From JDW:
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has shortlisted only three vehicles to take part in the 'Trials of Truth' leading to the selection of the Utility Vehicle (UV) element of the British Army's Future Rapid Effect System (FRES).
The chosen contenders are the French Nexter Systems VBCI (Vehicule Blinde de Combat d'Infanterie), the General Dynamics/Mowag Piranha Evolution and the German/Netherlands ARTEC Boxer. BAE Systems' Integrated Demonstrator, Patria Vehicles' Armoured Modular Vehicle and the Iveco Defence Vehicle Division VCI were eliminated. The selection was based on the assessment of pre-qualification questionnaires submitted by each bidder.
The UV 8 x 8 trials, to be undertaken at the Armoured Trials and Development Unit at Bovington from July to September, are part of the assessment phase and will allow the MoD to evaluate the maturity of the chassis. The VBCI has recently entered production for the French Army with first deliveries scheduled for next year, while Boxer will start production in 2008 and enter service with the German Army in 2009.
Following these 'Trials of Truth' one or more of the vehicle designs will go forward for a more detailed assessment to meet the FRES UV requirement, with over 2,000 vehicles expected to be procured.
In a statement issued by the MoD, Lord Drayson, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, said: "My highest priority is to ensure that our forces have the equipment they need to achieve success on operations. ... FRES has a vital part to play in the future of the British Army. I signalled my commitment to the FRES programme last year and this announcement provides tangible evidence of progress. The selection of these designs for inclusion in the UV trials is a part of the competitive acquisition strategy developed to ensure that we deliver the best solution for the army."
BAE Systems Land Systems probably invested over GBP10 million (USD20 million) in its new 8 x 8 vehicle, but confirmed to Jane's that it has held talks with all three successful vehicle providers with regard to future work on the programme.
According to General Dynamics UK, the Piranha Evolution will demonstrate the potential of the Piranha to meet the FRES threshold requirements while having adequate stretch potential to meet emerging requirements. The design is a stepping stone to the Piranha V, which is expected to be rolled out next year.
In addition, Boeing/Thales and Lockheed Martin UK/Ultra Electronics have both announced that they have teamed to bid for the system of systems integrator (SOSI) role for FRES.
Expressions of interest in the SOSI contract were returned to the then Defence Procurement Agency earlier this year with an invitation to tender (ITT) expected to be issued at the end of May to be returned by the end of July. However, as of mid- June the ITT had not been issued; it is now expected to be issued in July.
Boeing (teamed with SAIC) is the lead systems integrator for the US Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS). It has already established facilities in Bristol and Farnborough that are part of Boeing Defence UK.
Thales has extensive experience in a number of UK projects and has already been awarded a number of FRES Technology Demonstrator Programme (TDP) contracts, including Electronic Architecture and Integrated Survivability.
In recent years Lockheed Martin has made major investments in the UK and has also been awarded FRES TDP contracts for Electronic Architecture and Electric Armour. Lockheed Martin teamed with Ultra Electronics, Smiths Aerospace, Scisys, PA Consulting and Cranfield University to form Team ISIS for the recently completed FRES Electronic Architecture contract.
Other contractors, including BAE Systems and General Dynamics, are expected to bid for the SOSI role as well as some other key parts of the FRES programme and additional consortiums could well be announced in the near future.
SOSI selection will be concurrent with the selection of a vehicle integrator and manufacturer for FRES UV 8 x 8, for which the 'Trials of Truth' are a key part.
All of these decisions are to be made by the end of November.
As well as FRES UV, other variants include Reconnaissance, Fires and Manoeuvre Support versions as well as a family of simpler 'Basic Capability Utility' vehicles.
The next FRES version to enter service is expected to be the reconnaissance vehicle, which is urgently needed to replace the ageing Scimitar tracked vehicle armed with an unstabilised 30 mm Rarden cannon.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has shortlisted only three vehicles to take part in the 'Trials of Truth' leading to the selection of the Utility Vehicle (UV) element of the British Army's Future Rapid Effect System (FRES).
The chosen contenders are the French Nexter Systems VBCI (Vehicule Blinde de Combat d'Infanterie), the General Dynamics/Mowag Piranha Evolution and the German/Netherlands ARTEC Boxer. BAE Systems' Integrated Demonstrator, Patria Vehicles' Armoured Modular Vehicle and the Iveco Defence Vehicle Division VCI were eliminated. The selection was based on the assessment of pre-qualification questionnaires submitted by each bidder.
The UV 8 x 8 trials, to be undertaken at the Armoured Trials and Development Unit at Bovington from July to September, are part of the assessment phase and will allow the MoD to evaluate the maturity of the chassis. The VBCI has recently entered production for the French Army with first deliveries scheduled for next year, while Boxer will start production in 2008 and enter service with the German Army in 2009.
Following these 'Trials of Truth' one or more of the vehicle designs will go forward for a more detailed assessment to meet the FRES UV requirement, with over 2,000 vehicles expected to be procured.
In a statement issued by the MoD, Lord Drayson, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, said: "My highest priority is to ensure that our forces have the equipment they need to achieve success on operations. ... FRES has a vital part to play in the future of the British Army. I signalled my commitment to the FRES programme last year and this announcement provides tangible evidence of progress. The selection of these designs for inclusion in the UV trials is a part of the competitive acquisition strategy developed to ensure that we deliver the best solution for the army."
BAE Systems Land Systems probably invested over GBP10 million (USD20 million) in its new 8 x 8 vehicle, but confirmed to Jane's that it has held talks with all three successful vehicle providers with regard to future work on the programme.
According to General Dynamics UK, the Piranha Evolution will demonstrate the potential of the Piranha to meet the FRES threshold requirements while having adequate stretch potential to meet emerging requirements. The design is a stepping stone to the Piranha V, which is expected to be rolled out next year.
In addition, Boeing/Thales and Lockheed Martin UK/Ultra Electronics have both announced that they have teamed to bid for the system of systems integrator (SOSI) role for FRES.
Expressions of interest in the SOSI contract were returned to the then Defence Procurement Agency earlier this year with an invitation to tender (ITT) expected to be issued at the end of May to be returned by the end of July. However, as of mid- June the ITT had not been issued; it is now expected to be issued in July.
Boeing (teamed with SAIC) is the lead systems integrator for the US Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS). It has already established facilities in Bristol and Farnborough that are part of Boeing Defence UK.
Thales has extensive experience in a number of UK projects and has already been awarded a number of FRES Technology Demonstrator Programme (TDP) contracts, including Electronic Architecture and Integrated Survivability.
In recent years Lockheed Martin has made major investments in the UK and has also been awarded FRES TDP contracts for Electronic Architecture and Electric Armour. Lockheed Martin teamed with Ultra Electronics, Smiths Aerospace, Scisys, PA Consulting and Cranfield University to form Team ISIS for the recently completed FRES Electronic Architecture contract.
Other contractors, including BAE Systems and General Dynamics, are expected to bid for the SOSI role as well as some other key parts of the FRES programme and additional consortiums could well be announced in the near future.
SOSI selection will be concurrent with the selection of a vehicle integrator and manufacturer for FRES UV 8 x 8, for which the 'Trials of Truth' are a key part.
All of these decisions are to be made by the end of November.
As well as FRES UV, other variants include Reconnaissance, Fires and Manoeuvre Support versions as well as a family of simpler 'Basic Capability Utility' vehicles.
The next FRES version to enter service is expected to be the reconnaissance vehicle, which is urgently needed to replace the ageing Scimitar tracked vehicle armed with an unstabilised 30 mm Rarden cannon.
