Primary Arms

Archive for the ‘Mobility’ Category

GM Defense and NP Aerospace Announce Collaboration at DSEI

Thursday, September 14th, 2023

Steve duMont, GM Defense president, and James Kempston, CEO, NP Aerospace, signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the 2023 Defense and Security Equipment International tradeshow.

The MOU will allow our companies to develop cooperative research and development, post-production support, and in areas such as global logistics and sustainment for integrated vehicles, fuel cell, power generation, system integration, platform integration, and beyond. Read more about this important collaboration at the link below, and if you’re at DSEI, come see the Infantry Squad Vehicle in the NP Aerospace booth, Booth 5.

Jankel Launches Future Toyota Platform Strategy, at DSEi 2023

Thursday, September 7th, 2023

Jankel, a world-leader in the design and manufacture of high-specification defence, security and NGO vehicle platforms and protection systems, has announced the launch of their Future Toyota Platform Strategy.

Jankel, a world-leader in the design and manufacture of high-specification defence, security and NGO vehicle platforms and protection systems, has announced the launch of their Future Toyota Platform Strategy. Jankel is a long-established supplier of Toyota based military and civilian armoured vehicles (CAVs) and this new strategy has been developed in anticipation of the recently announced developments from Toyota in their forward vehicle line-up. The Jankel strategy will ensure that a full and common range of Toyota platforms remain available to their global customer base as a fleet solution covering tactical, armoured and general-purpose roles.

This announcement coincides with the DSEi exhibition where Jankel are exhibiting on stand H4-604. Amongst their range of products and services on display is the Fox Rapid Reaction Vehicle demonstrated with Generic Vehicle Architecture (GVA) and a stabilised and ultra-light Remote Weapon Station from SIG Sauer.

The future strategy incorporates the proven range of Jankel tactical conversions integrated with the very latest Toyota developments which includes the announcement from Toyota of the new Land Cruiser along with convergence in configurations and specifications across the Hilux and 70 series platforms. Jankel’s range of proven armoured and tactical 4×4 and 6×6 Fox variants will not only benefit from this immediate commonality (including a common diesel powertrain and automatic transmission option) but will also be future proofed through emerging technologies including the introduction of an electrified powertrain (available in 2024).

Jankel’s relationship with the Toyota product line goes back over 25 years and has seen them deliver over 2000 Toyota-based vehicles, to customers all over the world. In July 2023, Jankel celebrated the milestone of having delivered over 500 Toyota-based Fox tactical platforms that are now in service with 15 end user groups globally, with the Fox battle-proven on multiple operations.

Andrew Jankel, Chairman at Jankel Group said: “I’m pleased to announce the launch of our new strategy which leverages the very latest products from Toyota. We know the credibility and capability of the Toyota vehicles, and our strategy builds upon our proven range of platforms whilst offering significant commonality benefits for years to come”. He added, “We’re in a unique position with the new Toyota and our proven armoured and tactical developments to offer our global customer base a common fleet solution on a world leading and prolific base platforms”.

Rheinmetall Supplies Norway with a Mission Master XT After Demonstrating Its Capabilities in Hostile Nordic Conditions

Tuesday, September 5th, 2023

Rheinmetall has supplied Norway with its very first Rheinmetall Mission Master XT, an extreme-terrain unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) capable of thriving in sub-zero temperatures. 

The Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (the prime institution responsible for defence-related research and development in Norway) awarded Rheinmetall the contract after it won a competitive bid with challenging mobility and schedule requirements.

A tried-and-tested solution for Nordic countries

This contract comes just months after Rheinmetall took part in the Artic Mobility Trials in Finland, where the autonomy and mobility of the Rheinmetall Mission Master XT were put to the test. Despite a challenging environment and -30°C weather conditions, the vehicle successfully navigated through icy rivers and climbed up slippery banks.

The Rheinmetall Mission Master XT during the Artic Mobility Trials in Finland

“We are proud to have developed systems that can withstand some of the world’s harshest conditions. These recent trials have proven that we are in a strong position to meet the needs of Nordic countries that face similar challenges to us here in Canada,” stated Alain Tremblay, vice president for business development and innovation at Rheinmetall Canada.

Rheinmetall Mission Master XT, an extreme terrain UGV

Developed by Rheinmetall Canada in 2021, the Rheinmetall Mission Master XT can tackle ice and snow, as well as sandy, rocky and mountainous topography. Its advanced amphibious capabilities allow it to float and swim while maintaining its full payload capacity. Weighing in at 2,217 kg, this powerful A-UGV can carry a 1000 kg payload, allowing troops to transport special equipment to hard-to-reach locations. The diesel-powered engine allows it to travel 750 km without refuelling, while internal batteries enable up to 6 hours of silent watch operations. Another key feature of the Rheinmetall Mission Master XT is its high-performance continuous tyre inflation system, which adjusts the tire pressure according to the terrain.

Like other platforms in the Rheinmetall Mission Master family, the XT vehicle is driven by Rheinmetall PATH, an AI-powered navigation system that can be installed on any vehicle. This agnostic suite of advanced sensors and perception algorithms enables Mission Master vehicles to navigate autonomously through challenging environments, while keeping soldiers out of harm’s way.

