BAE Systems division terrestre.

[Invité Rob]

J'expecte que le Light Gun du BAE Systems gagne.  =)

BAE Systems (R.-U.) et Nexter Systems (France)

L’Arabie saoudite souhaite acquérir de l’artillerie tractée légère de 105 mm. BAE Systems (R.-U.) et Nexter Systems (France) proposent respectivement le Light Gun et le 105 LG1 MkII. (Stands A300, J100)

17 June, 2008

Source: Janes

[anthoemt]

t'inquiete pas, le contraire serait étonnant.

[Invité Rob]

Canada veut acheter encore une fois 37 M777 pour 114 millions de dollars. Le M777 etait developer a Barrow-in-Furness et produit a Barrow-in-Furness et en les USA. Les USA ont commande 676 M777 iirc. Le Canada a deja 12. C'est a dire le total est maintenant 725 M777 commandes.  =)

Canada - M777 155mm Light-Weight Towed Howitzers

(Source: US Defense Security Cooperation Agency; dated June 17, web-posted June 18, 2008)

WASHINGTON --- The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Canada of M777 155mm Light-Weight Towed Howitzers as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $114 million.

The Government of Canada has requested a possible sale of 37 M777 155mm Light-Weight Towed Howitzers, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, maintenance, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor representatives’ technical assistance, engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $114 million.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the military capabilities of Canada and the Canadian military’s interoperability with U.S. forces. Canadian deployments in support of peacekeeping and humanitarian operations have enhanced global political and economic stability and have served U.S. national security interests.

This proposed sale would greatly contribute to Canada’s military capability by making it a more sustainable coalition force to support the Global War on Terror. Canada currently operates the M777 lightweight howitzers and will use these new howitzers to protect its deployed troops, and give them the ability to operate in hazardous conditions. Canada will have no difficulty absorbing the howitzers into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not affect the basic military balance in the region.

The prime contractors will be BAE Land Systems in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and Howmet Castings, Alcoa Business in Whitehall, Michigan. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

The proposed sale requires engineering technical support for approximately two U.S. government representatives and five contractor representatives for one year.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law; it does not mean that the sale has been concluded.

-ends-

www.defense-aerospace.com

[Invité grinch]

[Philippe Top-Force]

Il est magnifique ce SEP 8X8 MAIS n'a-t-il pas été abandonné par UK et la Suéde ?

[Invité grinch]

Au début de cette année , les forces armées suédoises pour faire face à des coupes budgétaires dramatiques, ont annoncé qu'ils ne pourraient plus poursuivre le développement du SEP, mais qu'un appel d'offre sur étagère sera lancé.

Ainsi en montrant que SEP comme uneoff-the-shelf solution (avec quatre de pré-production des véhicules en cours de construction), Bae répondra à cette demande d'informations qui a été publié par l'Agence suédoise de défense du matériel administration FMV. La cible est de 200-300 véhicules à roues (et non 600 comme initialement prévu).

Hagglunds n'a pas abandonné l'espoir qu'il puisse également vendre les 8x8 SEP pour répondre aux exigences de FRES Véhicule Utilitaire (surtout si la capacité opérationnelle initiale est reportée à 2014).

[Philippe Top-Force]

Au début de cette année , les forces armées suédoises pour faire face à des coupes budgétaires dramatiques, ont annoncé qu'ils ne pourraient plus poursuivre le développement du SEP, mais qu'un appel d'offre sur étagère sera lancé.

Ainsi en montrant que SEP comme uneoff-the-shelf solution (avec quatre de pré-production des véhicules en cours de construction), Bae répondra à cette demande d'informations qui a été publié par l'Agence suédoise de défense du matériel administration FMV. La cible est de 200-300 véhicules à roues (et non 600 comme initialement prévu).

Hagglunds n'a pas abandonné l'espoir qu'il puisse également vendre les 8x8 SEP pour répondre aux exigences de FRES Véhicule Utilitaire (surtout si la capacité opérationnelle initiale est reportée à 2014).

Peux-tu être plus explicite Grinch sur ce que je viens de surligner en gras ? Le Piranha V aurait-il déjà des difficultés ? Et si oui, le VBCI n'aurait pas été vraiment jugé sur les considérations techniques mais plus lobbying industriel.

