Armed Forces of the Commonwealth – United Kingdom – The British Army – Part 2/2

Featured Photo (above): By Simon Q from Flickr. CC BY 2.0. Source.

Ground Vehicles 

The British Armed Forces has a large range of vehicles at its disposal from combat vehicles, protected patrol vehicles, reconnaissance vehicles, and logistical vehicles. They all serve various essential offensive, defensive, operational, transportation, and logistical roles.  

First of all, we shall start with reconnaissance and logistical vehicles. Reconnaissance is a vital part of the armed forces capability for gathering battlefield intelligence, which is done via stealth either by foot or using vehicles. Commanders on the field are provided with such important intelligence through reconnaissance 24 hours a day in any weather conditions. A good strategy requires knowing the battlefield, environment, knowing the enemy, knowing their tactics, plans, and their positions, their defenses, their current state, and what they are equipped with or have access to.  

Reconnaissance Vehicles  

Scimitar  

The British Armed Forces currently use five different types of vehicles for reconnaissance, with the different types possibly including sub-types. First up is the Scimitar tracked combat vehicle reconnaissance (CVR(T)) and armoured fighting vehicle, the Scimitar is small, 4.90m in length, 2.24m in width, 2.10m in height, and exerts low ground pressure making it useful in hostile and difficult terrain. It is able to defend itself using a 30mm L21 Rarden cannon and a Co-Axial 7.62mm GPMG and is also able to fire smoke grenades. It requires three crew to operate and can travel up to 50mph using a Cummins BTA 5.9, 190HP diesel engine.  

The 30mm L21 Rarden Cannon fires 90-rounds per minute.  

Some may also sometimes class this as a light tank, and really when you look into it there is not much surprise as to why this would be, there are claims the vehicle has managed to take on medium tanks, such as during the Gulf War, and win. The vehicles have been in service since 1971 and have not yet been withdrawn and have also seen upgrades to maintain its relevancy on the more modern battlefield, such as a program of upgrade to MK II variants from the early 2010s, with them coming into service from 2011.  

Mk II variants include increased firepower, roll-over protection for the gunner and commander (since 2013), have improved mobility, and reduced lifecycle costs. It also comes with various other technical improvements and capabilities to improve performance and sustainability, safety of passengers, and also increased protection against mine blasts, and improvements to passenger comfort. The vehicle also includes night vision capabilities. There are also electronic countermeasures in place to help counter the threat of IEDs.  

Spartan and other CVR(T) Vehicles  

The Spartan is a part of the CVR(T) group and also acts as a small armored personnel carrier, being able to carry four troops in addition to the three-crew required to operate the vehicle. The Spartan is often used to transport small specialised groups including reconnaissance teams, air defense section, mortar fire controllers and so on. It is 5.16m in length, 2.48m in width, and 2.63m in height. The vehicle can defend itself using a 7.62mm GPMG. It can travel up to 60mph using a Bedford 164 BHP 600 6-cylinder diesel engine. The aging Spartan has been in service since 1978.  

Apart of this grouping are also three other vehicles, the first is the Samaritan, designed to be used as an ambulance vehicle that can hold up to six casualties. The vehicle is not armed with any weapons to defend itself but is clearly marked as an ambulance vehicle, using a red cross.  

The second is the Sultan, which is used as an armoured command vehicle, and first coming into service in the early 1970s to replace the Saracen Command Vehicle due to its superior speed and agility. This variant has a higher placed roof to allow for a more comfortable space and includes a vertical map board and desk, as well as fitted-in radios and antenna masts. The vehicle also includes a 7.62mm GPMG and smoke dischargers for self-defense. The vehicle can travel over 50mph, initially using a Jaguar J60 4.2 litre in-line 6-cylinder petrol engine, but newer variants use a Cummins BTA 5.9 litre diesel engine.  

and the third is the Samson, used as an armoured recovery vehicle for the CVR(T) family, with the capability to also recover other light-tracked vehicles, the vehicle also defends itself with a 7.62MM GPMG and smoke dischargers. It has been in service since 1978.   

Some of the vehicles a part of this grouping are also being upgraded or have been upgraded to a Mk II standard like the Scimitar. But there have been plans to have some of the vehicles in this grouping replaced by more modernised variants, such as plans to eventually phase out the Spartan with the Panther CLV.  

Jackal 2  

The Jackal 2 is manufactured by SC Group; Babcock, known as a high mobility weapons platform, the vehicle is lightly armoured. It has a unique air-bag suppression system which allows rapid movement across varied terrain. The vehicle is designed to best protect personnel against roadside bombs and mines, with the vehicle’s chassis providing more protection than the Jackal predecessor. It is armed with a GPMG by default for self-defense but can also carry a heavy machine gun or grenade machine gun in a fire support role.  

The point of the Jackal 2 is to act as a weapon installation kit vehicle, using the weapons in a tactical support role, for defense including of convoys, and for rapid assault, although the British Army’s main use of the vehicle is for reconnaissance operations on the battlefield. The vehicle can also be used to aid patrols and transport supplies. The Jackal 2 has been in service since 2009/10 and so is pretty modern. 

The Jackal 2 has also been upgraded to hold more fuel jerry cans and equipment backpacks at the rear of the vehicle, further capacity is also possible via the ability to add a module to extend the vehicle to a 6×4.   

Another improvement on the Jackal 2 over its predecessor is that the weapon ring was moved forward to allow for 360-degree sweep of fire, compared to the previous only being limited to rear fire. The Jackal 2 is 5.39m in length, 2m in width, and 1.97m in height. It can be operated by 2-4 crew and goes up to 50mph using a 6.7l diesel Cummins ISRe Euro 3 engine.   

FUCHS  

The FUCHS is another set of vehicles in this section and of which are fairly specialised, originating from Germany the vehicles were purchased for the British Army who have since modified them to act in specialised roles. Fuchs is German for Fox as the website points out. It is a six-wheel, all-drive vehicle, that is armoured and fitted out with systems and sensors specifically designed to detect nuclear radiation, chemical, biological, radiological, and other nuclear agents and toxic substances, the vehicle can also be used to transport supplies. It is primarily used for area survey and reconnaissance. It provides assurance that such areas are free of such toxic substances. The vehicle also has amphibious capabilities.  

The FUCHS also includes armour that can help protect against IEDs and mines. It is possible for the vehicle to fit a General Purpose Machine Gun for self-defense.  

Although there are the much newer FUCHS 2 variants available, the British Army still currently use the FUCHS 1 variants, which the British Army used from 1990 until 2011 where they were temporarily taken out of service and put in storage, but a regeneration project has brought them back into active service from 2014. A new contract was awarded in October 2020 to upgrade the vehicles to improve aging equipment and sensing systems, enabling the vehicles to continue service beyond 2019.  

The vehicle is 6.8m in length, 2.98m in width, 2.5m in height, requires 4 crew to operate, has a range of 500 miles, and can travel up to 65mph on land and 6.2mph in water. The vehicle is manufactured by Rheinmetall and MAN Truck & Bus.  

Coyote 

 The last one on this section is the light Coyote tactical support vehicle. It is based off of the Jackal 2 although is a heavier 6×6 version. It is able to traverse across harsh terrain and is used often to support the Jackal 2. The extra two wheels enable the Coyote to transport supplies and equipment over such terrain, and is able to transport more supplies than the Jackal 2. The Coyote has similar fittings, armaments and specs to the Jackal 2, and can carry an extra crew member. It may sometimes also be fitted out to be used as a recovery vehicle.   

The Coyote, which has been in service since 2009, is designed to support the Jackal 2 on operations. The vehicle can also tow light trailers and artillery pieces as well. The vehicle also comes with an optional armor kit to protect against mines, small arms, and splinters from artillery shells, but in most cases the Coyote will use its mobility to its advantage, with an aim to keep out of the range of enemy engagement as the Coyote features lesser protection.  

The vehicle is 7.04m in length, 2m in width, and 1.89m in height, operated by 4-5 crew, has a maximum speed of 75mph, and is manufactured by Lockheed Martin.   

Logistical and Specialised Engineering Vehicles  

Now we move on to logistical and specialised engineering vehicles. This section contains a total of 12 vehicle types with potential subtypes as well within each, with 6 of them coming under logistical vehicles, and the other 6 coming under the specialised engineering vehicles. These vehicles are fairly self-explanatory, they are used for maintenance, salvaging, recovery, transport, and environmental challenges in warzones and other militarily active areas. These vehicles are very important to keep the armed forces running smoothly and efficiently.  

Let’s first start with the logistical vehicles.  

Logistic Support Vehicles  

These are a family of vehicles known as Support Vehicles manufactured by MAN Truck and Bus UK Ltd and Rheinmetall and have been in service since 2008 and so are relatively modern. The website describes these vehicles as the workhorses of the Army. There main job is to transport cargo for the logistic effect of all Army units.  

The SV family have superior mobility over previous generations of cargo vehicles and also have the ability to be fitted with armor to fit the situation, as well as communications and can also be fitted with Electronic countermeasure systems used to confuse and deceive enemy detection systems such as radar, infrared and so on, keeping these vehicles and their precious contents as hidden and safe as possible. But if the enemy does manage to find them, the vehicles can be fitted with a 7.62mm machine gun for self-defense. The vehicles also include optional modular armour to enhance protection against threats.  

There are different variants of SV vehicles for different purposes, these include variants for cargo weight, those that can hold 6 tons, 9 tons, and 15 tons. A Unit Support Tanker which carries fuel. And a recovery vehicle variant, able to pick-up and transport vehicles that have lost operational capacity, this provides self-recovery for the support vehicle group. These vehicles are Medium Mobility on the MAN HX chassis and Improved Medium Mobility on the MAN SX chassis. As of 2019 the MAN SX chassis is being phased out by MAN HX chassis, with MAN SX ending production.

The MAN HX chassis group includes the 6, 9 and 15 tonne cargo support vehicles, and the support vehicle unit support tanker. These vehicles have a low-torsion ladder chassis frame that utilise riveted and bolted cross-members, and they also have steel bumpers. The vehicles also include strong carriers on the sides, including fuel tank, brake pressure tank system, battery box, and storage boxes for vehicle-equipment. The forward control cabs also have built-in roll-over protection.  

