Bids for UK's Recce Block 1 vehicles to be submitted on Thursday

07:31 GMT, November 3, 2009 defpro.com | Hoping for a head start on its competitor, BAE Systems announced yesterday that it will submit its bid for the “Recce Block 1”, the £2 billion first phase of the FRES SV (Future Rapid Effect System - Specialist Vehicles) programme of the United Kingdom, on Thursday 5 November 2009. Despite past failings, the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) continued to press ahead with the programme in late July 2009 by inviting BAE Systems and General Dynamics United Kingdom to submit their bid for the FRES scout vehicle, which is to replace its fleet of ageing CVR(T) Scimitar armoured reconnaissance vehicles.

Intended to provide the British Army with rapidly deployable network-enabled vehicles which are capable of operating across the spectrum of operations and, further, are sufficiently protected to counter current threats, the programme is expected to fulfill orders for some 270 vehicles, with the first vehicles to be introduced into service by 2015. However, considering the problems of the preceding FRES utility vehicle programme which was scrapped by the MoD in 2008 after £132 million had already been spent, it can only be hoped for a more successful and on-schedule outcome of this procurement effort.

Now the FRES programme has again drawn the attention of the media and the public after it had been largely believed to be discarded or at least shelved for an undefined period of time. The MoD has said it will select a winner in the first quarter of 2010, yet, as the timetable has already shifted by several weeks (bids were expected to be submitted in September), it is possible that the final decision will be made in Summer 2010.


BAE Systems pins its hope on the CV90 chassis

As already learnt at this year’s DSEi exhibition in London, BAE Systems enters the race with a contender that is based upon its proven CV90 chassis, sold to six countries and, according to the company, recognised as the best combat vehicle in its class. The demonstrator vehicle has already begun mobility trials at Millbrook proving ground and test-fired its weapons system at the Shoeburyness range.

The chassis has been shortened and given a lower profile to meet the scout vehicle requirements. As BAE System explains, the company plans to minimise costs, meet the tight delivery schedule and align with the UK Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFV) Strategy published in June by using a low-risk manufacturing approach.

Global Combat Systems managing director David Allott commented: “We are reshaping our business in line with the Armoured Fighting Vehicles Strategy. We are cutting costs, building our systems engineering skills and creating a more agile organisation to deliver FRES and Warrior upgrades. Our aim is to ensure a healthy, sustainable business which can continue to support UK land forces in training and on military operations.”

As the company emphasises in its latest press release for the FRES programme, it has already spent more than £25 million on developing the turret for the scout variant. BAE Systems has incorporated the experience from two earlier designs into the new turret which “features sophisticated sensor systems and a revolutionary 40mm cannon”. The gun is to provide a major improvement over the 30mm Rarden gun used on the Scimitar. The 40mm round’s explosive power triples that of the 30mm round and, reportedly, penetrates more than 140mm of steel armour.


The next attempt for General Dynamics

After General Dynamics was awarded the FRES utility vehicle contract in early 2008, with the unfortunate outcome of this part of the FRES programme (the British MoD speaks of a “delay” of the programme in favour of the more urgently required scout vehicle), the company will now try its luck with the scout vehicle edition. According to General Dynamics, the company will submit its bid at the same time as BAE Systems. An official comment on the bid will be launched on Thursday and will also be available at defpro.com.

General Dynamics United Kingdom (GDUK), together with General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS), will be offering a low-risk evolution of the ASCOD 2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle which will be adapted to meet the reconnaissance requirements of the FRES SV. The ASCOD is already in use with the Spanish and Austrian armies. According to company officials, the ASCOD 2 vehicle will have the best mobility in its class, with tremendous growth potential for optimum survivability against future threats.

General Dynamics is confident it will deliver the required number of vehicles on time, on budget and with low risk, and emphasises its proven indigenous Armoured Fighting Vehicle integration capability proven with 13,000 British Army vehicles as the prime contractor for the UK's Bowman.

Furthermore, the company has not abandoned its hope for a possible resumption of the FRES UV programme as, officially, this has only been shelved. However, budget difficulties shape the entire procurement landscape of the United Kingdom and priorities are regularly shifting or being hotly discussed.


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By Nicolas von Kospoth, Managing Editor