New Armoured Vehicles for Afghanistan

Defence Secretary John Hutton has announced a package worth 700 million today, which will pay for some 700 new armoured vehicles to further improve the safety and protection of troops on operations in Afghanistan.>> The Protected Mobility Package announced by Mr Hutton today, Wednesday 29 October 2008, includes provision of 350 million for 400 brand new armoured support trucks which will be used to accompany patrols and carry essential supplies such as water and ammunition.>> The three distinct categories of Tactical Support Vehicles (TSV) are:>> Wolfhound: TSV (Heavy):> Heavy armoured support trucks - supporting and re-supplying Mastiffs in the highest threat areas. These vehicles will have the highest levels of mine blast protection;>> Husky: TSV (Medium):> Medium armoured support trucks - carrying out the support roles in lower threat areas and where heavy vehicles, like Mastiff, cannot be used;>> Coyote: TSV (Light):> Light armoured support vehicles - supporting Jackals across the harsh terrain of Afghanistan.>> Other vehicles which will be paid for out of the 700 million include:>> -- Over 100 brand new cross-country vehicles called Warthog which, with greater protection levels, will replace Vikings in Afghanistan, and> -- Over 100 more Jackals, the extremely agile all-terrain vehicles which include high-levels of off-road mobility and firepower.>> 96 million from the package will also be used to develop a specialist route clearance system known as Talisman, which will provide a new high-tech way of dealing with the IED (Improvised Explosive Device) threat. Among the Talisman vehicles to be developed will be the Buffalo mine-protected vehicle and the Engineer Excavator.