Since the launch of the Supacat HMT Light Weight Recovery (HMT LWR) vehicle at DSEi in September 2017 the prototype vehicle has been undergoing trials both by Supacat at its test facility and by CSS TDU (Combat Service Support Trials & Development Unit). The trials have identified areas with potential for further capability gains and enhancement to the original specification. The next phase of development trials will start in October 2018 and will continue throughout 2019.

The 10.5 tonne HMT Light Weight Recovery (HMT LWR) has been developed to fill a capability gap to recover vehicles operating in hard to access urban and rural locations as required by the UK MoD’s Light Weight (Air Portable) Recovery Capability (LW(AP)RC) programme.

The 6×6 HMT LWR offers high levels of agility, off-road performance and protection in common with Supacat’s High Mobility Transporter (HMT) family, which includes `Jackal` and `Coyote` now within UK MoD’s Core Fleet. HMT LWR utilises many HMT design features such as the variable height air suspension system, engine and drive line that have been battle proven in numerous theatres. Blast and ballistic protection has been built into the chassis providing the optimum protection for its weight of 10.5 tonnes.

HMT LWR utilises an innovative new Supacat designed technology, `Supalift` (patent pending), which increases the size of vehicles that can be recovered by a light weight recovery vehicle. HMT LWR’s recovery system can be operated both in conventional mode and by the operator engaging `Supalift`, which increases the maximum lifting weight of the recovery system by up to 50%. In conventional mode the HMT LWR recovery system lifts a maximum recovered vehicle axle mass of 3.8 tonnes and in `Supalift` mode rises to 6.1 tonnes (specification based on recovering an HMT 400 `Jackal 2`).   `Supalift` technology is based on the principle of distributing the weight of the casualty vehicle more evenly over the recovery vehicle.

Phil Applegarth, Head of Supacat, said, “We are very excited by the potential of this pioneering vehicle. The HMT platform has proven itself as the vehicle of choice for modern fighting forces and we look forward to the successful delivery of this latest addition to the HMT family. It will be a game-changer in extending the lifting capability of recovery systems for defence and other industry sectors.”

Designed by Supacat, the HMT product is manufactured under licence from Lockheed Martin.

UK special operations vehicle developer, Supacat, is displaying its HMT 600 tactical support vehicle, best known as `Coyote`, in an anti-UAV defence role for the first time at DVD. It will be installed with AUDS (Anti-UAV defence system), the only operationally proven counter drone system, supplied by Chess Dynamics and the AUDS Team.

In November an AUDS mounted `Coyote` will participate in `Autonomous Warrior- the 2018 Army Warfighting Experiment’, which will test how Robotic and Autonomous Systems (RAS) can be exploited in the Land Environment and assess their ability to reduce the danger to troops during combat.

“This is a further example of the flexibility of the HMT platform, which can be reconfigured to integrate the latest technology and enhance capability for our armed forces on the modern battlefield,” said Phil Applegarth, Head of Supacat.

The Coyote mounted AUDS is the latest collaboration in a long standing relationship between Supacat and fellow UK SME, Chess Dynamics, and demonstrates the agility of both UK companies in coming together to deliver battle ready solutions that fill a capability gap.

“We are both innovative, high technology British SMEs of similar size and geared to responding at speed to customer requirements. We both build world beating products in Britain that are successful abroad, making exports a central focus for our businesses”, said Applegarth.

AUDS is in service with the US forces in both its field mast configuration and has also been installed on Stryker vehicles. It has over 700 confirmed “kills” and has been on continuous combat operations since it deployed almost 2 years ago. It is designed to disrupt and neutralise unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) or unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) engaged in hostile airborne surveillance and potentially lethal activity.

UK creator of high mobility vehicles, Supacat, is announcing the modernisation programme of its highly successful All Terrain Mobility Platform (ATMP) at DVD 2018. The original vehicle has been in service with the UK MOD, foreign militaries and other non-defence sectors since the early 80’s and remains the reliable, flexible and capable workhorse that it was designed to be. The vehicle is undergoing a modernisation programme to initially manage obsolescence issues whilst also supporting the future hybrid development and automisation of the platform.

 

The ATMP can carry a substantial payload of 1600kg which, combined with its “go anywhere” ethos, has made it the vehicle of choice for many years. Already proven on a variety of military and humanitarian operations in locations such as the Gulf, the Falklands, Bosnia, Kosovo, Canada, Malaysia and Afghanistan, the ATMP can be transported within or underslung below a range of air platforms providing instant mobility support for light forces on the ground.

The modernisation programme will involve updating the engine and drive train whilst also managing legislative requirements and Human-Machine Interface. It will also integrate a hybrid drive train into the platform. Supacat and the University of Exeter are working together as part of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership to develop the alternative drive solution, and have made good progress. Matthew Harvey of the University of Exeter comments, “The Knowledge Transfer Partnership is an exciting opportunity for us to use the latest academic research in industry to improve and modernise what is already a hugely successful vehicle. It is fantastic to work with a company like Supacat who have a huge wealth of experience and a really agile approach to engineering.”

After delivering 89 special operations vehicles (SOV) to the Australian Army, Supacat is looking to sell its family of High Mobility Transporter (HMT) vehicles into other markets.

Managing director of Supacat, Michael Halloran, told DTR that the focus is now on exports. “We want to go into Asia. We think there are good opportunities in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and maybe Thailand.”

In an era where combat vehicle dimensions and weight seem to be on an upward curve, the modest size of the HMT Extenda Mk 2 and a maximum weight of 10.5 tonnes make them well suited to the complex terrain and compromised infrastructure common throughout much of the South East Asian region.

The HMT Extenda Mk 2 was designed as, and remains, the most capable cross-country wheeled vehicle in its class. The unique suspension design along with the balanced arrangement of the vehicle, maximises the traction that is available from each wheel, providing high cross-country mobility.

Ease of operation, design flexibility and versatility also opens up the potential for the HMT Extenda Mk 2 for use in undertaking a range of roles within armies which may not have top tier fleet sustainment resources.

Running in parallel with the export push is an interest in promoting the other roles which the HMT Extenda Mk 2 can perform other than special operations missions.

“What the Australian Army now has in its inventory in the SOV-Commando is an incredibly versatile platform, and we need to get people to understand that so we can start thinking about applications for the vehicle outside special forces,” Mr Halloran said.

To illustrate this point, Supacat has mounted an Elbit Cardom 81mm mortar pack on the rear cargo bed of a 4×4 HMT Extenda Mk 2. This will be on display at the Land Forces 2018 defence exhibition in early September in Adelaide.

“If you think of the spectrum of capabilities,” Mr Halloran said, “we go from a platform with a mortar on the back through to the lightweight recovery vehicle at the top end, and everything else in between.”

The 6×6 version of the HMTExtenda Mk 2 are particularly well suited to undertake additional roles, with a 4m long rear cargo bed (extendable to 4.8m) and 3,474kg payload providing the potential to mount mission modules, weapon systems or transport cargo.

Examples of 6×6 protected cab and open design variants at the concept/prototype stage include a light recovery vehicle and a tractor with rear cargo bed.