Recent operational experience of rapid reaction and peacekeeping missions has led many armies to recast their armoured vehicle requirements. High on the agenda is air mobility and cost-effective logistic support and so a move away from heavily protected vehicles that require large logistic back-up towards wheeled vehicle solutions.

While protection is still a key requirement, many countries are addressing the issue by looking to reduce vehicle signatures to prevent them being detected in the first place and by the installation of area-effect weapons to keep enemy anti-tank weapons at a relatively safe distance.

Future combat system (FCS)

Potentially the largest wheeled vehicle programme is the US Army's future combat system (FCS). This was launched in 1999 by US Army Chief of Staff General Eric Shinseki as a result of the experience of the Kosovo conflict when it took several weeks for Task Force Hawk to deploy to Albania.

Although the US Army has not selected a wheeled vehicle for the FCS, the way the requirement is written points to a wheeled solution. Currently the US Army is conducting a concept demonstrator phase, with almost $1 billion-worth of research and development funding. The stated intention is to field a family of vehicles from 2012 onwards. Early thinking indicates that the US Army wants a modular systems of vehicles that can serve as both weapon platforms and troop carriers in forward battle areas and also in a wide variety of roles farther back from the frontline.

The re-casting of the US Army's armoured vehicle has put the future of the joint US-UK future scout cavalry system (FSCS)/tacticalreconnaissance armoured combat equipment requirement (TRACER) in doubt. Congressional moves to withdraw funding for the current project definition/advanced technology demonstration phase of the programme have added to the uncertainty. Given the US Army's move towards the FCS it is considered unlikely that the FSCS/TRACER programme will progress beyond the current phase. However technology developed under the programme will be incorporated in the FCS vehicle and its British equivalent.

Interim armoured vehicle (IAV)

Meanwhile the US Army has an urgent requirement to field seven so-called interim brigade combat teams equipped with off-the-shelf light wheel armoured vehicles. Trials of 35 vehicles loaded by US and foreign companies took place early last year.

Last November the US Army awarded the contract for the IAV to a consortium of General Motors and General Dynamics to build 2,131 versions of the Piranha III light armoured vehicles (LAV) by 2008 at a cost of $4 billion, with the first interim brigade to be equipped by the end of the this year.

Several different versions of the vehicle are being purchased, including mobile gun with 105mm cannon, infantry carrier, reconnaissance, anti-tank guided missile platform, ambulance, mortar carrier, engineer, command post, fire support co-ordination and NBC reconnaissance.

The majority of the vehicles will be bought off the shelf but an add-on armour package will offer increased protection from hand-held infantry anti-tank weapons.

United Kingdom

The British army also is in the midst of re-casting its armoured vehicle requirements and wheeled vehicles appear to have found renewed favour. It is expected that the UK will launch its future rapid effects systems (FRES) programme this year to provide rapid reaction units with air mobile armoured support. Funding for the follow-on to the tracked Warrior infantry fighting vehicle is being raided to fund the new FRES programme.

Alvis Vehicles and their German partners are completing the prototypes under a development contract but the recent shift towards wheeled vehicles has increased the likelihood that the MRAV will be purchased by the UK.

France

France has gone its own way in armoured vehicle production, away from the MRAV programme. The French army has stressed the need for a heavily armoured wheeled vehicle to fight alongside the Leclerc main battle tank in frontline roles.

In March 2000, Giat Industries and Renault V.I. made a joint reply to the new bid for tenders put out by the Délégation Générale pour l'Armement (DGA) for the supply of armoured infantry combat vehicles (VBCI) to enter service with the French army from 2005. This bid for tenders concerns 550 infantry combat vehicles and 150 command post vehicles. The two companies are also contemplating a joint company for the prime contractorship of existing wheeled VAB (front-line armoured vehicle) and AMX 10 programmes.

Germany

Experience in Kosovo has increased German interest in wheeled armoured vehicles to equip its rapid reaction forces. Germany is a keen supporter of the MRAV (or GTK as it is known in Germany) programme and it has increased the size of its requirement for the vehicle by 150, specifically to equip rapid reaction units.

Worldwide requirements

The Spanish army has taken delivery of Iveco Fiat Centauro wheeled tanks to equip its rapid re-action forces. The Italian army used the vehicle to great effect during peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and as a result it used the Centauro in Kosovo instead of main battle tanks.

The Netherlands is also looking to re-equip its rapid reaction forces with wheeled vehicles and it was expected to announce that it would join the MRAV programme in late 2000.

Switzerland is the home of the best-selling Mowag armoured vehicle company and the Piranha family of vehicles. The Canadian army is one of the design's biggest users and its vehicles are produced locally by the Diesel Division, a subsidiary of General Motors. A recent order for additional Piranha III vehicles was placed with the Diesel Division by the Canadian army.

Oman has also purchased Piranha III vehicles from Britain's Alvis Vehicles that has a licence agreement with Mowag.

A major development this year was General Motors' purchase of Mowag to give it a major say in the development and marketing of the next generation Piranha IV and other members of the Piranha family. This move by General Motors is a carefully considered one of great strategic significance, particularly in light of the US Army's growing interest in wheeled armoured vehicles.

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