Viking (BvS10) is a fully amphibious armoured all-terrain vehicle, which consists of two tracked vehicle units linked by a steering mechanism. The UK Ministry of Defence ordered 108 Vikings from BAE Systems, Land Systems Hagglunds (formerly Alvis Hagglunds), in three variants – Troop Carrier (TCV), Command Vehicle (CV) and repair Recovery Vehicle (RCV).
The 24 million pound ($38.2 million) deal to supply the Viking Mk II will see the vehicle delivered to the Ministry of Defence in early 2010 and deployed to British forces fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan by spring.
The vehicles are primarily an attrition buy to replace Viking Mk1s damaged in theater, including a number lost to roadside bombs.
Twenty two of the BvS10 Mk II vehicles, developed and built in BAE's Swedish factory at Ornskoldsvik, will be the troop-carrying variant and two will be in command vehicle configuration.
The upgraded vehicles have better protection, a more powerful engine, more electrical power and other improvements compared with the Mk1.
A spokeswoman for the MoD said the entire Viking fleet, including the new vehicles, will be returned to the Royal Marines for operations outside Afghanistan once ST Kinetics' Warthog machines are available in theater in sufficient numbers.
The spokeswoman declined to say how many Vikings had been damaged beyond repair or when they would be entirely withdrawn from the country.
The Vikings were originally operated only by the Royal Marines, but the vehicles' all-terrain capabilities have seen them adopted by Army units fighting in Afghanistan.
In a statement, BAE said the MoD has acquired 166 Vikings, of which around 50 have been used in Afghanistan by the Royal Marines and other units.
But when the MoD started looking for an urgent operational requirement procurement of a vehicle with greater protection and higher payload than the Viking Mk1, it turned to Singapore-based ST Kinetics for its Warthog rather than acquire the up-rated BAE machine.
ST Kinetics secured a 150 million pound contract from the United Kingdom late last year to purchase slightly more than 100 vehicles. The first production standard Warthog, a version of the Bronco vehicle, rolled out from the Singapore production line Sept 28.
The British will take delivery of the first Warthog before the end of the year and the first vehicle is expected to be deployed in Afghanistan by mid-2010.
As part of the deal, Thales UK will be integrating communications, electronic warfare and other equipment on the Warthog at a factory in the United Kingdom.
Earlier in September, the government committed to speeding up delivery of Warthogs. Details of how that will be achieved have yet to be made public.
One of the methods expected to be adopted is flying the vehicles to the U.K. for fitting out rather than transporting them by sea.
The Viking Mk II and its Singaporean rival are now head-to-head in a competition to meet a French requirement for 129 vehicles. An announcement on a winner is expected by the end of the year.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
DTN News: BAE Wins U.K. Deal For 24 Viking Vehicles
DTN News: BAE Wins U.K. Deal For 24 Viking Vehicles
*Source: DTN News / Defense Media
(NSI News Source Info) LONDON, UK - September 30, 2009: BAE Systems has secured its first order for an upgraded Viking all-terrain vehicle with a deal to supply 24 to the British military.
The Sept. 29 announcement comes 24 hours after rival all-terrain vehicle contractor ST Kinetics rolled out the first of the similar Warthog machines also ordered for the military here. Viking (BvS10) is a fully amphibious armoured all-terrain vehicle, which consists of two tracked vehicle units linked by a steering mechanism. The UK Ministry of Defence ordered 108 Vikings from BAE Systems, Land Systems Hagglunds (formerly Alvis Hagglunds), in three variants – Troop Carrier (TCV), Command Vehicle (CV) and repair Recovery Vehicle (RCV).
The 24 million pound ($38.2 million) deal to supply the Viking Mk II will see the vehicle delivered to the Ministry of Defence in early 2010 and deployed to British forces fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan by spring.
The vehicles are primarily an attrition buy to replace Viking Mk1s damaged in theater, including a number lost to roadside bombs.
Twenty two of the BvS10 Mk II vehicles, developed and built in BAE's Swedish factory at Ornskoldsvik, will be the troop-carrying variant and two will be in command vehicle configuration.
The upgraded vehicles have better protection, a more powerful engine, more electrical power and other improvements compared with the Mk1.
