MPPV: More Mastiffs, or UK MRAP Competition?
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April 25/07: According to the European Defence Agency, Britain’s “Specialist and Utility Vehicles (SUV)” Integrated Project Team is seeking tenders for about 180 “Medium Protected Patrol Vehicles” for “a wide range of patrol tasks” under solicitation EDA-1064. The MPPVs will be wheeled vehicles with a gross weight fully loaded of around 14 tonnes (about 36,000 pounds), offering “very high levels of protection against a number of known and emerging threats of a varied nature including Ballistic, Blast, Mine and Fragmentation” and “a degree of cross country mobility” despite being slated mostly for road and rough track use.
Delivery into service is expected in early 2009, at an estimated cost of GBP 20-100 million. Indications of interest must be in by May 11, 2007 at 12:00 GMT.
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These specifications closely match the Cougar variant “Mastiff PPV” vehicles Britain has bought before to fill this role, though some have criticized the modified design’s lack of visibility. The approximate contract value for all 108 Mastiffs purchased to date is $70.1 million, currently around GBP 35.1 million. This contract may well see renewed competition, however, as options like BAE’s RG-33/RG-33L are also available on the market these days; furthermore, the solicitation is being specifically described as a “risk reduction measure to investigate the possible options available” under a funded “Cat D Capability Concept Demonstration (CCD) programme.” The DVD 2007 event on June 27-28 will provide manufacturers with an opportunity to show equipment or concepts for informal assessment; when/if funding is released, the program will transition to normal Category C procurement procedures.
Events & Updates
See: “UK Land Forces Order ‘Mastiff PPV’ Cougar Vehicles” for updates regarding Britain’s purchases of Cougar variants, which appear to be the UK’s MPPV choice.
May 17/07: Jane’s Defence Weekly reports that specialist vehicle contractor MacNeillie has rolled out a Military Armoured Carrier System (MACS), which will be entered in the MPPV competition. Development of the MACS reportedly started in 2006, with the first prototype designed and built within 12 months. MacNeillie has been involved in building armored Pinzgauers.
April 25/07: Britain’s “Specialist and Utility Vehicles (SUV)” Integrated Project Team is posts tenders on the European Defence Agency bulletin board for about 180 “Medium Protected Patrol Vehicles” for “a wide range of patrol tasks” under solicitation EDA-1064.
