a commercial dealer network, the HX3 CTT provides a basis for optimized lifecycle costs and service support to the Army around the globe. 

“We are committed partners to the Army, bringing tremendous operational capability coupled with advanced safety features, ensuring our Soldiers can achieve their mission safely and effectively. Together our team delivers a transformational truck that leverages the commercial strengths of our partners, Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles and General Motors, and the commonality of the HX3 CTT design,” said Matthew Warnick, Managing Director for American Rheinmetall Vehicles. 
“Today marks a significant milestone that brings this partnership one step closer to delivering the Army’s next generation Common Tactical Truck,” said Steve duMont, President of GM Defense. “I’m proud to celebrate along with our American Rheinmetall Vehicles teammates and look forward to leveraging the deep expertise that both of our companies bring to this competition to deliver a modern, American-made truck that will best support our warfighters today, and into the future.”

HX3 Common Tactical Truck
Technology for the future: The HX3 CTT features an advanced, interchangeable protected cab design, ADAS, and drive by wire operation. The new open systems electrical architecture allows rapid integration of leader-follower, tele-operation, and fully autonomous capabilities that focus on protecting our most valuable combat asset – the Soldier.

Commonality to support a family of vehicles: The HX3 CTT is the new, next-gen variant of the globally successful HX family of military-off-the-shelf tactical trucks. It possesses an extremely high level of commonality and modularity across variants: cargo, load handling systems, tankers, and line haul tractors. With an HX family that can scale from 4×4 to 10×10, the HX3 CTT can meet any military need. 

Commerciality in its DNA: The HX3 CTT leverages best-in-class advances in commercial truck technology, safety, fuel efficiency, and emissions reduction. Ruggedized for the stresses of military service, the HX family provides an “off the shelf” capability. This commercial backbone reduces obsolescence risk/cost, expands parts availability, and reduces sustainment demands.

Allied Interoperability: The HX family of trucks have been sold to 20 customers globally including an active Allied user group consisting of United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Austria, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, creating common global supply chains, training opportunities, and integrated operations among key allies operating around the world. 

Marine Corps Selects Prototyping Participants for Medium Tactical Truck Development Program

Friday, February 2nd, 2024

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — The Marine Corps has selected Mack Defense and Navistar Defense to participate in Phase I for the development of the Medium Tactical Truck (MTT) program. This pivotal phase, spanning an estimated 12 months, will see the performers leveraging the Corps’ top-level requirements to submit innovative design concepts and comprehensive project plan for Phase II (prototype build phase).

The Medium Tactical Truck is slated to replace the existing Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) fleet, including Cargo, Dump, Wrecker, Tractor, and Re-Supply Variants. The focus of the competitive prototype phase will be on the Cargo variant.

Key top-level requirements for the Medium Tactical Truck include:

Cargo Variants: The MTT Cargo variants consist of three configurations:

a 10 ft Cargo bed

b 15 ft Cargo bed

c 20 ft Cargo bed

Hybrid Electric Technologies: Integration of hybrid electric technologies for reduced fuel consumption, extended range, and a silent watch capability.

Onboard and Export Power: 10 kW on-board power generation to support all mission packages and scalable exportable power up to 30 kW to meet external system power demands.

Mobility: Continued robust all terrain mobility with a 70% off-road and 30% on-road mission profile, with a unique 60” water fording capability specific to the United States Marine Corps (USMC).

Safety and Stability: Advancements in safety and stability control systems, increased interoperability, and heightened mission flexibility through modularity and open systems architecture.

Armor System: Modular and scalable armor system that allows for the change/upgrade of force protection and survivability levels, considering ease of installation and maintenance.

Maintenance and Reliability: Advancements in condition-based maintenance systems, increased reliability, durability, and corrosion prevention.

The Marine Corps looks forward to collaborating with Mack Defense and Navistar Defense in this crucial development phase, working toward the common goal of delivering a Medium Tactical Truck that meets the diverse and challenging needs of Marine Corps missions.

Marine Corps Systems Command

USMC Photo by Sgt Christian M Garcia

Remington Partners with Hisun Motors on Side-by-Side Launch

Wednesday, January 10th, 2024

LONOKE, AR, – January 8, 2024 – Remington Ammunition has announced its partnership with ATV/UTV manufacturer Hisun Motors® to bring a line of new side-by-side UTVs to the American outdoorsman and woman. The Remington Pursuit 750 by Hisun will be available in green, tan and TrueTimber Prairie camouflage, making it a standout choice for outdoor enthusiasts. The UTVs will be available this spring at local ATV dealers and select retailers nationwide.

“Big Green is excited to partner with Hisun and TrueTimber to bring this state-of-the-art UTV to the hunting world,” said Remington Ammunition’s Global Licensing Director Danny Evans. “Hisun created an impressive vehicle for hunters to take into the wild, and the combination of Remington and TrueTimber’s visuals tops this side-by-side off as the premier vehicle on the market. We encourage Industry Day at the Range and SHOT Show attendees to stop by and see it first-hand.”

The new Remington Pursuit 750™ will be on display at Industry Day at the Range™  (January 22, 2024 at the Boulder Rifle and Pistol Club in Boulder City, NV) alongside Hisun Motors and SNOTrailers®. It will be hooked up to a SNOTrailer R-20™ with matching TrueTimber Prairie camouflage.

“Hisun Motors is looking forward to a successful UTV launch,” said Ryan Daugherty, Senior Vice President of Hisun Motors Corp. “We are extremely excited to be partnering with Remington to bring a state-of-the-art UTV to the market.”

Hisun Motors Corp. is dedicated to delivering a comprehensive line of unique and versatile UTVs and ATVs that surpass industry expectations. With a mission to fuel enthusiasts worldwide with innovative products, Hisun creates off-road experiences that will last a lifetime.

“The Remington Pursuit 750 is a UTV which caters to the outdoorsman,” said Chance Wilcox, Hisun Motors Corp. Retail Sales Manager. “The Pursuit 750 is loaded with features for the seasoned hunter while still offering base functionality for the everyday user and will be available in green, tan and TrueTimber Prairie camo.”

Remington invites attendees of this year’s SHOT Show® to visit Remington – Booth #11838 – to see the new Pursuit 750 and a range of other featured products. Find Remington ammunition at dealers nationwide and online. For more information on Remington, visit www.remington.com.