Today Supacat is submitting its formal bid in response to the UK Ministry of Defence’s competition for the Light Protected Patrol Vehicle (LPPV) Programme, offering the all-new, all British Supacat Protected Vehicle (SPV) 400.  The submission coincides with vehicle making its international show debut today at Eurosatory, Paris, 14-18 June.

The UK MoD had invited Supacat to participate in the competitive Tender for the LPPV Programme, which is being procured under an Urgent Operational Requirement for an initial batch of 200 vehicles to enter service in late  2011.  This invitation followed the purchase earlier this year by UK MoD of two SPV400 vehicles from Supacat as part of the ongoing risk reduction activity being undertaken with both bidders on the LPPV programme.

The SPV400 has been purpose designed to provide troops with the protection and mobility needed against the threat from Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).  The SPV400 combines an integrated blast and ballistic protection system, including all composite protected crew pod and V-shaped hull.  It has exceptional all terrain high mobility performance, comparable to the Supacat designed Jackal and Coyote, and the agility to manoeuvre in tight urban environments.

 “The SPV400 offers protection levels way beyond those available in the 7.5 ton light patrol class.  With our protection partners, NP Aerospace, Supacat has designed a highly mobile vehicle with crew survivability built in from the outset”, said Nick Ames, Managing Director, Supacat.

A modular and future-proofed design allows the SPV400 to be upgraded to meet new threats and requirements.  The V shaped hull will protect the crew in an under-belly mine strike scenario.  The modular approach will also enable the SPV400 to be repaired in theatre following mine blast incidents by replacing the damaged module(s).

“The modular approach reduces overall damage to the system and will allow LPPVs to be put back on the road quickly. With the SPV400, the MoD will not have to write a vehicle off each time there is a mine strike”, said Nick Ames, Managing Director, Supacat.

The SPV400 is designed by Devon based Supacat, the world leader in high mobility, all terrain vehicles.  Its armour protection partner is Coventry based NP Aerospace, which has designed the composite crew pod and protection system with access to the UK’s classified armour technology.   Supacat and NP Aerospace have formed an Alliance Agreement under which volume production will be conducted through the Alliance at NP Aerospace’s Coventry facility.   Supacat and NP Aerospace have proven track records in supplying and supporting vehicles in service with British Forces in Afghanistan, with Supacat responsible for Jackal and Coyote and NP Aerospace for Mastiff and Ridgback.

All Intellectual Property Rights for the SPV400 are UK based with the automotive solution residing with Supacat and the protection system with NP Aerospace.  The Design Authority is held by Supacat.  This means the UK retains full control over future design upgrades and the SPV400 is free from US ITAR restrictions.  Potential future export revenues will be retained in the UK.   The selection of the SPV400 for LPPV would strengthen the UK’s innovation and engineering skills base and support manufacturing jobs, sustaining between 1000 and 1200 jobs throughout the UK

Today Supacat is submitting its formal bid in response to the UK Ministry of Defence’s competition for the Light Protected Patrol Vehicle (LPPV) Programme, offering the all-new, all British Supacat Protected Vehicle (SPV) 400.  The submission coincides with vehicle making its international show debut today at Eurosatory, Paris, 14-18 June.

The UK MoD had invited Supacat to participate in the competitive Tender for the LPPV Programme, which is being procured under an Urgent Operational Requirement for an initial batch of 200 vehicles to enter service in late  2011.  This invitation followed the purchase earlier this year by UK MoD of two SPV400 vehicles from Supacat as part of the ongoing risk reduction activity being undertaken with both bidders on the LPPV programme.

The SPV400 has been purpose designed to provide troops with the protection and mobility needed against the threat from Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).  The SPV400 combines an integrated blast and ballistic protection system, including all composite protected crew pod and V-shaped hull.  It has exceptional all terrain high mobility performance, comparable to the Supacat designed Jackal and Coyote, and the agility to manoeuvre in tight urban environments.

 “The SPV400 offers protection levels way beyond those available in the 7.5 ton light patrol class.  With our protection partners, NP Aerospace, Supacat has designed a highly mobile vehicle with crew survivability built in from the outset”, said Nick Ames, Managing Director, Supacat.

