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Oshkosh Defense will supply the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) with aditional 108 Logistics Vehicle System Replacement (LVSR) MKR-18 10×10 logistic cargo vehicles and 120 enhanced protection kits for the cabin following an order from the Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC). The protection kits are to be delivered by Israel based company Plasan Sasa Ltd.

Production of the vehicles worth $49,439 Million is scheduled to begin in August 2011 and be completed in April 2012.

The package contracted includes various components including alternators, power distribution boxes, pioneer tool brakes, weapons mount kits with upgrades, turret gunner restraint systems and shipping services.

LVSR features an on-road payload capacity of 22.5 Tonnes and an off-road payload capacity of 16.5 Tonnes.

The cargo configuration of LVSR has a gross vehicle weight of 48081 Kg, a maximum speed of 105 Km/h and a cruising range of 483 Km. The vehicle is powered by a Caterpillar C15 engine with 600 HP which is coupled to a automatic gearbox from Allison Transmission and equiped with TAK-4 independent suspension and HIAB Multilift MK-18A1 load handling system.

(Oshkosh Defense).

Oto Melara SpA has won an order worth around EUR40 Million from the Polish company Zakłady Mechaniczne “Bumar-Łabędy” SA (part of Poland´s Grupa BUMAR sp. z o.o.) to supply a further 53 kits for the local production of HITFIST 30P manned weapon stations.

The weapon stations are to be installed on the infantry fighting configuration of Polish Army Patria Land & Armament Oy XC-360 AMV (Armoured Modular Vehicle) based ROSOMAK KTO (Kołowy Transporter Opancerzony) 8×8 armoured vehicles being locally produced by Wojskowe Zakłady Mechaniczne SA.

2300 Kg HITFIST weapon system procured by Poland is armed with a ATK BUSHMASTER MK44 30mm, a ZM Tarnow UKM-2000C 7.62mm light machine gun, six 81mm grenade launchers and equipped with a Kollsman Inc DNRS-288 day/night sight, Galileo Galileo SpA TILDE FC thermal imager, Przemysłowe Centrum Optyki SA SSP-1 OBRA-3 laser warning system, WB Electronics SA FONET digital intercom system, Pimco Sp. z.o.o. CHERDES NBC agents detection system and Przemysłowe Centrum Optyki SA POD-72 Radomka passive surveillance system.

This new order brings the number of HITFIST 30P turrets built under license in Poland to 365.

The turrets have provisions for the installation of two Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd SPIKE LR anti-tank guided-missile launchers.

Poland has procured in April 2003 a total of 690 Rosomak KTO vehicles in various variants. Polish vehicles are powered by a Scania D1 12 56A03 PE engine which is coupled to a ZF Friedrichshafen AG 7HP 902S Ecomat transmission.

Some vehicles deployed to Afghanistan received new systems including 01dB-Metravib PILARw gunshot detection system and QinetiQ North America RPGNet slat armour.

RPGNet system has been installed on the 10 French Army Nexter Systems VBCI (Véhicule Blindé de Combat d’Infanterie) VCI wheeled infantry fighting vehicles in service in Afganistan.

HITFIST is available in a remotely controled configuration called HITFIST OWS.

(Janusz Walczak).(Janusz Walczak).(Janusz Walczak).

According the international tender launched on October 5, the Russian federation has selected a French design to equip it navy with a fleet of command and amphibious assault vessels.

The French presidency has publicly released on Friday 24 that Russian head of state Dmitry Medvedev has selected the French Mistral design which has been proposed by a consortium formed by French companies DCNS and STX France and the Russian shipbuilder JSC “United Shipbuilding Corporation”.

This deal yet to be firmed is the first major military hardware procurement by Russia to a NATO country.

A first batch of two vessels will be built by the consortium and a second pair is as well being considered.

MISTRAL has been selected over vessels from Spanish Navantia SA and Dutch DSNS (Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding) shipbuilding companies.