The cab of these vehicles also allow for a Bowman communications suite to be installed using an electrical equipment installation kit.  

SVCL variants have a MAN D0836 LFG 50 Euro 4 6-cylinder diesel engine while other HX variants have a MAN D2066 LF34 Euro 4 6 cylinder diesel engine.  

The MAN SX chassis group includes 9 tonne cargo support vehicles, support vehicle unit support tankers, and support recovery vehicles. The vehicles use a MAN D2066 LF34 Euro 4 6-cylinder diesel engine. The SX vehicles are all-wheel-drive vehicles.  

This new program of support vehicles replaced aging models manufactured by Bedford, Leyland-DAF, Foden and Scammell, which dated back to the Cold War. The replacement programs were initiated by the Ministry of Defense not only due to wear and tear but also as spare parts for the existing vehicles were becoming more difficult to obtain as a number of the manufactures had stopped trading. These new projects aimed to upgrade fuel, cargo and recovery support vehicles, beginning in 1998 and 1999. It would eventually merge into just the Support Vehicle project by the early 2000s.  

These support vehicles are used by various countries armed forces worldwide owing to its reliability and thus form the backbone of many world powers logistical might.

Heavy Equipment Transporters  

The purpose of these are pretty straightforward, they exist to carry and transport things such as let’s say a 70-tonne Main Battle Tank, rapidly and in a cost-effective manner, which saves wear and tear on tracks and also most importantly on roads. The British Army’s HET, manufactured by Oshkosh Defense, is apparently the most powerful tank transporter in production according to the British Army’s website.  

The HET includes an Oshkosh 1070F 8 x 8 tractor truck and King Trailer GTS 100 seven-axle semi-trailer. Its engine is an after-cooled Caterpillar C18 Turbocharged 700bhp diesel engine. The HET is 20m in length, 2.9m in width, and 3.8m in height. It can carry a maximum of 72,000kg, and it requires at least two crew to operate but can hold up to 12 crew if needed. The bench seats in the vehicle can be converted if needed into two double bunks.  

The Oshkosh HET has been in service with the British Army since 2001. The Oshkosh HET is also operated by a number of other countries.

Enhanced Pallet Loading System  

This is another type of cargo transporter and is based on the 15-tonne SV variant, but comes with the ability to fit additional armour which helps to protect the crew against ballistic and blast threats, the British Army website says it forms the backbone of the British Army. The load carrier has a 16-tonne flatrack payload, and allows for rapid loading and unloading of either flatracks or 20ft ISO-standard containers. Both the extra protection and rapid ability of the vehicle makes it great for active and potentially hostile zones.  

The EPLS is 10.5m in length, 3.1m in width, and 4.05m in height and it weighs 20,660kg without any cargo loaded, it can load a maximum of 16,000kg of cargo. It requires two crew to operate, can travel up to 300 meters, and has the same manufacturers as the SV family of vehicles.  

It was one of the most recent and modern upgrades to the British Army’s cargo vehicle family, specifically the MAN HX chassis.  

Close Support Tankers  

The family of close support tankers manufactured by Oshkosh Defense are essential for fuel and water transportation. They are highly mobile wheeled tankers used by the Logistic Support Regiment and the Transport Regiments, the website says it is the backbone of the British Army’s bulk fuel and water transportation, the fairly modern vehicle has seen usage in Iraq and Afghanistan. The driver and crew can also benefit from protection via the ability to fit enhanced blast-proof armour. The vehicles are designed to be able to use off-road terrain and to deliver water and fuel to the frontline.  

The family of close support tankers comes in three main variants, a 15,000 litre tactical air refueller, a 20,000 litre close support fuel tanker, and a 18,000 litre close support water tanker. The vehicles are 15m in length, 2.5m in width, and 3.5m in height. It has a 11.9 litre Caterpillar C-12 engine and can be fitted with a 7.62mm machine gun for self-defense and can fit additional armour for increased protection.  

Land Rover Battlefield Ambulance  

The Land Rover Ambulance is based on the TUM chassis and can hold up to four stretchers or six-seated casualties or some other combination, with a driver and medic sitting up-front, and another seat is also located in the rear of the vehicle which can be accessed from the cab, this is if patients needed care while being transported. The ambulances provide high-standard medical facilities according to the British Army website. The ambulances are also suitable for air and amphibious transportation, making them pretty versatile.  

Although the Land Rover Battlefield Ambulance’s off-road capabilities were not matched with the rival Steyr-Daimler-Puch companies’ version of the Battlefield Ambulance during trials, the Land Rover’s version was still chosen over it due to it being much less expensive and also that off-roading for the Battlefield Ambulance would be a last resort option as casualties in the truck need to be stabilised, rather than being further risked by travelling across harsh bumpy terrain, and the Land Rover’s Battlefield Ambulance also shared common traits with existing variants in service with the British Army, making the transition smoother.  

They are 3.723m in length, 1.79m in width, and 1.99m in height, weighs 3,700kg and has a 2.495 litre 4 cylinder engine. They have been in service since 1998.  

The Land Rover Battlefield ambulance is a soft-skinned vehicle and although there is the Red Cross or Red Crescent on it to identify it as a medical vehicle, belligerents, particularly insurgents, will still target them unlike traditional enemy state forces, who would be less likely to break this universal custom. This more modern issue in asymmetric warfare has led to the Land Rover battlefield ambulance being sidelined in favour of armoured variants used in the same/similar role.  

The Land Rover Battlefield ambulance is still commonly used within bases and at training exercises for any injuries that may come about from accidents.   

Land Rover vehicles themselves have been used widely within the British Army for decades, such as for patrols, personnel transport, and equipment transport and as utility vehicles within light/medium roles. The UK also convert the Land Rover Wolf 110 into weapon mount installation kits (WMIKs). They have also been used and continue to be used by numerous other countries armed forces.

Quad Bikes  

Yes, the British Army also use Quad Bikes for logistical reasons. They are used to deliver vital combat supplies, such as food, water and ammunition, to troops on the ground during frontline operations, Quad Bikes can also attach trailers to hold more supplies. They are a great alternative to larger transport vehicles such as in areas difficult to access. They also provide +10 cool points when used.  

The latest Quad Bikes used by the British Army can also be used to stretcher out up to two casualties at once via the Quad Bike trailer, beneficial to speeding up emergency medical aid. There is also a left-hand throttle, a dual throttle fit that provides greater maneuverability. They can go up to 46mph without a trailer and are recommended to be driven up to 31mph with a trailer. They can also travel through water up to half their wheel height, with or without a trailer. Of course, if they are transporting a casualty the terrain they go over needs to be as smooth as can be to prevent further injury.  

For terrains where the British Army operates, such as in the Middle East, Quad Bikes are very useful to avoid obstacles and more easily traverse inadequate routes that other larger vehicles may struggle on. The Quad Bikes can also be used for dozens upon dozens of jobs making it highly efficient and versatile. Initially during the training period it was reported many would fall off the Quad Bikes while using them but training was changed to adapt against this, and it is no longer a major problem.  

Furthermore, the Quad Bikes can also hold lightweight gap crossing equipment in their trailers which can be used to get across things like irrigation ditches and other gaps that may hinder access to an area or take longer to get around otherwise. The vehicle was simply very reliable and could get to places other vehicles could not, which is what made them so good and often provided the element of surprise, being able to quickly access areas that the enemy would not expect. The Quad Bikes also made patrolling more expansive and efficient. Another benefit of Quad Bikes being fast is that it lessons risks to forces, as they can get in and out more quickly.  

In some cases, the General-Purpose Machine Gun and Grenade Machine Gun have even been mounted on to the Quad Bike for self-defense. They can also provide limited cover in certain circumstances and provide a stable area for snipers. Quad Bikes can also easily be air transported to active areas for quick and unexpected operations. They can also be transported via ground and amphibious cargo vehicles.  

And that brings us to the end of the logistical vehicles.  

Specialised Engineering Vehicles  

Engineering vehicles exist to solve mobility problems for the British Army such as bridging gaps, bomb disposal, and vehicle recovery, thereby keeping the British Army as mobile as possible during operations. They may also be used to limit enemy mobility. This area includes 6 main vehicle types.  

Trojan Armoured Engineering Vehicle  

This thing looks like some scary mechanical beast out of some sci-fi horror movie. The purpose of this armoured engineer vehicle is to open up routes past complex battlefield obstructions and can also clear a path through mines. The vehicle uses direct and indirect vision devices for improved visibility on the field, such as low-light, image-intensifying, and thermal imaging capabilities. It can be used in various operations, as well as for humanitarian missions. It has been in service since 2007.  

It is 8.3m in length, 3.5m in width, and 2.5m in height, using the Challenger 2 chassis. The vehicle comes with a dozer blade, mine plough, and excavator arm. A full-width mine plough can be fitted along with a marking system. It can also be loaded with fascines to fill ditches as well as a two-trailer mounted, rocket-propelled, mine-clearing system, known as the Python. The Trojan’s armour provides excellent protection to the vehicle and crew and makes sense for the dangerous jobs it performs, additional armour can even be fitted.  

And if you’re thinking it can’t possibly have much else, it also has a L7A2 7.62mm x 51mm belt-fed General Purpose Machine Gun for self-defense, remotely controlled to keep the crew safe, and also even has a nuclear, biological, and chemical protection system. This thing is clearly ready to not only get dirty, but also to dance.  

It can travel up to 36mph, weighs 62,500kg, and uses a Perkins CV12 diesel engine. The Trojan is one of the best, most advanced and modern engineering vehicles currently in service.  

Challenger Armoured Repair & Recovery Vehicle  

This highly evolved armoured vehicle is the ambulance but for tanks, designed to recover and repair them on the battlefield during operations and conflict. It comes with a main and auxiliary winch, and an Atlas hydraulically-powered crane that is able to lift an entire Challenger 2 power pack, but is unable to lift the tanks turret. Although the vehicle is built using a Challenger 1 chassis (predecessor to the Challenger 2) and was originally meant for repairing and recovering the Challenger 1, and having been in service since the 1980s, it is able to do the same with the Challenger 2 battle tank.  

