GDR 99 - Weapons Systems

The Defence Supermarket


Section Articles
• A New Generation of Mortar • Expert Combination: Krauss-Maffei • The Defence Supermarket • Making Tracks: the FCS/Tracer • Centre of Excellence: Mauser • Big Guns Given Greater Mobility • Man With a Plan: Herstal • On Top of the Action: Delco • Crusader on Target in 1999 • Special Application Rifles • Fuchs Fuses for Fighting Forces • Revolutionary: the OICW • Revolution in US Small Arms • SADARM: Smart Submunition
Top: Giat's new Caesar 155mm / 52 howitzer on a 6x6 truck chassis.

At Eurosatory last June in Paris, all the major players in the land-forces equipment market were on hand.

Eurosatory, the biannual show, organised by GICAT, continues to grow from strength to strength since it was transformed from a national into an international show. Large static equipment exhibits and vehicle-mobility displays provided plenty for visitors to see, and chalets and hall booths provided good opportunities to conduct business.

With the future of the European defence industry high on the agenda, the first signs of consolidation were indicated by the presence of the newly-merged Alvis and Hagglunds Vehicles and the allied Thomson-CSF and Alcatel.

A great deal of new equipment was showcased at Eurosatory '98. Future fire-support requirements remain a priority for many nations and a number of new products were on show. France's Giat Industries showed its prototype Caeser 155mm/52 howitzer on a 6x6 truck chassis and Santa Barbara of Spain displayed its 155mm/52 APU SBT-1 coastal defence gun. The Swiss Ordnance Enterprise demonstrated its interest in entering the mortar market with a prototype of its Bighorn 120mm breach-loading mortar.

Mobility and transport requirements were addressed by the Spanish Vamatac 4x4 Humvee look-alike vehicle, the newly-launched BvS 10 Hagglunds improved all-armoured terrain vehicle, the Italian ARIS Tricolore amphibious assault vehicle and the Saudi Arabian Al Fahd wheeled armoured personnel carrier produced by the Abdallah Al Faris Company for Heavy Industry, of Dammam.

Upgrades high on the agenda


Link: www.salon-eurosatory.fr/

Although no new main battle tanks were on display, there was plenty of activity in the upgrade arena. The Czech VOP 25 Military Repair Plant unveiled its upgraded T-72 M3/M4 CZ tank that featured an Italian fire- control system, a British powerpack and US transmission. Israeli Military Industries displayed its Sabra upgraded M60 tank that boasts a distinctive add-on armour package. And IBD displayed its new MEXAS modular armour package for German-made Leopard 1 tanks. Anti-tank capabilities also were addressed by Delco that launched its Elevated TOW System that rises the missile tubes on a mast. Sweden's Bofors addressed infantry anti-armour requirements by showing off its MBT-LAW new manportable top attack anti-tank launcher.

The continuing requirements for theatre- level air defence and anti-ballistic missile defence led Russia's Antey Concern to bring a mock-up of its Antey 2500 SAM system to Paris. And the Franco-Italian Eurosam consortium displayed for the first time a complete SAMP/T system, including an Aster missile launcher, Arabel multi-function radar, command post and control centre modules.

The next Eurosatory promises to be an even bigger event. However, the pace of European industry consolidation means many new companies will have their names on the chalets and booths of Eurosatory 2000.