The UK high mobility vehicle specialist, Supacat, has signed a £23 million contract with The Norwegian Defence Logistic Organisation (NDLO) to supply a new fleet of High Mobility Vehicles.  Supacat is supplying the HMT Extenda vehicle, the most capable vehicle in its class with the highest levels of mobility, protection, payload and firepower.

Under the contract, the NDLO has an option for a follow-on order that would double the fleet.  The award includes the provision of a comprehensive through life support package.  The first `pre-series` vehicle will be delivered in late 2016 followed by full fleet delivery from 2017 to 2019.  Supacat will build the rolling chassis at its Devon based facility and it is planned that final fit and integration is completed in Norway.

“Securing Norway’s high mobility vehicle contract is a prestigious win for Supacat. It reinforces our world lead in this niche corner of the defence industry and underlines HMT Extenda’s position as the vehicle of choice for the modern fighting forces,” said Nick Ames, Managing Director, Supacat Group Ltd.

The NDLO will acquire the latest version of the HMT Extenda with modifications to meet Norwegian requirements.

The HMT Extenda is unique as it is convertible to a 4×4 or a 6×6 configuration by inserting or removing a self-contained third axle unit to meet different operational requirements. Like other HMT series platforms, such as `Jackal`, the HMT Extenda can be supplied with optional mine blast and ballistic protection kits and with a variety of mission hampers, weapons, communications, ISTAR and force protection equipment to suit a wide range of operational roles.

Brisbane, Australia, 23rd September, 2014, Supacat today launched a Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle (BARV) concept based on its highly successful Launch and Recovery System (L&RS) in service with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in the UK.

The L&RS incorporates a number of unique and innovative designs including permanent software controlled track drive systems and an innovative and highly manoeuvrable steering system. It has a normal operating depth of 3 metres, however the complete system can be shut down and left submerged at a depth of 9 metres.

The high mounted cab provides excellent visibility and has capacity for three occupants. It features 180 degree swivel command seat and controls to maximise the utility of the platform.

The militarised BARV system incorporates a number of new features including forward and rear bumper arrangements, recovery and hauling winches and towing points. The way the platform is configured allows for a variety of attachments to be used on the front of the platform, such as blades and track layers. The integration of a crane onto the platform would allow the BARV to be self-reliant in changing attachments.

The modular design of the BARV also allow for applique armour to protect the occupants and critical systems.

Michael Halloran, Managing Director, Australia, said “The benefit of the Supacat BARV is that it is based on a modern, in-service platform. That means a proven performer with reduced through life costs and an existing support infrastructure for the vehicle.”

Nick Jones, Founder and Director, was one of the key figures in the original design of the L&RS. Nick said, “The size of the Supacat BARV also provides operational flexibility. Our design allows the BARVs to operate alone for the simple jobs, to be daisy chained for the big jobs or to work in tandem for the complex jobs.”

Steve Austen has joined Supacat as Engineering Director & Chief Engineer to lead the company’s engineering capability in developing and delivering innovative, high performance products for the defence, marine, renewables and energy sectors.

Steve joins from The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) where he had the Engineering lead for all plant and equipment, including the Shannon Class all weather lifeboat and its launching system, the latter jointly developed by the RNLI and Supacat.

A Chartered Engineer, Naval Architect and Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Steve brings over 25 years’ experience in R&D, design, supply and support across the defence and marine sectors and specialist expertise in composites.

On his appointment Steve Austen commented, “I’ve worked alongside Supacat for over a decade and have always been impressed with their engineering capabilities, innovation, responsiveness and ‘can do’ attitude, so it is a great privilege for me to join the company. As the company grows across a range of engineering sectors, we will continue investing in our skills and expertise to be the best at what we do and how we do it while keeping focus on the military vehicles Supacat is renowned for”.

Nick Ames, Managing Director, Supacat Group Ltd, said, “We are delighted to welcome Steve whose background in marine and huge experience in other sectors will make a major contribution to the company at this stage in its development. His appointment underlines our ongoing commitment to innovative engineering”.

Supacat and Navistar Defence announced today, during the U.K. Ministry of Defence DVD vehicle show, that the two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to form a team to deliver collaborative future support to the U.K. Ministry of Defence’s  protected mobility fleet.

Partnering together enables the two support service suppliers to integrate their existing Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) based support structures to enhance combined capabilities on offers as vehicles are brought back from Afghanistan into the Army 2020 core fleet. This alliance allows the two OEMs to start preparing for a “Strategic Support Supplier,” (SSS) type support arrangement to enable the U.K. MoD to adopt industry-led solutions for managing fleet support and achieving efficiencies.

