So what is the capability that we want? I would have thought surely, support capability for our new artillery system would be paramount importance to us no matter which gun ends up being selected,
I dare say I would be much happier with introduction of a gun system that is ready integrated with proven support system rather than attempting to mix and match at a later date as an after thought. A usual contributor to the budget blowouts in the past.
We don't have K-10 support vehicles in-service now. Are you saying RRAA therefore cannot support it's current guns?
Germany and the Netherlands don't use the K-10 re-supply vehicle for their PZH-2000 guns either. Are they incapable of supporting their guns?
This is what we would have to buy in ADDITION to the actual K-9 vehicle itself under your plan:
http://sig.megapass.net/club/home1/archives/ALBUM/920_photo.gif
She's a fair behemoth innit? However what she provides is a total of 104 rounds that can be "automatically" supplied to the K-9 which has an on-board storage capacity of 40 rounds.
The PZh-2000 has an on-board storage capacity of 60 rounds and has this "manual" system for reloading the vehicle:
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w151/MARKMILES77/Avalon Airshow 2007/IMGP1216.jpg
Depending on the physical strength of your gunners, loading 60 rounds shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes...
The K-9/K-10 is going to cost a fortune in support costs compared to the PZH-2000 and I doubt the combination will be cheaper up front than individual PZH-2000's either.
Here are the requirements:
You Are Invited To Submit A Tender For The Acquisition And Support of A Protected Self Propelled 155MM Weapon Platform Capability (Also Referred To As The Self Propelled Howitzer Or SPH Capability) Under The LAND 17 Project.
LAND 17, Artillery Replacement Project, Seeks To Enhance The Indirect Fire Support Capability of The Australian Defence Force (ADF). The SPH Capability Will Be One Component of The Enhanced Indirect Fire System (IFS).
The LAND 17 Project Seeks To Provide Army With An Offensive Support System That Can Out-Range Or At The Very Least Match The Capability of Similar Systems Within The Geographical Region. The Delivery Platform Will Be Capable of Manoeuvre Commensurate With That of The Supported Forces And Shall Be Capable of Communicating On The Digital Battlefield. The Project Seeks To Improve Command And Control (C2) Aspects of The Current IFS By Digitising And Enhancing The ADF’s Joint Fires C2 Network. The Project’s Objective Is To Also Meet The Various Integrated Logistic Support (ILS) Requirements Including Training Support, Facilities And All Aspects of Through Life Support.
The Commonwealth Intends Entering Into Separate Contracts For The Acquisition And Support of The SPH Capability, To Meet The Following Requirements:
(1) Supply of SPH Capability (Quantity 18, Quantity 24 Or Quantity 30 Systems) To Achieve An In-Service Date of June 2011, With An Option For The Commonwealth To Purchase Up To 6 Additional Systems Within 5 Years Following Final Acceptance Under The Contract (Acquisition); And
(2) Provision of An Initial 7 Years Support of The SPH Capability Under A Performance Management Regime, With Options For Additional Periods of Support For The Life of The Equipment.
Both Contracts Will Be Entered Into In Response To A Single Tender, Hence The Commonwealth Will Only Consider Tenders That Address Both The Acquisition And Support Requirements Specified In The RFT. The Commonwealth Intends Entering Into Each Contract At The Same Time.
The Commonwealth May Enter Into A Contract With A Single Legal Entity For Both Contracts Or Separate Legal Entities For Each Contract Where The Requirements Specified In Clause 4.10 of The Conditions of Tender Are Met.
I also have the operational Concept documents and the functional performance requirements. When you can PM (after 50 posts) PM me and I will send them to you via email.
Suffice to say for the time being that there is no requirement stating, "SPH MUST come with an armoured re-supply vehicle".
Regards
AD