26 May 2023
by Nicholas Fiorenza
Arquus and VTU are offering the Light European Vehicle for a long-standing Czech special forces requirement. (Janes/Nicholas Fiorenza)
Arquus and the Czech Military Technical Institute (VTU) displayed the Light European Vehicle (LEV) at the International Defence and Security Technology Fair (IDET) held in Brno, Czech Republic, from 24 to 26 May.
Arquus and VTU representatives told Janes that 169 LEVs had been offered to the Czech Republic under a tender for vehicles for the 601st Special Forces Group.
The LEV is based on Arquus's Sabre special forces 4×4 vehicle, which can be crewed by up to five soldiers. The vehicle has an automatic transmission and a top speed of 110 km/h. It has a minimum payload of 2,000 kg and a combat weight of up to 9,500 kg. The LEV has a maximum length of 6,500 mm, a width of 2,300 mm, and a height of 2,600 mm, and can be transported by A400M and C-130 transport aircraft, as well as CH-47 helicopter.
It is armed with a 50 calibre machine gun and has weapon stations for up to five 7.62 mm machine guns.
18 March 2024
by Victor Barreira
An M113BR APC of the Brazilian Army integrated with REMAX 4 weapon system by Ares. (ARES)
Ares Aeroespacial e Defesa, a Brazilian subsidiary of Elbit Systems, has completed the development of an upgraded M113BR armoured personnel carrier (APC) belonging to the 20th Armoured Infantry Battalion of the Brazilian Army.
This self-funded technology demonstrator, developed with technical support from the army's manufacturing directorate, could emerge as a possible option for a potential upgrade of the M113BR by the army, Ares told Janes on 13 March. The upgraded vehicle is scheduled to be trialled in April.
The modernisation was aimed at improving situational awareness and protection of the M113BR. The company installed its REMAX 4 lightweight remotely controlled weapon station, an OIP Sentinal driver's thermal imaging system, a power management system featuring autonomy of 13 hours, and an adaptable mechanical interface, Ares said.
The REMAX 4, which was jointly developed with the Army Technological Center (CTEx), consists of a dual-axis gyro-stabilised weapon mount, 12.7 mm or 7.62 mm machine gun, ammunition feeding system, ammunition magazine, four 76 mm smoke dischargers, the OIP Sensor Systems EOPTRIS 2.0 imager, as well as command-and-control workstation.
18 March 2024
by Meredith Roaten
On entering service, JLTV will replace a percentage of the current AM General High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle fleet. (Oshkosh Defense)
While the US Army is planning a major design overhaul for its Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 main battle tank (MBT), the service wants to slow down the tempo of upgrades for its most advanced MBTs, according to budget documents released on 11 March.
The decision to slow down the rate was “financial” as well as to keep the upgrades on pace with the rest of the capabilities in the Armoured Brigade Combat Team (ABCT), Major General Joe Hilbert, director of Force Development and deputy chief of staff (G-8), told reporters on 12 March.
In the fiscal year (FY) 2024 budget request, the army's plans showed that it wanted to fund 45 upgrades in FY 2025, 49 in FY 2026, 21 in FY 2027, and 70 in FY 2028. In the recently released FY 2025 budget request, the service requested to slow procurement down to 30, 35, 35, 35, and 35 upgrades in FY 2025–29 respectively.
14 March 2024
by Kapil Kajal
The BMP-2M IFV – pictured above from India's DefExpo 2022 held in Gujarat – is a BMP-2 featuring armament upgrades. (Janes/Kapil Kajal)
The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a contract with state-owned Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL) to upgrade the armament of 693 BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) to the BMP-2M standard, the MoD said in a press release on 13 March.
Under this contract, the AVNL will upgrade the Indian Army's BMP-2s with night-fighting capability, gunner main sight, panoramic commander sight, and fire-control system (FCS) with an automatic target tracker, the MoD added.
The FCS and night-fighting capabilities for the BMP-2M are developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), the MoD said.
The AVNL unveiled its BMP-2M for the first time at DefExpo 2022, held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, in October.
The company told Janes at the time that the BMP-2M is a BMP-2 featuring armament upgrade such as the addition of a third-generation sighting system and multifunctional display for gunner and commander, and an integrated FCS for all weapons.
Arquus and the Czech Military Technical Institute (VTU) displayed the Light European Vehicle (LEV) a...
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