The Rheinmetall Canada team took part in the Norwegian Army Technology Days 2023 on August 23 and 24, where it has delivered a presentation on “How to speed up the adoption of and trust towards UGVs”.

For more information on the family of Rheinmetall Mission Master UGVs, please visit rheinmetall.ca.

Rheinmetall Welcomes German-Australian Letter of Cooperation for Procurement of Over 100 Boxer Combat Vehicles for German Army

Tuesday, August 29th, 2023

Rheinmetall has welcomed the signing of a German-Australian letter of cooperation for the planned production of Boxer combat vehicles in Australia for for the German Army’s “schwerer Waffenträger Infanterie” (heavy weapon carrier infantry) project, deepening the close cooperation and defence partnership between the two nations in the land domain. 
From 22 July to 4 August 2023, the multinational exercise Talisman Sabre took place in Australia, with the German military taking part. The exercise included amphibious landings, manoeuvres with ground forces, air exercises and naval operations. Taking part in the exercise in Australia were 170 German Army troops and 40 German naval personnel. 
Present in Australia for the exercise and underscoring the importance of German-Australian defence cooperation, Lieutenant General Alfons Mais, supreme commander of the German Army, visited Rheinmetall Defence Australia. Accompanied by Vice Admiral Carsten Stawitzki, chief of the military equipment division in the German ministry of defence, Lieutenant General Mais personally inspected production of the Boxer multirole wheeled armoured vehicle. “This is our message: we want to be a credible and reliable partner. We see Australia as a powerful mainstay in the region”, declares Mais. 
Underlying this extensive cooperation is a basic agreement reached between Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during his visit to Germany in July 2023. A letter of cooperation had already been signed in Canberra on 23 March 2023 by the Australian minister for defence industry, Pat Conroy, and Thomas Hitscher, undersecretary of state in the German ministry of defence, laying the groundwork for closer defence ties.
Following successful conclusion of negotiations, the German Boxer vehicles will be built, utilizing production capacity at Rheinmetall’s state-of-the-art Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) at Redbank in South East Queensland, alongside the Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRV) being produced for the Australian Defence Force.
The “schwerer Waffenträger Infanterie” (sWaTrInf, for short) is based on the Australian Army’s Boxer CRV. This is a proven 8×8 combat vehicle equipped with a reconnaissance vehicle mission module including the two-man Lance turret. Its main armament is the Rheinmetall MK30-2 ABM automatic cannon, which also features in the German Puma infantry fighting vehicle. In the long term, the German armed forces intend to procure more than 100 Boxer sWaTrInf to replace the current “Wiesel” (weasel) to serve as a direct tactical fire support platform for its infantry units. Delivery is scheduled to begin in 2025.
In speaking of the potential export order, John Abunassar, head of Rheinmetall’s Vehicle Systems division, noted the commonality between the Australian and proposed German Boxer sWaTrInf vehicles, and the trust placed in Rheinmetall by the two allies: “The German Boxers to be built at MILVEHCOE will be modelled on the Australian Boxer Reconnaissance vehicle variant. The opportunity would be one of the largest Australian defence exports in the nation’s history, and support Rheinmetall’s vision to build and grow Australia’s defence industry capability as well as integrating it into the Group’s global supply chains.”
“Rheinmetall in Australia has more than 900 staff, high-tech skills and an established production plant that includes vehicles, armour and electronics manufacturing at Redbank”, adds Nathan Poyner, managing director of Rheinmetall Defence Australia. “Our Australian and global supply chain will continue to grow, with small- and medium-sized enterprises benefitting as we secure new orders to complement existing export programmes. We welcome the close partnership between Australia and Germany throughout the land vehicle domain as the two nations work together to increase global security.”
News of the letter of cooperation on the German Boxer Heavy Weapon Carrier proposal follows the start of production of Rheinmetall’s Australian Boxer with the “Striking of the Arc” at MILVEHCOE on Monday, 20 March. There, in the presence of Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, the symbolic first weld was placed for the Australian-made Boxer CRV.
The Boxer vehicle is an advanced, armoured 8×8 vehicle in service with armies around the globe. The Boxer offers enhanced troop safety, security and protection, coupled with high levels of firepower and mobility for sustained operations ranging from peacekeeping to high-intensity combat.
In Australia, Rheinmetall is the largest supplier of military vehicles for the Australia Defence Force. In addition to the 211 Boxer vehicles delivered under the Land 400 Phase 2 project – 133 of which are the CRV variant with the manned Lance turret – the company also services the Australian armed forces’ HX fleet, which comprises over 2,900 vehicles. 

Saab Showcases Missile System on Oshkosh Vehicle at DSEI

Monday, August 28th, 2023

The purpose is to demonstrate the possibility to integrate the missile-equipped RBS 70 NG Mobile Firing Unit (MFU) with Saab’s ultra-rugged tactical electronics, low-latency video distribution system and the Barracuda Mobile Camouflage System onto the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV). Come to Saab’s stand H7-210 at DSEI to learn more.

