Mobility and Protection

But it’s not just about simulation being used to prepare international land forces to face real-world threats. Over the past half-decade, many of those threats have coalesced into a recognized requirement for enhanced levels of both mobility and survivability across tactical wheeled vehicle fleets – both in the United States and abroad.

One international example can be seen in the fall 2011 announcement by Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles GmBh that the company had received a contract from Germany’s Bundeswehr to supply it with 12 HX 81 tractors based on the 8×8 MAN HX-series chassis employed by the British Armed Forces.

“For the first time ever, German troops will have a fleet of protected heavy equipment transporter vehicles at their disposal,” the announcement stated. “Careful account of Bundeswehr requirements was taken right from the development phase: a Euro 5 V8 engine with an output of 500 kW/680hp gives the vehicle the forward propulsion needed to move its permissible gross train weight of up to 130 tonnes. In response to the hazards of modern military operations, the driver’s cab provides up to four soldiers with a high degree of protection against ballistic, landmine and IED threats.”

Another excellent example of meeting the recognized needs for enhanced mobility and survivability was solidified in a mid-December 2011 announcement by Australia’s Minister for Defense and Minister for Defense Materiel that the Australian government had “taken the next step” in that country’s $7.5 billion AUS Project Overlander – Land 121 program, which will provide the Australian Defense Force with approximately 7,500 new vehicles over the next decade through the replacement of the current early-1980s-era vehicle fleet.

Under Overlander’s LAND 121 Phase 3B element (Protected and Unprotected Medium and Heavy Vehicles), the Australian government down-selected Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles Australia as the “preferred tenderer” (which will now enter into detailed negotiations) to provide up to 2,700 protected and unprotected medium and heavy vehicles.

“This decision has been made after lengthy tender evaluations that involved both desktop analysis and vehicle performance testing,” the announcement stated. “Rheinmetall MAN was selected as it offered the best value for money and met Defense requirements for capability and cost. These vehicles will replace the Australian Defense Force’s current fleet of Unimog, Mack and S-Liner trucks. They include: Medium and Heavy recovery vehicles; Medium and Heavy tractors (equipment transporters); Heavy integrated load handling vehicles (self-loading hook lift trucks); and Medium-weight tray variants (with cranes and tippers).”

Australian government representatives will also enter into negotiations with Australian company Haulmark Trailers, as the preferred tenderer to supply up to 2,500 trailers for the new fleet of medium and heavy vehicles.

In addition to the medium and heavy fleet upgrades, LAND 121 Phase 4 (Protected and Unprotected Light Vehicles) is a $1.5 billion AUS project to provide up to 1,300 protected and unprotected light vehicles.

Thales Australia’s Hawkei has been selected as the preferred vehicle for the development and testing under Stage 2 of the Manufactured and Supported in Australia (MSA) option under LAND 121 Phase 4. Subject to successful testing of the vehicles, final government approval of the project for the new vehicles is expected in 2015, and production work could potentially commence in Australia as early as 2016. Since the company is currently manufacturing Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles with current production orders expected to be completed before the end of 2013, it is possible that additional Bushmaster orders will be provided to avoid a gap in critical workforce skills or manufacturing capabilities.

Other aspects of the recent announcement include an expansion of the light and lightweight tactical training vehicle fleet of Mercedes-Benz G-Wagons “to provide a fleet of tactical vehicles and an enhanced training capability to prepare for operations in protected vehicles.”

Less than two weeks after Australia’s Project Overlander – Land 121 announcement, the global aspects of the vehicle requirements were again highlighted by a Dec. 22, 2011, announcement from BAE Systems Land & Armaments that the company had received two contract awards, totaling more than $150 million US, to provide RG31 and RG32M vehicles to the United Arab Emirates and Sweden.

The announcement described the RG31 as a mature, combat-proven mine-protected armored personnel carrier designed, developed, and manufactured by BAE Systems in South Africa. More than 2,166 RG31 vehicles have been delivered internationally to date. The RG32M, which is extensively in service with the Swedish Armed Forces, has both military and non-military applications to fill a range of command, liaison, scouting, patrol, and peacekeeping roles.

“These awards mark a significant success in our land business,” observed Chris Chambers, vice president and general manager of Tactical Wheeled Vehicles for BAE Systems. “The RG31 and RG32M have consistently delivered superior levels of protection from mines, improvised explosive devices, and other threats to many customers worldwide and mark a standard of operational effectiveness.”

In yet another representative example of international land force appreciation for enhanced protected mobility, late 2011 also saw an announcement by General Dynamics European Land Systems (a business unit of General Dynamics) of a contract from the Swiss army for delivery of 70 additional DURO (Durable and Robust) Armored Personnel Carriers.

The DURO is a highly protected and mobile wheeled vehicle, capable of transporting up to 11 soldiers and meeting the Swiss army’s requirements for a vehicle that provides troop protection and mobility for military applications as well as peacekeeping operations.

The recently announced vehicle procurement was approved in the 2010 Swiss Armament Procurement Program, with deliveries slated to take place in the fall of 2013.

General Dynamics had previously delivered 220 DURO vehicles to the Swiss Army through the 2008 Swiss Armament Procurement Program. The Swiss Parliament approval for the procurement of the 70 additional vehicles will increase fleet availability for training.