MOD to fast-track tanks for Afghanistan
THE army’s next generation of armoured vehicles is being fast-tracked by the Ministry of Defence in response to the conflict in Afghanistan.
The MoD has issued invitations to tender for an initial contract worth £2 billion under the Fres specialist vehicles (Fres SV) programme, a scaled down version of a larger programme which hit the buffers due to budget constraints.
A source said: “It is the MoD’s number one land priority with all that’s going on in Afghanistan and I think it might avoid any hiatus caused by the Election or the strategic defence review.” However, the vehicles will not be available until 2015.
The centrepiece of the first £2 billion contract is a reconnaissance vehicle called Scout which will replace the CVR(T) Scimitar light tank, pictured, currently in service.
Britain’s BAE Systems and America’s General Dynamics are competing for the work. BAE is submitting a bid based on its Swedish CV90 vehicle.
The entire programme will be worth an estimated £4 billion for about 1,200 vehicles and will help shape the UK land sector for many years to come.