MOD signs contract for ASCOD SV

The MOD have signed a £500 million contract with General Dynamics UK for the development phase of a new Scout armoured fighting vehicle. The Scout is derived from the ASCOD SV which is already used by some NATO armies. The MOD contract will result in 7 development vehicles, eventually the Scout will replace the Scimitar in Army service.

In related news the awarding of the armoured vehicle contract to General Dynamics UK has led BAE Systems to close it's Radar Road plant in Leicester after they were unsuccessful in bidding for this contract.

New armoured vehicles for Army in Afghanistan

The MOD has announced that British troops in Afghanistan will be getting some new armoured vehicles. 140 additional Jackal 2s and 28 Wolfhounds will be bought. The Jackals, which will take the total ordered for the Army up to 500, will be of the 2A model with improved cab protection. The Wolfhound order will take the total orders for the tactical support vehicle up to 125.

FRES-SV to be built by General Dynamics UK

Despite some last minute attempts by BAE Systems to win the FRES-SV contract for new armoured vehicles for the British Army the contract has been won by General Dynamics UK as previously rumoured. The ASCOD SV, 73% is said to be built in the UK, will be used for scout, recovery and protected mobility missions. 580 will be built in the first instance replacing vehicles like the Scimitar.

General Dynamics wins FRES SV contract? (updated)

General Dynamics is reported to have beaten BAE Systems in winning the contract to build new armoured reconnaissance vehicles (FRES SV) for the British Army. The ASCOD 2 was chosen over the CV-90 and the initial contract is for 750 vehicles in a billion pound deal. 80% of the ASCOD will be built in the UK and General Dynamics claim over 10,000 UK jobs will be supported by this. Of course quite a lot of the CV-90 would be built in Sweden.

Update (15/03) : there is no official word yet but now BAE Systems say they will transfer CV-90 work from Sweden to the UK if it wins the order.

Number of Panthers bought : 401. Number to go to Afghanistan : 67

Only 67 of the Panther armoured vehicles bought by the MOD are suitable to be deployed to Afghanistan. The other 334 (yes that is right, 334) will be used in "pre-deployment training, individual and collective training, and trials and development" according to the government. The problem is the vehicles, despite costing hundreds of millions of pounds, are unsuitable for action and an extra 20 million had to spent getting 67 of them ready for combat. The bad (ok even badder) news is that even with the changes if they get hit by an IED or other insurgent toys they are likely to be permanently damaged.

The changes include ECM, better protection, air conditioning and space for a fourth crew member. Its not known if funds will be available to get the other 334 up to speed.

MOD pays to upgrade APCs being taken out of service

Even though the failed Vector armoured vehicle is being withdrawn from service as it is insufficient to protect troops in Afghanistan against IEDs the MOD is still paying to upgrade it! The vehicles are being withdrawn after just 2 years when they were found inadequate, so much so indeed Army commanders called them "Coffins". BAE has an ongoing programme to upgrade the suspension and wheel hubs but not the armour which was quickly found not to deflect the blast from roadside or buried bombs. The MOD will have to pay for 20 more vehicles to be upgraded later this year.

The vehicles are not totally useless of course, they can be used in other theatres, training et cetera but it seems a bit silly does it not? The MOD are also paying to upgrade some Snatch Land Rovers which are also being withdrawn.

Vector axed

The Vector armoured troop transporter vehicle is being withdrawn from combat operations just 3 years after it was procured in a £100 million contract. The reason is basically its not good enough. 100 were bought to give British soldiers more protection from IEDs and other insurgent goodies but it's design is flawed. It has a flat bottom instead of a v-shape which can help deflect the blast from buried bombs. Although up-armoured to protect crews 5 soldiers have died in Vectors since their introduction. Of course it may well be more soldiers could have died without the use of the Vector.

Army to get Jackals and Coyotes

You may notice this blog has not covered much in the way of British Army or land warfare issues up until now mostly because i find the variety of equipment they use rather bewildering! This is going to change though as the way way to learn about something is to research it and write it up! If i screw up though, say so!

180 new vehicles have been ordered for the Army for combat duty in Afghanistan. 110 Jackal 2s and 70 Coyote Tactical Support Vehicles have been ordered.



Compared to it's predecessor, the Jackal 2 has improved manoeuvrability and (stated) reliability, that of course has to be proven in action, and can carry 3 crew instead of 2.



Coyote is a 6x6 version of the Jackal. Deliveries are expected to begin in a couple of months and the vehicles will be ready for service by the Autumn. Of course the big question is, are these vehicles any good. No doubt they are better than light (or none) armoured Land Rovers but the excellent Defence Of The Realm blog is less than impressed.