Impression of Creation’s Zephyr SRV 6x6 variant following design changes to soften the appearance.

New facility is brought on stream to support defence, automotive and materials handling programmes

15:03 GMT, December 10, 2009 Creation, the UK-based defence vehicle design and engineering company, has brought forward its plans for the 6x6 variants of its Zephyr SRV (Specific Requirements Vehicle), following formal requests to licence the design – and other configurations of the vehicle - for local manufacture and assembly overseas. The company is also taking the opportunity to introduce a number of styling changes to develop the appearance of all its protected vehicle platforms.

Concurrently – and to accommodate Creation’s rapidly escalating workload across its defence, automotive and materials handling programmes – the company has moved into its new 12,000 sq ft dedicated engineering facility - at Salmon Harvester Properties’ Bartley Point development in Hook, Hampshire. The move also brings both the design office and engineering workshop functions together under one roof for the first time – and enables the company to undertake prototype build, specialist vehicle engineering and, if required, low volume production.

Creation Managing Director, Bill Davis says, ”In particular, the response and interest in the Zephyr programme from around the world has been phenomenal. So, aside from our ongoing programme specific work with the initial variants of the vehicle, we have had to press ahead with a number of our future plans. Those include bringing forward the 6x6 configurations of the vehicle to meet specific overseas user requirements, stepping up work on some other programmes - and relocation to our new Hook site.

“We have also started work with one of the world’s leading stylists – Peter Stevens, to soften the appearance of our protected vehicle programmes – so that, at least aesthetically, they adapt more readily and look less intimidating in a post-conflict peacekeeping operational environment. Our feedback from international users has shown that this is becoming an increasingly important factor”, says Davis

The new 6x6 Zephyr SRV variant is designed to carry a payload of around 5 tonnes, depending on base vehicle protection level – and will significantly widen the range of operational roles, body types and specialist applications for which the vehicle envelope can be configured. These include pick-up utility vehicle, troop carrier, command and control, Weapons Mounted Installation Kit (WMIK), reconnaissance and battlefield ambulance. Zephyr SRV is also able to carry a range of roof-mounted options, including protected or remote weapons stations (RWS).

Crew and seating layouts can be varied from two to eight occupants, to suit operational requirements. Space is also allocated for weapons fit, communications suites, situational awareness (SA) systems and other electronic devices. Additional features include fully integrated Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) and the capability to support exportable power requirements.

Creation’s Zephyr SRV programme is a range of new radical design protected vehicle platforms based on modular principles to provide high survivability, multi-role operational flexibility – and optimum mechanical and logistics serviceability. The programme also includes a number of LFU (Legacy Fleet Upgrade) options, designed to add or enhance protection, extend operating life of existing fleet inventory or modify, convert and re-deploy assets to meet other applications and operational requirements.