The modularity of the vessel type allow him to perform a wide array of roles including forward presence, force projection, logistic support, humanitarian aid, medical support, disaster relief and command ship functions. The propulsion is customizable by the operator.

The French Navy (Marine Nationale) operates two Mistral Class 21,239 Tonnes and is 199,75 Meters long vessels (L9013 FS “Mistral” and L9014 FS “Tonnerre”) which are designed BPC (Bâtiment de Projection et de Commandement). A third BPC boat (L9015 FS “Dixmude”) is being built by STX France and is to be delivered to its customer in mid 2012.

The vessels in service are equipped with the SENIT 9 (Système d’Exploitation Navale des Informations Tactiques) combat management system , Thales Nederland MRR3D NG long range multi-role surveillance radar, two DRBN-38A (Sperry Marine Northrop Grumman BridgeMaster E 250) navigation radars, Thales Alenia Space SYRACUSE III satellite communications system, Thales Communications FICS (Fully Integrated Communication System) communications suite, Thales Airborne Systems ARBR 21 (DR 3000S) radar warning receiver and Elite electronic support measure system.

Armament consist of two MBDA SIMBAD twin MISTRAL short range surface to air missiles weapon stations, three 30mm guns mounts and four 12,7mm heavy machine guns mounts.

DCNS propose as well a smaller configuration which is called Mistral 140. This variant has a weight of 14000 Tonnes, a size of 169 Meters and a range of up to 6000 nm.

(DCNS).

(DCNS).(DCNS).

The Italian Army (Esercito Italiano) procurement agency TERRARM (Direzione Generale degli Armamenti Terrestri) has placed an order with Iveco Defence Vehicles SpA for a batch of twelve TRAKKER tactical truck chassis based medium protected vehicles in the ambulance configuration. The vehicle called VTMM ambulance is a variant of the new 18 Tonnes VTMM (Veicolo Tattico Medio Multiruolo) 4×4 higly protected vehicle developed in collaboration with German company Krauss Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co KG. The fleet is to be delivered between 2011 and 2012.

The vehicle is equipped with two stretchers which allow an easy loadeding and will transport a crew of four people including the driver, commander, medical officer and the nurse. This variant includes a complete NBC protection system solution.

VTMM is called GFF4 (Geschutzte Fuhrungs und Funktionsfahrzeug Class 4) by its German manufacturer and is only available in a 6×6 configuration. The vehicle includes an advanced composite IED protection package from IBD Deisenroth Engineering.

VTMM can be declined in several other versions including advanced combat recce team, explosive ordnance devices disposal, electronic warfare, command post, communications and logistic.

(Iveco DV SpA).

(Iveco DV SpA).

(Krauss Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co KG.).

(Krauss Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co KG.).

The French Procurement agency DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement) certified and accepted delivery of the first Exocet MM40 Block 3 naval surface to surface missiles procured to under a contract placed in December of 2008.

An initial batch of 45 missiles is to be delivered to the French Navy (Marine Nationale) until mid 2013 to arm the two Horizon frigates (D620 FS “Forbin” and D621 FS “Chevalier Paul”) and later the 11 Aquitaine Class FREMM (FRégate Européenne Multi-Missions) multi-mission frigates ordered to the local shipbuilder DCNS.

(MBDA).

(MBDA).(MBDA).

The German Army (Bundeswehr) has officially received its first MULTI A4 FSA 8×8 protected military transport vehicle from German company Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles GmbH. Capable of carrying a 16 Tonnes payload, the high-performance MULTI A4 FSA vehicle which is based on the MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG SX45 chassis is suited to a wide variety of logistic transport roles including the supply and support of troops operating in remote outposts.

By the end of 2010, the Bundeswehr will have around 40 of these vehicles in its inventory, with a further 60 to follow. Another 57 vehicles are to be delivered until 2012.

