The Ministry of Defence has named the two British companies that are to go forward into the next stage of a project to provide the British Army with a new fleet of armoured reconnaissance vehicles.

BAE Systems Global Combat Systems and General Dynamics (UK) are to receive a draft Invitation to Tender for the vehicles in the next few days.

The programme, termed by the MOD the Future Rapid Effect System Specialist Vehicle (FRES SV), is intended to provide reconnaissance and reconnaissance support variants to replace the existing Scimitar and Spartan vehicles now on operations in Afghanistan.

The final Invitation to Tender is expected to be issued later this month following this initial assessment phase.

Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies, said:

"This follows the announcement of the strategy for the procurement of armoured vehicles which I made on 23 June. These vehicles will play a major role in current operations and in equipping the Army to stand ready to respond to a wide range of contingencies in the future.

"[This] announcement shows that the Government puts the provision of the best vehicles that money can buy at the heart of its priorities."

The issue of the draft Invitation to Tender for the FRES SV programme follows on from the announcement of the Armoured Fighting Vehicles Sector Strategy last week.

The FRES programme, of which FRES SV forms a part, aims to deliver a medium-weight armoured vehicle fleet with higher levels of deployability and protection than in-service vehicles, and with the potential to accommodate changes in technology.

It will replace a number of vehicles that have reached or are reaching the end of their service lives, including the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) [CVR(T)] Scimitar, and introduce some new capabilities.

The Equipment Examination decided that FRES SV should, with the Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme, be prioritised ahead of the FRES Utility Vehicle.

FRES SV is a medium-weight capability comprising three families of vehicles: Reconnaissance, Medium Armour and Manoeuvre Support.

UK MoD
09.07.2009