Defense Technology International - June 2008 - (Page 51)

JORIS JANSSEN LOK/DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL PHOTOS More MLU improvements are slated in a few years, the plans for which are being developed, Perrin says. “The ﬁrst objective of the MLU is to replace the vehicle electronics infrastructure, as the Leclerc’s current data bus is reaching the point where it is maxing out in capacity,” he says. “We need much greater capacity to exchange and share an increasingly large volume of information.” The DGA also wants to add a number of functions to better suit the Leclerc for urban operations. These may include: Improving wireless connectivity and integration between the tank and dismounted troops working with Felin equipment; Installing a new electro-optical sensor suite that improves situational awareness with 360-deg. panoramic vision; Adding a remote weapon station (RWS) on top of the turret. France has just ordered the Kongsberg Protector RWS to equip VAB wheeled armored vehicles, and may put this on the Leclerc tank as well; Providing an active protection system to improve survivability against short-range anti-tank weapons. Bertin Technologies developed the HoverEye short-range VTOL drone for urban intelligence and surveillance. According to Perrin, the MLU package-development contract will be awarded in 2010, with series production deliveries expected to start in 2015. How many Leclerc tanks will be upgraded depends on the ﬁndings of the upcoming defense white paper. Nexter executives say the number could be as low as 250. Earlier this year, Nexter delivered the ﬁrst series-produced, truck-mounted, 155mm./52-cal. Caesar howitzer system for the French army. The company plans to build 40 this year, including six for Thailand. A total of 163 of the self-propelled howitzers have been ordered by three countries: 77 by France; six by Thailand, and 80 by an undisclosed Middle Eastern country, says Evelyne Montet, Nexter’s artillery systems business manager. The Middle Eastern country is widely reported to be Saudi Arabia, which is expected to assemble Caesar howitzers locally for delivery in 2009, 2010 and 2011. The Saudi Arabian howitzers will be integrated on Unimog high-mobility trucks from Mercedes-Benz. These • • • • The ﬁrst production Caesar howitzer from Nexter will be deployed in summer. were selected because of Unimog’s broad logistics-support network in the kingdom. In that sense the howitzers will be di erent from the French and Thai systems, which use 6 X 6 military trucks from Renault Trucks Defense as carrier platforms. This vehicle can deploy more than 600 km. without refueling and travel at over 80 kph. on roads. The Caesar howitzers for France will be delivered by 2010, says Montet. (Five pre-production systems have been in service since 2003.) The ﬁrst production howitzer will be deployed with a frontline artillery battery as early as this summer. The six guns for Thailand will be produced and shipped by the end of the year, Bredy says, and delivered to the army in early 2009. Fire-support electronics (the Atlas ﬁre-support information system for the French army) and a Sigma 30 ring-laser gyro inertial navigation unit from Sagem are part of the system, Montet says. Caesar has a combat weight of less than 18 metric tons and is air-transportable in a C-130 in a single load, Nexter says. The ordnance is designed for a ﬁring rate of six rounds per minute. The howitzer engages targets 4.5-42 km. away using basebleed ERFB ammunition, and more than 50 km. away with rocket-assisted munitions, the manufacturer claims. Eighteen rounds are carried on board and loaded semiautomatically. The howitzer can be brought into action within a minute after coming to a stop, and be on the move 40 sec. after firing, says Nexter. A crew of 4-5 can operate the weapon. I To read more posts about the French army and land systems industry, go to DTI’s home page, AviationWeek.com/dti , and click on “Extras for this issue” under “DTI Interactive.” AviationWeek.com/dti JUNE 2008 DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL 51 http://AviationWeek.com/dti http://AviationWeek.com/dti

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Defense Technology International - June 2008

Defense Technology International - June 2008 Contents Around the World Science Watch Tech Watch Basic Black Self-Defense Fire-Resistant Perfezione Hyperspeed Trial Big Sky Cashing In Digital Links Hang Ten Sea Change Programs Update Two Steps Back Direct Hit Staying Power Potent Stinger Do No Harm Guard Duty The Net Cutting Edge First Person In Review Insight

Defense Technology International - June 2008

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