United Defense To Lead Bid For Britain's Command And Liaison Vehicle Program

Defense Daily, June 24, 2002

United Defense [UDI] last week said it will act as the prime contractor in leading the existing team between Britain's Insys and France's ACMAT in bidding for Britain's Future Command and Liaison Vehicle (FCLV) program.

Britain last year awarded $700,000 contracts to Britain's Alvis, Insys, and the Vickers Defence Systems (VDS) subsidiary of Rolls-Royce to conduct risk reduction and testing for the development of the FCLV, which is planned to replace the Scimitar family, FV430, Saxon and Landrover vehicles in the reconnaissance and liaison roles by 2006 (Defense Daily, Aug. 14). The United Defense-led team also includes Britain's Marshall Specialist Vehicles.

Alvis is offering its Scarab 4x4 vehicle for the FCLV program and also has an agreement with Italy's Iveco to bid the company's Multirole Light Vehicle. Meanwhile, VDS is offering the RG-31M and RG- 32M made by its Reumech subsidiary in South Africa (Defense Daily, July 17).

The Ministry of Defence is expected to select a winner in 2003 for the FCLV program, which is expected to be worth more than $500 million for over 500 vehicles.