[Invité grinch]

D'après un article du 18/06/2008 que j'ai pu trouver sur aviationweek.com, on peut y lire "The company sees a "probable" export market for SEP that starts in 2010 and that would have sales peaks of up to 700 vehicles in 2012 and another peak of up to 1,100 in 2015. Among these, the BAE Systems company thinks, will be vehicles for Britain's FRES program, including tracked SEP variants for the FRES Recce Vehicle requirement.

Hagglunds has not given up hope that it can also sell the 8x8 SEP to meet Britain's FRES Utility Vehicle requirement (for which currently the General Dynamics Piranha V is the preferred solution)... especially if the initial operational capability target date is delayed to 2014 from 2012."

[Invité Rob]

J'espere que BAE Systems peut "dethrone" GD UK.  =) J'expecte si c'est vrai, BAE Systems lobbyists etaient tres "busy" a Londres.  :lol:

Je doute tres fort que Nexter a la meme lobby a Whitehall.

[jeanmi]

J'expecte que le Light Gun du BAE Systems gagne.  =)

Source: Janes

oh c'est facile avec les pots de vin !  =)

[Invité Rob]

oh c'est facile avec les pots de vin !

Oh, des entreprises francais ne faissent pas une choose comme ca?  :lol: Je besoin poster quoi Transparency International penser de la France en termes corruption? Le sommaire: La France etait derriere le Royaume-Uni en les dernieres ans en le "Bribe Payers Index" et le "Perceptions of Corruption Index" ou le Royaume-Uni etait entre No 6 et No 14 globale et la France a la position 18-20 normalement.

Il est facile avec un produit qui est le western market leader pour 105mm. Le Light Gun a vendu 1100+ systemes aux 20 pays. Le LG1 MK II de Nexter a vendu je pense 200 aux 7 pays.

[Invité grinch]

Une video du SEP Thor avec son blindage

[tom]

une photo

[Invité Rob]

HERO TO HELP BORDER CONTROL

14 Jul 2008 | Ref. FI005/2008

Farnborough, UK – Hero, a semi autonomous ground vehicle developed by BAE Systems, has been on an extensive trial with the UK Border Agency as it ramps up operations to keep illegal immigrants out of the country.

The trials, aimed to develop tactics and techniques for potential use by the UK Border Agency, to reduce the manpower intensive and physically demanding tasks of searching the undersides of vehicles.

Born out of a concept to help protect British troops on foot patrol in Iraq and Afghanistan, Hero is roughly the size of a briefcase with a wheel at each corner. Equipped with lights and cameras the vehicle has successfully been checking beneath lorries, coaches and trailers arriving at Calais – Europe’s busiest port – en route to the UK.

Immediately prior to the trials, BAE Systems worked alongside the UK Border Agency to better understand how Hero could help deal with this major issue. The Company rapidly incorporated a number of modifications to the vehicle to suit the UK Border Agency’s operations. Hero was then put through its paces searching for illegal immigrants, alongside officers in the examination area  and creeping beneath the lines of trucks which were waiting to board ferries.

Up to 10,000 heavy goods vehicles a week pass through Calais on routes which attract many  immigrants, heading illegally for the UK.  “ Some people will use any means to get past immigration checks, and catching them can be extremely hazardous, states Richard Williams, civil autonomous systems director at BAE Systems. “It’s a backbreaking, dirty and often dangerous job to look under every truck and with 10,000 of these vehicles each week boarding ferries, it is physically impossible UK Border Agency staff to personally check them all.”

Searching for illegal immigrants is a significant element of border control work that is both physically demanding and manpower intensive.  The UK Border Agency has recognised this and is looking at new ways of working – including innovative technologies which can be used to fight illegal activity.  The trials have proved it’s the capabilities and potential of autonomous and semi autonomous technologies which can free-up personnel from dirty and dangerous activities.

BAE Systems has high hopes for the potential of such systems in the civil market. “Our work with the Border Agency is just one example of BAE Systems delivering real advantage to its customers, through exploring the potential for innovative new technologies to meet the defence and security needs of today and tomorrow, “adds Williams.

The UK’s Defence Industrial Strategy, published in December 2005, acknowledges that the threat from international terrorism to the security and economic interests of the UK, its partners and allies will, for the foreseeable future, derive from individuals and networks.

BAE Systems is harnessing its company-wide expertise in autonomous systems as part of a sharply focused strategy to become a major player in what is poised to become a multi-million dollar international market.

About BAE Systems

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 97,500 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £15.7 billion (US $31.4 billion) in 2007.

