Just an update to my previous post on the revived Marine Personnel Carrier.
Lockheed Martin responded to my e-mail and they're already hard at work to get it done. Havoc 2.0 is a go!
If HQMC is serious they'll accelerate this program, treat it like an urgent operational need and get production started ASAP. The Army did it with the Stryker, we should be able to do this with the MPC.
I'm still waiting to hear from BAE and General Dynamics.
Personal Note: I really wish LM would place a bright shiny firewall between the F-35 program and everything else they're working on. Bad press and poor public relations with the JSF is starting to infect the rest of the products.
Personal Observation: This is going to be extremely interesting. The LM Havoc is combat proven, exceeds IED protection requirements and is a good swimmer and quite mobile on land. The BAE SuperAv is a great swimmer, meets blast protection and is also very mobile on land. What is the priority? Future growth/load carrying? Swimming? Blast protection? Mobility? Will we see a Marine Corps family of vehicles? Or is price the only concern?
Whoho! Finger cross for Havoc!
ReplyDeleteJust avoid this one for one simple reason; Lockheed Martin.
ReplyDeleteand you just proved my point about putting up a bright shiny firewall between this project (and others) and the F-35.
Deletethe bad reputation of that airplane is starting to make the entire enterprise look like a joke too. but consider the fact that they're building the MLRS that has served well. the C-130J and the C-5 that are all coming in on time and budget and even teamed with Patria to offer the Havoc and it should be obvious.
they make good stuff but the F-35 is bringing everything down.
Solomon
DeleteF-35 isn't the only Lockheed Martin product failing; the LCS1 is failing relative to the LCS2, and even the Lockheed Martin designed US Olympic Speed Skating Team's uniform failed and was thrown out at Sochi too.
Frak me...
DeleteI just forget that even a good company like Patria with outstanding product can be taken down by the stink of Lockheed Martin fails. I hope you are wrong SlowMan, I hope you will be mistaken.
Just look what General Dynamics did to the Swiss Radschützenpanzer 93,
Delete13 tonnes
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sch%C3%BCtzenpanzer_93
the GD Stryker at 21 to 24 tonnes...
The Patria AMV is good. LM could f...
Its quite unfair to rest of ATO members that US always buys stuf trough 'system integrators' (LM) not directly like everyone else ,i do not se much us arns being repackaged and rebranded as BAE,KMW or Patria. Patria AMV is one of the best 8x8 in class ,it might not be cutting edge like Boxer or Piranha but its quite a bit cheaper altough i doubt i will end up with a cheaper product as US procurement system is as rotten as they get any you will likely be looking at twice the normal price because of the LM and idiots looking for some 'ground breaking' technologies instead of taking it as it is.
ReplyDeleteAnything that doesn't have GD Land Systems greasy mitts on it might be OK.
ReplyDeletei know you're not a fan of the M1 but the EFV was going to be a game changer. they were on the verge of getting its maintenance woes ironed out and if we followed the F-35 or the MV-22 example with the EFV then it would be in service right now.
DeleteIs it possible for the US Marines to simply do a purchase from Patria? Say, buy an interim vehicle in limited numbers?
ReplyDeletewell my opinion of the vehicles be damned, you hit on a very important part of this.
Deleteno matter which vehicle is selected i feel confident that they can get into production rather quickly (by industry standards) and get the first battalion into Marine Corps hands as quick as they did MRAPs.
the only hold up in this whole thing has been confusion on the part of HQMC.