Specialist and Utility Vehicles IPT

Specialist and Utility Vehicles IPT
Specialist and Utility Vehicles (SUV) is the through-life IPT responsible
for light military vehicles and protected mobility vehicles. Many of the
vehicles displayed at the SUV stand are supplied to those on the frontline
in Iraq and Afghanistan, such as Jackal, Mastiff and Vector.
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VD, a major event in the Defence calendar, expanded its reach
this year to encompass clothing, medical and general supplies,
food, fuels and test equipment as well as vehicles.
"DVD offers a unique opportunity to trial military vehicles for another
year at the excellent facilities at Millbrook Proving Ground as shown by
our photography of the event" said Dr. Anthony Mc Donagh-Smith, CEO
SAE-UK.org and Editor of DefenceIntegration.org
This year's DVD industry day was the most popular to date, with more
than 5000 visitors attending the event to learn about the latest
developments in the provision of vehicles, equipment and supplies to
frontline troops. DVD 2008, hosted by the Specialist Utility Vehicles
Integrated Project Team (SUV IPT) of Defence Equipment and Support at
the MOD, was the most comprehensive
so far, with eight teams,
including Defence Food Services, Medical and General Supplies, Defence
Fuels Group, Defence Clothing, Deployable Support and Test Equipment
and General Support Vehicles and Battlefield Infrastructure, there to
interact with industry and do business.
"The tremendous success of this year's event shows just how valuable the
exchange of knowledge and ideas is to our suppliers and their
customers," said Nigel Gilhead, SUV IPT Team Leader. "Almost every
aspect of using, maintaining and loading vehicles was covered, alongside
a vast range of transportable supplies. It's a unique opportunity for the
defence community and will certainly lead to more effective frontline
operations."
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Minister for Defence Equipment and Supplies, Baroness Ann Taylor,
unveiled Ridgback, a new heavily armoured patrol vehicle, announcing
that soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan will soon have access to 157
Ridgback vehicles. The new vehicles will help to protect troops from
roadside bombs and landmines, and represent a further £150m MoD
investment in the provision of protected patrol vehicles to UK forces.
"There is no such thing'as absolute protection, but we have got to provide
the best range of equipment," said Baroness Taylor. "I am always looking
for the newest technology to address the ever-changing threats, and offer
the greatest protection, mobility and firepower while giving our
commanders the choice of vehicles they need to carry out the tasks they
face."
The new Ridgback is based on the proven Cougar 4x4, a smaller, more
agile version of the Mastiff, which currently operates in urban fringe and
rural environments. The similarity between the vehicles will allow troops
ro~lIclit from the support and training already in place for Mastiff,
ensuring a smooth integration with patrol vehicles currently in the field.
The MoD has agreed to purchase 157 Cougar 4X4 vehicles from American
company Force Protection Inc. The first vehicles to arrive in the UK are
now being fitted with additional protection, weapons, communications
systems and specialist electronic counter-measures equipment.
It was also announced at DVD that the MoD is purchasing
Vikings and a further 72 Jackals. Visitors had the opportunity
test rides in both vehicles at the event.
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to go for
part of a £1.3bn procurement of 7,285 support vehicles. Visitors were able
to see first-hand the engineering solutions currently developed to protect
the Armed Forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
IPT leader Alison Henry said "We have to be 100% responsive to the
changing requirements in the field, which means working in close
partnership with other IPTs and contractors to manage the design and
implementation of vehicle upgrades in a timely manner."
Defence Clothing IPT
Battlefield Infrastructure and Engineer Group
Two of the three IPTs that make up the Battlefield Infrastructure and
Engineer Group exhibited at DVD this year: Expeditionary Campaign
Infrastructure (ECI) IPT and Battlefield Utilities (BFU) IPr. The m'airi'
focus of these IPTs is providing power, fuel, water and shelter to the
armed forces,specifically within the land environment.
ECl IPT provides temporary deployable accommodation, covering
everything from a one-man tent to a 600-man camp, while BFU IPT
provides the equipment that distributes fuel and water around the
camps, together with all sizes of generators. A selection of these items
was on show at DVD,with demonstrations available for visitors.
"DVD provides us with a wonderful stage to demonstrate how vital the
equipment we supply is to those on the frontline," said group leader
Brigadier Andy Cowling. "Having good accommodation, efficient
utilities and sanitation is essential to the welfare of those operating in
often harsh and dangerous conditions."
General SUIW0rt Vehicles IPT
The Defence Clothing IPT is responsible for providing clothing for the
armed forces on operations, as well as MoD civilian organisations such as
the MoD Police, Military Guard Service and the MoD Fire Service. The
IPT demonstrated the work it is doing in supporting current operations,
and the impact this is having on the next generation of combat clothing
for the armed forces Project PECOC due to start entering service in 2011.
Also on display was the potential new online clothing ordering system
which could be part of the New Clothing Solution initiative to modernise
the clothing supply chain. This would enable personnel not deployed on
operatioJ;ls to order clothing through any internet terminal and have it
delivered by post or courier to an address of their choice. It would enable
the Armed Forces to obtain their clothing in the correct size quickly and
reliably without a trip to the clothing stores. There are obvious benefits
for small detached units and stations.
It would also allow Defence
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Clothing to better capture data and forecast demand more accurately,
tightening up the clothing supply chain. A 15-month pilot scheme is
currently running with 3,000 customers in the Army and it is to be
expanded to include the Navy and RAF.
