Damn
03-06-2004, 04:05 PM
An article by Capt Cindy Tessier of the Canadian Army:
OTTAWA - The Army's first 60 Gelaendenwagen vehicles, or G-Wagon, will be deployed to Afghanistan in March for use during Operation ATHENA, ROTO 1.
An additional 40 vehicles will be delivered to the Canadian Forces shortly thereafter and the remainder of the fleet will be fielded over the next several months to units in Canada. Delivery will be completed by August 2005.
A $126-million contract was awarded to Mercedes Benz Canada on October 21, 2003, for the procurement of 802 G-Wagons and 118 armour protection systems (APS).
Armour Protection Systems
The contract includes an unfunded option to buy up to 499 additional vehicles and up to 135 additional armour protection systems kits at an additional cost of $99.4 million-an additional 42 armour protection systems were purchased under this option in December 2003 for $4.44 million bringing the total number of APS kits to 160.
The G-Wagon will be used by operationally tasked field units and training establishments, and will be used by both the Regular and Reserve units to provide tactical transport in the fields of command and control, liaison, reconnaissance and military police.
Replace aging Iltis
"Focus of the project team was always to expedite the replacement of the aging Iltis and provide the Army with a fully tested and compliant vehicle," said Project Manager Lieutenant-Colonel Jacques Beaudoin.
"Due to an opening in the production line and excellent co-operation between the supplier and the government, arrangements have been made to accelerate this procurement allowing for early delivery of 100 vehicles with armour protection systems."
The armour protection systems kits, designed to protect the vehicle's crew compartment, will provide NATO level 1 protection against small arms and protection against hand grenades and anti-personnel mines.
Armoured modules
The kits are a tailored designed package based on a modular approach whereby complete sections of the vehicle are removed, such as the doors and front windshield, and replaced by armoured modules.
Additional armoured components are included to protect the floor, roof and rear wall of the crew area.
The 802 G-Wagons will form part of the Army's Light Utility Vehicle Wheeled (LUVW) fleet, acquired to replace the 19-year-old Iltis.
Additionally, 1 061 militarized commercial off-the-shelf (MILCOTS) Silverado (4x4) vehicles in three variants-basic, cable layers and military police-are being acquired from General Motors, which will also be distributed to both Regular and Reserve units across the country.
Sustainability and maintainability of this fleet will be readily available through the local GM dealership network.
Fielding of the MILCOTS fleet commenced in October 2003 and will be completed by August 2004.
Some soldiers serving in Afghanistan like the idea of improved protection and reliability the G-wagon offers, but others have suggested that the enclosed G-wagon does not allow for the quick response to enemy fire that was a feature of the open-air Iltis.
http://advancedvehiclesystems.com/images/gallery/MIL07.JPG
http://advancedvehiclesystems.com/images/gallery/MIL20.JPG
OTTAWA - The Army's first 60 Gelaendenwagen vehicles, or G-Wagon, will be deployed to Afghanistan in March for use during Operation ATHENA, ROTO 1.
An additional 40 vehicles will be delivered to the Canadian Forces shortly thereafter and the remainder of the fleet will be fielded over the next several months to units in Canada. Delivery will be completed by August 2005.
A $126-million contract was awarded to Mercedes Benz Canada on October 21, 2003, for the procurement of 802 G-Wagons and 118 armour protection systems (APS).
Armour Protection Systems
The contract includes an unfunded option to buy up to 499 additional vehicles and up to 135 additional armour protection systems kits at an additional cost of $99.4 million-an additional 42 armour protection systems were purchased under this option in December 2003 for $4.44 million bringing the total number of APS kits to 160.
The G-Wagon will be used by operationally tasked field units and training establishments, and will be used by both the Regular and Reserve units to provide tactical transport in the fields of command and control, liaison, reconnaissance and military police.
Replace aging Iltis
"Focus of the project team was always to expedite the replacement of the aging Iltis and provide the Army with a fully tested and compliant vehicle," said Project Manager Lieutenant-Colonel Jacques Beaudoin.
"Due to an opening in the production line and excellent co-operation between the supplier and the government, arrangements have been made to accelerate this procurement allowing for early delivery of 100 vehicles with armour protection systems."
The armour protection systems kits, designed to protect the vehicle's crew compartment, will provide NATO level 1 protection against small arms and protection against hand grenades and anti-personnel mines.
Armoured modules
The kits are a tailored designed package based on a modular approach whereby complete sections of the vehicle are removed, such as the doors and front windshield, and replaced by armoured modules.
Additional armoured components are included to protect the floor, roof and rear wall of the crew area.
The 802 G-Wagons will form part of the Army's Light Utility Vehicle Wheeled (LUVW) fleet, acquired to replace the 19-year-old Iltis.
Additionally, 1 061 militarized commercial off-the-shelf (MILCOTS) Silverado (4x4) vehicles in three variants-basic, cable layers and military police-are being acquired from General Motors, which will also be distributed to both Regular and Reserve units across the country.
Sustainability and maintainability of this fleet will be readily available through the local GM dealership network.
Fielding of the MILCOTS fleet commenced in October 2003 and will be completed by August 2004.
Some soldiers serving in Afghanistan like the idea of improved protection and reliability the G-wagon offers, but others have suggested that the enclosed G-wagon does not allow for the quick response to enemy fire that was a feature of the open-air Iltis.
http://advancedvehiclesystems.com/images/gallery/MIL07.JPG
http://advancedvehiclesystems.com/images/gallery/MIL20.JPG