Land Warfare 2007: Land Warfare Conference 2006 Roundup | ADM Feb 07

1 February 2007

By Gregor Ferguson

The Land Warfare Conference in Brisbane last October was distinguished, among other things, by the scale of the attendant trade show.

This isn't really surprising: the conference attracts a quality audience of uniformed and civilian Defence and Army officials and companies are jockeying to secure a share of what has become an unprecedented level of peace-time expenditure on land force capabilities.

The major land force projects attracting companies to LWC 06 are, of course, Overlander; Land 17, the Army's artillery replacement program; and Land 400.

Some of the contenders for Project Overlander revealed elements of their bids during LWC 06.

Overlander, or Project Land 121, aims to acquire up to 8,000 Light/Lightweight and Medium/Heavy trucks to replace the Army's existing Landrover Perentie 4x4 and 6x6 vehicles, Mercedes-Benz Unimog 4-tonne trucks and assorted heavy haulers.

Under Phase 3a it seeks to acquire up to 948 Light/Lightweight vehicles and 527 Medium/Heavy vehicles between 2009 and 2011; Phase 3b will see the acquisition of the remaining vehicles.

ADM presents some of the highlights.

PzH2000 to star at Avalon
The German contender for Project Land 17, Krauss-Maffei Wegmann's PzH2000NL self-propelled 155mm gun, will be on display at the LANDEF component of the Australian International Air Show next month at Avalon.

The gun, and its three-man crew, have been detached for four weeks from a three-gun Dutch artillery Troop operating alongside Australian forces in southern Afghanistan.

A number of German Army instructors are also expected to accompany the gun which will carry out a series of demonstrations at Puckapunyal after the show.

The PzH2000NL made its combat debut in Afghanistan in September last year.

Developed originally for the German Army, which has ordered 185 guns, it has been ordered also by Greece (24), The Netherlands (57) and Italy (70).

However, following a review of its requirements, The Netherlands has offered Australia a number of its guns under Project Land 17; these are very new weapons and the price is understood to be very competitive.

The gun has a 52-calibre ordnance with a range of up to 30km using standard NATO 155mm ammunition and over 40km using new natures such as rocket-assisted projectiles.

It has an auto-loader to enable operations by the three-man crew from within the turret as well as reloading the gun form outside the vehicle.

Its chassis is based on the Leopard 2 main battle tank with a 735kW diesel engine affording similar tactical mobility to a tank.

The PzH2000NL also has an on-board ballistics computer, a muzzle velocity management system as well as a GPS-based inertial navigation system designed to determine positional and survey data, making the gun a completely autonomous weapons system.

Fire orders need only consist of the target coordinates and quantity and type of ammunition to be fired, the company says.

Mercedes-Benz goes for the jackpot
Mercedes Benz (more accurately Daimler Chrysler) has submitted bids for both the Light/Lightweight and Medium/Heavy elements of Overlander.

It believes it is the only contender to be able to offer a complete vehicle solution from a single source, and claims to have the best truck and bus dealer network in the world, having sold some 230,000 trucks to 80 defence forces.

The company's Medium/Heavy offering is based on its S2000 range of 4x4 and 6x6 trucks with a low-profile cab.

This is manufactured by Daimler Chrysler Special Vehicles at Woerth in Germany, which turns out some 400 trucks a day, including the ever-green Unimog.

The S2000 range is C-130 compatible offers Class A off-road mobility and is designed to carry armour kits able to defeat small arms and anti-personnel mines.

The S1833 model 4x4 has a payload of 6 tonnes, the S2733 model 6x6 a payload of 10 tonnes, depending on levels of protection.

The armour kits can be installed or removed in a single day; Mercedes Benz has developed them in a strategic partnership with South African firm LMT.

The SC+ variant incorporates integrated armour modules which offer protection up to STANAG 4569 Level 3 for ballistic protection and Level 3b for mine-protection.

And there is a PC variant with a cab made of armoured steel.

The low-profile S2000 cab, with its bonnet protruding forward, offers several advantages, the company says: a conventional cab, once armoured, can't be tilted forward to give access to the engine; the S2000 design reduces the weight on the front axle; and it provides a lower silhouette for both tactical advantage and for access to a C-130 Hercules cargo hold.

