Supacat special operation vehicle (photo : Supacat)
Minister for
Defence Materiel Jason Clare today congratulated Supacat on the delivery of the
prototype for a new Special Operations Vehicle. Mr Clare also officially opened
Supacat’s new facility in Melbourne.
Supacat was
selected earlier this year to develop a prototype vehicle for the Special
Operations Vehicle – Direct Action (SOV-DA) requirement under Project JP2097
Phase 1B. The prototype will be used to inform capability options for Second
Pass project approval by the Government.
The SOV-DA
will contribute to the overall land mobility capability for Special Forces. It
can carry a range of weapons systems, communications and surveillance
equipment.
Supacat has
previously supplied a number of Special Operations Vehicles – Special
Reconnaissance (SOV-SR) to Special Operations Command (SOCOMD).
These
vehicles are named the ‘Nary’, in honour of Warrant Officer Class Two David
Nary, an Australian Special Forces soldier who died during a training operation
in the Middle East in 2005.
Supacat for Australian Army (image : amorama)
The SOV-DA
will provide a different capability effect for SOCOMD, to that provided by the
SOV-SR. It has a range of unique features including improved rollover
protection, a remote weapon station, an ability to carry a Javelin Anti-Tank
missile system, improved self recovery capability and it can be carried
underslung by a CH-47 Chinook.
“Supacat’s
vehicles are used by the Australian Army and other land forces around the
world,” Mr Clare said.
“Australia
will be the first country outside the United Kingdom where Supacat provides
complete in-country support. Its establishment here in Melbourne shows the
strength of our local industry.
“The Supacat
facility employs 18 staff, whose jobs range from design, analysis and systems
engineers as well as project management and support personnel, for the existing
fleet and prototype evaluation for these important vehicles.”
To deliver
the Special Operations Vehicle, Supacat formed “Supacat Team Australia”, which
is a partnership involving 15 Australian companies, including Broens, Marand,
Haulmark and Tectonica.
Supacat
vehicles are also used by United Kingdom, United States and Danish Special
Forces, as well as the UK Army.
(Aus DoD)
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