Internationale pantservoertuigen APC IFV ontwikkelingen

[Harald]

Ajax Update

The Minister for Defence Procurement
(Jeremy Quin)

As part of my commitment to keep Parliament informed on the programme, I wish to provide a further update on the Ajax equipment project being delivered as part of the armoured cavalry programme.

Programmatic issues

Work continues on the noise and vibration issues.

The independent Millbrook trials have now concluded. The initial findings informed the consideration by the safety panel on the next step of conducting user validation trials.

The aim of the user validation trials is to help establish the effectiveness of the modifications to address the noise and vibration problems and thereby deliver a safe system of work under which we could conduct reliability growth trials on the modified vehicles.

Following agreement by the safety panel, user validation trials by Army personnel resumed at the Armoured Trials Development Unit on 12 May, supported by the independent Millbrook trials team. Data was successfully collected during the trials for analysis. In particular, as a result of the trials, an issue has been raised on the effectiveness of the internal communications system which requires additional analysis.

The safety panel have set cautious parameters within which the user validation trials are to be conducted. This included the temporary use of Crewgard headsets to allow the modifications proposed by General Dynamics to be trialled. Hearing checks were conducted on all personnel before and after the trials took place. These checks identified hearing anomalies in some personnel (including personnel not involved in the trials who were part of the "control" sample). We intent to resume trials once these anomalies are understood.

User trials are required to allow Millbrook to continue to gather additional data to provide an independent assessment on the effectiveness of the modifications proposed by General Dynamics. We will then analyse the data, alongside feedback from the Army crews involved. This analysis will help define a safe system of work for the reliability growth trials on the modified vehicles.

These reliability growth trials are planned to commence later this year. As with any armoured vehicle procurement, the aim of the reliability growth trials is to test the vehicle more thoroughly over an extended period. This will identify any issues beyond noise and vibration that need to be addressed before we can be confident that the vehicle meets the Army's contractual requirements. Identifying and resolving a range of such issues is a normal part of the acquisition process for all military equipment.

Once we are satisfied that there are long-term solutions to the noise and vibration problems, we will need to agree with General Dynamics a realistic schedule to initial operating capability and full operating capability. Toggle showing location ofColumn 46WSWe will not accept a vehicle that is not fit for purpose and we are continuing to take all steps necessary to secure our contractual and commercial rights under the contract with General Dynamics.

Update on personnel

It remains the case that of the 310 people identified as working with Ajax, 13 individuals have had long-term restrictions on noise exposure recommended, potentially requiring a limitation in their military duties. The majority of these had pre-existing hearing issues prior to working on Ajax; some did not. A further five individuals remain under specialist outpatient care for hearing and other ear, nose and throat issues. In addition, it remains the case that four individuals who worked on Ajax have been discharged on health grounds, in some cases for reasons wholly unrelated to hearing loss.

Assessments continue for both hand-transmitted and whole-body vibration. To date, fewer than five individuals have been identified with conditions which could be aggravated by vibration; these individuals have been recommended for a limitation in their military duties whilst they undergo further investigation and treatment. It is not possible to determine clinically whether Ajax exposure has caused or aggravated the clinical conditions of any of these individuals. I am withholding a more precise breakdown because, given the small number of service personnel involved, individuals could be identified resulting in a potential breach in medical confidentiality.

The Sheldon review

Following parliamentary clearance of the associated contingent liability, I am pleased to announce that we have now formally appointed Clive Sheldon QC. The review will have full access to all relevant MOD papers and personnel. I encourage all those who wish to provide evidence or other input to the review to contact the independent review team at Ajax-Review@mod.gov.uk. Copies of the terms of reference of the review are available in the Library of the House. I will update Parliament in due course on the likely duration of the review once Mr Sheldon has had the opportunity to consider the issue in detail.

Conclusion

The focus for the MOD and General Dynamics remains on developing and delivering long-term solutions for noise and vibration and vehicles that comply with General Dynamics contractual obligations. We want Ajax to succeed and to deliver what the British Army requires. We have a robust firm price contract for the delivery of 589 vehicles at a cost of £5.5 billion. We will not accept a vehicle that is not fit for purpose.

[HCWS42]

https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2022-05-19/debates/22051932000009/AjaxUpdate?highlight=ajax#contribution-DACF290D-F252-4373-BB9D-DD532BD88345

[Harald]

VJTF Puma having its RCT30 turret fitted at KMW's factory in Munich. Note additional front and side armour. Not quite MBT-levels of protection, but much more survivable than your average IFV. This and Leopard 2A7 are an ideal combination for the Bundeswehr.

https://twitter.com/nicholadrummond/status/1527696842288414722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1527696842288414722%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=

[Harald]

Bundeswehr gaat toch alle Marders vervangen, maar niet allemaal door de Puma, ook gedeeltelijk vervangen door de Boxer 30mm. Waarschijnlijk 139 Boxers met 30mm kanon de rest Puma's.

