Military

General Dynamics to build British Army's next light tank

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Scout SV PMRS variant in mobility demonstration (Image: General Dynamics)
Philip Dunne MP, Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology with SCOUT SV pre-production prototype at DVD 2014 (Image: Crown Copyright)
Philip Dunne MP inside the Scout SV (Image: Crown Copyright)
Philip Dunne MP with Scout prototype (Image: Crown Copyright)
Scout SV PMRS variant (Image: General Dynamics)
Scout SV PMRS variant in mobility demonstration (Image: General Dynamics)
The first SCOUT SV Protected Mobility Recce Support (PMRS) variant pre-production prototype (Image: General Dynamics)
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The British Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded General Dynamics UK a contract to deliver 589 light-armor Scout Specialist Vehicles (SV) to the Army between 2017 and 2024. The tracked, medium-weight armored vehicle is designed to provide state-of-the-art, best-in-class protection for its crews.

The high-agility Scout SV will form the medium core of the Army’s Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability. Based on a design weight limit of 42 tonnes (46 tons), the Scout comes in six variants based on a common platform with shared mobility, electronics, and survivability systems, has an open electronic architecture, a modular armor system, and places emphasis on the ability to upgrade in order to incorporate new technology and meet new threats.

The Scout variants include Reconnaissance, Protected Mobility Reconnaissance Support (PMRS), Command and Control, Engineering Reconnaissance, Repair, and Recovery. According to General Dynamics, these are designed to provide best-in-class protection and survivability, reliability, mobility and all-weather ISTAR capabilities for a wide range of extended military operations with a reduced logistics footprint. With its main armament in its turret-mounted 40-mm cannon, the Scout also has acoustic detectors, a laser warning system, a local situational awareness system, an electronic countermeasure system, a route-marking system, and a high-performance power pack.

Scout SV PMRS variant (Image: General Dynamics)

The announced contract also includes the provision of support and training by General Dynamics for the delivered vehicles, It also secures 1,300 jobs in Britain, with 300 of these at General Dynamics facility in Oakdale, Wales, where the Scout was developed.

"I'm delighted that on the eve of the NATO Summit, we can announce the biggest single contract for [armored fighting vehicles] for the British Army since the 1980s,” says Prime Minister David Cameron. “These new vehicles are testament to the world class engineering skills in South Wales and across the UK, helping to create the Army's first fully digitalized armored vehicles. Not only will they be crucial in helping to keep Britain safe, they will also underpin nearly 1,300 jobs across the UK and showcase the strength of the UK's highly skilled defence sector. With the second largest defence budget in NATO, meeting NATO's two per cent of GDP spending target and investing in new capabilities to deal with the emerging threats we are ensuring Britain's national security, staying at the forefront of the global race and providing leadership within NATO."

Source: General Dynamics UK

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15 comments
Caimbeul
So, um, how many teachers would this contract afford. Given priorities to match, of course.
The Skud
I hope it corners better than their previous 'yank tanks' like Cadilacs!
Mel Tisdale
Britain is a small country - and possibly about to get even smaller. Its population has just lived through a period of austerity while watching the richest get even richer as a direct result of government policy. As if that were not bad enough, its population is now going to have to accept that millions that could be spent helping the poorest in its society is going to be spent buying 'toys for the boys.' At the same time its politicians, whose pay is set by some committee or other, instead of being based on average earnings, are now to have a 10% pay rise thanks to the infinite wisdom of this same committee. You could not make it up. It is almost as though the recent riots did not happen. As it is, Britain's prime minister has obviously forgotten the Cold War because he suddenly thinks it is a good idea to poke Russia with a big stick. Half of Europe must be wondering how long it will take before they hear: "Gas comrade, you want gas? What gas? We need all our gas for ourselves."
Instead of buying these tanks, good as they most likely are, Britain's politicians would do well to remember the words of a previous prime minister, Winston Churchill: "To jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war." Preparing for war makes a pity not to have one in some people's minds, usually those not likely to have to fight it., such as politicians.
The 1 TaiN
It look a lot like the, USMC EFV - Epeditionary Fighting Vehicle. Except without all that unnecessary floatation equipment, burdening it.
Pat Kelley
Mel Tisdale: Not preparing for war means you only have one option if your opponent is prepared, and that's surrender. Better bone up on your Russian.
Tito
Mr. Tisdale,
Could it be that there are two separate issues here? I can't comment on the first part of your statement ( Im a yank). W. Churchill was a man of many wonderful quotes, and a man of action. He saw the threat of his time for what it was. If he would have been allowed to act earlier rather than react. Do you think as much blood would have been shed? Russia is big and powerful, but I feel they would not go into a full out war if stopped early.
the.other.will
The EFV project was cancelled over 3 years ago. It was an entirely new design. It's mission was to transport infantry from ship to shore & beyond, It was very big due to transporting 17 passengers + crew. The flotation features were an essential part of accomplishing it's mission.
The Scout SV is a variation of the ASCOD vehicle already in use in Spain & in Austria. It's mission is, well, in the name. It's more heavily armed than the EFV would have been, although much less so than the chassis will support.
Both vehicles are, however, tracked instead of wheeled.
Sascha Humphrey
The contract is worth £3.5 bn which could of course pay for 70000 nurses or teachers on £50000, for a year....
Tyler.Totten
This is not a tank, a tank utilizes a main gun of medium to large caliber for direct fire support and engagement of other vehicles, structures, and on occasion enemy ground troops. Rarely do tanks carry troops (though the Israelis do challenge that paradigm.) An IFV (or Infantry Fighting Vehicle) has a small to medium caliber gun and carries troops, who dismount and then are protected by their vehicle (and reciprocate in kind) fighting as a mechanized unit. An older term is also an APC (or Armored Personnel Carrier) This vehicle type may or may not have a weapon, often a small crew served weapon. Depending on the variant, this seems to be either an IFV or an APC. If equipped with its 40mm main cannon, then I'd definitely call it an IFV (a tank is a bit of a stretch.)
Stephen N Russell
Great jobs for Wales & UK alone, awesome\