MoD Takes Delivery Of 'Souped-Up' Combat Vehicles

The first batch of over 100 enhanced light tanks, used for scouting out the enemy have been delivered to training units in the British Army, complete with a state-of-the-art engine cooling system taken from the motorsport industry.

Under an Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) contract worth £19million, a number of important upgrades have been carried out to boost the performance and reliability of the British Army's Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) - CVR(T) vehicles in the demanding conditions of Afghanistan.

Significant changes include an up-powered engine, gearbox and final drives to improve performance in the demanding operational and environmental conditions faced in Afghanistan. A new high-efficiency radiator and charge air cooler comes from the motorsport world, has also been added, and is a major improvement on earlier systems.

Lt Col Martin Fenn, Environmental Mitigation UOR Team Leader, said: "Delivery of these vehicles by BAE Systems and its suppliers is an excellent example of what can be achieved through effective partnering.

"More importantly, this package of enhancements to CVR(T)'s capability is urgently required and eagerly awaited by troops in Afghanistan."

Jim Graham, BAE Systems, prime contractor for the project said: "Our trials have proven major performance and reliability improvements. We received a post-design service contract in December last year and have effectively condensed a three-year development programme into one year, partly by beginning work in advance of contract, taking business risks with the MOD and consulting the key stakeholder."

The Light Dragoons, based in Swanton Morley in Norfolk, will be the first unit to begin training on the new vehicles in early 2009.

(JM/BMcC)