Thales announces WARTHOG contract with ST Kinetics
25 August 2009
Following the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) announcement in December 2008 of its purchase of more than 100 WARTHOG all-terrain tracked armoured vehicles, Thales today announces a £20m contract with WARTHOG manufacturer Singapore Technologies Kinetics Ltd (ST Kinetics). Under the terms of contract, Thales will equip these vehicles with key mission systems as part of an Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) programme.
Thales will install UK-specific equipment to the vehicles, including additional armour, specialist electronic counter-measure equipment and communication tools, to bring them in line with UK theatre-entry requirements. WARTHOG will be deployed in Afghanistan as part of the new package of protected patrol vehicles announced by the MoD in October 2008.
The contract includes a support package for the Thales-supplied systems and equip¬ment, as well as assistance to ST Kinetics as the UK point of contact for WARTHOG warranty support matters.
President of ST Kinetics, Sew Chee Jhuen, says: “We are very pleased to welcome Thales UK into our team. We have selected them to equip the Bronco vehicles for the WARTHOG requirement because of their high professionalism and extensive experience in the integration of complex mission systems.”
Alex Dorrian, CEO of Thales UK, says: “We very much look forward to working with ST Kinetics to deliver this valuable capability to the UK Armed Forces. WARTHOG will be a truly impressive vehicle, offering an unrivalled combination of protection, load carriage and mobility for demanding terrain.”
Notes to editors
Background information on WARTHOG:
On 19 December 2008 the UK MoD announced the award of a contract worth over £150m to ST Kinetics. This is to convert more than 100 Bronco vehicles into WARTHOG vehicles for the UK Armed Forces.
WARTHOG will come in four variants: a troop carrier; an ambulance; a command vehicle; and a repair and recovery vehicle. The ambulance variant will be capable of carrying casualties, medics and kit. WARTHOG's repair and recovery variant will be fitted with a crane and winch, and will have the capability of towing another WARTHOG vehicle back from the front line.
WARTHOG will be powered by a 7.2-litre engine, producing 350bhp, and will be able to move through water - all while carrying up to 11 troops and offering advanced armoured protection.
When not in the water, the highly agile, all-terrain vehicle will be able to climb steep gradients, cling to severe slopes, tackle vertical obstacles and roll across trenches.
WARTHOG is a variant of the Bronco all-terrain vehicle, which is currently in service with the Singapore Armed Forces.
About ST Kinetics
ST Kinetics is the land systems and specialty vehicles arm of ST Engineering. It delivers integrated land systems, specialty vehicles and their related through life support for defence, homeland security and commercial applications. Please visit www.stengg.com.
About Thales and Thales UK
Thales is a global technology leader for the Aerospace, Space, Defence, Security and Transportation markets. In 2008 the company generated revenues of £10.2 billion, with 68,000 employees in 50 countries. With its 25,000 engineers and researchers, Thales has a unique capability to design, develop and deploy equipment, systems and services that meet the most complex security requirements. Thales has an exceptional international footprint, with operations around the world working with customers as local partners.
Thales UK employs 8,500 staff based at more than 40 locations. In 2008 Thales UK's revenues were over £1.4 billion.
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