The vehicle also includes a dozer blade to stabilise itself and also can be used to clear obstacles. It includes recovery and repair tools, obviously, such as man portable tools including the ultrathermic cutting system which has the capability to be used underwater if needed, and a man portable welding solution, and other tools and spare parts for field repairs. Damaged vehicles can also be towed to other areas for repair, such as a base or outpost.  

The vehicle has strong armour but additional armour can still be fitted for even more protection, such as for active combat zones.  

It can also be used to recover and repair similar vehicles such as the Trojan and Titan since they both use the Challenger chassis themselves. And despite being somewhat old the vehicle is still considered one of the most powerful recovery vehicles in use for obvious reasons.  

It is 9.61m in length, 3.62m in width, and 3.13m in height and weighs 61,200kg. It requires at least 3 crew to operate and can hold an additional two crew members. The vehicle can lift a maximum of 6,500kg at a maximum reach of 4.9m, has a 1200bhp Perkins-Condor CV12 engine, and can travel up to 36mph. This beast is also armed with a 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun and smoke dischargers for self-defense, which are remotely controlled to keep the crew safe.  

M3 Amphibious Bridging Vehicle  

This vehicle can travel on both land and water, and that makes it what it is. The vehicle can be driven into a river and either used to ferry across to the other side, or multiple of these vehicles can join together across a river and create a temporary bridge to transport troops, other vehicles, and supplies across. Such a bridge can hold vehicles as heavy as the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank, which is beastly durable and incredibly strategic.   

The vehicles are able to deploy their pontoons while on the move both in and out of the water and requires no on-site preparation before entering the water, and can be controlled from inside the cab while moving through water, making it highly efficient.  

The M3 replaced the previous M2 in 1996 and you can really see how much it has been improved, now only requiring 3 crew to operate (down from 4). A single two-bay M3 can carry a Class 70 tracked vehicle, beforehand two M2s would have been needed for this along with additional buoyancy bags. Eight M3 units and 24 soldiers are able to build a 100m bridge in 30 minutes, a far better improvement from needing 12 M2s, 48 soldiers and 45 minutes for the same task. The M3 is 1.4 meters longer and 3,300kg heavier than the M2, but despite this it is still faster and more maneuverable on both land and water. It also has a four-wheel steering facility for a turning diameter of 24m. It is a true and worthy upgrade to the former.  

The M3 is able to be used in numerous climates including arctic and tropical ones. The M3’s cab can be fitted with light armour if needed, and radios and telecoms, and a rear anchor, can be installed. The M3 is called the world’s most modern and fastest to deploy amphibious bridge and ferry system, including for loading capacity, assembly time, as well as cross-country and in-water maneuverability. The M3 is also interoperable with other bridging solutions, making it flexible and able to operate with allies who may use different bridging systems.  

It is 13.03m in length, 3.97m in height, and 3.85 meters in width with side pontoons retracted. It weighs 24,500kg, can travel up to 49mph using a 298kW Euro III standard diesel engine, and can travel up to a distance of 750km. It can move almost 6mph in water when fully loaded and almost 9mph in water when unloaded.  

Terrier  

The Terrier is an armoured digger and of which the British Army calls its most advanced engineering vehicle, it is also one of the most modern, coming into service in 2013. The Terrier is able to carry out a variety of tasks both in the United Kingdom and operations abroad. The Terrier is highly agile and versatile and despite its heavy weight can still travel almost 50mph, enabling it to keep up with other armed forces vehicles. The vehicle can also be airlifted to locations.  

The Terrier includes a system of five onboard cameras and thermal imaging technology that allow soldiers to utilise a 360 degrees surveillance capability day or night. The Terrier is also advanced enough to be remotely controlled and does not require an onboard crew, enabling activities, such as route clearing, to be carried out from a safe distance for soldiers, the vehicle can be manually controlled by two crew. The Terrier can transport up to 5,000kg, and has a variety of interchangeable equipment which enables it to be highly adaptable, such includes a forklift and rock hammer.  

Tasks the Terrier can perform include route clearing, counter-mobility against enemy movements such as by digging anti-tank ditches and placing obstacles, and tasks for survivability such as digging trenches and slots for Armoured Fighting Vehicles, and can clear scattered mines using its mine-clearing plough, among other tasks. The Terrier can also tow a trailer carrying fascines, track way, and the Python minefield breaching system.  

It has a bucket and excavator arm allowing mechanical placing and removing of objects either to create or destroy bridges and obstacles. It also has a rock hammer for splitting rocks and penetrating concrete, and a tool called the ripper that can be used to destroy roads and runways to hinder usage of them. A wading kit allows the vehicle to wade through up to two-meter wave surges, and includes a telescopic investigation arm allowing crews to probe and unearth buried devices at safe distance.  

The Terrier has a front-loading system which can lift weights of up to 5 tonnes and can shift up to 300 tonnes of earth per hour.  

And yes, if you were wondering, the Terrier can also be fitted with a 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun and Smoke Grenade Launchers for self-defense. Armour and design protect against small arms fire and mines. Protection against mines obviously makes a lot of sense due to the jobs the vehicle performs. The vehicle also has protection against nuclear, biological, and chemical threats.  

The Terrier replaced the former Combat Engineer Tractor, with the Terrier being faster, more mobile, and has improved armour and mine protection, as well as just being overall more advanced in its capabilities as can be seen.

Titan Armoured Bridge Launcher  

The Titan is similar to the Trojan in that it is based off the Challenger 2 chassis. The Titan is meant for the creation of bridges to cross areas. The Titan enables crossing for soldiers and vehicles of gaps up to 60m across via laying close support bridges, the Titan is able to carry and lay a current range of in-service close support bridges with improved capability and increased flexibility, able to be used in numerous terrain conditions and climates. Bridges are laid and removed without the crew needing to leave the vehicle, keeping them safer, and the advanced camera systems allow it to work within any conditions. The vehicle has been in service since 2006.  

Similar to the M3, the Titan utilises the same direct and indirect vision systems for improved visibility, and can support a wide range of operations, including humanitarian missions. The vehicle can launch 26 meter No 10 Bridges within 2 minutes, it can also use integral trestles and wedges to lay a combination of multiple bridges in depths of 5 meters, and can over-bridge oil pipelines and other bridges.  

The Titan, able to carry up to 2 No 12 Bridges (that are 13.5 meters in length) can lay them within 90 seconds. Its capabilities make it one of the most advanced in efficient and versatile bridge laying systems currently known.  

It weighs 62,500kg, uses the BR-90 Close Support Bridges, and can travel up to 36mph using a Perkins CV12 diesel engine. The vehicle also provides stowage for crewman-portable light anti-tank weapons, and has a nuclear, biological, and chemical protection system. Armour protects against direct fire weapons and mines.  

BR-90 Bridges  

Bridges have been used by military forces ever since the Romans and likely even before then as well, for improved mobility and access that are crucial in a successful military operation. Roman bridges were giant and built from timber and stone. Bridges became much improved from the 1870s with cast iron being used in their construction, but later steel would be incredibly revolutionary for bridges as its tensile properties helped to improve designs. In the modern-day military bridges have been upgraded further and further to improve the loads they can hold and how big of gaps they can be used to cross, with mechanization being another revolution to military bridging systems, and the subsequent moves towards fully automated bridging systems, dramatically improving safety and efficiency.  

BR-90s are a family of bridges manufactured by BAE Systems and in active use since 1999 that provide close and general support, made from interchangeable modular components of high specification steel or advanced aluminum alloy fabrication which makes the bridges light, therefore easier to transport and move, and keeps them strong, so they don’t fail and break in usage, which could obviously be catastrophic. The BR-90 bridges were designed to hold up to Load Class 70 tracked vehicles, but can also be crossed by vehicles up to Load Class 85 under strict safety conditions.  

Close Support Bridges, also called Assault Bridges, include three sub-types (known as numbers 10, 11, and 12) all tank-launched carried on a tank bridgelayer and tank bridge transporter. Such bridges as these are typically used in forward combat zones where they may be subject to enemy fire and as such a bridge that can be launched as rapidly as possible with limited crew exposure is preferred.  

The General Support Bridge is more complex and heavy duty. It uses the Automated Bridge Launching Equipment system able to launch bridges of up to 44m in length. For a gap to be crossed the vehicle with the system in question sits facing rear to the gap, and then a lightweight launch rail is extended across. The bridge will then be assembled and winched across the gap with the rail supporting it, sections are added until the bridge covers the gap. The launch rail is recovered once the bridge is completed.  

A Standard General Support Bridging system requires an Automated Bridge Launching Equipment Vehicle and two Bridging Vehicles which carry the additional bridge sections for a 32-meter bridge set. Such a bridge can be built by 10 soldiers within 30 minutes at day or 40 minutes at night.  

General Support Bridges are usually used for operations that are more deliberate and within an indirect fire zone where the construction and launching of bridges over a slower period and the presence of a building crew is more acceptable and not as counterproductive or dangerous.  

The basic spanning systems used include the long span system which allows a 32-meter bridge to be expanded to 44 meters using the Automated Bridge Launching Equipment system, and the two-span system allowing two 32-meter bridge sets to be placed by the Automated Bridge Launching Equipment and of which is secured in the middle by piers or floating pontoons, allowing a gap of up to 60 meters to be crossed.  

Explosive Ordinance Disposal  

This part actually includes two small robotic-type vehicles. The first is called Dragon Runner, a light-weight, multi-terrain robot that can also be packed up into a backpack for easy transportation. The remote-controlled robot is able to detect various devices while keeping its operator at a safe distance. This robot helps bomb disposal experts find and deactivate improvised explosive devices. The robot can also be used for reconnaissance, including within areas inaccessible to soldiers, can be used to ensure the security of a perimeter and checkpoints, can be used to inspect vehicles, and used for hostage negotiation.  