The company's Light/Lightweight offering is the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen, of which some 60,000 have been sold to military customers worldwide.

The baseline model is the G-Wagen 280 CDi in both 4x4 and 6x6 versions, the latter a new variant designed especially for Overlander.

The 2.85m wheelbase 4x4 variant employs discreet armour, developed originally for Canada.

This provides protection up to STANAG 4569 Level 1.

The 3.12m wheelbase 4x4 and 3.12/4.23m 6x6 variants have payloads ranging from 1.5 tonne to 3 tonne.

For Level 2 and 2a ballistic and blast protection Mercedes Benz manufactures a version with a fully armoured steel monocoque body.

The 4x4 is already in production with the 6x6 variant currently under test.

The company believes variants of these vehicles could also satisfy the SAS requirement for recce and surveillance vehicles under Project Redfin; it points out similar G-Wagen variants are already in service with the French, Danish and German special forces in Afghanistan.

Raytheon, Tenix, Cobham team for L75/125
Raytheon Australia, Tenix Defence's Electronic Systems Division and UK firm Cobham Defence Communications have teamed up to bid to provide a Battle Management System (BMS) for the Army under its combined Land 75 and 125 projects.

Meanwhile, Tenix Defence's Land Division has teamed with Saab Systems to bid for the same contract.

The heart of the Raytheon system will be Cobham's Battlehawk BMS which is already in service with the UK Special Forces and has been offered to the UK Ministry of Defence for the British Army's FIST (Future Integrated Soldier Technology) Ph.3 program.

This is a proven, ruggedised computer-based system with a simple Human-Machine Interface.

The Battlehawk system will connect via Raytheon's Micro Light tactical software-defined radio (SDR) system which supports a data rate of 1MB/s and employs the same radio for both vehicle and manpack operations, so reducing the logistics overhead.

It also conforms with the communications architecture being developed by General Dynamics Systems Australia for the Army's Battlespace Communications System (Land) under JP 2072, having been trialled already under the JP2072 CTD program.

Micro Light is derived from Raytheon's Enhanced Position Location Reporting System (EPLRS) and so can handle Variable Message Format (VMF) protocols as well as providing Blue Force Tracker functionality and can be integrated with a GPS receiver, if desired.

Tenix Defence's Electronic Systems Division will carry out A-vehicle integration, as well as being responsible for the cryptographic elements of the program, simulation and modelling of the system architecture, engineering design and some systems integration.

Raytheon, as prime contractor, will be responsible for the dismounted soldier element of the program, overall systems integration and supply chain management.

The EPLRS system is already in widespread use with the US Army and Marines, with over 13,000 units providing these forces' Lower Tactical Digital Internet.

Equally important, says Raytheon, it is fully compatible with the company's AFATDS artillery fire control system, which is widely believed to be the front runner to provide the Army's future artillery C2 system, and is also compatible with the FBCB2 C2 system which is installed in the Army's new M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks.

Raytheon has used two separate programs - this (dubbed unofficially Land 200) and the artillery C2 element of Project Land 17 - to position itself as a strong contender to provide an integrated battlefield command support and battle management system for the Army, using equipment and architecture derived from that already proven in combat by the US Army and Marines.

MAN breaks cover in Overlander
MAN begun full-rate production late last year of the 4x4 truck it has offered to the Australian Army under Project Overlander.

By the time this edition of ADM is published, the company should also be producing the 6x6 variant. Production of the 8x8 variant begins next month.

All are being manufactured for the UK MoD which has ordered some 7,100 vehicles, mainly for the British Army.

The cab-chassis units are being built in Vienna, the 'top-hamper' for truck and trailer modules by British sub-contractors, with final assembly by MAN-ERF at Swindon in the UK.

MAN has conducted full systems testing on its vehicles in the UK.

The company says it could also supply Australia under what it terms 'compatible' financial arrangements.

MAN was one of nine 'shortlisted' contenders for the Medium/Heavy element of Overlander; like the other contenders, it would like to see a further shortlisting but this is unlikely to happen before the project goes up to Federal Cabinet for 2nd Pass approval in June this year.

