Hippo Multipower displayed their Lightweight Tactical Mobility Platform candidate which is currently informing a U.K. requirement. It is an eight-wheeled, all-terrain, amphibious vehicle which offers three advantages: Payload, Terrain Accessibility and Power Generation.
The concept is to use a light vehicle to take the sustainment load, and possibly other burdens off the back of the individual Soldier. The platform needs to be able to keep up with the troops in complex terrain and be used for resupply as well as other ad hoc requirements such as CASEVAC. So far, experimentation has indicated that the vehicle should be used with a trailer.
The Hippo vehicle will accommodate a Platoon load of equipment, in excess of 750kg across complex terrain. Although, adding a trailer increases the payload. Additionally, the vehicle offers an onboard hydraulic generator boasting 5kw of exportable power. More than anough to power communications and ECM systems. Because the generator, which is contained in the belly of the vehicle is hydraulic it can be used to power tools as well.
