Meggitt PLC has signed a 3 year agreement with BAE Systems for an ‘innovative’ generator system.
Meggitt says its solution combines two existing generators into a single generator, capable of fitting into a compressed space envelope. Its unique design creates space and weight savings and improves efficiency and performance, say the firm.
Chris Allen, President of Meggitt’s Airframe Systems division, said:
“We have worked closely with BAE Systems, helping them to develop a reliable, efficient system that reduces the number of critical parts, making assembly and maintenance much easier.
This contract is testament to the ongoing relationship we have established with BAE Systems and the trust they place in Meggitt’s ability to both innovate and supply reliable technology.”
Headquartered in the United Kingdom, Meggitt operates in North America, Europe and Asia. Known for its specialised extreme environment engineering, Meggitt is a leader in aerospace, defence and energy.
The firm also say that it employs more than 12,000 people at over 40 manufacturing facilities and regional offices worldwide.
The Australian Government has announced the ADF will acquire 30 of the South Korean Samsung Techwin (now Hanwha) K-9 self-propelled howitzers and their supporting systems.
They will be built and maintained in Geelong which will create 350 jobs in Australia under an accelerated approval process with work beginning before the end of 2022-23.
The latest K9A1 version is an advanced system and an interesting bit of kit from a number of perspectives.
Its longer 52 calibre barrel (compared to AS 90 39 calibre) gives the K90 a range out to 50 km (with the H2 RAP round). It has multiple round simultaneous impact (MRSI) capability for greater lethality on a single target.
Its so-called ‘shoot and scoot’ capability is designed to help avoid counter battery fire. It is supposedly capable of firing its first round within 60 seconds of coming to a halt and be ready to relocate to another position within 60 seconds of completing a fire mission.
The K10 armoured resupply vehicle, based on the same chassis, carries 104 rounds and can automatically reload a K9 under armour at the rate of 12 rounds per minute reducing manpower requirements in the logistic tail.
It is achieving some export success and is already in service with Nordic countries, Turkey and India.
Recent experience I have had with AS90 showed just how behind the curve it is, the gun is out ranged by everything, notably the 2S-19 with is 152mm 2A64 gun. The automotive systems of AS90 are also terrible and spend most of their time behind a recovery vehicle.
Latvia has 47 109s that are in great shape, looking at AS90 availability, is it correct to say when it comes to OS, the British Army has a comparable capability to the Latvian army?
BV
It beggars belief how shockingly out of date both our artillery and heavy armour is compared to other Nations. I am hoping that the order for Boxer will include the artillery module. The module has already been trialled and works, so most of the work is done. So come on MOD lets make the strike brigade real, not just some paper exercise.
I think most of our land platforms are obsolete, CR2, AS90, Warrior, CVR(T), HVM, we are still using 432s from the 60s. I’m struggling to see what we spend the money on.
We have a great opportunity to upgrade the entire fleet, think the US in the late 1970. Boxer is the way forward, if it was up to me (god help us) then I would scrap the full lot and replace every platform with a Boxer variant, that way we have a true strike capability.
BV
I’ve always wondered where the UK’s fleet of M109’s went? No privately owned vehicles appear to be around, and I never saw any for sale at Withams? Having watched SA90’s demonstrate their firepower and accuracy, it appeared to be formidable. However, the upgraded gun failed to be retrofitted and many have been withdrawn, for whatever reason?
I thought we sold them to Austria many years ago.