Australian Army Discussions and Updates

[CJR]

Per fate of the Leopard tanks, referring tohansard for 26 October 2009:

• 26 set aside to be expended as targets
• 30 offered to veterans' organizations for display
• 14 to military museums for display
• 27 retained for display on defence sites
• 3 retained for use in recovery training
• 3 retained for use in other training.

Level of demilling varied but was up to "... all fluids drained, power pack removed, main gun rendered innocuous and classified items removed...".

 

[seaspear]

Army's New Lightweight Body Armor Plates Could Feature 'Shooter's Cut'
What is the Australian army standard on its ballistic vests in regards to back face indicator tests ? The above article suggests the U.S army is increasing the amount of penetration allowed .
Some years ago I was involved in getting information for work purposes of ballistic protection and found that that international police forces used different standards e.g. the U.K and German police forces required much less penetration of the ballistic vest (backface indicator test) than the U.S department of justice 44 mill (U.K and Germany under 30 mill) the European forces believed the risk of injury was greater .with the U.S standard
The police force in Victoria being provided with the new uniform vests at the time because of the large amount spent on back related workcover claims, these vests were also ballistic to the level 2 but the association were not told what a backface indicator test was and told other information was commercially confident
Ive seen xrays of someone wearing a ballistic vest shot in the back ,it looked like a sledgehammer taken to the spine

 

[buffy9]

Defence Technology Review : DTR MAR 2019, Page 1

Was just reading the lateat DTR issue and read Hanwha is planning to offer the "Next Generation Australian Armoured Assault Vehicle," or NGAAAV.

Reading into it it is stated to have 21 dismounts plus 3 crew. Includes a two man T2000 turret. I'm wondering if that is a spelling error for 12, because 21 dismounts seems ludicrous for an AAV.

It also mentions the Lynx PAV, stated to have 10 dismounts and depicted with a RWS. Decent commonality with Lynx IFV with a combat weight of ~26t.

Both non-amphib vehicles by Hanwha and Rheinmetall have apparently been integrated with the NEMO 120mm mortar.

I'm betting now that Hanwha and Rheinmetall will be the two main competitors in Phase 3.

 

[FormerDirtDart]

Defence Technology Review : DTR MAR 2019, Page 1

...

Reading into it it is stated to have 21 dismounts plus 3 crew. Includes a two man T2000 turret. I'm wondering if that is a spelling error for 12, because 21 dismounts seems ludicrous for an AAV.

....

The AAVP7 currently operated by the USMC has a 3-man crew, and supports 21 dismounts (with some sources claiming up to 25).
Perhaps you might consider doing a smidgen of research prior to determining the ludicrousness of concepts.
Hanwha (previously Samsung Techwin) has been building the "KAAV7A1" for some time. I'll go out on a limb and suggest the "NGAAAV" will be new builds to include something along the line of the cancelled survivability upgrades SAIC had developed for the USMCs AAVs

 

[MARKMILES77]

Taken up from the RAAF thread,



I suspect its going to be some years before a SOF light helicopter will be in service, irrespective of that outcome Taipan will have to go in the role as the new helicopter may not always be available on short notice tasking. So it is wise to prepare/practice using the Taipan.

In regards to modifying I think at one stage the were talking about making additional windows for the guns or something similar I havnt heard anymore since there was to be a joint study by FR/AU

Found this image on the New Zealand Airforce Twitter account.
Shows how a gun could be mounted in the existing side door.
Probably not optimum for SOF u se.

 

[Cadredave]

Found this image on the New Zealand Airforce Twitter account.
Shows how a gun could be mounted in the existing side door.
Probably not optimum for SOF uView attachment 46486 se.

Not optimum for SOF or Infantry bloody thing gets in the way, yes there are work around when infil or exfil but it goes to show the difference between US & Euro thinking when it comes to the requirements of a tactical helo

 

[t68]

Having never been in a Taipan/NH-90 but I have flown in a Blackhawk i vaguely remember the room inside one.

But looking at the picture of the RNZAF NH-90 it has window to the rest of the cabin, what’s behind the window seating/ramp?
What’s stopping the gun being mounted there?

 

[ADMk2]

Found this image on the New Zealand Airforce Twitter account.
Shows how a gun could be mounted in the existing side door.
Probably not optimum for SOF use.

5 Aviation Regt are trialling M134 Dillon mini-guns in that spot on our MRH-90's...

 

[ADMk2]

Having never been in a Taipan/NH-90 but I have flown in a Blackhawk i vaguely remember the room inside one.

But looking at the picture of the RNZAF NH-90 it has window to the rest of the cabin, what’s behind the window seating/ramp?
What’s stopping the gun being mounted there?

Internal space and layout preferences.

 

[aussienscale]

Good little clip about Hawkei at IDEX 2019, gives a few more details of the vehicle that I had not heard of, and thought some may be interested in watching.

Approx 70 vehicles delivered to date, with the factory heading toward full rate production later in the year.

Fitted with an inline starter generator delivering 35kw of power, using an IPS (Integrated Power System) delivering 17kw for onboard and 13kw off board to power external systems not associated with the vehicle, full management systems so crew can manage and shut down non critical systems.

Also fitted with Lifepo4 batteries, to allow silent ops without the need to recharge the vehicle batteries etc

Liking this vehicle more and more, i know the ANAO have been having a dig at the program, but that is what they do. Has anyone heard how they are performing so far ? both in Aus and the couple we sent to Iraq ?

