LONDON, ON. – General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) and BAE Systems announced today that they have signed a teaming agreement to offer the BvS10 Beowulf platform for the Canadian Army’s Domestic Arctic Mobility Enhancement (DAME) project.
I want us to buy 10 of each, let the troops use them as intended, give the report on each back to the manufacturer so they can improve them. If there is minimal difference, then I want go Canadian and then have a contract to buy X per year and allow approved changes and improvements. When the first machines reach 10 years old, sell them and continue to buy new ones.
Trials like that are in big demand. A lot of the companies in LUV have asked for similar to be done. We've done some testing with the D12 last year? Also have experience with the Beowulf through the U.S. program.
The only problem I have with this offer is that their site describes them as unprotected. This could mean no guns or no armor or non of both which means not an asset under combat conditions.
Yeah, theres no armour requirements in DAME. These vehicles will be entirely dedicated to DOMOPS, so the expectation is they'll never be in a situation whete they need to worry about being armed or protected to any reasonable level.
While I appreciate the requirements focus on a mobility solution, it seems imprudent not to acquire a design that comes with an existing armored variant. While a ground incursion by foreign forces may be deemed unlikely, its certainly not implausible.
Keeping them unprotected keeps them light enough to be easily deployable (by air specifically). Added weight for armour on platforms like this also greatly affect either payload, or soft soil mobility (the whole raison d'être for these in the 1st place).
Think of these more as an Arctic/marginal terrain alternative to something like the GM ISVs, for our Light Infantry units.
I looked at all three and really wanted to like the all canadian D12 but I just can't. They all perform about the same. Like the D12 diesel electric. But why, oh why does the D12 have to look like it came straight out of 1970s russia. I could imagine spending 6-8 hours driving the other two options, the D12, not so much. There is utilitarian and then there is utilitarian.
FWIW, the US selected the unarmoured BvS10 for its Cold Weather All-Terrain Vehicle (CATV) programme back in '22 and just ordered 44 more units last year. I know inter-operability isn't necessarily critical, but it's a pretty strong reference. It would be great though if the UTV product was actually the best vehicle - I have no clue.
I want us to buy 10 of each, let the troops use them as intended, give the report on each back to the manufacturer so they can improve them. If there is minimal difference, then I want go Canadian and then have a contract to buy X per year and allow approved changes and improvements. When the first machines reach 10 years old, sell them and continue to buy new ones.
Trials like that are in big demand. A lot of the companies in LUV have asked for similar to be done. We've done some testing with the D12 last year? Also have experience with the Beowulf through the U.S. program.
The only problem I have with this offer is that their site describes them as unprotected. This could mean no guns or no armor or non of both which means not an asset under combat conditions.
Yeah, theres no armour requirements in DAME. These vehicles will be entirely dedicated to DOMOPS, so the expectation is they'll never be in a situation whete they need to worry about being armed or protected to any reasonable level.
While I appreciate the requirements focus on a mobility solution, it seems imprudent not to acquire a design that comes with an existing armored variant. While a ground incursion by foreign forces may be deemed unlikely, its certainly not implausible.
Keeping them unprotected keeps them light enough to be easily deployable (by air specifically). Added weight for armour on platforms like this also greatly affect either payload, or soft soil mobility (the whole raison d'être for these in the 1st place).
Think of these more as an Arctic/marginal terrain alternative to something like the GM ISVs, for our Light Infantry units.
I looked at all three and really wanted to like the all canadian D12 but I just can't. They all perform about the same. Like the D12 diesel electric. But why, oh why does the D12 have to look like it came straight out of 1970s russia. I could imagine spending 6-8 hours driving the other two options, the D12, not so much. There is utilitarian and then there is utilitarian.
The Beowulf stands out as the biggest option of the three. I get what you mean by the D12s design. 🤣
D12 really interests me as well. UTV are very nice people. I plan to do a piece on everyone this week or next week.
FWIW, the US selected the unarmoured BvS10 for its Cold Weather All-Terrain Vehicle (CATV) programme back in '22 and just ordered 44 more units last year. I know inter-operability isn't necessarily critical, but it's a pretty strong reference. It would be great though if the UTV product was actually the best vehicle - I have no clue.