Reminds me of B-500 at Ft Bliss and the early DMVs back in the 80s.
Archive for the ‘Mobility’ Category
Green Berets Conduct a 500-Mile Movement Using GMV 1.1
Thursday, October 29th, 2020MILVEHCOE Opening Establishes New Australian Sovereign Military Vehicle Capability
Tuesday, October 13th, 2020Rheinmetall is pleased to confirm the opening of its Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) in Redbank, Queensland, Australia and the establish¬ment of a new national sovereign military vehicle capability that enables the design, development and local manufacture of military vehicles, platforms and turrets for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and export to like-minded nations.
The Prime Minister of Australia the Hon Scott Morrison MP officially opened the MILVEHCOE at a ceremony attended by a delegation of Federal MPs and Senators from across Queensland, representatives from Defence and Australian Defence industry.
The MILVEHCOE is an 11ha precinct incorporating a regional headquarters for Rheinmetall and a major manufacturing hub that will deliver vehicles into the ADF including Boxer 8×8 Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRV) under Australia’s billion project Land 400 Phase 2 and high mobility logistics trucks under the Land 121 Phase 3B/5B program.
Rheinmetall AG Chief Executive Armin Papperger said the MILVEHCOE heralded a new era in Australian manufacturing as the company transferred technology and systems from Germany to establish a global hub for the continuous design, manufacture, export and support for military vehicles, platforms and turrets.
Mr Papperger said the MILVEHCOE’s export focus would also drive the sustainable growth of a military vehicle industry in Australia that would draw on an expanding supply network across the nation to deliver products and services from local industry into Rheinmetall’s Global Supply Chain.
“This state of the art MILVEHCOE establishes a leading edge military vehicle capability that will build on the strong partnership between Rheinmetall and the ADF,” Mr Papperger said.
“Moreover, it will enable Australian developed technology and systems to be exported to the world and opens the way for Australian companies to deliver into our programs for current and future nations including NATO members such as Germany and Hungary,” Mr Papperger said.
The MILVEHCOE precinct includes:
– Engineering and manufacturing for vehicles, turrets, weapons, armour, electronics and electro-optics and simulators;
– A vehicle test track and electromagnetic test chamber – used to confirm that vehicles meet the agreed performance specifications prior to delivery to the Australian Army;
– An indoor firing range – a fully-enclosed, state of the art firing range;
– A systems integration laboratory – used to integrate and optimise performance of Australian Army systems and equipment into the vehicles; and
– Facilities for engineering, training, procurement, project management, finance, legal, marketing and management.
Rheinmetall Defence Australia Managing Director Gary Stewart said the MILVEHCOE would transform the company’s ability to deliver for the ADF and Rheinmetall customers globally.
“This facility has dramatically advanced our business in Australia and the way we engage with the Australian Defence Force and industry,” Mr Stewart said.
“Once fully operational, it will enable the manufacture and sustainment of the Australian Army vehicle fleet of BOXER vehicles and provide a sovereign facility where Defence, industry and research organisations can innovate and collaborate on the Australian Boxer and other defence programs.
Rheinmetall is establishing an advanced manufacturing workforce of more than 450 employees within the MILVEHCOE precinct including highly skilled and qualified workers across a range of specialist disciplines.
“We are hiring welders, vehicle mechanics, systems and integration engineers, electro-optics technicians, software coders and developers and other specialisations,” Mr Stewart said.
“Rheinmetall continues to invest in people, technology, infrastructure, program management, supporting functions and industry networks so we can deliver some of the most complex and advanced programs in the world and meet the demands of customers for military vehicles, electronic systems, simulation, training and support.”
These programs will see the design, development, manufacture and sustainment of a world class military vehicles and a focus on research and development of vehicle technologies including autonomous systems and new civilian vehicle capabilities.
Rheinmetall is currently delivering 211 Boxer vehicles to the Australian Army under Land 400 Phase 2. The Boxer’s key purpose is to find the enemy; to identify them and choose how and when to engage.
The company is also delivering more than 2500 protected high mobility trucks to the Australian Army under the Land 121 Phase 3B program and building on this logistics backbone for the ADF by supplying a further 1000 trucks to the Commonwealth through the Land 121 Phase 3B/5B program.
Rheinmetall has also offered the Lynx KF41 – a tracked, highly protected Infantry Fighting Vehicle – to meet the stringent military requirements of the $15 billion Land 400 Phase 3 program. The Australian Army needs a new IFV for close combat – to close in and defeat an enemy in the most dangerous and lethal environments for Australian soldiers.
