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Nicholas Drummond Profile picture
@nicholadrummond
Sep 17, 2020 • 4 tweets • 2 min read • Read on X
@thinkdefence's revised article on MRVP is a timely reminder that the British Army does not have a light (under 15 tonnes) armoured vehicle capable of transporting infantry battalions safely wherever they are needed.
This discussion is not about high-end combat vehicles like Boxer and Warrior for heavy armour roles. It is a basic requirement for a general purpose armoured minibus - a protected vehicle that transports up to 10 soldiers from A to B. Image
Such vehicles do not enter the direct fire zone, but have decent underfloor protection and can resist artillery fragments and at least 7.62 mm bullets. They're easy to operate and support. They are a recognition that unprotected Land-Rovers and trucks are no longer acceptable. Image
There are quite a few options available now. Most cost around £1 million each. Regardless of any Integrated Review outcome this type of platform is needed across a multitude of roles and deployment scenarios. Image

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More from @nicholadrummond

Nicholas Drummond Profile picture
May 10
THREAD ON AIRBORNE FORCES AND VEHICLES
Russia's failed attempt to seize Hostomel airfield in the early stages of its invasion of Ukraine provides confirmation (if any was needed after the lessons of Crete and Arnhem) that airborne assaults against well defended targets can be disastrous. The contemporary use of drones only adds to the risks.Image
This means that future airborne operations will primarily be conducted at battalion and company level for coup de main missions against bridges, airfields, and objectives that need to be physically seized and held by forces on the ground. Think WW2 Pegasus Bridge. Many previous airborne tasks, especially raiding tasks, can now be accomplished using PrSM, loitering missions, or armed drones, so demolition roles will be the exception rather than the norm.Image
Airborne missions at brigade level are likely to be risky, particularly for the large fleet of aircraft and helicopters required to deliver them. Where larger formations are needed, they will be used to occupy locations where there are no or limited enemy forces. In this respect, airborne units will become early entry forces rather than assaulting in contact with the enemy.Image
Read 11 tweets
Nicholas Drummond Profile picture
May 8
The cancellation of the US Army's M10 Booker has little to do with the quality of the vehicle itself, and more about the lack of supporting infrastructure of Infantry Brigade Combat Teams, which cannot effectively support 40-tonne tracked vehicles. 1/4 Image
In the same way that the British Army's Ajax programme includes six different versions, so that armoured cavalry regiments are self-supporting, the Booker chassis lends itself to a whole range of variants based on the M10 Booker Repair & Recovery variant. 2/4 Image
In case Ajax's issues still aren't fully resolved, migrating each variant to the M10 Booker chassis would be a certain fix for Ajax, Ares, Athena, Argus, Apollo, and Atlas. You'd have to compromise on the original requirements, but you'd have an excellent vehicle. 3/4 Image
Read 4 tweets
Nicholas Drummond Profile picture
Nov 23, 2024
It was right to retire the British Army's Thales Watchkeeper WK450 UAS. It took far too long to bring it into service and by the time it arrived, newer and better systems were available. It was also difficult to operate. The question is what do we replace it with? (1/6) Image
An obvious choice is General Atomics Mojave, which is optimised for STOL operations from austere locations. This has a larger payload, double the range and better ISR sensors. It can also carry up to 16 Hellfire missiles for strike tasks. Crucially, it is harder to jam. (2/6) Image
Mojave, which is a modified version of General Atomics' MQ-1C Gray Eagle UAS, weighs 1½ tonnes and has a reinforced undercarriage. Technically, it compares well to Watchkeeper while also being considerably less expensive to purchase and operate. (3/6) Image
Read 6 tweets
Nicholas Drummond Profile picture
Jun 11, 2023
The @GD_LandSystems M10 Booker is not a derivative of the ASCOD platform, but an all-new design. The hull has well-sloped armour, an 800 hp diesel driveline and @Horstman_Group hydro-pneumatic struts. The 105 mm gun based on the UK ROF L7 and is mounted in an Abrams-based turret. Image
As impressive as the vehicle itself is the acquisition approach. 12 prototypes from two companies were down-selected. These were tested extensively. A winner was chosen and awarded a LRIP contract for 26. Now that all issues are resolved a full production contract can be issued.
At each stage of the process, risk was managed. The onus was on @GD_LandSystems to resolve any issues in order to move the program to the next stage. Brigadier Glenn Dean, who has assumed overall responsibility for MPF deserves credit for doing a fantastic job.
Read 5 tweets
Nicholas Drummond Profile picture
Jun 4, 2023
Over the last 15 months, @LockheedMartin's M270 & HIMARS rocket launchers have performed extremely well, obliterating Russian targets while reducing collateral damage at ranges of 70 km, which is beyond the enemy's capacity to return effective counter-battery fire. ImageImage
Ukraine's success with HIMARS confirms what we already believed, that precision-guided deep fires rockets and missiles enable smaller armies to deliver an effect that belies their size relative to larger, less capable adversaries. Image
Before the Russo-Ukrainian War, the USA had already initiated an upgrade programme to increase GMLRS range from 70 km to 150 km, while the new Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) can hit targets at 499 km, versus the existing ATACMS with a 150 km range. This is a significant upgrade. Image
Read 10 tweets
Nicholas Drummond Profile picture
May 27, 2023
The British Army's Protected Mobility Pipeline (PMP) programme will see 14 platforms merged into 5. Three PM platforms (light, medium, & heavy) will replace Foxhound, Mastiff, Ridgeback, Wolfhound, Husky, Foxhound, and Panther. This will streamline through-life support. Image
As good as Boxer is, only 4 infantry battalions will be equipped with it. So having a larger fleet of lower cost PMVs will be essential. Also, the way in which they're being used in Ukraine, as battlefield taxis that move infantry out-of-contact, points to a new way of operating. Image
For some roles, it makes sense to purchase an off-the-shelf solution from abroad (e.g., Oshkosh JLTV) where the price is lower than domestically produced vehicles can match. But for others, British industry is perfectly capable of producing a state-of-the-art 4x4 or 6x6 PMV. Image
Read 6 tweets

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