Australian Army Discussions and Updates

[gf0012-aust]

Ill have to look further into it, But quite an interesting idea that makes a lot of sense considering the amount of electronics our forces use these days.

The Australian Army Is Creating Solar-Powered Soldiers | Gizmodo Australia

Integrating solar power into the troops standard kit with the intention to power all the various devices and if I understand correctly possibly in future remove the need for batteries or at least reduce the amount needed.

onboard power for modern soldiers has been an issue that was identified about 8 years ago, so its been a work in progress for nearly all the countries developing future soldier concepts

eg 7 years ago the US tried to bring in common battery packs for all their manportable gear, the french were developing portable fuel cells, australia was working on large ceramic fuel cells and conformal solar panels - so things have come a long way. its also resulted in new constructs - eg software driven comms in areas where prev multiple radio types were needed.

 

[MARKMILES77]

BAE Systems are now calling their offering for the Land 400 CRV ( an upgraded version of the Patria AMV), the "AMV 35". I have heard of the AMV XP but not an AMV 35.

Does the 35 refer to the Gross Vehicle Weight in tonnes, the calibre of the cannon fitted or something else?

 

[Raven22]

BAE Systems are now calling their offering for the Land 400 CRV ( an upgraded version of the Patria AMV), the "AMV 35". I have heard of the AMV XP but not an AMV 35.

Does the 35 refer to the Gross Vehicle Weight in tonnes, the calibre of the cannon fitted or something else?

I think you'll find its an AMV fitted with the 35mm turret off the CV-90.

This would be a very competitive solution because it would link very well with LAND400 Phase III (keeping a common turret if the CV90 was bought).

 

[aussienscale]

I think you'll find its an AMV fitted with the 35mm turret off the CV-90.

This would be a very competitive solution because it would link very well with LAND400 Phase III (keeping a common turret if the CV90 was bought).

Do you think the CV90 is a good chance/front runner for Ph III ? It would certainly fit the bill, and from what I understand would be the pick of the options

Fingers crossed

Cheers

 

[Raven22]

Do you think the CV90 is a good chance/front runner for Ph III ? It would certainly fit the bill, and from what I understand would be the pick of the options

Fingers crossed

Cheers

I don't know about a front runner, but it would certainly be competitive. If the AMV with CV90 turret was chosen it would probably be very competitive - having a single turret across both vehicles would be a massive plus, as would having a single contractor across both in BAE.

The age of the CV90 might start to be a factor by the time the IFV is chosen, however. I sure Army would prefer a vehicle closer to the start of its service life.

 

[Stock]

BAE Systems are now calling their offering for the Land 400 CRV ( an upgraded version of the Patria AMV), the "AMV 35". I have heard of the AMV XP but not an AMV 35.

Does the 35 refer to the Gross Vehicle Weight in tonnes, the calibre of the cannon fitted or something else?

It refers to the 35mm weapon system/turret, and is in keeping with BAE's naming of its fighting vehicle families (i.e CV9030, CV9035 etc).

 

[Volkodav]

As I understand it (which doesn't mean I'm right) the CV9035 is a significantly updated third generation development of the original CV90 and the Armadillo is a further improved, modular development of the CV9035. Such options as hybrid electric drive and active suspension are under development or available on the Armadillo, all very attractive, especially if they can be retrofitted later during upgrades.

The CV90 is still a very attractive option however I note that the UK selected the ASCOD based solution for their Scout vehicle program over the BAE owned CV90 version, whether this was for performance reasons or some other (financial, political etc.) I don't know.

The 35/50 Bushmaster III is a very good option as the 50 part of the 35/50 refers to a straight walled 50mm round that this gun can be converted to fire instead of the 35mm, quite an impressive upgrade option.

I do like the AMV as well, it was offered to the USMC are they still considering it? If the AMV is adopted by the USMC it obviously would be even more attractive to us.

 

[Stock]

As I understand it (which doesn't mean I'm right) the CV9035 is a significantly updated third generation development of the original CV90 and the Armadillo is a further improved, modular development of the CV9035. Such options as hybrid electric drive and active suspension are under development or available on the Armadillo, all very attractive, especially if they can be retrofitted later during upgrades.