“We see this proactive step as a means to deliver cross platform efficiencies required by the MoD, while providing flexibility by putting the vehicle OEMs in the driver’s seat,” said Nick Ames, managing director, Supacat. “In addition, the alliance offers the U.K. MoD an early opportunity to further inform the Strategic Support Supplier concept.”

Supacat and Navistar will take advantage of the geographical spread of their combined facilities to evolve the integrated joint support solution- delivering efficiencies to the U.K. MoD across both companies’ vehicle platforms.

“We feel this MOU will lead to strong foundations for a relationship enabling us to offer strong, flexible and comprehensive service to the MoD,” said Robert Ward, regional manager, Navistar. “We look forward to working with the MoD and preparing for SSS arrangements to meet their needs.”

The U.K. MoD recently confirmed Supacat’s Jackal and Coyote platforms and Navistar’s MXT^TM “Husky” will be brought into the core fleet to form part of the British Armed Force’s equipment plan for the next 10-15 years. Under the MoU, Supacat and Navistar would have the capability to cover nearly 1,000 total vehicles in service delivered under numerous UORs to the U.K. MoD through the U.K. Defence Equipment and Support’s (DE&S) Protected Mobility Team (PMT).

The UK MoD has purchased over 600 Jackal and Coyote vehicles based upon Supacat’s HMT vehicle, and 300 Husky vehicles based on Navistar’s MXT platform. The Coyote and Husky variants were procured as part of the Tactical Support Vehicle (TSV) programme with Coyote fulfilling the light role (TSV(L)) and Husky, the medium (TSV(M)).

Supacat currently supports over 800 vehicles, more than 100 of which are internationally operated. It has a full Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) capability including design, integration, technical publications and trials conducted at an in-house test track. The company also has a strong engineering team of more than 30 members, as well as workshops and staff equipped for repair and overhaul.

Navistar Defense operates in the U.K., U.S. and Afghanistan to support the MoD’s Husky fleet.  As a subsidiary of one of the world’s largest truck manufacturers, Navistar’s U.K. team is supported by extensive engineering, ILS and commercial resources. Navistar U.K. is based at Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire, where it has full access to the resources and facilities available including the 280 hectares of test tracks.

 

Interview with Managing director Nicholas Ames at DVD from Forces News

Business Secretary Vince Cable said today, during his visit to Honiton based Supacat: “The skills of British engineers are sought the world over, especially when equipment has to work in challenging conditions, no more so than here at Supacat. The defence industry is facing challenges at the moment, but I’m pleased to see that companies like Supacat are diversifying their business and continuing to export and sustain jobs here in the South West”.

Upon arrival, the Minister was briefed by Director and Founder, Nick Jones and Director and General Manager, Chris Compton. During his visit he was given an overview of Supacat’s capabilities including being show around the RNLI’s Launch and Recovery Vehicle by Supacat’s lead engineers and receiving an explanation of Supacat’s brand new Multi-purpose vessel, the SMV 24, from Joe Wilcox, Head of Marine and Renewables.

Chris Compton, Director and General Manager at Supacat said “we are delighted that the Secretary of State for Business has taken the time to visit us today and given us the opportunity to brief him on our products and services. He seemed particularly interested in how we are dealing with the decline of the defence sector and how we are transferring our engineering skills to challenging new sectors such as marine, renewable energy and oil and gas”.

For further information please visit the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills web site, which gives full details of the visit to the South West and Supacat this afternoon.

“Jim McKechnie, project engineer at Supacat, tells PE how the forward-thinking company still keeps him interested after 15 years”

Click here to read the PDF and click here to read it online.

Chris Compton, Director and General Manager and Jamie Clarke, Head of Marketing and Comms attended the Bloodhound Sponsors Day at Silverstone Race Circuit on Wed 16 May. The Supacat HMT600 support vehicle was on display and was available to take visitors around the off-road circuit. Supacat are supporting the Bloodhound 1000mph record attempt with the provision of support vehicles. In attendance were the” fastest men in the world” Richard Noble OBE and Wing Commander Andy Green OBE. Richard is the founder and director of the Bloodhound programme and Andy will drive the car for the record attempt.

To understand more about the Bloodhound project, please click here.

 

Wounded Hero Mick Brennan (33) received a state-of the-art sit-ski today at the Help for Heroes Recovery Centre, Tedworth House in Tidworth, Wiltshire. The high tech sit-ski means Mick is a now step closer to representing Britain in the 2014 Winter Paralympics.