At that point two contenders will be shortlisted in each class (Medium/Heavy and Light/Lightweight) for the final Offer Definition & Refinement Process which begins in August.

The ODRP concludes in November.

BAE Systems eyes Bradley opportunities in Australia
With the recent arrival in Australia of the first of the Army's M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks, BAE Systems in the USA believes there could be an emerging requirement for an Infantry Fighting Vehicle such as the M2 Bradley, which was designed to work alongside the Abrams in both conventional and counter-insurgency operations.

While the ADF has not stated it requires such a vehicle, BAE Systems (which bought US ordnance and Bradley IFV manufacturer United Defense in 2005) has access to around 800 Bradleys in the US Army's so-called Long Stock.

These are vehicles which are excess to US Army needs, mostly through being replaced by new-build M2A3 versions, which will remain in production right through to 2011.

The US Army and BAE Systems have a re-manufacturing program under way designed to return older Bradleys to a zero-hour, zero-miles condition, much like the Australian Army's Bradleys.

These 're-lifed' vehicles would be built to M2 ODS (for Operation Desert Storm) configuration, the equivalent of M2A2 standard.

The M2A2 matches the AIM configuration of the Army's new Abrams tanks, except for the digitisation architecture, ADM was told.

However, the company can also provide different variants to suit specific Australian needs, if required, including a turretless variant equipped with a CRWS remote weapon station and a crew of eight infantrymen.

BAE Systems is also considering offering a variant of the M109A6 Paladin 155mm tracked, self-propelled gun for Project Land 17.

This already in US Army service and combat-proven in Iraq where the US 3rd Infantry Division's Paladins alone fired 13,000 rounds during 2003.

The company has built a 52-calibre version of the Paladin, the M109A6+ International Howitzer and this is the variant on offer to Australia.

In the case of both artillery and IFV BAE Systems Australia would be responsible for capability management, including establishing the Through-Life Support infrastructure for these equipments in Australia.

Samsung bids for Land 17
Korean firm Samsung Techwin displayed its K9 Thunder 155mm tracked, self-propelled howitzer at LWC 06.

The K9 has a four-man crew, a turreted 52-calibre ordnance with 48 rounds, automatic loading and fully integrated navigation and fire control systems.

The company is preparing a comprehensive bid for Project Land 17, offering the K9 howitzer and K10 tracked Ammunition Resupply Vehicle (ARV) which are already in production for Korea and Turkey.

The latter has ordered 600 K9s, while Korea has ordered 500, but needs about 1,000 by 2020 and could order a further 800 on top of this.

Each K10 ARV supports two K9 guns, using a conveyor belt to transfer rounds and bagged charges into the bustle at the rear of the K9 turret.

It is built on the same chassis as the K9 and so offers the same mobility.

The automated ammunition resupply system can transfer 48 rounds (including charges) in 18 minutes, or up to 304 rounds a day.

It carries 104 rounds, sufficient to resupply two K9 guns.

A typical K9 battalion (or Regiment) would consist of 18 K9s and 18 K10s (to provide continuous and redundant re-supply), a total of 90 troops, compared with up to 216 required by Regient of towed howitzers.

The package on offer to Australia would include the guns, supply vehicles, K77 Fire Direction Centre Vehicles, ammunition, simulators and training equipment, electronic crew and maintenance manuals and a comprehensive training package.

The training package is claimed to save up to $100,000 per crew and reduce training time from 6 months to just 4 weeks.

The company hasn't disclosed the identity of its Australian industry partner in the program, but this would be responsible for integration work, through-life support, assembly and component manufacture.

Samsung Techwin is now Korea's only artillery designer and manufacturer and the company is seeking to broaden its supply base.

Turkish companies have already started manufacturing components for the K9 and K10 on a sole-source basis and ADM was told similar opportunities could open up for Australian companies also.

Importantly, ADM was told, the K9 is designed to be able to fight alongside, and be compatible in C2 terms, with Korea's own K-1 main battle tanks as well as US M1A1 Abrams tanks.