The CV90 is still a very attractive option however I note that the UK selected the ASCOD based solution for their Scout vehicle program over the BAE owned CV90 version, whether this was for performance reasons or some other (financial, political etc.) I don't know.

The 35/50 Bushmaster III is a very good option as the 50 part of the 35/50 refers to a straight walled 50mm round that this gun can be converted to fire instead of the 35mm, quite an impressive upgrade option.

I do like the AMV as well, it was offered to the USMC are they still considering it? If the AMV is adopted by the USMC it obviously would be even more attractive to us.

Yes, the CV9035 is one of the more advanced versions. Should know more about what features AMV35 has once bids go in next week (3 Sept).

There was a good deal of political influence in the Scout SV decision and not everyone is happy about the GD vehicle. CV90 and the GD Scout will both be put forward for Ph 3 of Land 400 based on current talk within industry.

The 50mm up-gun option for the Bushmaster III weapon is still largely developmental and has not been taken up by any user of the 35mm. It would be a seriously lethal round though, no doubt.

A mate in SF got to drive an AMV in Finland a couple of years ago and was amazed at how mobile it was. The test track had foot deep mud and it simply powered through apparently.

Patria and Lockheed Martin appear to have parted ways re ACV 1.1. So it is unclear if AMV was actually offered. LMartin may have submitted their own design.

 

[MARKMILES77]

What is happening with Land 121 Phase 4?
I remember Steven Smith, when Defence Minister IN 2011, talking about a decision being soon. I know Hawkei was chosen as the PREFERRED option but is Hawkei officially chosen as the winner or are the other options, JLTV, Eagle IV etc still technically possible even if unlikely?
Were they waiting for the outcome of JLTV before finally deciding?

 

[Stock]

What is happening with Land 121 Phase 4?
I remember Steven Smith, when Defence Minister IN 2011, talking about a decision being soon. I know Hawkei was chosen as the PREFERRED option but is Hawkei officially chosen as the winner or are the other options, JLTV, Eagle IV etc still technically possible even if unlikely?
Were they waiting for the outcome of JLTV before finally deciding?

Hawkei is the implied preferred solution to Ph 4 Land 121. Contract award for LRIP is not far away I believe (within a few months or sooner). LRIP was due to start in 2016.

JLTV was decided this week - Oshkosh got the gig.

 

[bdique]

Yes, the CV9035 is one of the more advanced versions. Should know more about what features AMV35 has once bids go in next week (3 Sept).

There was a good deal of political influence in the Scout SV decision and not everyone is happy about the GD vehicle. CV90 and the GD Scout will both be put forward for Ph 3 of Land 400 based on current talk within industry.

The 50mm up-gun option for the Bushmaster III weapon is still largely developmental and has not been taken up by any user of the 35mm. It would be a seriously lethal round though, no doubt.

The ammo calibre sizes just keep going up. Nothing wrong with that, I guess this is a reflection of advances in passive armour technology. I used to operate on the M242, then later the Mk44...and in just that few years, the Bushmaster III has come to the fore.

 

[Volkodav]

Hawkei is the implied preferred solution to Ph 4 Land 121. Contract award for LRIP is not far away I believe (within a few months or sooner). LRIP was due to start in 2016.

JLTV was decided this week - Oshkosh got the gig.

Saw something about the Oshkosh win and the first thought that crossed my mind was that, at half a million each for the JLTV, the chances of Australia selecting the Hawkei jus increased exponentially.

 

[Stock]

Saw something about the Oshkosh win and the first thought that crossed my mind was that, at half a million each for the JLTV, the chances of Australia selecting the Hawkei jus increased exponentially.

Hawkei will happen, though the expectation is that numbers won't be anywhere near the 1,300 first envisaged. An announcement about LRIP is coming soon I believe.

 

[vonnoobie]

Hawkei will happen, though the expectation is that numbers won't be anywhere near the 1,300 first envisaged. An announcement about LRIP is coming soon I believe.