Link.

http://www.baesystems.com/Newsroom/NewsReleases/autoGen_10861117197.html

[Invité Rob]

What were a bunch of gun designers doing in a brewery, a few years ago?

What's probably the biggest improvement in medium-caliber ammunition since the first Bofors gun is ready for full-scale development, according to BAE Systems. Talking at Farnborough, BAE program manager Charles Hookey excused the company's land weapons brief by saying that the new case-telescoped ammunition (CTA) gun - developed by CTA International, a joint venture betweeen BAE and Nexter - "shoots down aeroplanes pretty well."

The CTA concept has been around in theory since the early 1900s. The USAF briefly considered it as an option for the F-22, in the 1980s, but US armourers could not make it work. The Royal Ordnance Factory - now part of BAE - picked up the baton in the 1990s.

In the CTA gun, the projectile is completely enclosed in the cartridge case and surrounded by propellant. It's designed so that the charge first kicks the projectile down the barrel and then completes ignition. Meanwhile, the pressure of the blast keeps the gun sealed.

The big advantage is the shape of the round:  a pure cylinder. The gun has a rotating breech; its axis of rotation is right angles to the bore and on the same line as the trunnion. To load a round, the breech rotates so that the round is pushed into it through the trunnion. It rotates in line with the bore and fires, then rotates into the loading position. The next round is loaded, simultaneously ejecting the spent cartridge on the other side of the gun.

It is not only compact, fast and simple, but the loading point is fixed:  the round loads through the trunnion,, the only part of the gun which doesn't move relative to the turret. The cylindrical rounds also pack more efficiently and are easier to handle, which is where the brewery comes in:  BAE Systems designers visited a local brewery to gather ideas for automated storage systems and conveyors that would be used in the turret's autoloader.

Overall, the gun is smaller and more compact than conventional weapons, with a sliding breech. Also, it has a higher muzzle velocity, making its anti-armor round more effective, and the general-purpose airburst/high explosive round packs a larger charge than a conventional 40 mm round. In all, the weapon's lethality is more like that of a 50 mm cannon, but it is smaller than a 30 mm Bushmaster.

A BAE Systems manned turret (MTIP 2, Manned Turret Integration Program 2) was cleared for manned testing in December 2007. The gun has been selected by the UK MoD for the Warrior Fightability Lethality Improvement Program and for the Future Rapid Effects System (FRES) Scout platform.

pic credits CTA International

Link.

http://www.air-defense.net/Forum_AD/index.php?action=post;topic=7881.30;num_replies=38

[Invité Rob]

L'Australia a decide d'acheter 57 M777. Avec ca le total pour le programme M777 est 783 cannons vendus.

[Philippe Top-Force]

L'Australia a decide d'acheter 57 M777. Avec ca le total pour le programme M777 est 783 cannons vendus.

Normal, les troupes australiennes sont aux contacts des autres troupes anglosaxonnes.

La question est de savoir si l'armée australienne décide d'avoir uniquement ce système d'arme ou elle envisage d'autres systèmes d'arme ?

Par exemple, les canadiens qui avaient l'intention d'acquérir 34 exemplaires supplémentaires, auraient l'idée de remplacer l'automouvant chenillé M-109 155 mm et le canon léger 105 mm par le M-777.

[Will]

Normal, les troupes australiennes sont aux contacts des autres troupes anglosaxonnes.

La question est de savoir si l'armée australienne décide d'avoir uniquement ce système d'arme ou elle envisage d'autres systèmes d'arme ?

Par exemple, les canadiens qui avaient l'intention d'acquérir 34 exemplaires supplémentaires, auraient l'idée de remplacer l'automouvant chenillé M-109 155 mm et le canon léger 105 mm par le M-777.

http://www.air-defense.net/Forum_AD/index.php?topic=10180.msg296725#msg296725

ils veullent aussi ~30 SPG de 155mm.

[Invité Rob]

Plus de la commande australien. Je pense il est tres realiste de dire que plus que 1000 M777s vont etre commander et peut-etre en fin plus que 2000. Ca serait tres bon pour Barrow ou le cannon etait developer et ou un part tres important (craddles & saddles) est produit.

Aussies to buy BAE field guns

Last updated 13:11, Thursday, 07 August 2008

BAE’S Barrow arms factory is to share in a new multi-million pound export order for M777 army field guns.