The MULTI A4 FSA fleet is to be operated by German tr ps in service in the Afghanistan theatre. The vehicle MULTI FSA (Mechanisierte Umschlag, Lagerung, Transport-Integration), (FahrzeugSchutzAusstattung) protected vehicle is fitted with a protected cabin developed by German Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co KG.

(Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles GmbH).

(Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles GmbH).

The Portuguese Navy (Marinha Portuguesa) has officially taken delivery of its second and last Tridente Class U209PN submarines on December 22 during a ceremony held in Kiel, Germany.

S161 NRP “Arpão” will join S160 NRP “Tridente” already in service with the 5º Esquadrilha de Submarinos flotilla. The fleet has been contracted by the Portuguese Ministry of Defence procurement agency DGAIED (Direcção-Geral de Armamento e Infra-Estruturas de Defesa) in 2004 to German Thyssen Krupp Marine Systems AG (TKMS) in order to replace the Barracuda Class which is a French Daphné design.

(TKMS).

(TKMS)(TKMS)

On December 20, General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) has firmed a contract with the German procurement organization BWB (Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung) for the delivery of 195 protected EAGLE IV wheeled vehicles.

The fleet contracted under a €125 Million amount is to be jointly manufactured by GDELS-Mowag GmbH and GDELS-Germany GmbH and also with the participation of numerous German subcontractors. This order increases the German EAGLE 4×4 vehicles fleet to a total of 473 units which are available in different variants.

At IDEX 2011 event to be held in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) from February 20 to 24, GDELS will present the latest member of the PIRANHA family of armoured wheeled vehicles, the PIRANHA Class 5, and the DONAR self-propelled artillery system. Also on display will be the light tactical vehicle EAGLE IV fitted with a remotely controlled weapon station.

(Dynamics European Land Systems).

(Dynamics European Land Systems).

(Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG).

Under contract of Swedish Ministry of Defence procurement administration FMV (Försvarets MaterielVerk), German company IBD Deisenroth Engineering has completed the development of a further improved protection package dedicated to the Swedish Army Stridsvagn 122 battle tanks. This modified vehicle has been designed MBT122B.

Stridsvagn 122 is in fact a Leopard 2A5 vehicle procured to German manufacturer Krauss Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG and modified to meet Swedish specific requirements.

This version has been renamed Leopard 2S. Sweden has procured a total of 120 Leopard 2S vehicles.

The protection concept developed by the company which is called Evolution is thereby designed to protect against the actual and future threats in theatre, especially in asymmetric and urban warfare.

The protection system based on the AMAP (Advanced Modular Armour Protection) modular protection system includes different types of protection to be applied to different areas of the vehicle in order to defeat specific threats. Modular, lightweight slat armour was installed as an amendment of the existing protection concept.

Sweden plan to conduct a mid life upgrade of its Stridsvagn 122 fleet including the integration of a remotely controlled weapon station, a 360º protection system, an active protection system, a night vision system, a battle management system and communication systems.

AMAP protection system has been fitted on Leopard 2A4 battle tanks procured by Singapore. The system form part of the Leopard 2A4 based MBT Revolution demonstrator developed by Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH.

(IBD Deisenroth Engineering).

(Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH).

(Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH).

The Portuguese Navy (Marinha Portuguesa) will receive two brand new vessels during December. According Portuguese MoD declarations to PoADU, the second and last U209PN submarine procured to German shipbuilder TKMS AG (Thyssen Krupp Marine Systems AG) NRP Arpão is to be oficially received tomorrow December 22 during a ceremony to be held in Kiel, Germany.

The first NPO (Navio de Patrulha Oceânica) 1600 Tonnes ocean patrol vessel NRP Viana do Castelo is to be officialy received on December 30. The vessel has been build by the local shipbuilder Estaleiros Navais de Viana do Castelo SA (ENVC).

NRP Viana do Castelo is to be fitted by mid 2011 with its Oto Melara SpA MARLIN WS naval remotely controlled weapon station.