qualified under funding from the French and UK MoD and will also be installed in the Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme (WCSP) which has now been delayed, or possibly deferred. The 40 mm CTAS will be laid onto the target by the commander or gunner using a roof mounted stabilised day/thermal sight incorporating an eye safe laser rangefinder. Gun control system will be all electric with manual back up. FRES Scout will also have a dedicated day/night sensor suite and a full range of General Dynamics Bowman UK digital communications equipment. Standard equipment will include an electronic architecture to allow for easier upgrades in the future, Health and Usage Monitoring System (HUMS), NBC system and air conditioning system which will allow for worldwide deployment. According to General Dynamics UK, the CBP has been designed to have a maximum combat weight of 42 tonnes, although FRES - Scout is expected to come in below this figure at about 34 tonnes. This will allow the vehicle to have plenty of stretch potential to allow it to be upgraded in
In a punishing test of its suspension FRES-SV takes to the air during trials of this versatile new fighting vehicle. Image courtesy of General Dynamics.
the future as the threat evolves, as well as meeting some of the longer term FRES-SV requirements such as direct fire.
The CBP will have a hull and turret of all welded steel with the modular applique armour package providing additional protection. It will be powered by an MTU V8 199 diesel developing 600 kW coupled to the latest Renk 256B fully automatic transmission that has already been tested in a vehicle rated at 45 tonnes. According to General Dynamics UK, 80 percent of the FRES-SV full rate production will be based in the UK that will secure or create over 10,600 jobs for British workers. These new jobs will be secured or created over the duration of the FRES-SV programme in South Wales where General Dynamics UK is based, the North West, East and West Midlands and the East and South of England. Recce Block 1 is expected to be followed by Recce Block 2 comprising about 140 vehicles in three variants, Joint Fire Control, Engineer Reconnaissance and Command and Control (C2), which will replace the currently deployed Spartan APC and
Sultan (command post) members of the CVR(T). There are a further six roles in Recce Block 2 including flatbed with remotely delivered area denial system, over watch (long range anti-tank guided missile), ground based surveillance, command, medical unit aid post and ambulance. Medium armour element of FRES-SV covers just under 200 units and comprises three roles with two variants and these are direct fire armed with a 120 mm smooth bore gun and two repair and recovery vehicles.
Last element of FRES-SV covers the manoeuvre support role that includes an armoured engineer tractor, Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineer and an armoured vehicle launched bridge (AVLB).
While the CBP could well be used for some of these roles, the first two could well be met by the BAE Systems’ Global Combat Systems Terrier manoeuvre support vehicle which is now entering production.
Christopher F Foss, Defence Journalist
16
G3 DEFENCE
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64