In November 2004, Mick was serving with the Royal Signals when he lost both his legs and suffered brain injury in a suicide bomb attack in Iraq. But since he first got on skis in 2008, he’s been going from strength to strength. Mick recently placed 3rd at the Austrian National Championships and only a week later went on to win his first international race at the Italian National Champions. As a result, he is fast becoming one of the country’s top disabled skiers.

Now Mick can ensure he reaches his full potential after a joint effort from Help for Heroes, Supacat, the Combined Services Disabled Ski Team and NP Aerospace to provide him with the highest spec equipment. Mick’s new rig is an off the shelf Nissin item purchased by Help for Heroes. This has then been adapted and re-engineered by Supacat, designers of the acclaimed Jackal vehicle, who have developed a custom built state of the art suspension system and conducted the systems integration. NP Aerospace, who manufacture the UK’s composite helmets and body armour, have manufactured a custom fitted composite seat. The complete system will give Mick the performance and confidence he needs to push his results to the next level.

Mick says, “Knowing the public and my sponsors are supporting me gives me the biggest boost. It makes me so grateful to know their funding is giving me the opportunity to progress with a new career. When I was first injured, I thought I would be limited to desk jobs so to be out on the slopes and now training for the Paralympics is just incredible. Thank you so much to Help for Heroes, my sponsors and to everyone who has believed in me.”

Mick cannot wait to put his new sit-ski through its paces later this week as he hits the slopes visiting a Battle Back ski course before a further training camp in Austria. Battle Back is a Military initiative supported by Help for Heroes, which uses Adaptive Adventure Training and Sports Rehabilitation to help seriously wounded Service personnel gain confidence and return to an active life.

Supporters can follow’s Mick’s Paralympic training on his Twitter account – @MonoSkiMick

 

 

Two Supacat designed Jackals performed to applause at The British Military Tournament at London’s Earl’s Court last weekend.  They played their role in an Afghanistan Combat Re-enactment by the Household Cavalry, which was judged the highlight of the show.  The Jackal was also praised behind the scenes by service personnel performing at the show and the show’s production team, according to Supacat’s Exhibition and Demonstration Co-ordinator, Nigel Platt.  “We were thanked by the service personnel for producing `such a brilliant truck` and meanwhile the Tournament’s production team were curious about how we’d designed it to be so quiet, which of course is one of its key design features for stealth operations”.

The Tournament played to 52,000 people over four performances and raised a net profit for ABF The Soldiers’Charity well into six figures, making it their biggest fund raising event this year.  Nigel set up a charity box on Supacat’s stand and collected over £100 in donations in return for posters.

“Supacat was very pleased to support The British Military Tournament and congratulates the organisers for producing such a successful event to help Britain’s service men and women”, said Nick Ames, Managing Director, Supacat.

View the Afghanistan Combat Re-enactment on YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1OWgiaycy8

Supacat is playing a crucial role in The BLOODHOUND SSC’s bid to break the World Land Speed Record, in which the current record holder, Andy Green, will attempt a 1000mph record in South Africa in 2012. To support them during the high speed testing and record breaking runs the British team turned to Supacat for an all terrain, high mobility support vehicle capable of operating in the harsh desert conditions of the Hakskeen Pan.

The vehicle has to be capable of carrying 1,500 ltrs of water, firefighting equipment, a crane, a spare 450kg rocket and four crew members in air-conditioned comfort. The solution is Supacat’s 6×6 wheel drive HMT600, two of which have been loaned by Supacat for the Project. The HMT 600, dubbed `Coyote`, is serving as the British Army’s Tactical Support Vehicle (Light) in Afghanistan.

“Supacat’s role in the Bloodhound project highlights how British innovation and engineering can the lead the world. We’re very proud to be part of this project”, said Nick Ames, Managing Director of Supacat.

The 10 tonne, 183 bhp truck reaches speeds of 80 mph fully loaded and will serve as a secondary response vehicle in the event of an accident or emergency. The 1,500 lts of water and firefighting equipment will be used to dilute the highly corrosive High Test Peroxide (HTP) being used as rocket oxidizer should there be a leak or a spillage.

The Supacat HMT 600 will also aid the team during the tricky one hour turnaround phase. The crane will be used to load and unload the 450kg 5 metre long hybrid rocket, moving equipment and lifting the BLOODHOUND SSC on and off the dolly which will tow it to and from the base camp.

Click here to see the article on thesun.co.uk