A modular and future-proofed design allows the SPV400 to be upgraded to meet new threats and requirements.  The V shaped hull will protect the crew in an under-belly mine strike scenario.  The modular approach will also enable the SPV400 to be repaired in theatre following mine blast incidents by replacing the damaged module(s).

“The modular approach reduces overall damage to the system and will allow LPPVs to be put back on the road quickly. With the SPV400, the MoD will not have to write a vehicle off each time there is a mine strike”, said Nick Ames, Managing Director, Supacat.

The SPV400 is designed by Devon based Supacat, the world leader in high mobility, all terrain vehicles.  Its armour protection partner is Coventry based NP Aerospace, which has designed the composite crew pod and protection system with access to the UK’s classified armour technology.   Supacat and NP Aerospace have formed an Alliance Agreement under which volume production will be conducted through the Alliance at NP Aerospace’s Coventry facility.   Supacat and NP Aerospace have proven track records in supplying and supporting vehicles in service with British Forces in Afghanistan, with Supacat responsible for Jackal and Coyote and NP Aerospace for Mastiff and Ridgback.

All Intellectual Property Rights for the SPV400 are UK based with the automotive solution residing with Supacat and the protection system with NP Aerospace.  The Design Authority is held by Supacat.  This means the UK retains full control over future design upgrades and the SPV400 is free from US ITAR restrictions.  Potential future export revenues will be retained in the UK.   The selection of the SPV400 for LPPV would strengthen the UK’s innovation and engineering skills base and support manufacturing jobs, sustaining between 1000 and 1200 jobs throughout the UK

British high mobility vehicle specialist, Supacat has been invited to tender in competition it’s all new, all British Supacat Protected Vehicle 400 series (SPV400) for the UK Ministry of Defence’s Light Protected Patrol Vehicle (LPPV) Programme. Under an Urgent Operational Requirement the UK MoD is expected to order an initial batch of 200 vehicles to enter service in late 2011.

The receipt of the Invitation to Tender follows the purchase earlier this year by UK MoD of two SPV400 vehicles as part of its ongoing risk reduction activity on the LPPV programme.

Last week the SPV400 was subjected to a second round of blast tests as part of the vehicle’s development programme. The results underwrote Supacat’s philosophy of future proofing the SPV400 design by aiming for protection levels above those within the LPPV requirement. Further refinement of the design is taking place prior to another round of testing next month.

If the SPV400 is successful in winning in the competition we believe it will give British troops the protection and mobility they need against the threat from Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) on operations in Afghanistan. It combines an integrated blast and ballistic protection system, including all composite protected crew pod and V-shaped hull. It has exceptional all terrain high mobility performance, comparable to the Supacat designed Jackal, and the agility to manoeuvre in tight urban environments.

A modular and future-proofed design allows the SPV400 to be upgraded to meet new threats and requirements. The V shaped hull will protect the crew in an under-belly mine strike scenario. The modular approach will also enable the SPV400 to be repaired in theatre following mine blast incidents by replacing the damaged module(s).

“I am particularly pleased with the repair aspects of this testing as our offering has been designed to reduce through life costs by having the ability to be repaired in theatre. The modular and sacrificial approach reduces overall damage to the system and will allow LPPVs to be put back on the road quickly. With the SPV400, the MoD will not have to write a vehicle off each time there is a mine strike”, said Nick Ames, Managing Director, Supacat.

The SPV400 is designed by Devon based Supacat, the world leader in high mobility, all terrain vehicles. Its armour protection partner is Coventry based NP Aerospace, which has designed the composite crew pod and protection system with access to the UK’s classified armour technology.
Supacat and NP Aerospace have formed an Alliance Agreement under which volume production will be conducted through the Alliance at NP Aerospace’s Coventry facility. Supacat and NP Aerospace have proven track records in supplying and supporting vehicles in service with British Forces in Afghanistan, with Supacat responsible for Jackal and Coyote and NP Aerospace for Mastiff and Ridgback.

