Less than 11 months after the U.K. Scout/Specialist Vehicle (SV) Demonstration Phase contract was signed, the industry team led by General Dynamics [GD] UK has demonstrated progress on the program, the company said.
General Dynamics UK is the overall prime contractor on the Scout SV Delivery Team. Lockheed Martin [LMT] UK is the Turret System Design Authority. The team includes Rheinmetall Landsysteme and CTAI, working with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Delivery Team at DE&S Abbey Wood
The Team has conducted live-fire tests of the new Cased Telescoped (CT40) cannon system integrated in the very first Scout SV Turret, five months ahead of schedule. The key maturity milestone was achieved with the firing of the integrated CT40 main weapon system May 18 at the Rheinmetal Landsysteme facility in Germany as part of the SV program.
The Turret system will now be delivered to Lockheed Martin UK in June 2011 for further system integration and testing at Ampthill, Bedfordshire.
U.K. Ministry of Defence Scout SV Team Leader Roddy Malone said “This was a very impressive event so soon after contract award. It is of value not only to the U.K. MoD but also to the French Government as the CTAI Cannon is being jointly qualified for both nations. The efforts of all involved have been magnificent.”
Steve Rowbotham, vice president of GD UK, said, “the SV will not only deliver innovation to the British Army in Scout and its other variants, it will also deliver the best protection, technology and fightability ever seen in a vehicle of this type.”
The Scout reconnaissance vehicle will be a key variant in the British Army’s operational SV fleet when it goes into service. It will serve alongside other SV variants including Protected Mobility, Repair and Recovery vehicles, all designed upon on the common-base platform being developed by General Dynamics UK.
The innovation of a 1.7 meter turret ring means that the Scout turret is designed to maximize space for the soldiers inside, thereby optimizing its fighting ability, the company said. This gives soldiers considerable room for modern display screens, comfort for long periods inside the turret and ease of movement, even wearing full body armor. With the need for military electronics ever-expanding on operations, the open electronic architecture allows significant growth for upgrade.
British troops using the Scout SV will have the best protection available in this vehicle class, both as it is delivered and as it grows to meet future threats. The vehicle will be immediately capable of delivering load-carrying growth potential of up to 42 tons with its modern, proven drivetrain, which will not need to upgrade the engine or transmission during its 30 year lifespan.
Rheinmetall Landsysteme designs, develops and manufactures the Scout SV Turret Structure for Lockheed Martin UK. After manufacture and provision of three turrets under the current Demonstration phase contract, Lockheed Martin UK will deliver these to General Dynamics UK for Integration and Test onto the base vehicle for Scout. Subject to further MoD approvals, Lockheed Martin UK is expected to conduct assembly, integration and test of the production turrets.