Story via Shepard Media.
DEW Engineering and Development and Supacat have submitted their High Mobility Transporter (HMT) for the voluntary industry vehicle demonstration of the Next Generation Fighting Vehicle (NGFV) programme for the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM).Kinda surprised the HMT Extenda can carry almost twice as much as the FoxHound.
The two companies confirmed to Shephard earlier this month that they joined have the demonstration at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa (Ontario) with the Extenda Mk2 version of the HMT expeditionary vehicle.
The NGFV procurement process is currently in the options analysis phase. This project to acquire 55-75 vehicles is estimated to cost between C$100 million and C$249 million ($70 million to $176 million).
According to Shephard Defence Insight, other contenders in the programme include the Ocelot/Foxhound 4x4 from General Dynamics Land Systems - Canada (GDLS-C), as well as the Sherpa Light 4x4 from Arquus/Mack Defense.
A Department of National Defence (DND) spokesperson explained that Canada intends to acquire 55 to 75 NGFVs to equip CANSOFCOM. This platform will replace the existing fleet of M1113 and M1117 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs).
An earlier replacement programme was cancelled in 2010. Although originally anticipated in 2015, an RfI for the NGFV was not released until 2019. An RfP is scheduled to be released in early 2021, followed by a contract awarded in 2024-2025, first deliveries in 2026-2027 and final deliveries in 2028-2029.
The DND spokesperson stressed that the NGFV will be a ‘modern and diverse multi-role vehicle capable of transporting the prescribed equipment and weapons load, ensuring mobility, survivability of the crew and vehicle and sustainment inherently required in the execution of special operations tasks'.
It ‘must have the ability for the crew to engage various adversaries without dismounting from the protection of the vehicle, and also be protected from kinetic attacks from adversaries,’ the spokesperson highlighted.
The HMT vehicle is designed to transport personnel and equipment into deployed zones including directly onto objectives and to support the withdrawal of other assets.
This vehicle provides lower user fatigue and is robust and well-protected, enabling long-range and enhanced mission duration. Also, it has an airbag suspension to provide stability to fire.
The Extenda Mk2 model — unveiled during the DSEI 2019 trade show — can be converted between 4x4 and 6x6 configuration in hours by adding or removing a third axle module.
In addition, users can select between different levels of protection, seating layouts, payload configurations and an open or enclosed cab.
The HMT can be fitted with NATO Generic Vehicle Architecture to enable the integration of a wide variety of mission systems, including a remote weapon system as well as ISR and C4 systems.
Additionally, this platform is air-transportable in aircraft such as the C-17 Globemaster III, C-130 Hercules and CH-47 Chinook (depending on the configuration of helicopter and vehicle).
Nicky Yeoman, head of marketing and sales operations at SC Group-Global (which includes Supacat), confirmed to Shephard that 950 units of the HMT platform in various configurations are in service with Australia, Denmark, Norway, New Zealand, the UK, the US and another undisclosed customer.
As much as I like the HMT I just don't see it operating in the far north...yeah I know. They've been used by British Forces in northern Europe but I don't think its ideal in those climates.
The FoxHound is expensive so I see this going to the French vehicle.
No comments :
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.