BOOMING SUCCESS: An M777 field gun

Workers at Barrow, where the world-beating 155m calibre, lightweight gun was conceived and designed, build vital parts.

The revolutionary gun uses titanium for many of its parts instead of steel, making it almost half the weight of rivals and therefore more manoeuvrable.

The Barrow plant, in shipyard buildings off Michaelson Road, is working through a massive order for nearly 700 of the guns from the US Marine Corp and US Army, as well as around 38 guns for Canada.

Now the Australian government is poised to order 57 of the guns, which can be lifted by helicopters to be in and out of battle situations.

Denmark and a number of other countries are also interested in the M777, which has been used in action in both Afghanistan and Iraq. And the US with its massive defence forces could place an order for more guns in October.

Around 70 per cent of each M777, including the barrel, is made in the US by sub-contractors, and each weapon is assembled at a BAE factory in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Barrow craftsmen make around 20 per cent of the gun, including the titanium cradles and saddles which form the central sections of the gun on which recoiling parts sit. All export orders are built by the same sites. Jane’s Defence magazine says the Australian purchase is being made under the Australian Defence Material Organisation’s Land 17 programme, aimed at replacing existing, ageing 155mm calibre artillery.

General manager of Land Systems, in Barrow, Bryan Patterson, said the fact that the gun had been successful in action could yield further orders.

He said: “We have got orders in the pipeline to keep us going until 2012 in Barrow and there are lot of others still interested.

“We believe we will get a lot of future orders in the next couple of years because the equipment has been operated in the field and other people and other armies have seen it.”

Link.

http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/1.217593

[Invité Rob]

Les USA ont commandes encore une fois 43 M777s. Avec ca BAE Systems a plus que 700 commandes fermes et en total il y a 826 commandes (inclus MoUs etc....).  =)

Link.

http://www.baesystems.com/Newsroom/NewsReleases/autoGen_10871494155.html

[Tactac]

Oh, des entreprises francais ne faissent pas une choose comme ca?  :lol: Je besoin poster quoi Transparency International penser de la France en termes corruption? Le sommaire: La France etait derriere le Royaume-Uni en les dernieres ans en le "Bribe Payers Index" et le "Perceptions of Corruption Index" ou le Royaume-Uni etait entre No 6 et No 14 globale et la France a la position 18-20 normalement.

Non pas du tout.

Il y a zéro corruption des entreprises françaises. Preuve : on ne remporte pas de marchés à l'export.  :lol:

Quant au classement, encore une institution anglaise qui doit absolument placer la France derrière le RU, sinon elle ne touche pas son financement (une forme de corruption ...  ;) )

Pour ce qui est des français, par contre, il y a tellement d'impôts et donc de fraudes fiscales, qu'être "gentil" avec les inspecteurs des impôts ne peut pas vraiment faire de mal.  :lol: (It is a joke, obviously ...)

[semper_fidelis]

petite question par rapport au SEP 8x8 : la version de base ou plutôt le prototype, était un peu plus fin à la base non ? Les grosses plaques qu'on voit sur le SEP, c'est un kit de blindage additionnel ou bien la forme définitive de l'engin ? je pose la question car si c'est un kit additionnel, je trouve un peu étrange qu'il n'y ait aucune protection au niveau des roues les rendant assez vulnérables... 

[Will]

BAE in £2bn MoD ammunition deal

BAE Systems has signed a 15-year deal with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to supply the UK armed forces with small arms and medium-calibre ammunition.

It also includes mortar bombs, tank, artillery and naval gun shells, but not weapons such as guided missiles.

The contract safeguards 1,700 jobs at factories in Crewe, Glascoed in South Wales and Birtley in County Durham.

The MoD said the deal, initially worth about £2bn, ensured frontline forces had a secure supply of ammunition.

The MoD said the contract could rise to a total of £3bn, depending on how much ammunition was ordered, and covers about 80% of the munitions used on operations and training.

Securing supply

The deal should allow BAE to carry out much-needed modernisation work on the munitions factories, while a £120m investment programme will improve efficiency.

The Minister for Armed Forces, Bob Ainsworth, said: "Today's partnering agreement secures the long-term supply of ammunitions to our armed forces."

"The 15-year programme will ensure that the UK has a modernised, sustainable munitions industry which will support British jobs and protect our capacity to produce ammunition," he added.

"It is absolutely essential to the conduct of operations and training that we have a guaranteed UK-based high quality source of ammunition. This contract provides precisely that."

