Legal News

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has announced a £7.6 million contract with QinetiQ to evaluate an Active Protection System (APS) for armoured vehicles.

The Dstl says that QinetiQ will work with a number of sub-contractors, including Airbus Defence and Space, which are contracted to deliver for evaluation a number of systems based on the MUSS® self-protection systems.

The technical assessments will quantify how well the system performs against a range of weapon systems – and will also include a BAE Systems appliqué integration of a MUSS® system onto a Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank to demonstrate potential future capability.

The MEDUSA Technical Assessment Programme (TAP) is a key part of on-going Dstl research into APS, alongside a complementary effort to develop the open architecture to support a future modular capability.

Dstl has been investigating APS for a number of years – and considers them an important part of a future survivability capability for keeping pace with new threats.

Dstl says that a holistic view of survivability is required, drawing upon a range of technologies which address all aspects, from prevention of target detection to mitigation of potentially lethal effects.

Active Protection defeats threats before they strike a vehicle by sensing weapons and providing a “soft” response based on jamming or obscuration of the guidance mechanism – or a “hard” response based on physical interception of a missile.

Heather Elsley from Dstl said:

“These systems have the potential to improve the survivability and situational awareness, with an ability to minimise the weight growth that could impede the mobility of vehicles.

“This project is the first step on this path for Land Platforms – our ultimate aim is to provide a fully integrated, modular and layered system that can detect, track and defeat a wide range of threats, while assisting the vehicle crew by providing situational awareness and target cueing.”

Head of Business Development, Land Systems at QinetiQ, Andy Brownlow, added:

“We recognise the importance and future significance of a successful APS application in delivering battle-winning performance and protection for armoured vehicles across the UK vehicle equipment programmes.

“Our focus on MEDUSA is to assess capability, provide independent guidance, and impart QinetiQ’s knowledge and experience across platform survivability, related sensor and effector technologies – as well as the vehicle architecture domains – to ensure we successfully deliver the potential game-changing improvements in capability for the Armed Forces.”

QinetiQ is working closely with other industrial partners with APS domain expertise in order to conduct and deliver the MEDUSA TAP. Textron and Frazer-Nash are also key contributors to the MEDUSA team.

Head of Combat Capability at Army Headquarters, Andover Brigadier Ian Gibb, said:

“The Project Medusa contract is great news for the Army – the development of an effective Active Protection System would provide a hugely significant step change in the survivability of our platforms, particularly as we are reaching the technological limits of what passive armour can achieve.”

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – No win no fee Claims against MoD

Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advise members of the Armed Forces who suffer injury as a result of negligence on how to make a no win no fee claim for compensation, including claims relating to:

• Bullying
• Cold weather injury
• Equipment failures
• Failure in command
• Food poisoning
• Heat injuries
• Live combat injury
• Negligent discharge
• Post-combat psychological injury
• Road traffic accidents
• Sexual and physical abuse
• Training injuries.

Personal injury claims have to be made within three years of injury or diagnosis of injury. Claims can be made from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and/or through the civil courts on a no win no fee basis.

Duncan Lewis also offers supportive legal advice to bereaved families whose loved one has lost their life as a result of negligence by the Ministry of Defence and who wish to make a no win no fee Fatal Injuries Claim for compensation.

For expert legal advice on no win no fee Claims Against MoD, call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors.