Article Posted on : - Mar 23, 2010

ASCOD SV for Future Rapid Effects System Specialist Vehicles (FRES SV). Photo: General Dynamics

LONDON (BNS): UK Ministry of defence (MoD) will sign a contract with General Dynamics for the delivery of a new fleet of medium weight armoured fighting vehicles.

The Ministry of defence has chosen General Dynamics (GD), ASCOD SV tracked vehicle as the bidder for the demonstration phase of the new SV programme.

GD will deliver around 600 vehicles in the first tranche of the Specialist Vehicle (SV) programme, with the possibility of further purchases in the future.

"I am pleased to announce the successful outcome of the Specialist Vehicle competition. This represents a very important milestone towards replacing the ageing CVR (T) [Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)] and is one of the highest equipment priorities for the Army. In addition, the development of the Common Base Platform will enable the delivery of further vehicles to meet requirements informed by the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review,” Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said in an official news release Monday.

"We are determined to provide the Armed Forces with the capabilities they require, and the Specialist Vehicle decision follows the announcement of our commitment to order an initial batch of 200 LPPVs that we will get to Afghanistan as quickly as possible," he added.

The announcement of the first of the Specialist Vehicles comes after the commitment to order an initial batch of 200 new Light Protected Patrol Vehicles (LPPVs) for Afghanistan.