ST Kinetics Proposed Terrex 3 for British Army's MIV
15 September 2016



The ST Kinetics Terrex 3 was displayed for the first time at DVD 2016. It is one of the likely runners for the British Army's MIV 8x8 requirement. (photo : Jane's)

Bidders line up for British Army's MIV 8x8 requirement

Contenders for the British Army's Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV) requirement were out in force at Defence Vehicle Dynamics (DVD) 2016 at Millbrook Proving Ground on 7 and 8 September.

MIV will be an 8x8 procured off-the-shelf and fitted with a minimum number of UK sourced sub-systems such as remote weapon station, communications, battle management system and seating. According to David Russell, MIV Team Leader "MIV is now in the concept phase" and with "the team building up rapidly".

Potential contenders that showed up at DVD 2016 were the Finnish Patria Armoured Modular Vehicle (AMV) and the latest AMV XP variant, the French Nexter Systems VBCI, Singapore Technologies Kinetics Terrex 3, the ARTEC Boxer, and from General Dynamics (GD) the Piranha 5 and General Dynamics Land Systems LAV. GD could also be in a position to offer the Stryker double-V-hull (SDVH), the LAV 6.0 or the LAV 700 depending on the UK requirements.

Finnish Patria Armoured Modular Vehicle (AMV) and the latest AMV XP varian

French Nexter Systems VBCI

ARTEC Boxer


MIV is a 'Category A' programme and the acquisition strategy is now being firmed up.

While no numbers are available it is expected that between 300 and 350 MIV would be required with a potential initial operating capability of 2023. The vehicles will in part equip two battalions from within the new 'Strike Brigades' that the army is to form, these brigades will also include the Ajax tracked reconnaissance vehicle.

In addition to the baseline protected mobility (PM) variant of MIV (MIV-PM), other versions including a command and control (MIV-CC), ambulance (MIV-A), repair (MIV-REP) and recovery (MIV-REC) are also planned.

The baseline MIV is planned to be fitted with a Kongsberg Protector RWS armed with a 12.7 mm (.50 cal) machine gun although there is potential version with a heavier armament.

Indonesian Army Leopard 2RI MBT live firing test. Credit to owl_hoot.

Africa Aerospace and Defense airshow

L-15 ATF  (not after burn engine version), got rocket ammo 

what happen to sg militarynuts?

Should remove Milnuts military website as already close shop.

If the Su-34 is to turn into a genuine close air support aircraft, it will have to be able to confidently enter into the range of portable surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft guns and enemy small arms fire, the analyst noted. "For this reason, the Su-34 will need armor plates to protect the flight deck, engines, fuel tanks and flight control systems. The dome cabin and its front window must also be armored."

The plates of this armor, according to Vasilescu, will require the use of 15-30 mm titanium, nylon-coated to stop explosive fragmentation. The aircraft will need to be capable of withstanding armor-piercing projectiles and explosives between 23 and 57 mm.

Meanwhile, the analyst noted, the Su-34 already has advanced electronic countermeasures against MANPADS and short-range radar-guided missiles. This system consists of the L-150 Pastel radar warning system, APP-50 decoy flare launchers and the KNIRTI SPS-171/L005S electronic countermeasure system, the latter mounted on the plane's topside.

In addition, the aircraft has a multi-target, passive electronically scanned array forward radar, enabling it to 'hunt' for enemy aircraft and equipment at a range of between 200-250 km. The plane is also equipped with rearward-facing radar, and can be equipped with the M402 Pika side-looking radar. In addition, its L175V/KS418, Digital RF Memory-equipped jamming system allows it to be used as a battlefield jammer.

Vasilescu emphasized that when it comes to aircraft armor design and testing, "that's not so difficult for the Russians, given the successful experience with the Su-25's armor. The Su-25 has a length of 15.5 m, a 14.3 m wingspan and a height of 4.8 m, while the Su-34 is 23.3 m long, 14.7 m wide and has a height of 6.1 m."

Accordingly, the "Su-34's armor will weigh between 800 and 1,000 kg, as opposed to that of the Su-25, which weighs 500 kg. The process will be completed in 2018, when the first group of 12 Su-34s will become operational for ground attack missions."

Among the other benefits of an armored Su-34 is its capability to climb and cruise at heights between 8,000 and 12,000 m, allowing the pilot to familiarize himself with the tactical situation on the ground with the help of onboard sensors before swooping down for attack.

"The selection and continuous monitoring of selected targets is done using airborne radar and the Platan electro-optical targeting system, mounted on the fuselage. It is equipped with a laser target market which measures the distance to the target using laser telemetry."

The armored Su-34 is expected to carry out attacks on ground targets from heights between 1,000 to 3,000 meters, using small 50kg bombs, air-ground anti-tank missiles, S-5 rockets, as well as rounds from the onboard GSH-30-1 30 mm cannon.

All four crewmen were injured when their Vietnam-era Huey helicopter crash-landed at a special forces base in Narathiwat province on Friday morning as it arrived to pick up two senior officers for an inspection flight.

The UH-1H is from the army's helicopter division in Lop Buri. It crash-landed at the Narathiwat special unit base in Muang Narathiwat district about 8.30am.

Officials said the hydraulic system broke down and the helicopter spiralled rapidly to the ground, where it exploded and caught fire.

The blaze was quickly extinguished. The four crew all escaped with minor injuries.