“Design, development and manufacture of the in Australia for the ADF will also build on the advanced manufacturing jobs at the MILVEHCOE as well as a strong industrial network of SMEs across Australia,” Mr Stewart said.
Belgium Contracts 322 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles from Oshkosh Defense
Tuesday, October 13th, 2020
OSHKOSH, Wis. — Oshkosh Defense, LLC, an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK) company, announced today that the Belgium Ministry of Defence has awarded Oshkosh Defense a contract for 322 Oshkosh Defense Command and Liaison Vehicles (CLV) for the Belgium Defence Forces.
The Belgian CLV is the proven Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) platform from Oshkosh equipped with Belgian communication systems. The JLTV is currently used by the U.S. military.
“Oshkosh Defense is honored that Belgium has chosen to equip its armed forces with the Oshkosh CLV”, said John Bryant, Executive Vice President, Oshkosh Corporation, and President, Oshkosh Defense.
“The Oshkosh CLV offers Belgian soldiers the world’s most advanced light military vehicle, delivering next-generation levels of protection, off-road mobility, speed, transportability, and seamless operational and logistical interoperability with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies,” Bryant continued.
“The Belgian Defence opted for a worldwide competition in which “money for value” was the only criterion,” said Director Land Systems Colonel Filip De Varé. “The CLV will be integrated in the CaMo program, an international partnership between the French and Belgian land forces.”
Traditionally procured via foreign military sales, the Belgian procurement marks Oshkosh Defense’s first large direct commercial sale of a JLTV-based vehicle. Belgium joins the United States, the United Kingdom, Lithuania, Slovenia, and Montenegro in choosing this vehicle.
As a globally recognized leader in the design and production of military vehicle systems, Oshkosh Defense has the capacity to support both domestic and international customer demand.
New Diesel Firefighting and Rescue UTVs From Polaris
Monday, October 12th, 2020The Pro XD firefighting and rescue units provide a diesel engine and enhanced payload
Minneapolis – October 8, 2020 – Utility task vehicles (UTV) are a critical component to any department’s fleet, improving response time, reach and reducing the personnel requirements, without compromising mobility, budget or effectiveness. The new Pro XD firefighting and rescue units are turn-key vehicles from Polaris Government and Defense, a division of global powersports leader Polaris Inc. (NYSE: PII), and the only utility vehicle manufacturer to directly offer complete and turn-key fire and rescue vehicle packages covered under manufacturer’s limited warranty.
The Polaris Pro XD is designed for the sole purpose of work, with an increased payload in the pallet-sized cargo box, greater durability and better serviceability. Pro XD has two and four-seat, gas and diesel models offering up to 2,075 pounds payload and 2,500 pounds towing capacities, heavy-duty driveline components and up to 200-hour maintenance intervals. The vehicles also feature puncture-resistant Kevlar®-backed vinyl seats, all-new tires for longer life on hard-packed surfaces, as well as multiple standard safety features like horn, reverse beeper and vehicle fault alarms which notify users of potential issues that could cause serious damage to the vehicle.
The Polaris Pro XD is a heavy-duty UTV-based apparatus designed to expand the reach of fire and rescue personnel and help improve response time in environments and conditions that traditional vehicles can’t access. The Pro XD’s larger cargo box and expanded payload allows for bigger skids, incorporating professional systems that are familiar, having been developed with years of firefighter input by industry expert RKO Enterprises®. The diesel model also benefits departments and organizations that have otherwise standardized on heavy-fuels. Three models include the firefighting UTV-based apparatus, rescue only, and a combination fire and rescue vehicle.
The Pro XD firefighting UTV has a 95-gallon water with 5-gallon integral foam copoly tank, foam fire suppression system, professional fire pump, hose and reel, and the ability to draft from an external water source. The Pro XD rescue skid incorporates a rear attendant seat and a stokes rescue basket. And a combination fire and rescue skid incorporates the fire tank and equipment as well as the stokes rescue basket. Any of the vehicles can also include professional emergency lighting, public address system and custom graphics to match the rest of a department’s fleet.
RKO Enterprises® develops the fire and rescue skids and integrates the equipment to provide the best, finished vehicle solutions for our customers. The fire and rescue equipment skids are also removable, retaining the vehicle’s modularity and allowing the Pro XD to be used for a variety of jobs, including fire prevention, search and rescue, public works applications, disaster relief and community events.