Tenix, Bofors consolidate L17 team
Tenix defence Land Systems will be prime contractor in a joint bid with BAE Systems Bofors for Project Land 17; Bofors will be a sub-contractor, providing its Archer 155mm wheeled self-propelled gun.

BAE Systems' acquisition in 2005 of United Defense, which already owned the Bofors artillery business in Sweden, means the company has two - potentially three - irons in the Land 17 fire: the Bofors Archer; the company's own M777 towed 155mm gun; and the M109A6+ International Howitzer.

The Archer is already on order for the Swedish Army with first deliveries scheduled for 2009, which is consistent with Australia's own schedule for introduction of its new artillery capability.

Its main armament is Bofors' FH 77 BW L52 ordnance which is already in service in Sweden and India; this is mounted on and elevating and traversing mount at the back of the Archer vehicle.

It is highly automated with a three-man crew operating from inside an armoured cab.

The wheeled platform is based on a Volvo truck chassis, of which there are many in service with mining companies in Australia, says Tenix, so the local spares and servicing supply chain is already largely established.

The Archer's advantage over tracked vehicles is two-fold: much lower operating costs and the ability to self-deploy where a tracked vehicle would need a transporter for lengthy road moves.

It can cruise at 70km/h on the road and cover up to 1,000km/day.

It has a further advantage also at this stage: so far Archer is the only 155mm 52-calibre self-propelled gun to have fired the Excalibur guided artillery round which is being developed by Raytheon and Bofors on a joint basis.

Excalibur bestows a range of 60km; otherwise the gun will each out to 40km using standard 155mm ammunition natures.

The Archer has a containerised re-loading capability which is compatible with the capabilities sought under Project Overlander; the gun has 20 ready-use rounds and 18 charges in its magazine, with a further 20 stowed elsewhere around the vehicle.

The magazine itself can be reloaded in 5 minutes once expended.

PSM eyes L400 requirements
German company PSM is eyeing the Army's emerging requirement for armoured vehicles in Project Land 400 as a possible export opportunity for its new Puma IFV.

The company, which is a 50:50 joint venture between Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall Landsystems, is currently developing the Puma for the German Army under two separate development and production contracts worth some ?3 billion for 410 vehicles.

The first two prototypes were scheduled to start trials with the German arms procurement agency, the BWB in December 2006.

The Puma will replace the German Army's existing IFV fleet and is designed to embody the lessons of recent conflicts.

The design aims to provide optimum levels of protection against different threat levels for maximum crew survivability; the optimum armament for high and low intensity; rapid, strategic deployability, and high tactical mobility once deployed; connectivity to support current and emerging Network Centric Warfare requirements; and sustainability in all climates, regardless of the available infrastructure.

It is armed with a Mauser 30-2 30mm cannon with 200 rounds and a coaxial MG4 5.56mm machine gun, and carries a crew of nine - driver, commander, gunner and six troops.

It is powered by a 10-cylinder 800kW diesel bestowing a power-weight ratio of around 25kW/tonne in its lightest configuration.

According to PSM the Puma incorporates what is currently the world's best combined protection against mines, shaped charge weapons such as RPGs, and KE ammunition as well as being NBC weapons.

The basic vehicle incorporates very high levels of mine protection and ballistic protection across its frontal quadrant, the so-called Level A protection capability; add-on armour modules covering the top and sides bring the vehicle to Level C protection.

In Level A configuration, with a weight of 31.45 tonnes the Puma is air-transportable by Airbus A400M or Boeing C-17 airlifters, though not the C-130 Hercules, and ready for deployment immediately after landing.

The additional side and top armour brings the weight up to 40 tonnes.

The Puma is designed to carry a range of communications and battle management systems; it also has a vehicle data highway with additional interfaces for the future integration of C4ISR systems, Combat Identification Systems, the Soldier Combat System of the dismounted troops, Active Protection Systems, and additional weapons such as automatic grenade launchers (including remote control systems) and guided missiles.

PSM believes the advent of Project Land 400 provides an export opportunity for the Puma family in Australia, but company sources said they will wait until after the imminent Land 400 market survey process before settling on a strategy for pursuing the business; the company could bid direct or establish a team with a local Prime Systems Integrator.