As Australia's largest defence contractor and one of the biggest manufacturers of armoured vehicles in the world, BAE Systems is a top contender for winning the LAND 400 contract. The company has several existing vehicles which could fulfil the role required, including:
Bradley Fighting Vehicle - used extensively by the US Army in Iraq
Combat Vehicle 90 - used by the Swedish Armed Forces
RG41 - an 8x8 wheeled armoured vehicle used by the South African military
Warrior Fighting Vehicle - also used by the British Army in Iraq
GCV - a next-generation combat vehicle which is being considered by the US Army
While BAE Systems does not have a long history of manufacturing land based-systems in Australia, industry experts has the company tagged as a front-runner.
Another major candidate is US defence giant General Dynamics. Despite having a smaller footprint in Australia compared with BAE Systems, it has already set up operations in the country with the primary aim of providing through life support for the ASLAV armoured vehicle. This suggests a mature capabilities base which could be beneficial for the Land 400 programme. General Dynamics also has what could be considered the strongest line-up of light, wheeled armoured vehicles, which includes:
Stryker - used by US Army in Iraq and Afghanistan
Piranha AV - Australia's existing ASLAV is a derivative of this
ASCOD - tracked vehicle in service with Spain and Austria
LAV High Capacity - In service with New Zealand and Canada
While BAE Systems and General Dynamics have a strong portfolio of armoured vehicles, other challengers include French company Thales and German technology group Rheinmetall. Both companies have been heavily involved in the Australian Army's acquisition of vehicles over recent years. Thales likely has the most extensive armoured vehicle design and manufacturing capabilities in Australia at the moment, given their current work on the army's Land 121 Phase 4 Hawkei programme.
LOL!!! ..."General Dynamics also has what could be considered the strongest line-up of light, wheeled armoured vehicles". Sure, the defective Stryker. BAE clunkers? The King Tiger II weight-class GCV and the oh so nuts Bradley. Win!!!
Other documents don't appear to understand the idea of mobility as it fits to this purpose.
And the region of concern around Australia. All those nice solid roads that are always available. Wait...what?
And about the M-113? Is it going to be "obsolete"? Not really. It is ready for modification: forever.
And let us take a look in Canada:
The museum quality stuff... and as an aside, look at the second logistics vehicle.
Modern...(consider the first 15 seconds of this video. What did he say?)
(Disagree with the external armor the way they do it. There are better solutions for the M-113. That cage armor idea was rejected in Vietnam. Interesting how it is a prime solution for Stryker.)
OK, how about the P.I.? Well, I don't see LAND 400 pulling this off...
One more Vietnam photo...
Modern water options? Interesting. "Amphibious" is mentioned 18 times in one of the LAND 400 docs. Just not in relation to the vehicles own capability. Odd huh? Well let us look at how far you can go. All the way to ARISGATOR if you want to.
Australia is lucky to have the M-113. It is unlucky to have a moribund and dysfunctional entrenched Defence bureaucracy.
How far can a M-113 with practical, mods go today? Let us see (click images to make larger):
More (via reader MHalblaub)
LAND 400 is just an exercise in spending money. A few in the Army want their multi-billion dollar playtime just because RAAF and RAN have their own big spends on dubious projects.
It really is, just that crass.
LAND 400, in its present condition, needs to be canned.
.
No comments:
Post a Comment