Armored
vehicles at DSEi 07:The British MOD has set a
higher priority for the modernization and upgrading 449 of its
786 Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle, and is currently planning
to begin fielding the upgraded vehicles by 2010 - 2011 timeframe,
about two years ahead of the original schedule. The upgrade
will sustain the vehicle's operability until 2035. (more...)
Major
upgrading of the British Army Warrior Infantry Combat Vehicle
(ICV) is underway at the MoD under the Warrior Capability Sustainment
program. Several industry teams are competing for the program,
aiming particularly at the weapon upgrade segment known as Warrior
Lethality Improvement Program (WLIP) to include improved electronics
architecture, introduction of a new low-profile turret and replacement
of the current 30mm Rarden cannon. WLIP attracts turret and
gun manufacturers due to the significant number of turrets required
(449 turrets) and potential cost (about £0.5 billion)
and the fact that a similar weapon could also be fielded wit
the scout variant of the Future Rapid Effects System (FRES).
Among the teams competing for this program are BAE Systems Land
Systems and CTA International (its joint venture with the French
Nexter company), General Dynamics, Selex Sensors and Lockheed
Martin UK Insys.
The upgrade is expected to sustain the vehicle's operability
until 2035. Several competitors associated with the program
displayed their hardware at the exhibition, including Lockheed
Martin Insys, BAE systems and Selex Sensors & Airborne Systems.
MoD
is evaluating several concepts proposed and demonstrated with
under each company's initiative and funding. Among these was
the demonstration of the Manned Turret Integration Program (MTIP)
and CTA's 40mm cannon, firing Case telescoped ammunition. Selex
Sensors and Airborne Systems (Selex S&AS) is offering the
HITFIST 30 two-man turret from its sister company Oto Melara,
both subsidiaries of the Italian Finmeccanica group. The turret
is fitted with an ATK MK44 30mm cannon (with growth potential
to 40mm) and a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun.
According to Andrew Folley, Selex S&AS campaign director,
the turret offers a mature (TRL9), low risk solution that will
require only minimal modifications. The turret will use enhanced
armor protection to meet specific UK requirements, bringing
the turret weight up to 3.2 tons. HITFIST is one of the more
popular new-generation manned turrets, currently in service
with the Italian, Polish and Irish armies. The turret will incorporate
independent, stabilized, multi-sensor optronics for gunner and
commander, and installations for Bowman radios. At DSEi Selex
also demonstrated panoramic thermal cameras, providing the crew
360 degrees 'see through' capability day and night.
Lockheed Martin Insys unveiled their latest WLIP design at DSEi.
The company
offers a German turret designed by Rheinmetall, armed with stabilized
30mm ATK MK44 gun and 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. The turret
mounts two stabilized sights for the commander and gunner, with
an option to add an independent panoramic sight for the commander.
The new turret will also be fitted with panoramic vision using
multiple cameras installed around it. Installation of Javelin
guided missile launchers is optional. If selected for the British
Army, the German turret will also be fitted with enhanced armor
protection meeting NATO STANAG Level 4 specification. Nigel
Morris, Warrior LIP deputy program manager at Insys anticipates
that his company's solution for WLIP will provide the most cost
effective and far reaching option available for this program.
The new turret is designed to incorporate and reuse major assemblies
and components, making the turret very familiar and intuitive
to Warrior operators and maintainers. The new controls and displays
are logical, intuitive and flexible, requiring minimal modifications
to existing Warrior training, documentation and support.
Other
modifications are planned for the FV432 Mk3 (Bulldog) armored
troop carrier, which has recently received enhanced armor protection.
To sustain the heavier load, the vehicle is fitted with Darlington-built
B-series Cummins engines 186kW (250hp) engines, extending the
vehicle's service life until 2025. The old FV432 Mk2 also provides
a platform for system integration evaluation by Selex S&AS.
As part of the company funded Vehicle Systems Integration Lab
(VSIL), demonstration and evaluation program, the APC was fitted
with integrated electronic, optronic and communications devices
providing tactical navigation, situational awareness, mapping
and communications. Situational awareness is enhanced both for
'battlefield awareness' as well as covering the immediate vicinity
of the vehicle and even on board, using multiple, panoramic
thermal cameras. These capabilities could be enhanced by sharing
situational awareness with dismounted infantry, over a wireless
link. The vehicle also uses an integrated weapon system (demonstrating
the RAFAEL Mini Samson platform fitted with a 0.5" Cal
heavy machine gun). Further integration currently underway includes
hostile fire detection systems.
MoD
is evaluating several concepts proposed and demonstrated with
under each company's initiative and funding. Among these was
the demonstration of the Manned Turret Integration Program (MTIP)
and CTA's 40mm cannon, firing Case telescoped ammunition. Selex
Sensors and Airborne Systems (Selex S&AS) is offering the
HITFIST 30 two-man turret from its sister company Oto Melara,
both subsidiaries of the Italian Finmeccanica group. The turret
is fitted with an ATK MK44 30mm cannon (with growth potential
to 40mm) and a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun. 
Other
modifications are planned for the FV432 Mk3 (Bulldog) armored
troop carrier, which has recently received enhanced armor protection.
To sustain the heavier load, the vehicle is fitted with Darlington-built
B-series Cummins engines 186kW (250hp) engines, extending the
vehicle's service life until 2025. The old FV432 Mk2 also provides
a platform for system integration evaluation by Selex S&AS.
As part of the company funded Vehicle Systems Integration Lab
(VSIL), demonstration and evaluation program, the APC was fitted
with integrated electronic, optronic and communications devices
providing tactical navigation, situational awareness, mapping
and communications. Situational awareness is enhanced both for
'battlefield awareness' as well as covering the immediate vicinity
of the vehicle and even on board, using multiple, panoramic
thermal cameras. These capabilities could be enhanced by sharing
situational awareness with dismounted infantry, over a wireless
link. The vehicle also uses an integrated weapon system (demonstrating
the RAFAEL Mini Samson platform fitted with a 0.5" Cal
heavy machine gun). Further integration currently underway includes
hostile fire detection systems.
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