Heer will Marder durch Pumas und Maschinenkanonenboxer ersetzen

https://soldat-und-technik.de/2022/05/streitkraefte/31618/heer-maschinenkanonenboxer/

Das deutsche Heer plant offenbar, die bestehende Flotte der Schützenpanzer Marder durch eine Kombination von Schützenpanzern des Typs Puma sowie Radschützenpanzern auf Basis des geschützten Radpanzers Boxers zu ersetzen, wie aus aktuellen Medienberichten hervorgeht, in denen Generalleutnant Alfons Mais, der Inspekteur des Heeres, zitiert wird. Offenbar sehen es die Pläne des Heeres vor, im zweiten Los nur noch 100 Schützenpanzer Puma zu beschaffen. Dafür müsste dann aber wohl der derzeitig in Beratung befindliche Entwurf für den Verteidigungshaushalt 2022 geändert werden. Dieser sieht nämlich Haushaltmittel in Höhe von 3,96 Milliarden Euro vor, mit denen 229 neue Pumas beschafft werden sollten, S&T berichtete.

Sollte es bei einem Bedarf von 229 Gefechtsfahrzeugen bleiben, mit denen die nunmehr mehr als 50 Jahre alten Marder ersetzt werden sollen, bestünde ein Bedarf von mindestens 129 Radschützenpanzern. Vermutlich sogar mehr, da auch die Ausbildungseinrichtungen des Heeres einige Versionen des Fahrzeuges bekommen müssten.

Die Überlegungen des Heeres sind nicht neu, bereits zum Ende letzten Jahres sind erste Hinweise öffentlich geworden, in denen Überlegungen geäußert wurden, dass der Marder teilweise durch Radschützenpanzer abgelöst werden könnte, um damit die sogenannten Mittleren Kräfte des Heeres auszustatten.

Aus den Äußerungen von Mais geht aber nicht hervor, mit welchen Missionsmodul diese Boxer ausgestattet werden sollen. Aus dem Begriff Radschützenpanzer lässt sich lediglich ableiten, dass die Fahrzeuge – im Gegensatz zum Schweren Waffenträger Infanterie – über eine Absitzstärke verfügen werden. Theoretisch kommen zwei Missionsmodule in Betracht, die beide Vor- und Nachteile für das Heer im Allgemeinen und die Panzergrenadiertruppe im Speziellen hätten.

Denkbar wären sowohl eine Version des Radschützenpanzers mit einem bemannten Lance-2.0-Turm von Rheinmetall – so wie er für den Schweren Waffenträger Infanterie vorgesehen ist – sowie die Version mit dem unbemannten Puma-Turm von Krauss-Maffei Wegmann. Beide Turmvarianten sind mit einer aus dem Schützenpanzer Puma bekannten MK30-2-Waffenanlage im Kaliber 30 mm x 173 ausgerüstet.

Die Nutzung des unbemannten Puma-Turmes böte vermutlich Vorteile in der Logistik und Ausbildung. Da die Grenadiertruppe diese Turmvariante bereits nutzt, existiert eine komplette Trainings- und Ausbildungslandschaft sowohl für die Besatzungen, als auch für das Instandsetzungspersonal. Der Personalaustausch in der Truppengattung könnte so deutlich einfacher erfolgen. Taktische Vorteile wären ebenfalls vorhanden. Da der Feuerkampf oftmals aus teilgedeckten Stellungen erfolgt, wo nur der Turm aus der Stellung herausragt, bietet ein unbemannter Turm mehr Schutz für die Besatzung.

Die Nutzung des bemannten Lance-2.0-Turmes böte aber auch logistische Vorteile, da nur eine Version eines Maschinenkanonenboxers in die Bundeswehr eingeführt werden müsste. Qualifizierungsprozesse etc. müssten so nur einmal durchgeführt werden.

[Kornet43]

Bundeswehr gaat toch alle Marders vervangen, maar niet allemaal door de Puma, ook gedeeltelijk vervangen door de Boxer 30mm. Waarschijnlijk 139 Boxers met 30mm kanon de rest Puma's.

[Ace1]

[Harald]

Tenzij we 13 over zetten naar kf41 

Dan is het (denk ik) nog beter om de 13 van CV90-120 te voorzien.

[Parera]

Dacht ik al. Niet interessant voor ons, de CV90120 is nog logischer gezien onze painf. Slim van RM, zo snoepen ze wat van de markt die KMW nu niet bedienen kan.

Tenzij we 13 over zetten naar kf41 

[Huzaar1]

Dacht ik al. Niet interessant voor ons, de CV90120 is nog logischer gezien onze painf. Slim van RM, zo snoepen ze wat van de markt die KMW nu niet bedienen kan.

[Harald]

Rheinmetall presents a new creature in the wild

Een nieuw voertuig in de planning, wordt onthuld op Eurosatory (13-17 Juni) in Parijs.

Het zou toch een gigantische stunt zijn als ze met een nieuwe MBT op de proppen komen

https://i.imgur.com/7fKcSLN.png

Een nieuwe Leopard versie met de toren ala de FK41 Lynx 120mm

[Harald]

German Lynx KF41 IFV could also integrate loitering munition as anti-tank weapon

According to a picture published on the Twitter account "PortalMilitarny.pl" on May 13, 2022, the loitering ammunition could be integrated into a combat armored vehicles as a new anti-tank weapon. A picture was released on the Internet showing the integration of HERO loitering munitions on the turret of the Rheinmetall Lynx KF41 tracked armored IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle).


