Husky deployed in Helmand. Credit Optimal Armour.


Protecting our assets - Vehicles


How best does one protect a vehicle and its occupants or goods on the battlefield?


Probably the most high profile vehicle in recent years, the Snatch Landrover was decommissioned from front line activity because of its susceptibility to IED’s and also higher level ballistic attack. And yet, the Snatch is upgradable to take higher ballistic threats and withstand higher charge IED’s without compromising the capability of the vehicle. Firstly, many vehicles currently in service today have not been designed specifically for that role and there aren’t that many non military environments where the suitability of the vehicle for that environment will have a life threatening outcome. All military front line vehicles should, today, be designed for that purpose from the ground up. I believe the new buzz phrase is fitted for, but not necessarily with,


38 G3 DEFENCE


armour. I believe that if asked, servicemen would rather have fitted with. If the vehicle is designed to withstand the weight of the armour without compromising performance, why would we even consider not having the armour fitted? If the performance of the vehicle is compromised by fitting armour, I would suggest that the vehicle is not capable of doing its job.


I have been contesting for years the approach that vehicles be armoured using the least expensive materials available. Sure the cost of the vehicle is lower than if armoured using some more exotic lighter weight materials, but T.C.O (Total Cost of Ownership) is actually usually higher due to having to stiffen chassis, changing


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