I would take the number's with a grain of salt. The Bushmaster its self started off with order's lower then originally planned, Now we have ordered almost triple the original number.

Finger's crossed that number's ordered will leave the production line open long enough for future government's to decide if they want to order more.

 

[old faithful]

Passed a small convoy of US Marine Humvs this morning on the way to work, andmi have to say, they looked pretty well used.
Canvas canopies not fully tied down, flapping all over the place, or they were just a bad fit. One broken down at the Howard Springs lights, with another pulled up beside them to help.
The marines outside of the vehicles were pretty hard to see, from a, distance, their cams worked pretty well.

 

[Stock]

Link to latest (September) issue of Defence Technology Review below:

Defence Technology Review : DTR SEP 2015, Page 1

 

[Milne Bay]

Yes, the CV9035 is one of the more advanced versions. Should know more about what features AMV35 has once bids go in next week (3 Sept).

There was a good deal of political influence in the Scout SV decision and not everyone is happy about the GD vehicle. CV90 and the GD Scout will both be put forward for Ph 3 of Land 400 based on current talk within industry.

The 50mm up-gun option for the Bushmaster III weapon is still largely developmental and has not been taken up by any user of the 35mm. It would be a seriously lethal round though, no doubt.

A mate in SF got to drive an AMV in Finland a couple of years ago and was amazed at how mobile it was. The test track had foot deep mud and it simply powered through apparently.

Patria and Lockheed Martin appear to have parted ways re ACV 1.1. So it is unclear if AMV was actually offered. LMartin may have submitted their own design.

Meanwhile over in the land of we can mount bigger weapons than you,
".........Russia’s tracked vehicle manufacturer UralVagonzavod is preparing to unveil a heavy armored wheeled vehicle...............The ATOM 8x8 IFV features an overhead unmanned turret armed with a 57mm automatic gun, which is capable of engaging light armored and soft targets with a firing rate of 300 rounds per minute and an effective firing range of up to six kilometers."

More info at:
Unpeaceful ATOM: Russia Rolls Out Killer Armored Vehicle

 

[Stock]

Meanwhile over in the land of we can mount bigger weapons than you,
".........Russia’s tracked vehicle manufacturer UralVagonzavod is preparing to unveil a heavy armored wheeled vehicle...............The ATOM 8x8 IFV features an overhead unmanned turret armed with a 57mm automatic gun, which is capable of engaging light armored and soft targets with a firing rate of 300 rounds per minute and an effective firing range of up to six kilometers."

More info at:
Unpeaceful ATOM: Russia Rolls Out Killer Armored Vehicle

That's a serious gun alright. 6km range too. Wonder what the number of ready-use rounds at the gun is, and can it be reloaded under armour?

Judging by the muzzle it doesn't look like it uses programmable ammo. Turret appears quite small considering the size of the weapon. Compare that to the 30mm unmanned turret from Kongsberg (going onto Stryker).

Russian industry has developed an entire new range of tracked and wheeled AFVs all at the same time, many of which in a short space of time. Quite an accomplishment.

 

[Ranger25]

That's a serious gun alright. 6km range too. Wonder what the number of ready-use rounds at the gun is, and can it be reloaded under armour?

Judging by the muzzle it doesn't look like it uses programmable ammo. Turret appears quite small considering the size of the weapon. Compare that to the 30mm unmanned turret from Kongsberg (going onto Stryker).

Russian industry has developed an entire new range of tracked and wheeled AFVs all at the same time, many of which in a short space of time. Quite an accomplishment.

Agreed, barrel and muzzle look smallish for actual 57mm as does the turret size.

Between the Armata and all the other vehicles and the state of the Russian economy I think it will be interesting to see if these vehicles actually go into serial production and in what numbers

 

[Stock]

Agreed, barrel and muzzle look smallish for actual 57mm as does the turret size.

Between the Armata and all the other vehicles and the state of the Russian economy I think it will be interesting to see if these vehicles actually go into serial production and in what numbers

Agree. Although looking at the various vehicles up for replacement, many are 1970-1980's vintage so generational change is due.