The Dragon Runner can also utilise a manipulator arm enabling it to dig around suspicious objects and also pick up and move them. It can even place small charges to disrupt suspect devices, and also includes remote-controlled wire-cutters. The Dragon Runner also sends video footage of what it sees back to the operator, enabling assessment of a situation, including a look inside structures before moving in, enabling foreplaning and safeguarding of life. The Dragon Runner robot can be placed either way up and still work as intended, it can travel over rugged terrain but some variants are unable to climb stairs and must be carried up them, the robot is ultra-compact and weighs around 14lbs. Some variants even have the ability to open doors and can pick things up as heavy as 10lbs.  

The Dragon Runner’s ability to function no matter what side up it lands is also handy as the robot is designed to be thrown into dangerous areas, such as over fences, up stairwells, over moving vehicles and so on. In-fact the robot can be thrown from as high as a three-storey building and still function. 

The other remote-controlled robot is the Wheelbarrow, which was first introduced during The Troubles in Northern Ireland in 1995. More specifically the Wheelbarrow Mk8b was the British Army’s primary remote-control vehicle used by bomb disposal teams on operations, but exited service in 2020 being replaced by the Starter RCV. The Wheelbarrow was also replaced already by the Cutlass robot and Wheelbarrow (Mk9), able to deploy anywhere in the world at a moment’s notice. The Wheelbarrow is credited with saving hundreds of civilian and military lives.  

The new Wheelbarrow Mk9 first showcased in 2010 and its main purposes include surveillance activities and tasks that involve handling hazardous materials, such as chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats, and disposal of improvised explosive devices. The new Wheelbarrow has improved speed, mobility, payload, and reach. It also includes upgraded cameras, control systems, and communication systems. Its modular telescopic arm has a max reach of 6m which can lift up to 150kg, and it can use this arm to right itself. The robot also has an integral ceramic cutter.  

The robot can traverse numerous rough terrains and is able to climb stairways up to 45 degrees. It has a battery life of up to 4 hours. The Wheelbarrow MK9 is used by the Metropolitan Police.   

The Cutlass robot was developed around the same time as the Mk9 Wheelbarrow and has very similar uses and features, one defining feature is the ability for it to automatically change tools without an operator needing to do it manually, keeping the operator from potentially exposing their position and improving safety. Its arm can lift 25kg at full extension, and a heavy-duty arm can be fitted to lift up to 100kg. The robot can be controlled wirelessly up to 2.5km away or using fibre optic link cable between 220-500m.  

The Starter, also called T7 RCV or T7 Harris, will include new advanced features such as haptic feedback which allows operators to feel their way through intricate ordinance disposal operations as well as improved high-definition cameras including camera systems to capture footage of suspect devices, The robot can also be used to clear hazardous materials, and also can be used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance like most robots. Improved precision and human-like dexterity have allowed it to complete tasks faster. It can climb stairs and slopes over 45 degrees, and lateral slopes over 30 degrees. It weighs 710lbs and has battery time of around 8 hours, although this can be less dependent on tasks.  

The robot has a multi-axis robotic arm manipulator with haptic sensing integrated into the arms gripper, the arm can lift or carry ordnance and objects that weigh more than 130kg (when arm is close to the robot track), at full extension the arm can lift up to 27kg. The arm has a vertical reach of 3m and a horizontal reach of 2.2m. The robot can be controlled by an operator from up to 1km away using the haptic feedback controller, the system allows the operator to preset a sequence of tasks.  

Attachments and accessories also exist to enhance the robot’s features, such as a kit to disable vehicle bombs, skid steer track to provide improved mobility in rougher terrain, 30kg forklift attachment, and quick-release hub locks to tow objects.  

It will be used in places such as Northern Ireland.  

Protected patrol vehicles  

The British Army uses protected patrol vehicles for a variety of reasons including mobility for personnel and supplies, with the vehicles having added protection from mines and ballistic threats. The vehicles can be used in combat, supporting combat roles, and other combat service support roles in active battle and war zones, even in direct fire zones. The British Army currently use 7 main types of Protected Patrol Vehicles.  

Foxhound  

The British Army call their Foxhound, manufactured by Force Protection Europe, the ‘cutting edge’ of protected patrol vehicle technology, it is classified as a light patrol vehicle. It includes significant blast protection which may seem unprecedented in comparison with the size and weight of the vehicle. The Foxhound’s are very modern, having first been tested in Afghanistan’s Helmand desert before seeing official deployment on military operations from 2012. 

In-fact the Foxhound is specifically designed for the types of threats faced by troops in Afghanistan, but also maintains the vehicles are agile and versatile enough to be a mainstay in the Army for years to come, so presumably fit for use in numerous places outside of Afghanistan, able to travel across numerous terrain types with ease. The vehicle is lighter and smaller than many other Protected Patrol Vehicles and is also ideal for soldiers within mentoring and partnering roles.  

Its automotive armoured spine system, known as a skateboard spine, is a place to mount various special-role pods to enable the vehicle to fit the mission of its purpose, from patrol, to fire support, and protected logistics, making it a flexible vehicle. Changes and customizations can be completed within half an hour. All heavy items are placed under the skateboard spine and this gives the vehicle a unique low centre of gravity.  

The Foxhound thanks to its v-shaped hull has good protection against improvised explosive devices and the vehicle can travel up to 70mph using a 3.2l Turbocharged diesel engine. The Foxhound is 5.32m in length, 2.10m in width, and 2.35m in height and weighs 7,500kg. It requires at least 2 crew, and can hold an additional 4 soldiers.  

The Foxhound can be mounted with a 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun for self-defense. The Foxhound also has a camera system allowing the operators good visibility all around them.  

There has though been some criticism and problems with the Foxhound with one particular issue being its propensity to breakdown, which could put the lives of its occupants in great risk if this happened in a hostile zone. It was enough of an issue to make it into a BBC News article in 2017, one Army Sergeant even said to the BBC that the vehicles were a “massive waste of money.”  

The Foxhound had replaced the previous Snatch Land Rover light patrol vehicle which itself was mired in controversy due to its deadly reputation of being blown apart by bombs and killing its occupants due to inadequate armour, which led to the vehicle gaining the morbid nickname of the mobile coffin. Controversy mounted due to the amount of time it took to get a replacement to the Snatch.  

Now there is little denying that the Foxhound is better than the Snatch because in its design and protection against roadside bombs and mines, it quite simply is far better in that aspect. The main issue for the Foxhound is that their engines keep overheating, which for a vehicle that was designed to operate in hot and dusty desert climates isn’t a very good sign, and makes them unreliable. Those operating the vehicles have said they were not provided with tools to deal with the issues and had to acquire their own, and also change how often the vehicles were stripped down, every so many weeks rather than twice per year. Army sources though have disputed some of the claims.  

Naturally though there are no plans to replace the Foxhound and I myself would say this is the right decision as they still do provide superior blast protection. Instead, what needs to be done is provision of tools to enable the effective maintenance of the vehicles in hot conditions and looking into redesigning some aspects of the vehicle to fix the overheating problem. It is possible some of these things may already have happened since, although I am unable to confirm.  

Nonetheless the Foxhound is still well suited for its role in the grand scheme of things and certainly provides far better protection than the Snatch.  

Husky  

The Husky is used as a protected support vehicle and also a highly mobile and flexible load carrying vehicle that has been in service since 2010/11. It is able to be used across various types of missions, such as for the transportation/storage of supplies such as food, water and ammunition, which can also allow the operators to remain out on operations for longer periods of time. It can also be used as a command vehicle at headquarters. Some are also fitted out to act as recovery and ambulance vehicles.   

The Husky also played a role in phasing out the less adequate Snatch Land Rover.

The Husky is able to travel across numerous terrain types with ease. The Husky is also a tactical support vehicle, putting it within a group alongside the Coyote and Wolfhound, although the Husky only supports lightly armoured vehicles in this role, where Coyote and Wolfhound can be used to also support heavily armoured vehicles.  

The Husky can be fitted out with a Heavy Machine Gun or a Grenade Machine Gun for strong self-defense and tactical support. It has a focus on strength and mobility.  

The Husky is 6.4m in length, 2.5m in height, and 2.4m in width. It can reach almost 70mph using a six litre 350 horse power V8 engine, and holds 4 crew. The vehicle also features fully armoured hydraulic doors and a camera system allowing operators good visibility all around.  

Mastiff  

This thing looks like a cage on wheels, at least in the photo provided by the British Army website. The Mastiff, manufactured by General Dynamics; Morgan Advanced Materials, is based on the United States Cougar 6×6, is heavily armoured and utilises six-wheel drive. The Mastiff requires at least two crew to operate and can hold an additional eight troops. The British Army currently use the 3^rd variation of the Mastiff, also called the Mastiff 2, it has been in service since 2009.  

The Mastiff is one of the more modern vehicles suitable for patrols and convoys. It can travel up to 56mph using a Caterpillar C-7 diesel engine. It is able to fit the latest weapon systems for self-defense and tactical support including the 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun, a 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun, and 40mm Automatic Grenade Machine Gun, which in the tactical role can be used to support light to heavily armoured vehicles.  

The Website says this vehicle has a less intimidating profile than tracked vehicles, although personally the picture of this thing to me looks pretty damn intimidating. It also says it gives commanders more options to deal with threats. The Mastiff also features a Bowman radio for communications (like most army vehicles) and can use electronic countermeasures to deceive enemy detection equipment such as radars. It can also fit additional armour beyond the standard level for some of the best protection.  

As well as tactical support, the Mastiff is also used by bomb disposal teams; has been used as a communications and command control vehicle; can be used as a recovery vehicle; can be used as an ambulance vehicle; and can also be used to tow artillery.  

The Mastiff is 7.94m in length, 3.2m in width, and 3.2m in height.  

The latest version of the Mastiff includes numerous improvements such as bigger axles and up-rated suspension, increased capacity (able to hold 8 soldiers up from 6 + 2 crew), more stowage location and able to fold up seats for even more room, blast attenuating seats, and new situational awareness system which includes a thermal imager.  

