200 upgraded quad bikes have been ordered for use on the frontline in Afghanistan. The new all-terrain vehicles will boost the Armed Forces’ ability to deliver vital combat supplies to troops on the ground.
As part of a £5M contract, Yamaha, based in Weybridge, Surrey has supplied the quad bikes, with Logic, based in Hexham, Northumbria, supplying the trailers.
Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies, said:
“The new quad bikes are already playing a vital role on operations, from providing logistics support to casualty evacuation. This additional delivery, complete with upgrades, will ensure that they continue this role.”
“We remain committed to providing the best equipment and vehicles for our troops on the front line.”
The quad bikes and trailers have been deployed on operations and have come complete with a number of upgrades, including:
Left hand throttle which provides a dual throttle fit giving greater manoeuvrability in theatre.
Dual stretcher fit on trailer – to evacuate 2 casualties at a time thereby speeding up emergency aid.
The quad bikes can reach speeds of up to 75kph and can carry up to almost 160kg with the trailer attached. They are already being used to deliver food, water and ammunition to troops on the frontline in difficult to access areas – or where it is more appropriate to offer a lower profile. Even with the trailer attached, they can operate through streams and puddles of up to half their wheel height.
Major Matt Cansdale of 3rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment, who used the bikes during his recent operational tour, added:
“The quad bikes proved to be reliable and able to go places that no other vehicle could. The equipment that the quad bikes were able to carry enabled us to launch patrols that covered more distance and were longer in duration than would otherwise have been the case, so we were able to push into areas that the enemy did not expect us.
“The ability to evacuate casualties effectively and quickly also meant that we could move away from established routes while limiting the risk to our forces.”