A spokeswoman for the MoD said the entire Viking fleet, including the new vehicles, will be returned to the Royal Marines for operations outside Afghanistan once ST Kinetics' Warthog machines are available in theater in sufficient numbers.
The spokeswoman declined to say how many Vikings had been damaged beyond repair or when they would be entirely withdrawn from the country.
The Vikings were originally operated only by the Royal Marines, but the vehicles' all-terrain capabilities have seen them adopted by Army units fighting in Afghanistan.
In a statement, BAE said the MoD has acquired 166 Vikings, of which around 50 have been used in Afghanistan by the Royal Marines and other units.
But when the MoD started looking for an urgent operational requirement procurement of a vehicle with greater protection and higher payload than the Viking Mk1, it turned to Singapore-based ST Kinetics for its Warthog rather than acquire the up-rated BAE machine.
ST Kinetics secured a 150 million pound contract from the United Kingdom late last year to purchase slightly more than 100 vehicles. The first production standard Warthog, a version of the Bronco vehicle, rolled out from the Singapore production line Sept 28.
The British will take delivery of the first Warthog before the end of the year and the first vehicle is expected to be deployed in Afghanistan by mid-2010.
As part of the deal, Thales UK will be integrating communications, electronic warfare and other equipment on the Warthog at a factory in the United Kingdom.
Earlier in September, the government committed to speeding up delivery of Warthogs. Details of how that will be achieved have yet to be made public.
One of the methods expected to be adopted is flying the vehicles to the U.K. for fitting out rather than transporting them by sea.
The Viking Mk II and its Singaporean rival are now head-to-head in a competition to meet a French requirement for 129 vehicles. An announcement on a winner is expected by the end of the year.
Viking (BvS10) is a fully amphibious armoured all-terrain vehicle, which consists of two tracked vehicle units linked by a steering mechanism. The UK Ministry of Defence ordered 108 Vikings from BAE Systems, Land Systems Hagglunds (formerly Alvis Hagglunds), in three variants – Troop Carrier (TCV), Command Vehicle (CV) and repair Recovery Vehicle (RCV).
The 24 million pound ($38.2 million) deal to supply the Viking Mk II will see the vehicle delivered to the Ministry of Defence in early 2010 and deployed to British forces fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan by spring.
The vehicles are primarily an attrition buy to replace Viking Mk1s damaged in theater, including a number lost to roadside bombs.
Twenty two of the BvS10 Mk II vehicles, developed and built in BAE's Swedish factory at Ornskoldsvik, will be the troop-carrying variant and two will be in command vehicle configuration.
The upgraded vehicles have better protection, a more powerful engine, more electrical power and other improvements compared with the Mk1.
A spokeswoman for the MoD said the entire Viking fleet, including the new vehicles, will be returned to the Royal Marines for operations outside Afghanistan once ST Kinetics' Warthog machines are available in theater in sufficient numbers.
The spokeswoman declined to say how many Vikings had been damaged beyond repair or when they would be entirely withdrawn from the country.
The Vikings were originally operated only by the Royal Marines, but the vehicles' all-terrain capabilities have seen them adopted by Army units fighting in Afghanistan.
In a statement, BAE said the MoD has acquired 166 Vikings, of which around 50 have been used in Afghanistan by the Royal Marines and other units.
But when the MoD started looking for an urgent operational requirement procurement of a vehicle with greater protection and higher payload than the Viking Mk1, it turned to Singapore-based ST Kinetics for its Warthog rather than acquire the up-rated BAE machine.
ST Kinetics secured a 150 million pound contract from the United Kingdom late last year to purchase slightly more than 100 vehicles. The first production standard Warthog, a version of the Bronco vehicle, rolled out from the Singapore production line Sept 28.
The British will take delivery of the first Warthog before the end of the year and the first vehicle is expected to be deployed in Afghanistan by mid-2010.
As part of the deal, Thales UK will be integrating communications, electronic warfare and other equipment on the Warthog at a factory in the United Kingdom.
Earlier in September, the government committed to speeding up delivery of Warthogs. Details of how that will be achieved have yet to be made public.
One of the methods expected to be adopted is flying the vehicles to the U.K. for fitting out rather than transporting them by sea.
The Viking Mk II and its Singaporean rival are now head-to-head in a competition to meet a French requirement for 129 vehicles. An announcement on a winner is expected by the end of the year.
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