The Mastiff is being axed from the British Army’s roster of vehicles as was confirmed last year as a part of the Land Environment Fleet Optimisation Plan following the 2014 withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan as well as the general slimming down of the British Armed Forces that has taken place. There are also plans to replace these vehicles with newer types, such as the upcoming Artec Boxer which is planned to go into service from 2023. 

Panther  

The Panther, manufactured by BAE Systems, is a smaller 7-tonne armoured patrol vehicle that due to its lower weight is able to be air transported including via being underslung beneath a Chinook helicopter. It is known as a light multirole vehicle and has been in service since 2007. For self-defense it can be fitted with a 7.62mm L7 General Purpose Machine Gun, or a 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun. It also features a day and night sighting system for the operator.  

It’s a modular vehicle meaning it is easy to customize for the mission at hand including changing its armour. The Panther has good protection against anti-tank munitions and mines when using the correct modular setup and armour kit.  

The Panther saw widespread usage with commanders, sergeant majors, and liaison officers for missions such as armored reconnaissance and supporting armored infantry units. Also used as commander’s vehicle for engineer troops as well as anti-tank, mortar, and supporting fire platoons. The Panther is designed in such a way to reduce the effectiveness of thermal, acoustic, and visual radar and detection systems from picking it up as easily.  

It is 5.50m in length, 1.95m in height, and 2.05m in width. It can travel up to almost 50mph using an Iveco F1C Euro 3 turbocharged engine, and requires at least one crew member to operate, and can hold an additional three troops. The vehicle can travel through water at a depth of 0.85m without needing any preparation, and can also travel across rivers at a depth of 1.5m although this requires a small amount of preparation.  

There have though been some complaints as to the Panther’s reliability, with the vehicle reportedly often requiring maintenance to keep it in working order. There have also been complaints about the interior of the vehicle being too small. There have also been complaints on mobility and protection when used outside of the typical Command and Liaison role, and controversy with it being chosen over other vehicles it was pitted against in trials. Upgrade programmes were instituted to improve some of these issues before deployments, a large number of the vehicles were also sold in 2018, effectively putting the vehicles out of service.

All in all the Panther had been planned to replace a range of older vehicles used by the British Army such as the Land Rover Snatch, Spartan, Samaritan, Sultan, Samson, Scimitar. It clearly failed to do so.  

Wolfhound  

The Wolfhound, manufactured by General Dynamics and Morgan Advanced Materials, is another six-wheeled armoured patrol vehicle that has been in service since 2010, and is a variant of the Mastiff which is probably why it also looks like a giant cage on wheels, it shares many of the same characteristics and features. It is often used in high-threat areas for increased troop protection. It also has similar roles to the Husky and Coyote as along with them it is part of the tactical support vehicles group, this means it accompanies frontline patrols and holds essential supplies such as food, water and ammunition. It can provide tactical support to both lightly and heavily armoured vehicles.  

Also, as a load carrying vehicle it can perform various useful tasks such as moving bulky cargo used in the construction of forward bases and also used as a gun tractor and limber, primarily for the Royal Artillery’s 105 light gun.  

The Wolfhound also utilises radio and electronic equipment similar to other patrol vehicles in this category and can be armed with a 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun for self-defense. The Wolfhound is 7.08m in length, 2.74m in width, and 2.64m in height. It can travel up to 56 mph and requires at least two crew to operate and can hold an additional 10 troops.  

Just like the Mastiff, the Wolfhound is also being axed from the British Army’s roster of vehicles as was confirmed last year as a part of the Land Environment Fleet Optimisation Plan following the 2014 withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan as well as the general slimming down of the British Armed Forces that has taken place. There are also plans to replace these vehicles with newer types, such as the upcoming Artec Boxer which is planned to go into service from 2023. 

Ridgeback  

Oh look, this time it’s a smaller 4-wheeled cage (although I could not find any pictures I could use unfortunately so you’ll need to search it up yourself), also manufactured by General Dynamics and Morgan Advanced Materials and is also based on the US Cougar.

The website calls the Mastiff the bigger brother of the Ridgeback and as such it shares many common attributes. The vehicle has been actively used in operations since 2009 providing protected mobility in both urban and urban-fringe environments, especially villages where the Ridgeback is better at being more mobile over the Mastiff and Wolfhound. Again, being similar to the Mastiff and Wolfhound it shares many of the same traits and features, including good blast protection from roadside bombs and mines, and the ability to remotely control weapons from inside the vehicle, therefore eliminating the risk of a soldier exposing themselves to control the weapon manually, and ability to add additional armour for increased protection against other threats such as anti-tank weapons.  

The Ridgeback also has three different variants used by the British Army, one used as a battlefield ambulance, one as a command vehicle variant, and as a troop-carrying vehicle. Troop carrying variants include either a protected or remote weapon station that can fit either a 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun, 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun, or a 40mm Automatic Grenade Machine Gun.  

The Ridgeback like a number of other patrol vehicles also uses Bowman radio for communications and has countermeasure systems against enemy detection systems. The Ridgeback is 7.94m in length, 3.20m in width, and 3.20m in height. It can travel up to 56mph using a Caterpillar C-7 diesel engine, and requires at least three crew to operate, although generally has a crew of six, but can hold up to a maximum of twelve soldiers.  

Just like the Mastiff and Wolfhound, the Ridgeback is also being axed from the British Army’s roster of vehicles as was confirmed last year as a part of the Land Environment Fleet Optimisation Plan following the 2014 withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan as well as the general slimming down of the British Armed Forces that has taken place. There are also plans to replace these vehicles with newer types, such as the upcoming Artec Boxer which is planned to go into service from 2023.  

RWMIK Land Rover

RWMIK stands for Revised Weapons Mounted Installation Kit. This is a lightly-armoured but highly-mobile patrol vehicle for fire support and force protection manufactured by Ricardo Vehicle Engineering. It requires a crew of three, including the driver, a commander, and a gunner. It, as its name suggests, is able to mount various weapons including the General Purpose and Heavy Machine Guns and the Grenade Machine Gun, the vehicle could also mount the Milan rocket launcher to the rear of the vehicle.  

The ability of the RWMIK Land Rover as well as its low profile enables its usage in various roles such as reconnaissance, escorting of convoys, and as already stated fire support and protection. The vehicle can safely travel up to 800km while supporting itself and crew. The WMIK (the original variant) has been in service since 1999 and its agile mobility, speed, and efficiency has proven its worth in numerous conflicts.  

Naturally though due to the lightly armoured nature of the original WMIK Land Rover (predecessor of the RWMIK) it was one of the most vulnerable vehicles within this category, having very little protection against IEDs, and issues with being disabled from enemy small fire. The addition of Kevlar flaps fixed to vulnerable areas were used to help remedy the issue from small fire. The WMIK Land Rover also did not match up to other vehicles in its category in the off-road environment due to narrow wheels, this was particularly observable in the harsher terrain of Afghanistan.  

The resultant EWMIK (2006) and currently used RWMIK Land Rovers (2009) were the upgraded responses to the new challenges faced in Afghanistan. The EWMIK, with E standing for Enhanced, included the addition of under-belly armour fitted using a modular armour kit, the addition of electronic countermeasures for better protection against IEDs, and an advanced Bowman radio setup.  

The currently used RWMIK saw further improvements to the vehicles armouring, with it being built into the vehicles chassis rather than being an add-on component, as well as a standard Bowman radio system.  

Yet another upgrade saw the introduction of the RWMIK+ vehicles in 2010/11, including general safety improvements such as armoured doors, upper body panels, improved rollover protection, and other general improvements including a new axle and improved engine and transmission.  

Although this series of upgrades improved the vehicles safety and reliability in Afghanistan, in general many operations and missions still opted for the Jackal 2 vehicle over the RWMIK Land Rovers, as the Jackal 2 was seen to have superior protection, especially against IEDs, and was also a weapons mount installation vehicle.  

It is 4.55m in length, 1.79m in width, and 2.4m in height and can travel up to 50mph.  

And that brings us to the end of the British Army’s currently used Protected Patrol Vehicles.  

Artillery and Air Defense Vehicles & Weapon Systems  

These vehicles and weapon systems are pretty self-explanatory. Air defense and defensive and offensive artillery and rocket launchers. Essential for defensive and offensive operations for the safeguarding and support of troops, vehicles, and equipment on other missions and operations. This section includes six vehicles and weapon systems used by the British Army for artillery and air defense.  

AS90  

The AS90 is a powerful self-propelled artillery weapon mounted on to an armoured tracked vehicle used by the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Artillery Regiments and has been in service since 1993. The weapon is the L31 155mm 39-calibre self-propelled ordnance gun. Two AS90s are able to deliver a total payload of 261kg to a single target within 10 seconds. A project was initiated to upgrade the gun to a 52-calibre but it was terminated after it failed to meet operational requirements of insensitive munitions.  

It is able to fire a burst rate of three rounds in fewer than 10-seconds thanks to an automated loading system, as well as six rounds a minute for three minutes, and a sustained rate of two rounds per minute for up to an hour, with an effective range of up to 24.7km. A recoil and hydrogas suspension system allow the turret to traverse and fire through a full 360 degrees. Systems exist on the vehicle for the accurate orientation of the weapon, there are also systems to aid in the accuracy of the firing of the weapon.  

In total the vehicle is 9.07m in length, 3.5m in width, and 2.49m in height. The vehicle carries 48 x 15mm rounds and the big gun is mounted with a 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun for extra defense at closer ranges if needed. The vehicle is able to travel up to 420km moving up to 33mph using a Cummins VTA903T Turbocharged V8 660 bhp diesel engine. It requires 5 crew to operate. The armour of the vehicle provides strong defense against various threats including General Purpose Machine Guns, armor piercing shells, and shell fragments.  

A Desert variant exists for usage in hot and rugged environments, with improved engine and systems for the climate, and a track that performs better in sandy terrain.  

The AS90 is though becoming increasingly outdated with it now being outclassed by artillery guns/systems that have better range and heavier artillery, which means the AS90 may become prone to being outranged and made generally obsolete by superior artillery used by any conventional adversaries. There are plans to replace the current AS90s fully by 2032 with upgraded artillery weapons with improved range and a higher calibre.  

L118 Light Gun  

The L118 is a 105mm versatile light towed artillery gun manufactured by BAE Systems and utilised by the parachute and commando field artillery regiments and has been in service since 1976, over the years the gun has been upgraded with new technologies such as to improve accuracy, range, usage at night, and efficiency, with the last upgrade taking place in 2011. It can either be towed by a medium-weight vehicle such as the previously mentioned Wolfhound patrol vehicle or it can be underslung and moved beneath a Chinook helicopter.  

The L118 features an automatic pointing system allowing the gun to be unlimbered and in action within 30 seconds. The APS is operated via a touch screen and replaced the traditional dial sight used previously. The gun is 8.8m in length, 1.78m in width, and 2.13m in height.  

The L118 can fire various munition types including high-explosive incendiary rounds, smoke and illuminating rounds, and target marking rounds. It fires at 6-8 rate per minute with a maximum range of up to 17.2km. The gun weighs 1,858kg and requires 6 crew to operate, although if urgency requires four crew minimum can operate it, but this means they will have less assistance in its operation which may decrease efficiency, and the crew will be more vulnerable to an attack/ambush from the enemy.  

Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System  

The M270B1 GMLRS for short, is a rocket and missile launching system, a type of rocket artillery that has been around since the 1980s with the M270B1 being an upgraded variant with improved armour to help counter IEDs. The system fires either the M31 GMLRS rocket munitions or MGM-140 ATACMS missile, both are surface-to-surface, the weapon system is mounted on to an armoured tracked stretched Bradley chassis vehicle. The British Army calls it a mainstay of their deep and shaping fires capability. It is able to provide pinpoint accuracy, firing a 200lb high explosive warhead at over twice the range of other artillery systems used by the British Army.  

It is also the bulk of the British Army’s precision fires capability and uses GPS guidance for the munitions, enabling high accuracy beyond 70km range. The vehicle and system require only three crew, the driver, gunner and section chief, to operate and the vehicle and system itself is highly versatile and robust.  

The system can fire either 12 rounds/40 seconds with the M31 GMLRS rockets or 2 rounds/10 seconds using the MGM-140 ATACMS missiles with an effective range of 70km. The munitions are fired without the crew needing to leave the cab and the system is also self-loading and self-aiming. A fire control computer integrates the vehicle and rocket-launching operations, the computer re-aims the launcher between rounds to maintain its superb accuracy.  

The vehicle and system are 6.85m in length, 2.97m in width, and 2.59m in height. It can travel up to 40mph and move up to 640km.  

A new upgrade programme was announced to improve armour, and upgrades to the automotive and launch mechanism components from 2022 to keep the rocket artillery system in service until at least 2050. This upgrade will also allow the system to fire the upcoming US Precision Strike Missile that has a range of 499km and is scheduled to enter service from 2024 and the upcoming Guided MLRS Extended Range Missile with a range of 150km due to enter service from 2025. Further upgrades will involve the tracks of the vehicle, upgrades to camera and radar systems, the addition of a new fire control system, and improved operational and tactical mobility.  

Rapier  

The Rapier, specifically the Rapier Field Standard C, is what the British Army calls a technologically advanced short range air defense system manufactured by BAe Dynamics and Alenia, used by the Royal Artillery regiment. The weapon system is towed, although there are variants fitted to vehicles. It has been in service since 1971 and still remains one of the best-known and most accurate automated air defense systems, although is not without its critics. The system has seen numerous upgrades over the years, with the latest taking place in 1992 and entering service in 1996, the Field Standard C or Rapier 2000, likely to be the final upgrade before the system is replaced entirely.  

Upgrades over the years have included the addition of a blindfire radar to enable operation in all-weather capability; introduction of variants that were fitted to armoured vehicles rather than having to tow them, although other sections such as the blindfire radar may still have had to be towed separately; thermal imaging systems that did not require the blindfire radar; a laserfire system that was a major upgrade to the optical system and made the Rapier semi-automatic, reducing need of operator skill and training; upgrade for usage at night; and numerous missile upgrade improvements.  

The latest upgrade, Field Standard C, included the addition of two more rockets on the launcher for a total of eight, a modern upgrade to the radar and optical systems, and the system was made entirely automatic without needing operator guidance.  

The weapon defense system operates 24-hours within all weather conditions, the guided system primarily provides limited area air defense against such air threats that may include fixed wing aircraft, helicopters, unmanned air vehicles, and can also shoot down cruise missiles. If needed it can engage two targets at the same time. The Rapier is easily usable for operations worldwide thanks to being compact, mobile and air portable.  

The weapon system is described as highly accurate due to the manual optical guidance system which allows the system to guide fired missiles over a radio link. But there have previously been disputes as to its true accuracy, with descriptions of its reliability in previous wars such as the Falklands War accused of being greatly exaggerated. There have also been some complaints over its small range of operation. As well as that the number of systems in service have been reduced as in many scenarios the Typhoon fighter jet has been able to provide effective air defense, other reasons cited by the MoD included a reduced air threat.  

The missile length is 2.25m, weighs 45kg, and has an effective range of 500-8,200m. The radar, a part of the weapon system used to enable the system to be automatic and guided, is 3.37m in height, has a 16km range, and weighs 243kg.  

There are plans to eventually replace the Rapier with a new air defense system, such as the currently in-development Land Ceptor air defense system, that is being put through tests, with the naval version known as the Sea Ceptor having already entered service. The Land Ceptor is aimed to enter service sometime in the early 2020s.  

Portable Uncrewed Air Systems 

This section actually includes two unmanned drones used by the British Army for defense and reconnaissance. The first is the Desert Hawk, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, which is a fixed wing drone, a small and versatile air system used for discrete operations and providing commanders on the ground with an over-the-hill view. Usually used at company level but can also be used above and below that. The British Army describes it as having a very good record.  

The latest version of the Desert Hawk is called the Desert Hawk III and was first tested in 2006 and have been in operation since then. The UAV provides a surveillance system for aerial reconnaissance and can remain in the air for up to one hour. The drone has been used for the security of convoys, patrols, and bases, has been used to aid route clearing, and to track targets. It is able to be used during both day and night. The drone can travel up to 55 mph, it can be remotely controlled or be set on predetermined routes where the drone flies automated. Launching and landing must be done manually.  

The Desert Hawk is lightweight and can be launched by hand and comes with a man-transportable ground station which can support up to four Desert Hawk III’s at once. The Desert Hawk III also has the ability to operate in high-wind environments which can be typical of desert environments such as in Afghanistan. Other improvements for the Desert Hawk III have made it less easy for enemies to detect it, improved recognition and detection capabilities due to upgraded endurance of the drone, and other upgrades have improved situational awareness capabilities.  

The Desert Hawk III is also designed to break apart in a way that prevents critical components from being damaged, allowing hard landings to take place if needed. The drone is easy to transport, including via backpack.  

Then we have the Tarantula-Hawk, that may remind you of the drones from The Empire Strikes Back. It is a rotary drone also called the T-hawk micro air vehicle or more specifically the Honeywell RQ-16 T-Hawk, is part of a suite of vehicles called Talisman helping to counter and clear the threat of improvised explosive devices and mines. The drone is used by the Royal Engineers and has been in service since 2010.  

It is one of the best and most efficient drones for countering roadside bombs in a way that does not put ground vehicles and troops at risk. The drone is able to hover in place which allows it to easily scan the ground and roads ahead of convoys and patrols, they can also be used to inspect suspicious vehicles, structure, and disturbed earth. The drone has likely saved countless lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.  

The drone can also be used for general surveillance and reconnaissance as well as target acquisition. The drone is lightweight and can be transported via a backpack. It is able to operate in a variety of complex terrains, and it can be controlled manually or it could be set to fly automated where it keeps in touch with a network that can be dynamically updated with routes and target information, used with a ground control station. The drone can be assembled and deployed within 10 minutes. It can be used day or night in all weather conditions. It can travel up to 46mph.  

Both drones are modular and interchangeable with their sensors enabling them to be fitted out exactly for the job/mission at hand.  

Starstreak High Velocity Missile System  

This advanced and modern weapon system’s purpose is to defend against the threat of very high performance, low-flying aircraft and what it calls fast pop-up strikes conducted by enemy helicopters. The missile it fires travels at three times the speed of sound, and features three dart-like projectiles within the missile itself enabling multiple targets to be hit if needed. The Starstreak system has been in service since 1997, and has seen a number of upgrades since that time, with one of the biggest being in mid-2007, which improved the range and targeting system. Shoulder-lauch capability became available in 2000.  

The missile system can be fired in three ways, the first is by a soldier using a portable shoulder-mounted version that loads a single missile and can be assembled and ready to fire in just a few seconds. An aiming unit needs to be clipped on to the missile canister during this preparation. The aiming unit features an optical head that includes a stabilisation system, aiming mark injector, and monocular sight. The sight and aiming mark are used to acquire and track a target.  

The next option to fire is via a lightweight multiple-launcher featuring an automatic fire unit and of which can be carried on a lightweight vehicle. This launcher can fire three canister missiles enabling it to hit multiple targets at once without reloading, includes clip-on equipment and standard aiming unit. 

The third firing option is via the Starstreak self-propelled high-velocity missile system, mounted on an armoured tracked Stormer vehicle. It includes eight missiles ready to launch and a further 12 missiles that are carried. It also includes a roof-mounted air defence alerting device, which features an infrared scanner and processor giving target detection, prioritization, and automatic slewing of weapon sight on to target.  

The Starstreak system is advanced due to its difficulty to avoid over other systems, specifically its unique targeting system (laser beam-riding guidance) means that typical countermeasures, such as which may be used against systems guided using infrared, radar, or radio, will not work against the Starstreak. The Starstreak system’s speed also means many other countermeasures will usually also fail to stop it effectively in many scenarios. The system can be used day or night.  

The system has an effective range of 1,500-5,500m but can fire beyond 7km, a flight time of just 8-seconds, and uses a semi-automatic, line of sight, beam riding guidance system.  

And that brings us to the end of the artillery, rocket/missile launchers and air defense systems section.  

Combat Vehicles  

Combat vehicles are the main fighting vehicles of the British Army which include tanks and infantry fighting vehicles. As the British Army website aptly puts it, they provide firepower, mobility, and protection, this would be in war zones, battlefields, hostile environments, operations and missions. The British Army currently use four types of combat vehicles.  

Challenger 2  

Even if you are not a fanatic or even interested in what vehicles, weapons and equipment militaries use, you’ve still likely heard of the Challenger 2 main battle tank, alongside the United States Abrams main battle tank, it is one of the most iconic and well-known main battle tanks in the world. The Challenger 2 is designed to get down and dirty directly into the rough of it, able and made to take out other tanks, and has been used in numerous wars and operations since its in-service year from 1998, and of which the British Army can proudly say that in these the Challenger 2 has never suffered a loss to the enemy.  

The only time so far that a Challenger 2 has been destroyed was due to a friendly fire incident in 2003 in Basra when a Challenger 2 fired on another Challenger 2, it is of note that the tank destroyed had its hatch open at the time, the exchange unfortunately killed two crew members.  

In 2017 an incident during a live fire exercise at Castlemartin range in Pembrokeshire led to an ammunition explosion using 120mm standard propellant charge practice shells, critically injuring four of the crew with two later dying from their injuries. The resulting investigation determined that the explosion had been due to a bolt vent axial seal assembly that had been removed during a previous exercise and had not yet been replaced, due to lack of written process the crew at the time were unaware of this, and there was lack of consideration during the L30 gun’s development of whether it could be fired without the seal assembly or not. A further explosion was also caused by bag charges within the tank, which had not been within internal ammunition bins as is procedure.   

Since being in service the tank has seen numerous upgrades to increase its life time in service. An incident in 2006, where an RPG-29 caused damage to a Challenger 2 in Iraq when it was climbing over a ramp, led to an armour upgrade to prevent a repeat. Again, it is of note the tank in question was not lost and was able to return back and be quickly repaired and back in operation the next day, and no one was killed. Also, in 2007 in Basra again a shaped charge IED penetrated the underside of a Challenger 2 causing the driver to lose a leg and another to receive minor injuries.  

Other upgrades have focused in improving lethality of the tank and to improve its mobility on the field. The latest upgrades aiming to keep the tanks in service until at least 2035 are currently in development and scheduled to be operational from between 2027-2030 and the upgraded tanks will be renamed to Challenger 3. The upgrades focus on upgrading targeting and acquisition, including upgrades to the primary sights of the Commander and Gunner, and replacing thermal and gunnery sights with a new third-gen thermal imaging system; upgrade to the fire control system, including the computer, control panel, and gun processing unit; upgrades to mobility such as third-gen hydrogas suspension, upgrade to air filtration, and other engine improvements; and upgrades to the electronic architecture, including upgrades to the Gunner’s control handles, video distribution, generic vehicle architecture, on-board processing, and human machine interface.  

The MoD also accepted an upgrade to the Challenger’s main gun, upgrading it to a 120mm smoothbore.  

The Challenger 2 is currently manufactured by BAE Systems and Land Armaments and replaced the previous Challenger 1 Main Battle Tank. There are currently around 56 Challenger 2’s in active use by four armoured regiments of the British Army.  

The British Army makes sure to state the shock factor that the tank can cause to the enemy on the battlefield and how much pressure it can put the enemy under when used in a rapid and fully-committed advance against them, with the aim of causing the enemy to break and retreat. In both offensive and defensive scenarios, the presence of the Challenger 2 can really serve to boost morale of friendly forces, while breaking that of the enemy.  

The British Army website also talks of the Iron Trinity, which are protection, firepower, and mobility, three important things a tank needs to be successful. For the Challenger II its firepower and protection are prioritized in its design, which sacrifices a little bit of its mobility. For firepower the Challenger 2’s main armament is currently the rifled 47-rounds 120mm L30A1 gun which holds the record for greatest distance of having destroyed another tank. There are also two secondary armaments, the Coaxial 7.62mm L94A1 Chain Gun, and the 7.62mm L37A2 Operator/Loader’s hatch Machine Gun. There are also smoke dispensers as well.  

The L94A1 chain gun on the Challenger 2 has issues with being accurately aimed using the main sight below a minimum range of 200 meters. All in all though the chain gun is seen as very reliable, although there are some other issues that will be brought up in the next vehicle we go on to.  

The Challenger 2’s protection is provided by world-class Dorchester 2 armour that was designed in the United Kingdom. The British Army website says that the lethality and accuracy of the Challenger 2 offsets the higher speed of some opponent main battle tanks.  

Oh, and the Challenger 2 even includes a toilet as well.  

The Challenger 2 requires 4 crew to operate, a commander, gunner, loader, and driver. The most junior member of the Challenger 2 crew is usually the Driver who comes straight from training, followed by the Gunner who would usually have been a Driver first, the Loader who would have been both a Driver and Gunner previously, and the Commander is the most senior, having to pass a 6-month course that has a heavy focus on tactics before being put into such a role.  

The basic weight is 62.5 tonnes with combat-ready weight being 75 tonnes due to added-on armour modules. It can travel up to 37mph on road and up to 25mph off-road using a Perkins CV12-6A V12 diesel 26.1 litres 1,200 bhp engine, with an operational range of 340 miles on road or 160 miles off-road.  

Warrior  

The Warrior, manufactured by BAE Systems, is a tracked infantry fighting vehicle that has the speed and performance which allows it to keep up with the Challenger 2, even in the harshest terrain. It includes both the firepower and armour to also enable it to support infantry in an assault.  

The Warrior includes seven different variants, these include the command and section variant, artillery observation post variant, command post variant, and REME recovery and repair variants, among other types. More recently the Warrior has been adapted to fighting in desert-like conditions, most obviously due to wars in the Middle East such as in Afghanistan. Along with its three crew and seven soldiers, it can also hold supplies and weapons and can be used for up to 48-hours on the battlefield, with it being able to handle threats from nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. It also has proven protection against small arms, missiles, and anti-tank mines, with armour modules available for further protection, such as against more advanced munitions and explosives, and IEDs.  

The Warrior has been in service since 1988 and has seen action in various conflicts such as in Bosnia and Iraq. The vehicles have excellent mobility, lethality, and survivability for effective operations of various regiments within battlegroups. The vehicle can also be fitted with enhanced armour to fit the job and is always being updated to keep it modern, with the latest upgrades aiming to keep it in service until at least 2040, with it being upgraded with a tactical communications system, and thermal imaging upgrades to enable night operation (for extension to 2025), and upgrades to modular protection, electronic architecture, and a new turret and weapon system (for extension to 2040).  

The Warrior includes thermal imaging equipment and an 8x magnification image-intensifying night sight to enable it to operate during the night. It is 6.34m in length, 3m in width, and 2.78m in height. For defense the command and section variants, the main variant used in direct combat operations, is fitted with a turret mounted 30mm Rarden cannon which as well as being great at taking out enemy APCs, also has the capability to take on helicopters, it is able to defeat light-armoured vehicles up to 1,500m away. There are also eight 94mm light anti-armour weapon HEAT rockets.  

All variants including the above are also equipped with a 7.62mm chain gun which also has the capability to take on helicopters, and smoke dispensers. There have though been issues with this chain gun, with electrical systems of the Warrior causing the weapon to fire without warning on a number of occasions, which has resulted in some injuries, including to a British soldier and civilians.  

The Warrior can travel up to 46mph and requires at least three crew to operate, a commander, driver, and gunner, and can hold an additional seven soldiers.  

FV430 Family and the Bulldog  

FV430s are a family of tracked armoured personnel and fighting vehicles that have been in active use since the 1960s but have remained in service due to having been continually upgraded to meet modern needs and therefore remain reliable vehicles across numerous areas.  

For example, the FV432 is able to be converted so it can be used in an amphibious capacity, in which it can travel in water at almost 4mph. The FV430 family are rugged and reliable vehicles that maintain good cross-country performance. They can be used as command vehicles, 81mm mortar carriers, armoured personnel carriers, ambulances, and recovery vehicles, making them still quite versatile.  

One of the most modern FV430 variants is the Bulldog, which has been in service since 2006, which are upgraded armoured personnel carriers with improved armour, using reactive armour. Many FV430s have been upgraded to Bulldogs. It is used by mechanized infantry for protected mobility such as to move around a battlefield. The Bulldog is able to withstand small arms and artillery fire. It requires two crew to operate and can hold eight further soldiers. The Bulldog has received much praise from those who have operated them.  

Such upgraded FV430 variants can also be used in counter-insurgency operations in place of the Warrior as it provides a similar level of protection and able to carry out mostly the same tasks, enabling pressure relief on heavily committed Warrior vehicles.  

FV430s are 5.25m in length, 2.28m in height, and 2.80m in width. They are typically armed with a 7.62mm general purpose machine gun, and two 3-barrel smoke dischargers. They can travel up to 32mph using a Rolls-Royce K60 no. 4 Mark 1-4 engine.  

Stormer  

The Stormer is an armoured vehicle which is mainly used as a weapons platform for the previously discussed High Velocity Missile system (Starstreak). The Stormer provides the advanced air-defense weapons system with protection and high mobility. The Stormer is 5.6m in length, 2.8m in width, and 3.4m in height. The Stormer can travel at almost 50mph, can drive up to 600km, and weighs 13,500kg. It can be fitted with a 7.62mm GPMG for self-defense.  

The Stormer does also have other uses as well such as an engineer vehicle, recovery vehicle, ambulance, mine layer, 81/120mm mortar carrier, can be used as a command-and-control vehicle, has many logistical uses, and can also be used to lay bridges. It can be used in reconnaissance roles, fire support roles, escort duty roles, internal security roles, and more. It is due to this fact a quite versatile vehicle due to its wide range of uses.  

It can also be fitted to protect against biological, chemical, and nuclear threats, can be fitted using a kit to enable it to have amphibious usage, and equipment to enable usage during night-time operations. There are also variants that can be armed with other advanced weapons, such as TOW missiles and the Bushmaster II automatic cannon.  

Aircraft, Assault Boats, and Landing Craft  

The Armed Forces in the United Kingdom also have some aircraft and boats at their disposal for things such as assault operations, troop and supplies transport, training, and of course also reconnaissance as well. This section includes two boats, a landing craft, and six types of aircraft that the British Armed Forces currently use, which includes five helicopters and an unmanned fixed-wing craft/drone.  

Army Work Boat  

A simple boat used by the armed forces for various logistical tasks that include towing fuel dracones to deliver fuel to a deployed force, positioning single-point mooring buoys used for fuel pipelines, fire-fighting capabilities and providing assistance to Mexeflote landing craft operations. They may also be used for patrolling. The Army Boat itself, which is operated by specially trained Royal Logistic Corps personnel, can be deployed via a landing ship dock. It is not meant for combat.  

Combat Support Boat  

This boat is faster and more versatile than the previous work boat and is mostly used to support bridging and amphibious operations. The boats water jet propulsion system allows it to move at high thrust within shallow draught. The boat also has other uses, such as being used in a work boat capacity to support things such as diving operations, moving supplies from ship to shore, and used for inland water patrols.  

It can be used for tasks that would usually be performed by larger vessels, with the Combat Support Boat due to its smaller size also having the advantage of being air transportable. The boat can also be fitted to include a galley, toilet, shower, dayroom, and accommodation for sleeping, which comes with heating and air conditioning.  

The boat can be carried on a purpose-built launching and recovery platform for ease of transport, as well as by air, and can be rapidly deployed.  

Mexeflote  

The Mexeflote is the landing craft used by the British Army, the website calls it the largest logistic landing craft in Defence. The landing craft provides guaranteed theatre entry whether or not there is access to a port. The Mexeflote is able to transport vehicles, supplies, and equipment of up to 198 tonnes.  

The landing craft is made up of a number of cells and engines that can be customised for the task in question, such as to make a causeway, landing craft, or ramp support pontoon. The Mexeflote has been used since the 1960s, and played a big role in the Falklands War, and continues to be used in support of the majority of British Army operations, including humanitarian aid missions. Since their introduction they have received upgrades to keep them relevant.  

It is 38.66m in length, 12.4m in width, and has a 1.54m draft. It requires six crew to operate and travels up to 6.5 knots. It is often supported by Combat Support Boats.  

AH-64E Apache Attack Helicopter  

The AH-64 Apache is one of the most advanced family of attack helicopters in the world. It has the ability to find and destroy air defence units, tanks, and other armoured vehicles. But the AH-64 is not merely limited to attack operations, it can also be used for things like intelligence gathering, surveillance, target acquisition, reconnaissance, escorting, force protection, and command and control operations. As can be seen it is highly versatile for multiple roles. The helicopter itself is also not limited and can be used in any weather conditions and operate day and night.  

The Apache is also known for its Longbow radar, the large object seen above its main rotor blades, this advanced system is able to detect and classify up to 256 possible targets, display up to 128 of the targets to the relevant crew, and even prioritize 16 of these as the top threats, which is all done within seconds.  

When the time comes to get down and dirty in the grit of it, the Apache is well armed and ready to do so, equipped with various weapons such as a 1,200-rounds 30mm chain/cannon gun, 76x 70mm hydra rockets and 16x hellfire missiles, which provide choice and flexibility on the attack.  

The Apache also includes optical and thermal imaging sights, both for target identification and operation in low visibility. Wing-mounted fuel tanks also enable the Apache to increase its range and endurance when needed, keeping it in the ‘game’ for longer across a wider area. There is also a fully integrated defensive aid suite for the protection of the aircraft and its crew. As can be seen, you’re likely not going to want to tangle with this.  

The British Army currently uses the Apache AH Mark I which came into operation from 2004, based off of the AH-64D, which are custom built to meet the operational requirements of the British Army. Unique additions include foldable rotor blades, and new weapon system, countermeasure system, and new sensors and avionics equipment.  

The countermeasures include various warning systems against radio and laser guided weapons and missiles, and chaff and flare dispensers to counter incoming munitions.  

The AH-64E variant itself is one of the British Armed Forces newest and most modern attack helicopters procured from the United States, and the most advanced Apache variant available (although an AH-64F upgrade is in the works), and is scheduled to come into active use by 2022, replacing the currently used Apache AH Mark I by 2024. It can travel up to 205mph using two 850SHP Rolls Royce RTM-322 engines. Its maximum weight is 7,746kg, requires two crew to operate, and has a radius of action of up to 160 nautical miles. 4.9m in height, 17.57m in length, and main rotor diameter of 14.63m.  

The new AH-64E includes improved Longbow radar range, a new maritime mode to improve its operations out at sea, performance improvements, and increase in battle-space awareness, as well as support for cooperation with unmanned aircraft and drones.  

Wildcat MK I  

The Wildcat MK I (also called Wildcat AH1) helicopter, which replaced the previous Westland Lynx helicopter, is used for various tasks by the British Army that includes reconnaissance (its main use), command and control missions, troops and material transportation, and provides provision of force protection. The Wildcat MK I includes a noticeable nose-mounted MX-15 Wescam Electro Optical Device that enables detection of targets at very long range in either day or night. It has been in operation since 2014.  

For self-defense the helicopter can be fitted with either a General Purpose Machine Gun or a Heavy Machine Gun. The Wildcat uses the HIDAS-15 system to provide countermeasures against various hostile and potentially hostile threats, which has been proven in its effectiveness on the UK’s Apache fleet.  

It is 15.24m in length, can go up to 12,000ft, and has a rotor span of 12.8m. It requires three crew to operate and can travel up to 180mph using a light helicopter turbine engine company LHTEC CTS800-4N which allows it to operate at high altitude and in more extreme conditions compared to the previous Lynx helicopter. It also includes much more advanced avionics systems.  

The Wildcat can be thought of as a major upgrade to the previous Westland Lynx – or further development of it. There is a lot of inspiration from the previous helicopter but also many major changes within the design of the new Wildcat as well. The Wildcat has much improved durability and stealth thanks to the redesign of various external elements. New guided missiles, Martlet Missiles, were also designed to be fitted to the Wildcat for light air-to-surface and surface-to-surface capabilities, with the Martlet going into service this year,

Watchkeeper Uncrewed Air System  

The Watchkeeper, manufactured in the United Kingdom by Thales, is a relatively modern un-crewed air system that was first tested in 2010 and has been in full operation since 2018 where it has seen success in Afghanistan of which the British Army website has credited with playing a crucial protective role for British troops. The drone is large and so not man-portable like previous much smaller drones we have covered. The Watchkeeper is transported into operations using a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.  

The system is fitted with advanced cameras and sensors, including a state-of-the-art surveillance radar, used for intelligence gathering and reconnaissance, including target acquisition. It enables operators and others to view things up to 200km away, and due to the aircraft being remotely controlled it keeps troops safe and away from direct attack. It is used to gather information, including observation of enemy activity and information for target acquisition, either day or night.  

The Watchkeeper is able to provide high quality images that can be networked to senior commanders and analysts and such imagery can also be streamed directly to troops on the ground. The system is autonomous but always requires a human to authorize all aspects of its operations. It can operate in various conditions, and can support military and security missions on a wide scale.  

It is notable that the testing of the new system and variants have led to some crashes within the United Kingdom of which have been subjected to full enquiries, there have been five such incidents between 2014-2018 so far. Despite this the system is still certified to operate safely within UK airspace.  

It is 6.5m in length, has a 10.9m wingspan, a take-off weight of 485kg, a 150km range from ground station, cruise speed of 77 knots, can fly as high as 16,000ft, and can fly for up to 14 hours.   

Gazelle

The Gazelle is a helicopter that has been in operation since 1974 and is used by the British Army for what it calls reliable observation and reconnaissance. The helicopter is less powerful than others used by the British Army due to only having one engine, but makes up for it due to a lighter chassis, enabling it to be more agile. The helicopters windows also allow unparalleled visibility by those sitting in the cockpit.  

The helicopter replaced the previously used Bell H-13 Sioux helicopter. Outside of observation and reconnaissance which is one of its primary uses today, it has also been used for troop deployment, causlty evacuation, and anti-tank operations. They have also been used for training, namely ready for the introduction of the now out-of-service Westland Lynx. The helicopter has also been used for patrolling in active zones such as during the conflict in Northern Ireland.

In the Falkland’s War these helicopters were also fitted with weapons, namely SNEB rockets, and were also outfitted with armour plating, flotation gear and folding blades.

Even in the harsh conditions of Iraq and Afghanistan this helicopter managed to perform well, with it being called one of the best performing models when compared with other helicopters that often struggled in such environments.

Although there had been plans to put the helicopter out of service in 2012, its operational usage has since been extended until at least 2025, and as such it is now the oldest helicopter used by the British Army. It seems this old grandpa is going to keep kicking for some time yet.

It can travel up to 193mph using a Turbomeca Astazou III N2 592 shp engine. It has a height of 3.15m, length of 11.97m, and a main rotor diameter of 10.5m.  

Bell 212  

The Bell 212 is a helicopter prominently used by the British Army in jungle areas such as for example in Brunei. The helicopter can be used for transport, patrolling and observation, or can be used for medical evacuation from areas with difficult terrain thanks to a winch on the helicopter’s side. Its performance within jungle areas is a great advantage according to the British Army website.  

Its primary use today is for training.

Airbus 135 Juno  

The Juno helicopter, manufactured by Airbus, has been used since May 2017 by the British Army. It is used as a training helicopter at the tri-service Defence Helicopter Flying School at RAF Shawbury. The helicopter includes twin-engines and is described as the perfect platform for the instruction of all the different flying techniques that are required of new pilots.  

If you live in the United Kingdom you may have also noticied that this helicopter has been used as a police helicopter as well.

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And that brings us to an end of all of the equipment, weapons, and vehicles currently used by the British Army. It included information from the British Army’s own website and also some information from other sources such as eliteukforces, armytechnology, the British Army Cribs videos on their Youtube channel, and various news articles, including BBC News, Guardian, Wired, Sky News, TheDrive, and others.  

Next up we shall be moving on to the Royal Air Force  

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