All Intellectual Property Rights for the SPV400 are UK based with the automotive solution residing with Supacat and the protection system with NP Aerospace. The Design Authority is held by Supacat. This means the UK retains full control over future design upgrades and the SPV400 is free from US ITAR restrictions. Potential future export revenues will be retained in the UK. The selection of the SPV400 for LPPV would strengthen the UK’s innovation and engineering skills base and support manufacturing jobs, sustaining between 1000 and 1200 jobs throughout the UK.

The Supacat SPV400, the all-British, all-new contender from Supacat to meet the UK Ministry of Defence’s Light Protected Patrol Vehicle (LPPV) requirement was, this week, subjected to a second round of blast tests as part of the vehicle’s development programme. A number of blast tests were conducted to correlate development work and prove the upgrades and improvements incorporated into the SPV400 design since the first round of testing in December 2009.
The results were very positive and consistent with expectations. Whilst for security and competitive reasons the detail cannot be released, the size of the blasts were “very significant” and underwrote Supacat’s philosophy of future proofing the SPV400 design by aiming for protection levels above those within the LPPV requirement. Further refinement will now take place prior to another round of testing next month.
The SPV400’s integrated protection system comprises of a composite crew pod, developed in conjunction with NP Aerospace, mounted on a V-shaped hull with sacrificial subframes front and rear housing the engine and axles. With the primary blast focussed under the belly of the vehicle, the integrated V-shaped hull successfully deflected the majority of the blast away from the vehicle proving the SPV400’s crew and system survivability capabilities. Additional testing focussed away from the central V-shaped hull also proved Supacat’s approach when mounting the axles in sacrificial sub-frames fore and aft of the hull.
“These tests have once again proven Supacat’s design philosophy for delivering a state of the art light protected patrol vehicle providing the protection and mobility our soldiers need for 21st Century operations”, said Nick Ames, Managing Director, Supacat Ltd. “We have now proven that the SPV400 can provide levels of protection way in excess of anything seen previously in vehicles of this size and weight. Having said that, there is yet more that can be achieved and our team are now working hard to enable that”.
A new component of the latest tests was the introduction of post-test formal repair analysis to prove the ability to repair the SPV400. The results confirmed that the same test vehicle could be quickly repaired after each blast.

“I am particularly pleased with the repair aspects of this testing as our offering has been designed to reduce through life costs by having the ability to be repaired in theatre. The modular and sacrificial approach reduces overall damage to the system and will allow LPPVs to be put back on the road quickly. With the SPV400, the MoD will not have to write a vehicle off each time there is a mine strike”, said Nick Ames.
Vehicle 01 was subjected in December 2009 to two days of blast trials, which included a ‘significant’ under vehicle mine blast simulation as well as a “huge” Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) simulation. Vehicle 04 in the SPV400 development programme underwent these latest blast tests and Vehicle 05 is being completed at Supacat’s Devon facility in readiness to undergo further blast tests next month. The UK Ministry of Defence purchased two vehicles from Supacat, Vehicle 02 and 03, to participate in trials and risk reduction activities for the LPPV Programme.

You can read more about the earlier blast tests by clicking here.
You can read more about the SPV400 by clicking here.

All-new all-British SPV400 will give troops unparalleled protection and mobility

The Supacat Protected Vehicle (SPV400) today received its International Media Launch at the Long Valley Test Ground, Aldershot, UK.  The SPV400 is the contender from British high mobility vehicle specialist, Supacat, for the UK Ministry of Defence’s Light Protected Patrol Vehicle (LPPV) programme.  Under an Urgent Operational Requirement the UK MoD is expected to order an initial batch of 200 vehicles to enter service in early 2011.

The all-new, all-British SPV400 will give British troops the protection and mobility they need against the threat from Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) on operations in Afghanistan.   It combines an integrated blast and ballistic protection system, including all composite protected crew pod and V-shaped hull, with exceptional cross country mobility and the agility to manoeuvre in tight urban environments.

“The SPV400 is purpose designed for LPPV and offers a 21 century solution for 21st century operations.  Its clean sheet design is `future-proofed` and can be upgraded to exceed the present LPPV requirements for protection and mobility”, said Nick Ames, Managing Director of Supacat Ltd.

