British soldiers in Afghanistan will be receiving better protection against mines, increased operational mobility, and higher payload when the Warthog All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) enter service.
ST Kinetics, the land systems arm of ST Engineering, this week unveiled the Warthog, an agile, versatile and armored ‘beast of a vehicle’ that will be delivered on schedule to the U.K. Ministry of Defence (UK MoD) from the end of the year, the company said.
In response to an Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR), the U.K. MoD bought more than 100 vehicles worth more than $240 million.
The MoD identified survivability and payload capacity as key operational requirements in the UOR program.
Anticipating a demanding timeline, ST Kinetics had of its own accord, procured production materials and components ahead of the Warthog contract award.
To ascertain the vehicle’s performance in extreme heat and dust conditions, the company had put a 19-ton Warthog test-bed vehicle through desert trials in U.A.E. this summer.
A highly agile vehicle that can maneuver across difficult terrain, roll across trenches, tackle vertical obstacles, power-up steep gradients and even cling to slopes, Warthog is based on ST Kinetics’ Bronco All Terrain Tracked Carrier (ATTC).
The Bronco ATTC is a robust, reliable and proven articulated platform in operation since 2001.
The Warthog will come in four variants, Troop Carrier, Ambulance, Command, and Repair & Recovery.
Vehicle deliveries will commence at the end of 2009, with the majority to be delivered in 2010.
Twelve U.K. armed forces trainers have already begun operation and maintenance training in Singapore to allow them to start bringing the vehicles into service shortly after delivery.