Germany orders more Dingos

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) has won a large order for all-protected vehicles and remote controlled weapon stations from the German Federal Office of Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB).

The contract includes the manufacture and delivery of a total of 50 DINGO 2 patrol and backup vehicles, four DINGO 2 GSI (battle damage repair) vehicles, 44 optional DINGO 2 GSI.

Also included are 230 light and 190 heavy FLW weapons stations.

The German Armed Forces will take a fast-track delivery of 54 DINGO 2 already by the end of this year.

Source: KMW Press Release

Major players make joint bid for Germany's AMPV

Krauss-Maffei Wegmann of Munich and Rheinmetall Defence of Düsseldorf have launched a joint programme to develop a highly protected new vehicle family in the 5 to 9 ton weight class. The first of the four-wheel drive Armoured Multi Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) vehicles should be ready for serial delivery by 2011. A life-size mock-up of the vehicle will be on show at Eurosatory 2008 in Paris this June, one of the world¿s leading venues for land systems. Completion of the first prototype is planned for 2009.

Responding to the Bundeswehr's current GFF ('protected command and role-specific vehicle') procurement programme, Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann have decided to develop a family of GFF 1/2-class vehicles which will fully comply with user requirements. The two defence contractors are financing the development project on their own.

The objective of the joint project is to supply the armed forces of Germany and other nations with a vehicle that sets an entirely new standard for mobility, modularity and protection technology; and to safeguard and promote certain technologies vital to German national security.

The vehicle family encompasses two type series. The agile AMPV 1 is the smaller of the two, and makes an ideal liaison vehicle. A higher level of protection and a heavier payload are the primary characteristics of the bigger AMPV 2. However, the entire vehicle family is based on standardized engineering principles and technologies.

Both type series feature a patrol vehicle with an unprotected floor in the rear section, and an equipment kit carrier with a safety cell extending all the way to the rear of the vehicle.

Also planned is a special patrol version of the AMPV1 that can be airlifted in a CH53 transport helicopter.

Source: Press release

New decontamination unit to German army

Kaärcher have announced the official hand-over of the complete TEP 90 system to the German army will take place on the 10 June at their production facility in Obersontheim.

The TEP 90 consists of a carrier vehicle with protected driving cab from Iveco Magirus, which feautres a decontamination system from Kaärcher Futuretech.

Length (inch) 400,8
Width (inch) 100,4
Height (inch) 151,6
Decontamination of persons (Persons per hour) 20-40
Decontamination of personal equipment (Sets per hour) up to 20
Decontamination of terrain (m²/h) up to 1500
econtamination of material (vehicles) (per hour) Min. 6
Decontamination of material (tanks) (per hour) Min. 4
Weight (lbs) 70547

Sources: Army Technology and Kaärcher

Photo: Kaärcher

Rheinmetall expands its' influence with new purchase

Rheinmetall has purchased Stork PWV from its' Dutch parent Stork NV.

"Stork PWV (has been) responsible for the Dutch share of the Boxer programme, which is worth around €500 million and encompasses the development and production of 200 vehicles for the Royal Netherlands Army. Rheinmetall is producing 85 of the 272 vehicles ordered by Germany's Bundeswehr, representing €212 million for the Dusseldorf-based company, which is also in charge of supplying the electronic components in all of the German and Dutch vehicles, generating an additional 60 million in sales."

This means Rheinmetall is now the majority shareholder (64% with the gain of Stork's 50%) in the Artec consortium that builds the Boxer armoured vehicle. This leaves Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) holding the remaining 36%.

Sources: Various and Rheinmetall Press Release

Dingos for Luxembourg

Luxembourg will purchase 48 DINGO 2s from Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW). The vehicles are destined for the Army's reconnaissance companies and will come equipped with a mast system and electronics and optics from Thales.

The DINGO 2 has a range of 1000 km, a top speed of approximately 90 km/h and holds a crew of 8. It is protected by significant amour and a Kongsberg remote-operated turret. The vehicle can be transported in C160 Transall, C130 Hercules and A400M aircraft.

The contract will be coordinated through NATO's Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA) with Thales as the prime. Luxembourg will now share platform commonalities with Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic and Germany.

Source and Photo: KMW

Mini MineWolf successfully tested by German Army

The German Army’s Technical Center for Weapons and Ammunition based in Meppen, Germany has published their final results of trials with the 8.1 metric ton remote-controlled “Mini MineWolf” against simulated AP and live AT mines with explosive yield up to 13.5 kg TNT. Both the tiller and flail working tools were tested for effectiveness in clearing AP mines and survivability against 7 different AT mine types, including stacked mines.

The results of the trial were excellent, with the Mini MineWolf demonstrating survivability of both tiller and flail working tools against heavy AT mine detonations. It also achieved impressive results close to 100% with both flail and tiller attachments against simulated AP mines. All damage was repairable in the field with the prime mover suffering no damage, underscoring the economic viability of mechanical demining in high-threat environments.

According to Colonel Radlmeier, Chief Development Division of the German Army Engineering School. ”The ability to provide safe clearance capabilities in areas contaminated with explosive remnants of war is becoming increasingly significant to the future tasks of the German Army's Corp of Engineers. To improve the protection of soldiers in conflict scenarios we need a reliable, quickly deployable mechanical mine clearance tool. The Mini MineWolf is, based on real-world tests and its convincing results, a very interesting option to fill this gap."

AP mines were simulated using computer-controlled “WORM” mines (Wirelessly Operated Reproduction Mine) developed by the Canadian Centre for Mine Action Technologies (CCMAT). They are able to detect and report damage inflicted by the machine to a remote computer via a wireless link. The purpose of the trial was to determine the capability of the Mini MineWolf to clear (i.e. detonate or destroy) mines at different depths in different types of soil: gravel, sand and topsoil, as well as to survive large AT blasts with minimal damage, repairable in the field.

Click on photo for larger image.

Source and Photo: MineWolf Systems AG

Fox Block 1 upgrade

The M93 was originally developed for the German military and the first U.S. unit was equipped with the NBCRS-Fox Block 1 system (M93A1) in October 1998.

The role of the M93A1 is to: "Detect, identify, and mark areas of nuclear and chemical contamination; sample soil, water and vegetation for nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) contamination; and report accurate information to supported commanders in real time."

The Department of Defense has awarded General Dynamics Land Systems a $5,977,752 firm-fixed-price contract for integrated logistics support for the FOX Block 1 upgrade plus program. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Mich., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2009.

Sources: Various
Photo: U.S. Army

More Holiday reading ...

Some interesting reading here, old and new.

• Who killed Benazir?
• French defense-private partnership
• Air Force on synthetic fuel
  
• German Robocop-Style Army Gear Flops

Sources: As cited.

Bosch acquires Extreme

Canadian CCTV and surveillance specialists Extreme are to be purchased by Bosch Security Systems of Stuttgart.

With this acquisition Bosch not only gets some well established technologies but also an increased presence in the U.K., the U.S. and Canada.

The deal is expected to close in February.

Source: The Monitor

"Isn't all EOD done by robots?"

I was asked this question recently and the answer is "No". No single robot can answer all the field conditions an EOD team may face. Can it climb stairs? Can it be carried? Is it rugged enough to handle the demands of terrain? Can it pick up something heavy and not fall over? What sensors does it have?

At the same time some of the greatest developments in EOD in the past ten years have been in robotics. The UK, Canada, the U.S., and Germany are leading the way. This quick movie/slide show is an introduction and highlights some of the better known offers out there. In the upcoming weeks we'll supplement this with accessory info.

Source: Various