BRITISH ARMY UNVEILS BAE SYSTEMS' TROJAN AND TITAN
03 Nov 2006
Bovington, United Kingdom. - The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) today unveiled the first of a new breed of armoured engineering tanks from BAE Systems. TROJAN and TITAN are the most capable Engineering Vehicles that the British Army will have ever operated. Weighing over 60 tonnes, these vehicles are capable of travelling at speeds up to 56km/h.
The Royal Engineers are receiving 66 of these "state of the art" battlefield engineering vehicles under a £250 million contract with BAE Systems Land Systems. The combined capability of TROJAN and TITAN can overcome almost every obstacle on the modern battlefield - from breaching minefields to crossing gaps such as rivers and chasms.
TROJAN can plough through minefields, dig trenches and defensive ditches while TITAN can lay a bridge over a 26 metre gap in two minutes whilst maintaining full crew protection - giving operational commanders a potentially battle-winning edge, with the fastest bridge-layer in the world.
Lord Drayson, Minister for Defence Procurement, said: "The purchase of both TROJAN and TITAN is good news for our Armed Forces as it gives them increased capability and reliability on the front line. TROJAN and TITAN, with their much improved performance, availability and mission reliability will offer the operational commander far greater utility and represents a major step improvement in terms of special to role performance, tactical mobility and protection."
BAE Systems Land Systems managing director Andrew Davies stressed that the programme was a team effort. He commented: "This programme has clearly demonstrated a close working relationship and partnering approach between the MoD, BAE Systems and suppliers. TROJAN/TITAN represents a significant programme within the Defence Industrial Strategy and the associated MoD/BAE Systems Armoured Fighting Vehicle Partnering Agreement and we will jointly manage the system through life under this agreement."
TROJAN is first and foremost a minefield breaching machine. It will prepare and mark safe routes using an obstacle marking system, clear complex obstacles and provide short gap crossing utilising its excavator arm, earth-moving blade and a midi fascine.
TITAN will carry and lay the current range of in-service close support bridges, laying them faster, and in a wider variety of terrain conditions, than previous equipment. Both vehicles are designed to mount and tow the current range of in-service Royal Engineer equipment (PYTHON, AVRE Trailer, Track/Full Width Mineploughs and earth moving blades).
The 66 production vehicles are now being built at BAE Systems Land Systems' facility in Newcastle, which currently employs around 550 people. The contract was awarded in 2001 for 33 TROJAN and 33 TITAN and these are now entering service with the Royal Engineers, with all vehicles due to be delivered by 2008.
Suppliers on the programme include Caterpillar, David Brown Engineering, domnick hunter, Kidde Graviner, Ferranti Technologies, Joyce Loebl, Parker Hannifin, Pearson Engineering, Thales AFV, TMS Publications, Ultra Electronics and William Cook Defence.
About BAE SYSTEMS
BAE Systems is the premier transatlantic defence and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With 86,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded GB£15.4 billion (US$28 billion) in 2005.
For further information please contact:
Kate Roberts, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0)191 226 7026
kate.roberts@baesystems.com
Mike Sweeney, BAE Systems
Tel: +44 (0)1252-38 3074 Mob: +44 (0) 7801 716452
mike.sweeney@baesystems.com
Issued by:
BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384605
Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947
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