Winter testing of two prototypes for the US Army’s Cold Weather All-Terrain Vehicle (CATV) in Alaska has been successfully completed after four months, the service has announced. The prototypes from BAE Systems and Oshkosh/St Engineering both proved suitable.
The US Army is looking for a successor to the Small Unit Support Vehicle (SUSV), which has been in service under the name BV206 since the 1980s. The vehicles are to be used in extremely low temperatures (down to -50°) in deep snow for logistics, patrol, medical and command tasks. They are intended for national defence, support of civilian authorities and Search & Rescue services.
BAE Systems supplied a BVS10 BEOWULF and Oshkosh/ST Engineering a BRONCO 3 for the trials. Both vehicles are buoyant and have a front and a rear carriage, each with two powered tracks connected and steered by an articulated joint.
The US Army plans to place a procurement order later this year. The plan is to procure 110 vehicles in five years. The volume for the first ten CATVs is estimated at about US$16.5m (€14.8m).
Using the CATV designation, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Sweden have started a joint programme in Europe to procure a Collaborative All-Terrain Vehicle in response to requirements similar to those of the US Army.
GWH
