RUAG supplies Leopard armoured engineer and mine-clearance vehicles for the Swiss Armed Forces. RUAG, a technology partner of the Swiss Armed Forces, teamed up with systems specialist Rheinmetall to manufacture and market the armoured engineer and mine clearance vehicle. The vehicle represents a technological world first based on a Leopard-2 chassis. Alongside its military capability, it can be equipped to provide valuable support in the event of disasters or for civil-military collaboration. 

Delivery of the units to the Swiss Armed Forces was delayed to iron out problems with the power shovel hydraulics that surfaced during endurance tests under extreme military operational conditions. The system was optimised jointly by Rheinmetall and RUAG and successfully subjected to a battery of tests involving other components.

Commenting on the hand-over, RUAG Defence CEO Urs Breitmeier says: "What makes the armoured engineer vehicle special is that it has to be able to cope with extreme situations. Unlike a regular excavator, it has to be able to withstand temperatures ranging from -40 to 60 degrees Celsius. Endurance tests have shown this is to be the case, as a result of which we have now reached product maturity. I am delighted to be in a position to hand over the powerful Leopard AEV to armasuisse before the end of the year."

The armoured engineer and mine clearance vehicle features a powerful hinged-arm excavator with a quick-release coupling allowing the excavator bucket to be exchanged for a number of other engineering devices including a bulldozer system with innovative cutting and tilt angle settings and a double-winch system consisting of two 9 tonne capstan winches. If the need arises, the dozer blade can be swapped for a full-width mine plough. This turns the vehicle into a high performance minefield-breaching system that is also capable of clearing field fortifications and installing or clearing obstacles and barriers.

Prior to the AEV's release to the troops, which is timed to coincide with the 3rd military training intake in 2012, training in the vehicles will be given to the professional cadre of the Armed Forces' training units and Logistics maintenance specialists.

Source: Ruag 

The last two Leopard 1 in Norwegian service retired from duty the 21th of September 2011 with a seremony at Rena. The last shot was a HEP fired by General Bruun. The wooden crate target was destroyed.

Click on the picture to download a high-res desktop backround version.

Photo © Roy Haaland

The Norwegian Army has responded to the increased threat of attacks by commissioning Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) with the delivery of 20 DINGO 2 heavily armoured wheeled vehicles. The troops operating at the Hindu Kush are in need of the vehicles more than ever; since the beginning of the year, soldiers have been confronted with an increasing number of assaults by insurgents. By the end of November, the first ten vehicles shall be delivered by KMW and transported to the operational area. The remaining vehicles will follow in February 2011.

Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Austria and the Czech Republic also make use of the Dingo 2.

KMW supports Norwegians in the area of operations
The Dingo 2 is operated as a patrol and protection vehicle. Additionally, KMW supports the Norwegian forces with its service teams in Afghanistan. These cover tasks such as maintenance and repairs. The contract includes the delivery of specialised tools, the training of the vehicle crews and the option to purchase further vehicles.

Source: KMW

The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has selected the Finnish Armored Modular Vehicles (AMV) personnel carrier for its future APC, and awarded Patria Land & Armament Oy a contract worth approximately $336 million (SEK 2.5 billion) for the acquisition of 113 AMVs. Five vehicle manufacturers have competed for this contract.

Patria has committed to an offset agreement covering 100% of the program's cost. Among the Swedish subcontractors are providing protection, automotive, suspension, propulsion and electronic systems for the AMV include Scania, SSAB providing steel parts for the armor and Akers Krutbruk providing the protection suite.

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