MRAPs

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Just wanted to provide more info on the HAWKEI by THALES. Can carry six passengers at plus 110km/h (60-65mph?) all info seems to be "coy" about the speed, have seen this on other sites besides my named sources. Info also seems to indicate fully loaded at top speed a range of 1000km (550mi.?) can be achieved. Have found no info concerning any issues about top heaviness or rollovers. It would be at this point important to note that every MRAP AND PMV-L I've found are designed for the present and future battle field commander, in short they are fully battle field integrated (BFI) and have separate on-board power systems to support those BFI systems these are not your Willy's Jeep or first gen Hummers. This info from articles in the last 24-48hrs. Sources: AussieDigger.com (ADF Active Duty and Retiree site) and DefenceTalk.com. Also YouTube has a clip, I didn't watch. Better picture follows:

Good Night and Have a Better Tommorrow!
V/R
Pat

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Just wanted to clarify, though I know this hasn't been brought up (THANK YOU!) because I think everyone understood my meaning, I'll be using Battlefield Management System (BMS) which seems to be a more accepted military and industry term. Sorry if my use of Battlefield Intregated System (BFI/BFIS) caused any issues.
V/R
Pat

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Good Day!
British MOD replacing Mastiff "1" (A variant of the USMC Cougar.) with the Mastiff 2. With lessons learned in Afghanistan MOD has determined that the Mastiff wasn't meeting all the mission requirements due to the conditions encountered in Afghanistan. Mastiff 2 was designed to be better integrated with British forces and arrived in Afghanistan in June 2009 with 300 units currently in service. Though available in other variants, its primary purpose is as a Patrol protection vehicle. Manufactured by Force Protection; integration by NP Aerospace, the Mastiff 2 features a higher ground clearance of 15in. w/bigger axles and suspension system. Also it has driver and weapons thermal imagining with on-board BMS. Carries a fuel tank fire suppression system and increased internal armor protection. Crew 2 w/6 passengers, 4x4 w/330HP CAT C-7 Diesel, Spd. 105km/h 65mph, Rng.966km 600mi. Arm. 7.62 GPMG, w/12.7mm HMG or 40mm GMG in a remote operated turret. Pictures:

Source for all material: army-technology.com
Good Night with Regards!
Pat

[thatguy96]

Just to be clear on this, the Mastiff is a Force Protection Cougar variant. These vehicles were bought as COTS items and that name was not given to them by the USMC. That's the name they have always been marketed under by Force Protection (there's some issue with the Typhoon nomenclature, but if this did exist, it didn't last very long). Mastiff, and now Mastiff 2 are names applied to subvariants of the pattern tailored to British needs, just as the USMC and US Army have a number of Cougar subvariants in service. The British were also investigating a 4x4 subvariant, referred to as the Ridgeback, and Force Protection's new Tactical Support Vehicle Cougar variant as the Wolfhound.

More info:
http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/fig...cles/1483.aspx
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...d/mrap-var.htm

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

The South African Army (SAA) under Project Sepula is looking to replace the CASSPIR and MAMBA with the RG-35 MRAP by 2012. This would mean to BAE South Africa an order of 1,232 units to outfit SAA's 4 regular and 6 reserve Infantry Battalions. It is likely the order will be increased to further augment 1 regular and 3 reserve Internal Stability Battalions (ISB) as well.
BAE will offer a 4x4 RG-35 variant as well. New Pictures:


Source for info and pictures: army-technology.com

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Just a quick update Osh Kosh has just delivered it's 1000th
M-ATV as reported by army-technology.com. Lots going on in the MRAP world but will do my best with this and APC's. Thanks!!
Pat
Happy Holidays to ALL!

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Good Morning!
Next up the SandCat. Designed by PLASAN of Israel to replace the AIL Storm jeeps of the IDF, it was relaunched at EUROSATORY Show in 2008 as a brand with OSHKOSH Defence.
It's built on a comm. FORD 550 chassis w/a FORD 6.4L diesel with duel fuel tanks TC of 120L, 325hp @ 3000rpm w/ an ALLISON 2000 Auto Trans. Max Speed 75mph/120km/h. Payloads by variant Utility 2,109kg/Crew 5, Transport 1,814kg/Crew 8 and Special Ops (SOV) 2300kg/Crew 4. Features V-Hull, full crew advanced suppression seating for mine blast etc., 5 zone fire suppression system for the crew and engine compartments, fuel cells,wheel wells and exterior hull. Superstructure has three layered armed panels, ceramic outer tiles, middle wall and inner SPALL Liners throughout for fragmentation protection. Also available is a heavier "B" armor package that is crew applied in the field. Fully loaded it also has a 18in. vertical climb/clearance rate w/39 degree side slope man.
Current interest British Army poss. 400 units under the LPPV Program. ADF 121 UNITS under "OVERLANDER" Phase 4 program and the Dutch unspec. # for their Wheeled Vehicle Replacement Program (WVRP). As always:

And no this is NOT the USA/USMC M-ATV.
ALSO as a side note the RANGER (posted earlier) is undergoing validation testing w/ the "BA" in Dorset UK.
Sources: Pri. army-technology.com (and photos) Sec. defence-update.com
Have a good night!!
Pat

[Suhiir]

Last I checked the USA/USMC M-ATV was going nowhere in a hurry.
One of the main reasons they want them is because these days most of HUMMERs are being armored, and of course they're too wide to fit in most current medium helos so they need something smaller and lighter.
But, of course, a vocal faction insists they need to be armored, which makes them to heavy to do the job they're intended for.
So as it stands, while the M-ATV may still be in development, the USMC at least, has no real interest in them.

[thatguy96]

Committing to buy 6,500 vehicles sounds like at least someone has an interest in them (even if its only Oshkosh heh). The first 2 vehicles arrived in Afghanistan in September. By that point DoD had issued contracts for a little over 5,000 M-ATVs.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Here's another article from logistics command about M-ATV:
http://www.dla.mil/DLAPublic/DLA_Med...es.aspx?ID=500. And yes OSHKOSH is contracted over the 6500 unit mark within the last month to include a contract through the Army that will lead to the Marines getting about 1,100 units and the Air Force and "my" Navy just under a 100 units each. Again OSHKOSH did deliver it's 1000th unit last month. As pointed in this article and MANY other places "my" (Since I ultimatley still get paid by him in my current position and the taxpayer.) SECDEF has said the MRAP and M-ATV programs represents the largest design to production since WWII. Powerful stuff and don't we all wish we owned some OSHKOSH stock now...well better a year or two ago anyway!?!
Pat