Chief of Defence Materiel General Sir Kevin O'Donoghue, said: "I have
recently tried the ordering system for myself; I was very impressed by the
ease and efficiency of the service. Men and women in the Armed Forces
are used to the 24/7 self-service economy and often require the flexibility
and speed offered by internet shopping. The project is an excellent
initiative with great potential."
Defence Fuels Group
The Defence Fuels Group provides fuels, gases and lubricants for the
Armed Forces' vehicles, ships and aircraft. Visitors to DVD were able to
see practical demonstrations of the portable testing kits currently used in
Iraq and Afghanistan on a daily basis to confirm fuel quality. Visitors
also had the opportunity to view the work of the Group's Fuels Science
and Technology Group, in alliance with Qinetiq, on development of fuels
and lubricants 'road maps', setting out the Group's long-term plans (to
2050 and beyond) for sustainable sourcing.
Deployable Support and Test Equipment IPT
The Deployable Support and Test Equipment IPT is responsible for the
deployable repair capability of the three Services, as well as the provision
of all test and measurement equipment, and Defence railway equipment.
At DVD this year the group exhibited many fundamental pieces of
equipment from its vast inventory of 8,500 items, including the
equipment used for testing .pylons on aircraft, which ensure that
pay loads remain secure and in place until the time of deployment.
General Support Vehicles (GSV)is the through-life IPT responsible for
the provision of heavy logistic vehicles with a payload of four tonnes or
above.
The group exhibited alongside some of its key suppliers, who were
available to discuss the strong focus on building partnerships with the
IPT in order to best meet the requirements of troops in the field.
This year, GSV IPT displayed a Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET)
tractor unit, a Wheeled Tanker and a Support Vehicle. The latter forms
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Medical and General Su}Wlies IPT
The new Multi-Climate Ration Packs have been developed following
feedback from troops on operations, with the aim of providing a greater
variety of food for troops before a permanent camp is established. Six
extra menus have been created for Halal, Vegetarian and Sikh/Hindu
diners.
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The project manager for the development of the new packs, Lieutenant
Commander Neil Horwood Royal Navy, explained: "The current general
purpose ration pack is perfectly fine but troops are eating rations now for
up to four months so menu fatigue is a real issue. The key is variety and
we are now introducing much more variety than we've historically had. I
think the troops will be really pleased with it."
The new menus are currently being trialled in Afghanistan with a view to
.an officiallaunch next summer.
In addition to the exhibiting IPTs, DE&S also took the opportunity to
unveil Panther a new seven-tonne command and liaison vehicle in the
form of a press briefing with the Light Armour Systems IPT which is
responsible for the through life support of the FV430 family of vehicles,
including Bulldog, Viking, BV206, Saxon, CVR (T) and, most recently,
Panther.
Panther can operate 24 hours a day in any climate, and is equipped with
thermal imaging equipment for night vision. The vehicles are protected
against a range of threats including small arms, blast and anti-personnel
mines, and the majority are fitted with a sophisticated weapon system
that allows the user to operate machine guns with a camera and joystick
from inside the vehicle.
More than 400 Panthers are now being assembled by BAE Systems under
a £160 million contract. The first Panthers have been delivered to 1
Mechanised Brigade and a small number are undergoing
trials in Afghanistan.
The Medical and General Supplies IPT (M&GS IPT) provides general,
medical, dental and veterinary material and equipment to the Armed
Forces. M&GS IPT contracts a number of key suppliers to provide value
added services, such as rationalisation, supply chain improvements and
customer and technical support.
"We provide a fundamental support to the Armed Forces Medical
Services," said Colonel Derek McAvoy. "Response time and close
monitoring of inventory are paramount to our operation."
At DVD visitors had a chance to view treatments provided to soldiers on
operations, such as quick clotting treatments and emergency bandages,
and speak to doctors and surgeons who had served in Iraq and
Afghanistan. Visitors were also able to see the new apheresis machine, a
technology that allows blood to be taken from troops within 45 minutes
with no ill effects, increasing the quantity of blood available in the field
for medical treatments. Apheresis separates whole blood into its
component parts, retaining the platelets and returning the red blood cells
and plasma to the donor. The machines are already in use and saving lives
in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Unveiling the hi-tech machine at DVD, DE&S Chief of Defence Materiel
Land, Lt General Dick Applegate said: "Medical care on operations is
rightly recognised as being second to none. Blood is an essential part of
the military supply chain and the demand for platelets has increased as
we are using a more aggressive approach in the treatment of massive
blood loss. Using the new Apheresis machine will give our medics
increased flexibility for urgent requirements."
Defence Food Services IPT
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The Defence Food Services IPT (DFS IPT) provides catering support to the
Armed Forces on operations, exercises or in barracks. The IPT manages
the MoD food supply contract with Purple Foodservice Solutions. DFS
IPT manages the procurement, production and quality of Operational
Ration Packs (ORPs) and issues guidance on ORP distribution and
storage.
This year, 20 new 24 hour ration pack menus were unveiled by DFS IPT.
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Speaking at the unveiling of the Panther at DVD, Major General Tim
Tyler, Director General Land Equipment at DE&S, said: "Panther is
certainly an apt name for this new vehicle; it's tough but also very agile
and responsive. Its powerful engine generates a lot of torque, making it
an ideal vehicle for off-road conditions, and although carrying enough
armour to protect occupants from small arms fire and mines, can still be
easily transported by air. Having the right balance of armour and
manoeuvrability makes it extremely effective in all sorts of situations."