The SPV400 is designed by Devon based Supacat, the world leader in high mobility, all terrain vehicles.  Its armour protection partner is Coventry based NP Aerospace, which has designed the composite crew pod and protection system with access to the UK’s classified armour technology.   Supacat and NP Aerospace have formalised their Alliance Agreement under which volume production will be conducted through the Alliance at NP Aerospace’s Coventry facility.

Supacat and NP Aerospace have proven track records in supplying and supporting vehicles in service with British Forces in Afghanistan, with Supacat responsible for Jackal and Coyote and NP Aerospace for Mastiff and Ridgback.

With the Design Authority for the SPV400 being UK based, all Intellectual Property Rights for the SPV400 automotive and protection systems reside with Supacat and NP Aerospace.  This means the UK retains full control over future design upgrades and the SPV400 is free from US ITAR restrictions.

The selection of the SPV400 for LPPV would strengthen the UK’s innovation and engineering skills base, support manufacturing jobs and ensure potential export revenues are retained in the UK.  The SPV400 bid will sustain and protect between 1000 and 1200 jobs throughout the UK.

“The UK MoD’s selection of a vehicle for the LPPV programme is being closely followed by several countries, underlining the considerable export potential for a vehicle in this class”, said Nick Ames.

The SPV400 Series
The SPV400’s modular design optimises survivability and mobility within the LPPV specification for a 7.5 ton vehicle carrying a crew of six (2 +4).

The SPV400 has an armoured steel V-shaped hull that deflects the blast away from the   crew pod which is blast and ballistic protected using the latest composite and ceramic armour systems.  The crew pod is constructed as a separate module, sealed off from potential secondary projectiles, such as kit and electronic devices, which are housed in a rear compartment.   All seats are mine blast protected.

Additional protection is provided by the front and rear axles, which are mounted on detachable `sacrificial` sub-frames to absorb and deflect a blast away from the crew pod if a wheel strikes an explosive device.  To enable this approach, the engine and transmission are separated to ensure the crew pod is not impacted should the front sub-frame detach. This modular approach also enables rapid in-theatre repair should a vehicle be involved in an incident. The affected module(s) can be quickly replaced enhancing the availability and maintainability of deployed platforms.

The SPV400’s speed and all terrain mobility is comparable to Jackal and it is capable of 80mph on desert plain.  Air suspension provides troops with a smooth ride, reducing crew fatigue, and the manoeuvrability has been optimised to allow troops to operate in the tightest of terrain.

SPV 400 Series Programme Status
The first SPV 400 prototype was subjected in December 2009 to two days of blast trials, which included a ‘ significant ‘ under vehicle mine blast simulation as well as a “huge” Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) simulation.   The second and third SPV400 prototypes were completed at Supacat’s Dunkswell, Devon, facility in January 2010 and following initial company trials are participating in the UK MoD’s full trials programme.  A further two prototypes are being completed with one due to undergo further blast tests.

SPV400 PRODUCT PAGE:
https://www.supacat.com/products/spv400/

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IMAGES:
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Supacat, as sponsors of the Combined Services Winter Sports Association (CSWSA) and Combined Services Disabled Ski Team (CSDST), attended the Inter-Services Snowsports Championships in Meribel, France from 30 Jan- 6 Feb 2010. The event provides the opportunity for all three services to compete in Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding and Telemark. The incredible athletes from the Combined Services Disabled Ski Team also take part. Managing Director, Nick Ames visited the event and said “Supacat are delighted to be supporting this event and have the privilege of spending time with all of the competitors and other attendees. The achievements of all of the athletes are quite outstanding making the Supacat Team very proud to be associated with our Armed Forces in this way. In particular, we wish the CSDST the very best of luck for the rest of their season including their bid to compete at the Vancouver Winter Paralympics 2010 with a number of athletes and with even more at the Russia Winter Paralympics 2014”.

Supacat exhibited at the DSEi (Defence Systems & Equipment International) show in London from 8 to 11 September 2009. Highlight of the show was the launch of the new Supacat Protected Vehicle 400 Series (SPV400) and you can read more here.