Firms bid for New Medium Protected Patrol Vehicle for British Army

Qinetiq, QinetiQ has teamed with specialist vehicle contractor MacNeillie & Son Ltd to bid for the potential requirement for around 180 new Medium Protected Patrol Vehicles (MPPVs) for the British Army to come into service from 2009. 
 
The plan for the MPPV is to modify an existing platform and bridge the gap between the recently deployed Force Protection 6×6 Mastiff and the Pinzgauer Vector 6×6 light protected patrol vehicles (PPVs). According to Fiona Lewinton, MD for QinetiQ's land business, this move is the latest development in its business strategy to expand into bespoke vehicle design and vehicle integration in the land domain. 
 
Minimum requirements for the MPPV calls for a wheeled vehicle to operate on both roads and on rough tracks in urban, semi urban and rural environments. It should also have a maximum weight of 14 tonnes, be capable of carrying up to seven troops and provide protection against ballistic, mine, fragmentation and blast threats. Modifications are expected to include the integration of Bowman digital communications equipment, other electronic systems used to counter threats including improvised explosive devices (IEDs) plus specialist armour and weapons. 
 
A Pre Qualification Questionnaire for the joint QinetiQ / MacNeillie solution has already been submitted to the Specialist and Utility Vehicles Integrated Project Team (SUV IPT). This is based on integrating a number of new technologies onto the Military Armoured Carrier System (MACS) vehicle that MacNeillie’s unveiled at the Defence Vehicle Dynamics in June. The down select is now eagerly awaited when more detailed requirements are expected to be announced. 
 
“QinetiQ has an excellent track record in the defence sector for developing and demonstrating innovative solutions and a real appetite to expand into the specialist vehicle integration domain,” stated Keith Bradley, MacNeillie’s managing director. “Couple this with our respected heritage for craftsmanship and excellence for converting vehicles in our modern and fully equipped manufacturing facilities to meet the needs of the global defence and civil security markets, and we believe that we’ve come up with and know we can deliver a compelling and cost effective solution.”