Cheers

 

[Raven22]

Good little clip about Hawkei at IDEX 2019, gives a few more details of the vehicle that I had not heard of, and thought some may be interested in watching.

Approx 70 vehicles delivered to date, with the factory heading toward full rate production later in the year.

Fitted with an inline starter generator delivering 35kw of power, using an IPS (Integrated Power System) delivering 17kw for onboard and 13kw off board to power external systems not associated with the vehicle, full management systems so crew can manage and shut down non critical systems.

Also fitted with Lifepo4 batteries, to allow silent ops without the need to recharge the vehicle batteries etc

Liking this vehicle more and more, i know the ANAO have been having a dig at the program, but that is what they do. Has anyone heard how they are performing so far ? both in Aus and the couple we sent to Iraq ?

Cheers

Well they’ve stopped manufacturing them until they sort out the serviceability issues, so not all is rosy.

 

[t68]

Well they’ve stopped manufacturing them until they sort out the serviceability issues, so not all is rosy.

must be a bit of a problem since the called the halt last nov/dec

 

[ADMk2]

must be a bit of a problem since the called the halt last nov/dec

You could say that. They engine manufacturer they chose for the vehicle is going into receivership and it appears, may not be able to provide the engine for it. If so, the thing may well have to be re-engineered to fit a new suitable engine / transmission combo.

Which is why production has been halted..

 

[t68]

You could say that. They engine manufacturer they chose for the vehicle is going into receivership and it appears, may not be able to provide the engine for it. If so, the thing may well have to be re-engineered to fit a new suitable engine / transmission combo.

Which is why production has been halted..

Ah thanks for the info, Styer engines wonder if they are affiliated with the rifles, if they are dosnt sound like a little company falling over

 

[Raven22]

Which is why production has been halted..

No it’s not. Production was halted due to issues with reliability. Once the issues have been resolved, every single vehicle that has already been built will have to be refitted with the fixes. Production was halted until the issues were solved, so they could be built with the fixes already installed, rather than having to be refitted later.

 

[StingrayOZ]

Oh wow, I learnt a lot about Steyr motors. So the engine company was spun off from the massive Magna Steyr (building the supra and z4 and many other things) and was part of Steyr-Daimler-Puch, then sold to Chinese owners and it is now apparently going broke/insolvent in Austria. Looks terminal.

Sanierungsverfahren eröffnet: ''Steyr Motors'' insolvent: Zahlreiche Kaufinteressenten

But there is an Australian arm, I imagine to just support the Hawkie contract.
There is talk of Mowag - Wikipedia buying the company. Mowag don't seem that interested. Maybe get a local production licence of this engine.

 

[SteveR]

Oh wow, I learnt a lot about Steyr motors. So the engine company was spun off from the massive Magna Steyr (building the supra and z4 and many other things) and was part of Steyr-Daimler-Puch, then sold to Chinese owners and it is now apparently going broke/insolvent in Austria. Looks terminal.

.

Reminds me of the Collins class Hedemora diesels foisted on Australia by Kockums which then switched to MTU for their subsequent A19 Swedish class. Hedemora then stopped developing diesels but at least supplied parts.

 

[BigM60]

Oh wow, I learnt a lot about Steyr motors. So the engine company was spun off from the massive Magna Steyr (building the supra and z4 and many other things) and was part of Steyr-Daimler-Puch, then sold to Chinese owners and it is now apparently going broke/insolvent in Austria. Looks terminal.

Sanierungsverfahren eröffnet: ''Steyr Motors'' insolvent: Zahlreiche Kaufinteressenten

But there is an Australian arm, I imagine to just support the Hawkie contract.
There is talk of Mowag - Wikipedia buying the company. Mowag don't seem that interested. Maybe get a local production licence of this engine.

Oh wow, I learnt a lot about Steyr motors. So the engine company was spun off from the massive Magna Steyr (building the supra and z4 and many other things) and was part of Steyr-Daimler-Puch, then sold to Chinese owners and it is now apparently going broke/insolvent in Austria. Looks terminal.

Sanierungsverfahren eröffnet: ''Steyr Motors'' insolvent: Zahlreiche Kaufinteressenten

But there is an Australian arm, I imagine to just support the Hawkie contract.
There is talk of Mowag - Wikipedia buying the company. Mowag don't seem that interested. Maybe get a local production licence of this engine.

Mowag have a large contract to re-manufacture the Swiss Duro fleet including a re-engine with the Steyr. Foxhound has the Steyr. With the existing fleet and the potential of the Australian order, hard to believe that someone won't stump up the 50c in the dollar for the company. I am backing Mowag or GDELS.

 

[Volkodav]

Mowag have a large contract to re-manufacture the Swiss Duro fleet including a re-engine with the Steyr. Foxhound has the Steyr. With the existing fleet and the potential of the Australian order, hard to believe that someone won't stump up the 50c in the dollar for the company. I am backing Mowag or GDELS.

I believe quite a few adf RHIBs have, or had Steyr diesels. Latest ones have Yanma I believe.

 

[aussienscale]

I believe quite a few adf RHIBs have, or had Steyr diesels. Latest ones have Yanma I believe.

IIRC, yep correct, you can also add to the list of military customers AM General, BAE Hägglunds, BAE Systems (OMC), Carosserie HESS, ESW/Jenoptik, Force Protection, Gibbs Techn. Inc., Iturry, KMW, Mastervolt, Marmon Herrington, Millenworks, Panhard, Patria, Ricardo, RLS, SHAC, TAC V, Thales, URO, Viseon and Volt Ampere to name a few from their website.

You would think they have some legs in them

Cheers