Polaris fire and rescue vehicles are also available for government discount pricing through GSA, Sourcewell® (formerly NJPA) or state or local contracts. Once purchased, the vehicles are professionally upfit and delivered directly to the customer’s location. The entire system comes fully set up for immediate use and is under full warranty from Polaris. Polaris also offers customers the capability to support and maintain their own fleet of vehicles through maintenance and operator training courses, authorized Pro XD dealers or Polaris can be contracted directly to provide the on-site service for the vehicles. Pro XD accessories also include an all-weather cab, heater and defrost, winch, and electric cargo box lift kit with in-dash switch.
Polaris has a history of helping organizations that serve our community and recognizes the important role grants play in funding. This commitment is strengthened through a grant assistant program geared toward state and local government, and educational customers. bit.ly/PolarisGrants.
Electronic forms of shopping, service and support have always been available, but even more so now with an increased emphasis toward expanding alternatives to in-person options. The Polaris.com/Gov website continues to be a resource for customers with online shopping tools and product specs for Pro XD. Customers can contact the Polaris Government and Defense team via phone at (866) 468-7783 or visit the online quote form for more information or to request a quote.
Polaris is a unique vehicle supplier that harnesses its more than 65-year legacy of mobility leadership, rich heritage of innovation, and vast commercial enterprise resources, along with a team of dedicated government, defense, and technology experts and operators to deliver the products that customers need to get their missions done. This winning combination of Polaris performance, procurement simplicity, premium service, training, support, and sustainment results in a best-value for government and defense customers.
Black Diamond Traction Devices
Friday, October 9th, 2020Introduced last year at Outdoor Retailer, Black Diamond’s three new traction devices for footwear are now available.
Designed in conjunction with their mountain athletes, these traction devices feature stainless steel spikes and are intended to be worn with approach/light hikers/mountain runners.
Distance Spike is a trail running traction device.
The Blitz Spike is an ultralight trail traction device at only 57 grams per device.
The Access Spike is a workhorse traction device, built for all-around trail performance, whether you’re on a winter training run in the mountains, or out for a summer alpine scramble in varied technical terrain.
All models are available in four sizes.
Mack Defense Begins Production Vehicle Testing Phase of US Army Contract with Armored M917A3
Sunday, October 4th, 2020ALLENTOWN, PA (Sept. 28, 2020) – Mack Defense has delivered six armored Mack® Granite®-based M917A3 Heavy Dump Trucks (HDT) to the U.S. Army for the Production Vehicle Testing (PVT) phase of its $296 million contract. The trucks will now enter 40 weeks of rigorous durability testing at the U.S. Army’s Aberdeen Test Center.
“Over the past several years, our teams have worked incredibly hard in partnership with the U.S. Army to develop, engineer and begin building these next generation trucks,” said David Hartzell, president of Mack Defense. “We’re confident the armored version will provide the operator protection levels required by the U.S. Army.”
The PVT phase of the contract includes a number of vehicle tests to evaluate the trucks against U.S. Army performance and durability. In addition, the trucks will undergo live-fire testing to determine occupant survivability. Non-armored Mack Defense M917A3 trucks entered the PVT phase in 2019.
“Throughout the PVT phase of the contract, the U.S. Army will provide feedback on how the trucks are performing,” said Jack Terefinko, HDT program manager for Mack Defense. “That will allow us to continue to fine tune the program and ensure we’re meeting all requirements.”
The U.S. Army began soliciting bids for a new generation of HDTs in June 2017, seeking to offer increased protection levels, as well as higher payload capacity and improved mobility. Mack Defense was awarded the contract in May 2018, which allows for Mack Defense to produce armor-capable or armored HDTs with deliveries through May 2025.
Based on the civilian Mack Granite model, Mack Defense engineered the M917A3 HDT to meet the current needs of the U.S. Army, while also allowing for evolving requirements and future growth. With heavier-duty rear axles, all-wheel drive and increased suspension ride height, the M917A3 is capable of meeting the demanding payload and mobility requirements set by the U.S. Army HDT program.
Polaris Expands Military Capabilities with All-New Breed of Light Tactical Vehicle
Tuesday, September 1st, 2020
Minneapolis – September 1, 2020 – Agile, compact and full of power, the MRZR Alpha is the newest light tactical vehicle from Polaris Government and Defense, the largest ultralight tactical vehicle provider for the U.S. military, and a division of global powersports leader Polaris Inc. (NYSE: PII). The MRZR Alpha is Polaris’ 11th military vehicle produced in 12 years and it represents the insertion of cutting-edge off-road vehicle technology for ultimate tactical mobility – derived from research and development investments that keep Polaris in front of the highly competitive off-road vehicle market.
