Armoured vehicles remain a "critical priority" for governments, more R&D investment needed


At this year’s International Armoured Vehicles XV conference, held in January at Twickenham Stadium, UK, the leading edge of armoured vehicle integrators and component manufacturers, high ranking military officials and internationally renowned speakers and authorities gathered for the armoured vehicle community’s most engaging and comprehensive event.

Lt. Gen. (ret.) Sir Gary Coward, the UK’s former Chief of Materiel (Land) and Quartermaster General, opened proceedings by noting that investment in defence research and development, particularly in armoured vehicle capabilities within the context of recent developments in Eastern Europe, should remain a critical priority for governments.

Philip Dunne, Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, built on this theme in his keynote address, remarking that, “in an age when we face a kaleidoscope of threats...our armed forces will continually be called upon. The imperative to maintain a battle fleet of vehicles is as complicated as ever.”

Dunne also stated that the “defence supply chain in this country is broader and deeper than that of our key European partners combined,” underscoring the robust armoured vehicle sector in the UK despite recent budget cuts and waning contract orders. He recalled the £3.5 billion contract signed in Septemeber for the Scout SV, which is the largest single order for an armoured vehicle in 30 years, and called its digital capabilities “without doubt a game-changer.”

“The Scout programme is proof if any were needed we (the UK) are retaining our armoured vehicle making capability,” said Dunne.

During his keynote he also exclusively announced a £30 million contract with General Dynamics Land Systems Europe for the maintenance and support of the Mastiff and Ridgeback armoured vehicles.

Lt. Gen. Michael Williamson, Principal Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, DoD, had a similar message stating that, “we in the United States see armoured vehicles as key to future operations.” He confirmed that the AMPV programme remains the “highest priority” for the Pentagon. While underlining the importance of future armoured capabilities, Williamson was keen to stress the importance of affordability and value for money. He mentioned it many times throughout his presentation. He concluded by saying, “I'm going to say it again because it's really important: Affordability matters.”

One of the other armoured vehicle priorities for the Pentagon is the U.S. Army’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV). Col. John Cavedo, JLTV Joint Programme Office Manager, addressed conference to provide an update on the project’s requirements and timeline, saying that “the genius of JLTV is integration.” Cavedo said he expected to receive the three proposals from OEMs - Lockheed Martin, Oshkosh Defense, and AM General - within the next two weeks and that they will down select a sole contractor in July. The Army will acquire 54,599 while the Marine Corps will get 5,500 JLTVs.

During a high level G5 industry panel debate, C-level participants represented some of the prime OEMs in the sector including Nextel Systems, Textron Systems, BAE Systems Hägglunds, Milspray, and Ruag. The panel discussed a range of topics, such as what the current trends are in design and how these will translate in future programmes, the use of hybrid drives and current guidance from Armies and governments on requirements.

Along with high-level political and military keynotes, the conference also invited academic and technical leaders to present their research to better understand what progress is being made in the field and what we can expect in the future. Professor Bryn James, Head of Armour and Protection Science at DSTL, revealed that despite manufacturers and end-users always wanting “unobtainium,” he’s confident that advanced technologies are now being more and more readily available. “We’re no longer asking for the impossible” and that it is "feasible in the next two or three years will see something on electric armour and active protection."

The technologies have been in R&D for many years but could now be nearing operational use. He also stressed the importance of robustness and armour and the need to repair it in-theatre. Morgan Advanced Materials also presented on its recent ballistic advances and IBD Deisenroth Engineering discussed some of its cutting edge research, which included the early-stage development of graphene armour. DSM Dyneema gave a comprehensive outline of its much-admired polyethylene armour and its future plans.

Joseph Gerschutz, Director of Engineering at Milspray Military Technologies gave a fascinating overview of the company’s work on hybrid drive trains and other renewable energy technologies. “In the next five years I expect to see a lot of Army dollars going towards improving environmental issues with drivetrains and overall vehicle performance,” Gerschutz said.

The first day of the conference was drawn to a close by the effortlessly engaging Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe. His presentation was centred around Russia’s “illegal annexation of Crimea” and how it may impact U.S. Army Europe’s contingency plans and equipment requirements in the future. A key priority for Hodges related to the interoperability of communications systems. “The US are never going to do anything by ourselves – we are always going to be part of a coalition, so interoperability of equipment is essential,” said Hodges.

Major General Robert Talbot-Rice, Head of Armoured Vehicle Programmes in the UK, opened day two of the conference, saying that with Scout SV, “the British army is going to be equipped with the most capable medium weight tracked armoured vehicle in the world.” He shared the podium with Kevin Griffin, Scout Programme Manager, General Dynamics UK, who said that the vehicle’s electronic architecture is akin to “magic” and would be “full of ISTAR goodies.”

The French Army’s Brig. Gen. Charles Beaudouin, Director Technical Section, gave a fascinating update on the country’s armoured vehicle projects and recapped on previous acquisitions. He said the “choice of the wheel [with the purchase of Nexter Systems’ VBCI vehicle] has immediately paid off … each drove 2700 km in just 7 days during deployment in Mali. Each VBCI travelled about 8000 km during the conflict.”

The conference heard from esteemed guests from around the world including: Lt. Col. Piotr Kosinski, Senior Specialist Land Forces Inspectorate, Polish Armed Forces General Command; the Peruvian Army’s Brig. Gen. Harold Lucho Avendano, Evaluator Technical Committee (CETO); Col. German Schell O'Kuinghttons of the Chilean Army; Maj. Gen. Payenda Mohammad Nazim, Inspector General, Afghan MoD and Bri.g Gen. Enam Nazar, Commander of the Armoured Mobile Strike Force, Afghan National Army.

Lt. Gen. Coward summarised the themes of the conference as “balance, partnership and affordability, affordability, and affordability. This was particularly noted against the backdrop of “a cooler Eastern Europe” and the critical need for partner nations to maintain robust and effective armoured vehicle capabilities.

The next conference in the armoured vehicle event portfolio is the Armoured Vehicles Asia conference, taking place in Jakarta, Indonesia (28-29 April 2015). To find out more download the agenda below.

Defenseiq