The aim is to address the growing requirements for mobile air defence and strengthen land users capabilities to meet these current and future challenges. Saab’s industry-leading MFU uses the RBS 70 NG missile system with its unjammable laser guided missiles, which provide threats with little forewarning and even less means for countermeasures.

The fully integrated multispectral Barracuda Mobile Camouflage System conceals the vehicle while also allowing the JLTV’s rapid deployment against air-based targets when needed.

“We are now offering the most modern mobile air defence solution, which is a perfect match with our existing multispectral camouflage capabilities on the JLTV vehicle. We are ready to support Oshkosh’s current customers as well as offering this to new users,” says Görgen Johansson, head of Saab’s business area Dynamics.

The Saab-provided tactical electronics and low-latency video distribution system aid the crew through increased situational awareness of the battlefield.

A partnership between Saab and Oshkosh Defense was announced in June 2022, focused on the fully integrated solution of Saab’s Barracuda Mobile Camouflage System (MCS) onto the JLTV.

Mack Defense Receives Order for 135 Additional Trucks for the U.S. Army M917A3 Heavy Dump Truck Program

Friday, August 25th, 2023

ALLENTOWN, PA (Aug. 23, 2023) – Mack Defense announced today that the U.S. military has ordered an additional 135 Mack Defense M917A3 Heavy Dump Trucks (HDTs).

The additional vehicles are part of the previously announced firm-fixed price $296 million contract over seven years that the Army awarded Mack Defense in 2018. For this new order, 60 HDTs are being purchased by the U.S. Army Reserve, 74 are being funded by the presidential budget and one is being purchased by the U.S. Navy. With this tranche, a total of 446 HDTs have been ordered to date.

The HDTs are a key component in construction and maintenance missions for infrastructure assets, such as airfields, roadways, landing strips, supply facilities and motor pools.

“With every additional order of a Mack HDT, the U.S. Armed Forces are reiterating their confidence in our product,” said David Hartzell, president of Mack Defense. “The U.S. military puts these trucks through the paces every day, and each subsequent requisition shows that the Mack HDT is meeting the military’s demanding requirements.”

The Army previously had ordered 311 HDTs, which are based on the commercially available Mack® Granite® model and spec’d with heavier-duty rear axles, all-wheel drive, increased suspension ride height and other ruggedized features to meet the unique requirements of the U.S. military.

The Mack Granite HDT model is a modern truck equipped with modern technology, such as ABS and other active safety systems. The Granite model is user-friendly, comfortable and safer to operate compared with other past models used by the Army, which is key to the Army’s investment in the new HDTs, Hartzell said. The Granite HDTs and the production line at the Mack Experience Center (MEC) in Allentown, Pennsylvania, were both inspected by the government quality auditors to ensure both met expectations.

Production of the HDTs at the MEC began in Q1 2021, following an investment of $6.5 million to create a dedicated HDT production line at the facility. The production line helps fulfill the M917A3 contract, while allowing Mack Defense to produce other vehicle variants.

The production line in the MEC is in Mack’s former Customer Adaptation Center, where vehicle modifications occurred. The Customer Adaptation Center has since moved to Mack’s Lehigh Valley Operations (LVO) in Macungie, Pennsylvania, where all Mack Class 8 vehicles for North America and export are assembled.

www.mackdefense.com

Navistar Defense Selected to Produce Trailers for Joint Light Tactical Vehicle Program

Tuesday, August 22nd, 2023

Madison Heights, Mich. – August 17, 2023- Navistar Defense, LLC (Navistar Defense) announced today it was selected by leading military mobility solutions provider, AM General, to partner in the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV A2) program. The subcontract is to manufacture an estimated 10,000 JLTV trailers over the life of the contract.

“We are excited that AM General chose us to partner in this important program to support the United States military,” said Ted Wright, chief executive officer, Navistar Defense. “AM General is a world class Tactical Vehicle manufacturer and we’re eager to support their team.”

“We look forward to working with our industry partner on this contract,” added Wright. “The JLTV trailer subcontract allows us to continue diversifying our business portfolio, support our growth in Mississippi, and expand our growing business,” added Wright.

“Welcoming Navistar Defense to the JLTV A2 program is a key milestone in our operations,” said John Chadbourne, AM General Executive VP – Chief Business Development Officer. “Their commitment to excellence translates into the quality products they are known for in the industry. Since receiving the JLTV A2 program contract, our main focus is to deliver quality vehicles on time and on target and this includes the equipment needed to ensure our Warfighters can succeed in their missions.”

The JLTV A2 trailer is a multipurpose platform configured to support general purpose cargo and tactical generator mobility missions. The trailer is built to operate with the Closed Combat Weapons Carrier, the General Purpose, Heavy Guns Carrier and Utility JLTV variants over the same mission profile of those vehicles.

Production will begin in 2024 and will take place at Navistar Defense’s Assembly Plant located in West Point, Mississippi. The period of performance is for five-base years, with the option for an additional five years.

SureFire Field Note Ep 77 – Left Foot Braking for Better Vehicle Control Offroad with Alex Fleming

Saturday, August 5th, 2023