Artist rendering of German Rheinmetall Lynx KF41 armed with HERO loitering munition. (Picture source Twitter account PortalMilitarny.pl)

The Lynx KF41 is a new generation of a tracked armored vehicle developed and designed by the German Company Rheinmetall. The vehicle is one of the contenders for the Australian Defence Force's Land 400 Phase 3 program. It will replace the Australian Army's M113AS4 armored personnel carriers.

The first foreign customer for the Lynx KF41 is Hungary. On 17 August 2020, the government of Hungary and Rheinmetall Group signed a contract to start manufacturing the Lynx infantry fighting vehicle family in Hungary. Hungary has ordered 218 vehicles and the first vehicles will be built in Germany while 172 Lynx will be built in Hungary.

Other countries have also shown interest in acquiring the Lynx KF41 including Greece, the Czech Republic, Iraq, Slovakia, and the United States.

The Lynx KF41 is fitted with a Lance 2.0 turret which is offered in manned and unmanned variants. The main armament of the turret consists of one gas-operated MK30-2/ABM automatic cannon which can fire single rounds as well as bursts at a rate of 200 rounds a minute. It has high combat effectiveness against ground and aerial targets with a maximum firing range of 3,000 m. The second armament of the Lynx includes one 7.62mm coaxial machine gun.

The turret of the Lynx is modular and can be fitted with other weapon systems including anti-tank guided missiles such as the Israeli-made Spike LR missiles. The turret can be fitted with a variety of other subsystems according to mission requirements, including an electronic warfare capability, passive armor, Active Protection System (APS), and non-line-of-sight strike loitering munitions.

In January 2022, German company Rheinmetall announced the signature of a strategic partnership agreement with UVision on the Israeli company's Hero loitering munition aimed in the medium term at establishing a joint venture for the development and production of the munition. Citing information from the Israeli company Uvision, the loitering munition HERO can be easily integrated on Lynx or Fuch armored vehicles.

The latest information released by the Ukrainian armed forces showed that the loitering munitions could be very efficient weapons against tanks and armored vehicles. The HERO series of loitering munitions is an innovative electro-optical guided system capable of locating, tracking, and striking static and moving targets. The loitering munition could be the next generation of anti-tank weapons.

The Israeli company UVision has developed a wide range of loitering munition including the HERO-120 which was specially designed to conduct anti-tank missions. It carries a 4.5 kg warhead and can endure an extended flight time of 60 minutes. The loitering munition incorporates unique flight qualities, advanced airborne guidance and navigation systems, precision attack munitions, and C4 stations fully integrated with communication links. The sensors enable the military to independently locate and attack time-sensitive targets.

The HERO loitering munition is designed to carry out strikes in urban areas or remote locations with minimal collateral damage. The munition can reach a target at a maximum range of 40 km using LOS (Line Of Sight) guidance. The LOS is the line directly between the launcher and the target, which must be in view. If the target is moving the missile is constantly maneuvered to be in the line of sight as it changes, this results in the missile flying a curved path toward the target.

https://www.armyrecognition.com/weapons_defence_industry_military_technology_uk/german_lynx_kf41_ifv_could_also_integrate_loitering_munition_as_anti-tank_weapon.html

[Harald]

Als het een MBT is voel ik wel iets voor de naam Tiger 

+1
Goede epische naam en past in de lijn van naamgeving.

In de jaren 70 en 80 hadden ze goede namen voor hun projecten i.m.o. ben benieuwd waar ze mee komen maar vernoed de lynx 120mm.

Dat denk ik ook, een verder ontwikkelde versie compleet met extra verzwaarde ad on bepantsering, APS, e.d.
Maar het wordt nooit een MBT.

Maar misschien juist een versie voor de Amerikanen, alles op basis van de KF41/Lynx

[Parera]

In de jaren 70 en 80 hadden ze goede namen voor hun projecten i.m.o. ben benieuwd waar ze mee komen maar vernoed de lynx 120mm.

Als het een MBT is voel ik wel iets voor de naam Tiger 

[Huzaar1]

In de jaren 70 en 80 hadden ze goede namen voor hun projecten i.m.o. ben benieuwd waar ze mee komen maar vernoed de lynx 120mm.

[Umbert]

Lynx 120mm?

Zou goed kunnen zag gisteren op youtube een aankondiging van de lynx 120mm op Eurosatory je zag onder een blauw afdekkleed een voertuig op de stand van Rheinmetall. Wilde het hier posten maar zag dat er al het een en ander over dit voertuig hier op het forum staat en dus besloten om het niet te doen, want je zag in feite weinig, behalve dat er schijnbaar ook een doorontwikkeling van de CV90-120 is, vond de koepel wel mooi dacht zo van past toch ook op BOXER. Andere mogelijkheid is een SPAAG op basis van een IFV

[Ace1]

Lynx 120mm?

Een Lynx versie waarin een 120mm mortier van Rheinmetall is geïntegreerd?