ASCOD 2 aimed at FRES-SV

Thursday, 10 September, 2009

General Dynamics UK (GD UK) is proposing a further development of the GD European Land Systems ASCOD 2 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) chassis as the basis for its submission for the UK Future Rapid Effect System – Specialist Vehicle (FRES-SV) requirement. The proposal also embraces the Defence Industrial Strategy and recently stated UK AFV Strategy.

An evolved ASCOD IFV is currently in quantity production for Spain in a number of configurations, while the earlier version is in service with Spain (Pizarro) and Austria (Ulan).

GD UK regards the ASCOD 2 as a low-risk solution, which would offer the UK commonality across the complete medium-weight fleet, as well as having a future growth potential. It would also leverage from its prime systems integrator skills built up with the ongoing Bowman digital communications system, which has included installing this in more than 13,000 vehicles of 700 designs.

GD UK vice president Steve Rowbotham told The DSEI Daily: “ASCOD 2 has leapfrogged past its nearest rival.”

Initial chassis production would be undertaken in Spain, followed by the transfer of production to the UK.

GD UK would be responsible for system integration, as well as building the optimised turret for the Scout version, which will be armed with a stabilised 40mm Case Telescoped Armament System (CTAS) as mandated by the British Army.

For the UK FRES-SV requirement, a new common base platform (CBP) is being developed with automotive subsystems already being tested in the ASCOD PT5 technology testbed in order to de-risk the programme.

GD UK confirmed that the IPR for ASCOD 2 would reside in the UK and the UK MoD would have access to this to ensure future upgrades would be rapidly carried out.

For the delayed FRES Utility Vehicle programme, the company established a supply chain of more than 270 UK companies, which is still in place. It recently held two supply chain industry days to further strengthen the team.