Developed for U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), the MRZR Alpha supports requirements for a longer life-cycle while increasing performance and payload and maintaining internal air transportability. The MRZR Alpha is currently under General Services Administration (GSA) contract through the Light Tactical All-Terrain Vehicle (LTATV) program, which has a value of up to $109 million and was awarded on May 29, 2020.
“By following the demanding requirements and feedback from U.S. Special Operations Forces, we’ve created the highest performing MRZR yet – and in the process, established an all-new breed of vehicle that is still internally transportable via V-22 in a more capable package to ensure mission success,” said Nick Francis, director, Polaris Defense. “The MRZR Alpha is powerful and flexible enough for expanded missions, provides more durability to meet an extended life-cycle and is agile in off-road environments to best support operators, yet compact and lightweight for tactical air transport.”
The MRZR’s light weight and off-road capabilities make it ideal for transport via helicopter and operation in terrain that would otherwise be traversed on foot. Since their introduction, MRZRs have been outfitted with counter unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS), direct-fire weapons, high-energy laser systems, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) systems, tactical aviation ground refueling systems, expeditionary command and control systems, autonomy packages, litters for casualty evacuation and communication equipment. First introduced in 2012, Polaris has continued to enhance the MRZR platform to meet the mission demands of the U.S. military, and over 40 allied forces worldwide – and the MRZR Alpha ups the ante once again.
Beyond infantry support, the MRZR Alpha’s enhanced system design and payload capacity expand its possible mission roles to include indirect fire weapons, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) systems, network-on-the-move, logistics and missile launch. The MRZR Alpha retains a 1500 lb towing capacity common in the MRZR family, as well as blackout mode and a two-litter capacity. The MRZR Alpha comes in a two and four-seat option, like its predecessors, and now a mission kit provides ROPS for two additional rear-facing seats.
A new chassis provides a larger and more durable foundation for the latest MRZR, which is powered by a high-performance 8-speed automotive transmission and a powerful, yet quiet, 4-stroke, 118 hp turbo-diesel engine. This provides 200 ft-lbs of efficient torque that, when combined with a selectable locker for the 2WD/4WD drive system, delivers superior off-road maneuverability and handling in the most demanding environments, including deep sand. In the cab, there is increased exportable power, more cab space and a greater configurability.
The payload for the MRZR Alpha two and four-seat variants increases to 1400 and 2000 lbs, respectively, and the range at gross-vehicle weight (GVW) increases to 225 miles for expanded mission flexibility. It is heavy-fuel compatible – including DF1, DF2, JP8 and F24 – and can achieve a top speed of over 60 mph to support convoy operations. An expanded off-road profile is made possible with 12 inches of ground clearance at full GVW, high clearance dual A-arm front and rear suspension with payload leveling, and 32-inch, high mobility run-flat tires with bead-lock rims.
The MRZR Alpha can be internally transported by V-22, H-47 and larger aircraft by leveraging toolless ROPS and spare tire stowage. External transportation includes H-60 and larger rotary wing lift assets. Robust tie down and lifting provisions also allow for LVAD, JPADS and HSL certifications.
Like all Polaris military platforms, the new MRZR Alpha continues a legacy of light tactical military vehicles that are intuitive to operate, easy to maintain, and easy to globally support within an existing worldwide infrastructure of parts distribution and dealer service networks. With the MRZR Alpha, maintenance is simplified through an On-Board Diagnostics interface (OBD-II) for real-time feedback on the status of the vehicle subsystems and a pinpoint diagnostics manual. On board vehicle systems support future condition-based maintenance and guided diagnostics.
Polaris will support the MRZR Alpha worldwide as a global company with over 3,500 dealers and products sold to 120 countries. Polaris has been supplying traditional technical and parts manuals along with in-person training to the military for years – and leveraging corporate resources, Polaris can also offer new training opportunities to the military. Best-in-class online training videos, app-based technologies and computer aided modeling within electronic technical manuals are currently offered to Polaris’ dealers and can be easily adapted to train today’s military technician.