Charlie Blakemore, managing director of BAE Systems Land Systems Munitions, said some machinery dated from World War II.

"You can imagine that the rate of production that we are now at, it's been some achievement to keep that going in that period to make sure that we deliver on time."

Saudi row

It comes a month after the House of Lords ruled the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) acted lawfully when it halted its investigation into a Saudi arms deal involving BAE Systems.

The SFO dropped its inquiry into the £43bn deal with BAE Systems over fears it would threaten national security.

Ministers said that the Saudi government had threatened to withdraw co-operation on security matters.

The High Court had ruled in April that this was unlawful, but the Law Lords have reversed that decision on appeal.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7573160.stm

[Invité Rob]

C'est bon.

Future ammunition supply guaranteed by £2bn contract

An Equipment and Logistics news article

21 Aug 08

A £2bn contract for the future supply of small arms and medium calibre ammunition to the British Armed Forces was signed by the Ministry of Defence and BAE Systems Land yesterday, Wednesday 20 August 2008.

This new 15-year contractual partnering agreement with BAE Systems Land Systems Munitions (BAES LSM) is being called MASS – Munitions Acquisition Supply Solution.

It covers around 80 per cent of the munitions that the Armed Forces use on operations and training (the majority is actually used for training), including small arms and medium-calibre ammunition, mortar bombs, tank, artillery and naval gun shells. It does not include complex weapons such as guided missiles.

Minister for Armed Forces, Bob Ainsworth, said:

"Today's partnering agreement secures the long-term supply of ammunitions to our Armed Forces. The fifteen year programme will ensure that the UK has a modernised, sustainable munitions industry which will support British jobs and protect our capacity to produce ammunition. It is absolutely essential to the conduct of operations and training that we have a guaranteed UK-based high-quality source of ammunition. This contract provides precisely that."

MOD Defence Equipment and Support Director General Weapons, Rear Admiral Amjad Hussain, said:

"We are very pleased with this agreement. It demonstrates the way we work with industry and the Armed Forces to ensure we deliver the capabilities the front line needs."

"Having confidence in the supply of ammunition is crucial to operational success and the safety of our Armed Forces. The task for industry to meet the high demands we place on them is very challenging and due to the tempo of operations we've seen a significant increase in the use of ammunition over the last few years."

BAES LSM has factories at Glascoed, South Wales; Radway Green, Crewe; and Birtley, Co Durham. During the last few years of high front-line demand, the company has stepped up production of small arms munitions by 300 per cent and are providing up to one million rounds of ammunition a day from their manufacturing facility at Radway Green.

Colonel David Collins, Defence General Munitions Integrated Project Team Leader, said:

"Having confidence in the supply of ammunition is crucial to operational success and the safety of our Armed Forces. The task for industry to meet the high demands we place on them is very challenging and due to the tempo of operations we've seen a significant increase in the use of ammunition over the last few years.

"The considerable efforts of industry and their achievement in responding to increasing demands over the years has contributed to the success of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan."

The long term nature of the partnership agreement with BAE Systems is allowing the company to undertake a programme of investment to modernise its three sites. Some of the equipment they currently use dates from the Second World War. Around 1,700 jobs will also be sustained by the contract.

At Birtley, a £28m investment will focus on new buildings housing a new forge, machining centre, and heat and surface treatment plants for 155 and 105mm artillery ammunition. The modernisation is planned to be completed by 2011.

At Glascoed, a £34m investment will result in new x-ray equipment, a medium-calibre assembly area, insensitive munitions mortar filling plant and new infrastructure such as bulk magazines, an engineering centre for co-location of staff and a new steam generation and distribution system which will be twice as efficient as the existing plant.

And at Radway Green, a £40m investment in new buildings and equipment will be made, primarily to increase capacity by 50 per cent. New buildings will be in place in early 2012.

BAES LSM's Managing Director David Allott said:

"MASS takes our munitions business from rationalisation and consolidation to modernisation and growth. The forward order book allows us to take a long term strategic view."

BAE bought Royal Ordnance, who owned most of the factories that made explosives and ammunition for the British Armed Forces in 1987.

Link.

