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Specialist Engines preferred bidder |
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A MAJOR step forward has been taken in the UK Ministry of Defence's Field Electrical Power Supplies (FEPS) programme with the appointment
of Vickers Specialist Engines as preferred bidder. The FEPS programme is estimated to have a total value of more than £100 million over a 15-20 years period. The is private finance initiative project
involving the design, development, supply, maintenance and finance of a fleet of more than 1300 trailer-mounted field mobile generator sets for the British Army. As preferred bidder, Specialist Engines
will work exclusively with its partners and the MoD towards the signing of a contract early in 2001. Les Lloyd, Battlefield
Infrastructure Team leader within the MoD Defence Procurement |
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Agency, commented: "I am enthusiastic about pursuing this exciting initiative to a successful conclusion and providing
the Service with the first class FEPS capability." The specialist knowledge of Vickers and its partners has ensured that the most
cost-effective and practical solution was offered to the MoD. To support this, commercial off-the-shelf components have been used wherever possible to provide quality, reliability and ease of maintenance
with low through-life costs. Jim Vickerman, Managing Director of Vickers Specialist Engines, said: "FEPS is an excellent product. The UK MoD contract will provide a solid platform from which to launch the
FEPS technology overseas." |
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PLASTIC TANK GOES THROUGH ITS PACES |
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UNVEILED to the media is the revolutionary new Advanced Composite Armoured Vehicle Platform (ACAVP),
developed in partnership between DERA (the Defence Evaluation and research Agency) and Vickers Defence Systems. |
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This is the world's first armoured fighting vehicle with the plastic/glass fibre composite hull, rather that
the traditionally-used aluminium or steel hull. It represents the most revolutionary change in AFV materials since the introduction of
aluminium in the early 1960s. ACAVP, a materials demonstration vehicle programme, was unveiled and demonstrated at DERA Chertsey. The project was funded by the MoD and the team led by DERA included VDS
as a major partner responsible for designing and assembling the vehicle. The vehicle, developed with support from Ciba, Hexcel and Pekrins Engines, has stemmed from a need to maintain and improve the
survivability of light-weight AFV structures. The ACAVP hull is made from E-glass, a plastic/glass fibre composite manufactured by Vosper Thornycroft using Vacuum Infusion Moulding process. The use of
composites in military vehicles is predominantly driven by the material's ability to reduce hull and armour weight efficiency of composite materials and by eliminating the need for a separate composite spall
liner. Weight reduction increases both tactical mobility of the vehicle in terms of vehicle speed and ability to cross rugged terrain, and strategic mobility in terms of being air portable. The use of
composite materials also allows stealth features to |
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The revolutionary Advanced Composite Armoured Vehicle Platform, above, in action at Chertsey, and, left, tackling rough
ground. |
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be built into the vehicles hull, thus reducing its radar signature. Composites have found acceptance in planes, trains and cars, and
increasing interest is being shown in their use for military vehicles. The ACAVP demonstrator is based on a future scout
reconnaissance vehicle with a battle weight of between 18-25 tonnes and highlights the effectiveness of composites for military applications with a ballistic requirement. The composite armour design not only increases ballistic protection against small arms and larger threats, but also reduces behind-the-armour damage inside the
vehicle, leading to increased crew survivability. An additional advantage is the material's damping capacity, which reduces noise both inside and outside the vehicle. This results in lower crew fatigue
and a lower acoustic signature for the vehicle. The composite is also easy to machine, relatively cheap compared to alternatives and offers corrosion resistance when the vehicles are used in wet/salt
water conditions. DERA told media attending the unveiling that by developing the ACAVP demonstrator with Vickers, the MoD has ensured that the British fighting vehicle industry will remain at the
forefront of technology developments, thus maintaining its continued success in producing world class armoured fighting vehicles. ACAVP benefited from the extra-ordinary teamwork of the consortium members
and the gifting of a significant part of the man-hour costs by VDS. The success of the programme has demonstrated both the technological and financial effectiveness of close partnership between DERA and
industry. DERA scientists are confident that further weight savings are achievable based on their continuing research into new materials and design methods. The Vickers team directed by Les Tyler and
led by Mark Dean was Neil Craig, Paul Drake, Dave Scott, John Walton, Dick Constable, Andy Gunn and terry Priestman. |
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