BAE Systems, LONDON, UK: BAE Systems' Panther command and liaison vehicle has successfully passed its UK MOD reliability qualification trials after a rigorous test of its capabilities.
The trials are a major milestone towards the vehicle entering service with the British Army and BAE Systems is now on track to deliver the first 56 of the vehicles by the end of September. A total of 401 Panthers are scheduled to be delivered between now and first quarter 2009.
Panther is a multi-role rapid-deployment 4×4 vehicle with mine and ballistic protection which will provide advanced capability for UK troops. It was chosen by the UK MOD for its command and liaison vehicle programme and provides a new capability to meet the threats of the 21st century.
The reliability qualification trials were the culmination of the demonstration phase that followed both reliability growth trials and military user trials that were held earlier this year. Carried out at the Armoured Trials & Development Unit at Bovington in southern England, the trials aimed to evaluate the vehicle for a number of roles it will fulfill within the British Army and the Royal Air Force (RAF).
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It will be used as a commander’s vehicle for engineer troops, anti-tank, mortar and supporting fire platoons and as a liaison officer's vehicle for armoured reconnaissance and armoured infantry units. It will also be deployed with REME for asset co-ordination, and by the Royal Signals for radio rebroadcast.
Bill Jamieson, business director, D&M Programmes for BAE Systems Land Systems, said: “The Military User Trials demonstrated that Panther matches the expectations of the crews in providing a vehicle that has many more technological advances than previously seen on land vehicles. Its outstanding mobility performance was specifically praised by the British Army crews.”
Panther is a culmination of a product partnership between BAE Systems and Iveco DVD. The 7.1 tonne Panther is a highly innovative vehicle that combines the benefits of commercially proven automotives with a design that incorporates mine and ballistic protection.
The result is a highly survivable, air-transportable and high-mobility vehicle suited to deployment in a wide variety of roles and operational environments, from war to peace-keeping.
BAE Systems, which integrates the Panther at its Newcastle facility, has led the way in certifying the vehicle with the rigorous tests and requirements specified by the UK MOD, proving out the vehicle for the rest of Europe.
BAE Systems is the premier global defence and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With 96,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £15 billion (US $27 billion) in 2006 on a pro forma basis, assuming BAE Systems had owned Armor Holdings Inc, for the whole of 2006.