Dedicated Military Field Service Representatives (FSRs) have been teaching operator and maintainer training courses for more than 12 years to the U.S. and its allies. Polaris also provides world-class parts distribution – an established inventory management system allows for proactive management of parts inventory, minimizes lead time for parts and reduces the logistics for supply chain planning and management.
Throughout the 1980s and 90s, the United States military’s rising demand for Polaris off-road vehicles led to Polaris being the first ATV OEM to produce militarized vehicles for U.S. Special Operations Forces and the United States Army. To better serve its military customers, Polaris established Polaris Defense in 2005. Today, Polaris offers full program management and logistics support to manage traditional programs of record for domestic and international customers. Polaris designs, engineers and produces its MV850 ATV, MRZR and DAGOR military vehicles in the U.S.
Robotic Combat Vehicles Display Next-Gen Features in Live-Fire Exercises
Friday, August 14th, 2020FORT CARSON, Colo. — The Army’s collection of armed robotic combat vehicles showcased an “exceptional” ability to identify enemy positions after about a month of testing, but more development is still needed to improve battlefield precision, said Brig. Gen. Richard Coffman.
Coffman, director of the Next-Generation Combat Vehicle Cross-Functional Team, praised the capabilities of the four robotic combat vehicles, or RCVs, during the platoon live-fire exercises here.
Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division used two modified Bradley Fighting Vehicles, called Mission Enabling Technologies-Demonstrators, or MET-Ds, to control and maneuver the RCVs to determine whether the autonomous vehicles increased the lethality and efficiency of ground units.
“The ability [to spot enemies] was exceptional, because that reduces the risk on our Soldiers and allows us to remain in a covered and concealed position and make decisions,” Coffman said during a media conference call Thursday.
The MET-Ds, which are manned with six Soldiers, have 360-degree situational awareness cameras, a remote turret with a 25 mm main gun, and enhanced crew stations with touchscreens. The RCVs are M113 surrogate platforms that also have 360 cameras and fire 7.62 mm machine guns.
From inside the MET-Ds, Soldiers were able to control the RCVs up to a 2,000-meter range, but struggled to extend that distance in dense forest regions, Coffman said.
Developers plan to add more features to the vehicles in Phase II of testing, including a new radio tether to increase the operating range, an unmanned aerial vehicle and a target recognition capability based on synthetic data. Phase II, which is scheduled for the first quarter of fiscal year 2022 at Fort Hood, Texas, will feature three platoons of robotic vehicle with control vehicles.
“This is about commanders on the battlefield and giving them more decision space and reducing the risk on our men and women,” Coffman said. “We go into the nastiest places on earth. And these robots are absolutely going to do that in the future. We’re not there 100% yet.”
A third party will evaluate the technical and tactical performance of the operating crews and robotic vehicles, as well as the overall success of the experiment. The findings will then be briefed to the service’s senior leaders.
After the evaluation of Phase II’s results, Coffman said the Army will decide whether to continue testing.
Room for improvement
Soldiers testing the autonomous vehicles noted that greater sensory capabilities must be developed for the controlled vehicles to serve as unmanned replacements.
“Right now we don’t have sensors that can tell whether we’re coming across a little puddle that we can just drive through or whether that puddle is 8 feet deep and going to bog us down,” said Jeffrey Langhout, director of the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Ground Vehicle System Center. “A robot can navigate its own way and it relies on the sensors that it has to keep from driving into ditches and all kinds of problems. We certainly have a long way to go on that.”
Sgt. Matthew Morris, assigned to 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th ID, said the lack of downward visibility hindered operation of the RCVs. He said the vehicle’s ability to see down steep terrain must improve to prevent the vehicle from overturning.
When a human drives a vehicle into soft sand they instinctively know to shift to a lower driving gear and the RCVs must develop that sensitivity, Coffman said.
“For me specifically, I think that the ability to see downward once we approach certain inclines and declines would probably be an astute upgrade that would push us forward in the right direction,” Morris said, adding the vehicles must increase its audio signature to increase communication abilities with crew members.
Vehicle operator Sgt. Scott Conklin, who is also with 3rd ABCT, said that the two-person crew could handle the increased workload, but the frenetic pace of operating with the 360 cameras made the RCVs challenging to operate.
Coffman said regardless of how the program evolves, he said humans will retain a level of autonomy over the robotic combat vehicles.
“We don’t want a fully autonomous vehicle,” he said. “We don’t want the machine deciding. We want very specific rules of what that machine will and will not do. The humans are in charge.”
By Joseph Lacdan, Army News Service
