September 2012 Newsletter

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The UK government’s plans for reshaping the British Army as outlined in Future Force 2020 will be one of the main themes at DSEI 2013. While announcing a size reduction to the British Army, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond stressed the need for the Army to be sustainable, capable and adaptable.

DSEI 2013 will feature a dedicated on-floor seminar programme that will develop these land themes. It will feature the latest key developments and requirements being envisaged for the future soldier 2020 concept, positioning DSEI at the forefront of land systems capability. Additionally there will be an active demonstration programme of light tactical vehicles together with the return of the hugely successful vehicle display area, giving visitors to DSEI a chance to compare the very latest military vehicle technology.

The land vehicles component of DSEI 2013 has already increased significantly in size in comparison to 2011, reinforcing the strength of the land systems element within the event. All the major land primes have already confirmed their attendance at DSEI including: General Dynamics, BAE Systems, Rheinmetall, Land Rover, Jankel, Streit Group, Patria, JCB, Navistar Defence, Supacat, Nexter, Iveco, Daimler and ST Engineering.

A dedicated conference devoted to both national and international military and security issues, as well as those relating to the UK’s Future Force 2020, will also form part of the DSEI programme.

DSEI is continuing its international promotional campaign by attending the Africa Aerospace and Defence event held between 19-21 September at the Waterkloof airbase in Centurion, South Africa.

The team will use the event to discuss potential opportunities for DSEI exhibitors and visitors with representatives of delegations and pavilions from around the world. International attendees at DSEI 2011 included organised groups from Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Rim. Visitor figures were up by 13% to 28,440 attendees from 121 countries. There were 75 official defence delegations consisting of 274 individual delegation members.

DSEI is dedicated to ensuring that the global land, sea and air defence community, as well as those involved in security, can take advantage of the event to discuss joint operational requirements with their peers from other militaries and with senior representatives of industry.

Following its participation at AAD in South Africa and at AUVSI in Las Vegas in August, the DSEI team will attend the US Army annual gathering at AUSA in Washington DC, USA, in October. The team will also be at Euronaval in Paris (22^nd - 26^th October), IDEX in Abu Dhabi, UAE during February 2013 and ending with IDEF in Turkey in May 2013.

The DSEI team will be supporting SSAFA Forces Help next month by taking part in the Association’s annual ‘Big Brew Up’. During the week-long event participants are encouraged to hold sponsored tea parties, cake sales and drinks receptions to raise valuable funds for this vital cause.

SSAFA Forces Help provides financial, practical and emotional assistance to 50,000 people every year. This includes supporting personnel currently active in the British Armed Forces and their families, as well as those that have retired from service.

The ‘Big Brew Up’ is held nationwide 1-7 October.

For more information on how to get involved visit the dedicated SSAFA website.

BAE Driving Improvements to USMC’s AAV and MCP Vehicle Fleets

The future of the US Marine Corps’ (USMC) amphibious vehicle fleet is to be at the centre of a $250,000 trade study awarded to BAE Systems. The study will evaluate improvements to the USMC’s Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV). A $3.5 million contract to deliver Marine Personnel Carrier (MPC) sample vehicles and hulls for demonstrations of water mobility, blast protection and human factors engineering is also part of the package awarded to BAE Systems.

‘It is our goal to design a family of systems that incorporates low-risk, mature technologies that are scalable to align with emerging requirements and funding,’ said Ann Hoholick, Vice President and General Manager of Amphibious & New Programs for BAE Systems.

Through the AAV trade study, BAE Systems will propose improvements for the survivability and force protection of the vehicle while maintaining its current land and water mobility characteristics. It will identify if an affordable development and production unit cost can be realised by September 2017 using a production schedule that fields 43 upgraded vehicles..

The AAV work will be performed primarily at BAE Systems’ Santa Clara, California and Stafford, Virginia facilities. Additional work may be done through York, Pennsylvania; Fridley, Minnesota and Sterling Heights, Michigan. BAE Systems will submit its conclusions by December 2012. After completion of the trade study and design phase, it is expected that a Request for Proposal for full AAV upgrade development will follow.

Early HUMS help British Army vehicles keep in tune

The first fully qualified vehicle Systems Information Exploitation / Health and Usage Monitoring System (SIE/HUMS) ‘box’ has been delivered to the British Army by General Dynamics four months after the contract was signed.

The SIE/HUMS technology will monitor the onboard-systems within each of the army’s fleet of training vehicles, providing data downloads to fleet managers. This automotive health check system should help to identify repair requirements in advance and assist with logistics ordering and supply, cutting maintenance costs and turnaround time, thereby increasing availability.

The equipment has been manufactured and tested to stringent MOD standards by General Dynamics UK, which developed the SIE/HUMS boxes in partnership with South Wales based small and medium enterprise (SME), Analogue and Micro Ltd.

In early August, Peter Luff, then Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology (MinDEST), said: ‘This technology will help keep more of our vehicles on the road and available for training. These companies show exactly what can be achieved when prime contractors and small and medium-sized companies work closely together to meet a common goal.’

Integration of the equipment in Mastiff, Ridgeback, Husky, Jackal, Coyote and Wolfhound vehicles will be completed in the next two years.

Customised computer tablets chosen by Eurocopter for flight test aircraft

The flexibility of Argon Corporation, a Georgia based SME, has helped it to secure a contract with Eurocopter Germany. The company will supply Eurocopter Donauwört with ruggedized 8.4” computing tablets for installation onboard both military and civil helicopters taking part in flight tests.

Argon was able to offer a customised and tailored version of its AT84 product which will interface with the helicopter’s systems to provide flight information analysis during flight tests.

Benefits of the system include sunlight readability and high level computing performance in a compact housing. Thermal management of tablet which is completely enclosed was an important factor in the Eurocopter’s decision.

NIJ Confirms Body Armour Standard Compliance on Two MKU Products

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the research, development and evaluation agency of the U.S. Department of Justice, has provided Indian ballistic protection and surveillance equipment manufacturer MKU with the first notifications of compliance to the new NIJ-0101.06 standard for two of its body armour packages.

According to Manish Khandelwal, business head (Personal Protection) at MKU: ‘NIJ Standard-0101.06 is one of the most stringent, demanding and comprehensive personal body armour standards ever initiated and mandated by the NIJ.’

NIJ-06 compliant vests must protect the user against amplified velocities of ammunition and extreme conditions, superseding previous standards. The NIJ offers three prime reasons for the revision of the ballistic protection standards: to improve performance so that all officers receive adequate protection; to provide adequate protection against threats that are likely to be faced over the next decade; and to provide assurance that the armour will provide protection through the life of its warranty.

Registration for DSEI will open early in 2013. To be kept up to date, please register your interest.