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EquipmentAndLogistics/FutureAmmunitionSupplyGuaranteedBy2bnContract.htm

[Philippe Top-Force]

BAE Systems plc est la plus grande société européenne de défense, et sa dimension mondiale est sans équivalent sur le continent européen. Fondée en 1999 à l’issue de la fusion de British Aerospace (BAe) et de Marconi Electronic Systems, BAE a des compétences dans tous les domaines de la défense, allant des grandes plateformes aériennes, terrestres, maritimes et spatiales aux sous-systèmes électroniques et informatiques, par exemple. BAE Systems a acquis sa dimension mondiale en faisant un choix stratégique d’expansion, par le rachat d’autres sociétés et par une concentration importante de ressources et d’efforts pour devenir un grand acteur de la défense aux Etats-Unis (BAE Systems Inc.).

En 2005, BAE Systems a fait une incursion majeure sur le marché de l’équipement terrestre américain en achetant United Defense, la société américaine qui produit, entre autres, les véhicules blindés de la série des M-113 et le Bradley, dont la production et les mises à jour se poursuivent aujourd’hui. Ces deux types de véhicules blindés sur chenilles ont été mis en production respectivement dans les années 1960 et 1980.

Avec l’acquisition de United Defense, BAE Systems a réorganisé sa division d’équipements terrestres, subdivisée en Land Systems (pour le Royaume-Uni) et Land Systems Hägglunds, toutes deux aujourd’hui filiales de BAE Systems Inc. (la partie américaine de BAE Systems plc).

Ce meccano industriel et financier montre aussi la tendance à la consolidation du secteur des équipements de défense britanniques autour d’un champion national, BAE Systems, ayant des intérêts et des programmes au Royaume-Uni, aux Etats-Unis (BAE Systems Inc. est le cinquième fournisseur principal – « prime contractor » – du département de la défense américain), en Europe continentale et dans d’autres Etats clients.

BAE Land Systems produit une grande diversité de véhicules blindés pour différents types de mission. Dans le cadre de ce rapport, on peut mettre en évidence le Warrior, véhicule de transport et de combat chenillé, le Rooikat 105, un 8x8 produit par l’Afrique du Sud, la série des CV90 à chenilles et le BvS10 Viking. Les chenilles des CV90 sont une référence dans le domaine car on les monte aussi sur le Puma et le Pizarro.

Le Rooikat 105 (version exportation), dont la plateforme sert aussi de modèle aux véhicules européens, est un véhicule à roues 8x8 développé et produit en Afrique du Sud à la fin des années 1970. Conçu pour la reconnaissance de combat et pour les déplacements rapides en terrain désertique, le Rooikat est utilisé pour la lutte anti-insurrection et les missions de soutien et de combat contre d’autres véhicules.

Le Rooikat pèse 28 tonnes, atteint une vitesse maximale de 120 km/h sur route et a un équipage de quatre soldats. Produit à 242 exemplaires, ce véhicule est en service uniquement en Afrique du Sud. Il a fait l’objet d’améliorations en 2006 compte tenu des expériences de l’Afghanistan et de l’Irak en matière de protection.

Le Warrior, construit à un peu plus de 1 000 exemplaires depuis les années 1980 et toujours en service, a été utilisé par les forces armées britanniques dans tous les conflits majeurs dans lesquels elles ont été engagées depuis 1987. Ce blindé à chenilles pèse 25 tonnes et peut transporter jusqu’à huit soldats plus trois membres d’équipage.

Armé d’un canon de 30 mm, il peut atteindre les 75 km/h sur route. Actuellement, le Warrior

fait l’objet d’améliorations qui visent à allonger sa durée de vie jusqu’en 2025. Il sera notamment

armé d’un canon de 40 mm développé par BAE et Nexter au sein de la société CTA International

(Case Telescoped Ammunition).

Ce système d’armes dénommé « Cased Telescoped Weapon » permet de charger les munitions par le côté, puis, par une rotation de 90 degrés, de les engager dans la culasse. A la différence des canons normaux, le projectile est positionné dans la douille (source : BAE Systems). Outre le Royaume-Uni, seul le Koweit a acquis des Warrior (254). Il en existe dix variantes, dont la dernière, le Warrior 2000, était destinée à l’armée suisse, mais la commande a été annulée.

La société BAE Systems Hägglunds ou Land Systems Hägglunds a été créée entre 2004 et 2005 lors du rachat par BAE Systems de la compagnie Alvis Vickers. Cette société britannique était jusquelà

l’un des principaux fabricants d’équipements terrestres, notamment de véhicules pour les forces armées du Royaume-Uni et d’autres Etats