Tenix Defence has successfully completed two milestones in the $500 million M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier Upgrade Project it is managing for the Australian Army.
Since winning the contract to upgrade 350 of the Australian Army’s fleet of M113 combat vehicles in mid-2002, Tenix has progressed with the design and development of two demonstration vehicles, in addition to successfully completing the Preliminary Design Review for the M113AS4 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs).
Tenix has completed conversion, stretching and painting of the first M113-AS4 (APC) hull. The second M113AS4 Armoured Logistics Vehicle (ALV) hull is nearing completion.
Tenix Land Division General Manager, Graham Pollock, said today that successful completion of the Preliminary Design Review is a significant step in the progression of the design process.
Tenix’s achievement during the project to date demonstrates the successful transfer of hull conversion technology from our European supplier, Mr Pollock said.
Program Manager of the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) M113 Upgrade Project LTCOL Roy Bird, noted: "The early demonstration of an APC and ALV is significant in reducing risks and gaining confidence before producing the Initial Production Vehicles.
"It is pleasing to see the extensive work performed by the Commonwealth and Tenix Defence translating into hardware. The Commonwealth recently had the opportunity to view the progress of the demonstration vehicle hull stretching technology. The majority of the upgraded vehicles will be stretched to increase the available payload mass and volume."
The stretched APC hull is currently undergoing assembly fit out ready for ‘set to work’ in June 2003. Once both demonstration vehicles have been set to work, the next major project milestone is a Demonstration Readiness Review planned for August 2003.
Mr Pollock said that this would be the first opportunity for the DMO M113 Upgrade Project Office to officially review two working variants of the next generation of the M113AS family of vehicles.
Following the readiness review, Tenix personnel will conduct a rigorous durability test program on the two vehicles using Army test track facilities in Darwin, Townsville and Monegeetta, which will conclude in December 2003.
This early durability testing is part of the Tenix risk mitigation program for the project, preceding the formal Initial Production Vehicle test program planned to start in mid-2004.
-ends- Tenix on Track with Upgrade of Combat Vehicles for Australian Army
