The BvS10 (Bandvagn Skyddad 10, also known as Bandvagn 410 or BV410) is a tracked articulatedamphibious all-terrain armoured vehicle produced by BAE Systems Land Systems Hägglunds of Sweden.[1] This vehicle, referred to as the All Terrain Vehicle (protected) - ATV(P) or Viking by the UK forces, was originally developed as a collaboration between industry - Hägglunds Vehicle AB - and the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) on behalf of the Royal Marines.
The BvS10 is similar to, but distinct from, Hägglunds earlier Bandvagn 206 or Bv 206S. It is a much larger vehicle based upon the characteristic twin-cab, articulated frame-steering system typical of Hägglunds all-terrain vehicles. The main differences from the older Bv206s are a more powerful Cummins 5.9 litre diesel engine, improved ground clearance, and newly developed chassis, power train and steering units that give the vehicle considerably enhanced speed (up to 65 km/h from the previous 51.5 km/h on road) and comfort on road and in terrain, as well as greater load-carrying capability (up to 5 tons), and the ability to add various modular sub-systems such as add-on armour, weapon mounts, a load-changer and cargo platforms.
Operational history
Royal Marines
Originally designed for the British Royal Marines and named Viking, the vehicle underwent extensive trials and development programme from 2001-2004, led by Major Jez Hermer, before the Royal Marines accepted 108 vehicles into service, with delivery commencing in 2005. The Royal Marines Armoured Support Company took the vehicle on operations for the first time in Afghanistan in September 2006, prior to the Royal Marines Armoured Support Group being formed in December 2007.[2]
UK variants
The UK currently operates four variants of the vehicle : The Troop Carrying Variant (TCV) capable of carrying 2 crew plus 10 passengers; the Command Variant (CV), which carries 2 crew plus up to 8 passengers with the rear cab being designed as an enhanced digital communications platform, the Repair and Recovery Variant (RRV), carrying 4 specialist maintenance vehicle mechanic crewmen and the Ambulance Variant (AV). The rear cab of the RRV carries a HIAB crane, a fully mobile workshop, an air compressor and a 9 tonne capacity capstan winch, together with hydraulic anchors. All four variants are fully air-portable under a Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopter, either complete or in two separate front and rear component parts and are also fully amphibious; being capable of swimming in varying sea-states with a full load of passengers and stores.[citation needed]
UK Viking vehicle variants are used as amphibious armoured all-terrain vehicles for troop transport and as vehicle repair recovery vehicles.
UK deployments
Some 33 British Vikings, fitted with slat armour, were deployed to Afghanistan at the end of summer 2006 when the Royal Marines relieved the Parachute Regiment in Helmand province. Their low ground pressure is not enough to trigger most of the anti-tank mines in use in Afghanistan, but they have proved vulnerable to improvised explosive devices (IEDs).[3] Viking was subsequently upgraded with higher levels of Armour protection. Vikings were complemented with the Singapore Technologies Kinetics (STK) BRONCO known as Warthog within the UK military.[4]
Additionally on 26 June 2008 the MoD announced the purchase of an additional 14 Viking BvS10 vehicles at a cost of £14 million, including nine repair recovery vehicles, one command vehicle and four troop carriers, for deployment to Afghanistan.[6] In January 2009, nine more vehicles were ordered.[citation needed]
Ninety-nine Vikings were revamped in a £37 million project, further improving their firepower, armour and protection. This upgrade was due be completed in 2014[7][8] The upgrade was completed in April 2016.[9]
Netherlands Marine Corps
VIKING Armoured Vehicle of the Netherlands Marine Corps during a demonstration.
The BvS10 is also in use with the Netherlands Marine Corps, 74 units have been delivered of which 46 are the APC version, 20 command vehicles, 4 repair and recovery vehicles and another 4 ambulance vehicles.
Dutch deployments
On 27 March 2008 the Dutch Parliament decided in favour of sending a 60-men strong Marine reconnaissance unit to Chad in support of the EUFOR peacekeeping mission in the region. The marines functioned as the eyes and ears of an Irish battalion. This was the first operational deployment of the BvS10 Viking in Dutch service after exercises in Norway and the UK.[10]
As part of the Dutch ISAF contribution, a Royal Netherlands Marine Corps company was deployed to the province of Uruzgan in Afghanistan since July 2009. Several BvS10 Vikings were modified with slat armour for this mission.[11]
Variants
Beowulf
Unarmoured version of the BvS10, with a new cabin.[12]
It carries up to 14 people or 8 tons of cargo with a top speed of 65 km/h, and like the Viking is fully amphibious without special preparations.[13]
Sales
French order
Bandvagn 210 Mk II (commonly called VHM in French service) of the 7e bataillon de chasseurs alpins
On 18 December 2009, the French Armed Forces placed an initial order for 53 BvS10 Vikings, with the total order for 129 of the vehicles. Including servicing, the contract is estimated to be worth £220 million, and the vehicles will be assembled at the BAE factory in Sweden. This is a historic order, as it is the first French order for military equipment from the United Kingdom in decades. In placing the order, France broke with their tradition of supporting domestic products, in this case the Bronco All Terrain Tracked Carrier, built jointly by ST Kinetics and Thales.[14]
On 5 January 2012, it was announced that the Swedish Armed Forces decided to procure 48 units of the model BvS10 MkIIB under the designation Bv410, to be delivered starting in the autumn of 2012, and deployed to the Swedish contingent in Afghanistan in the spring of 2013. The contract is worth approximately 700 million SEK, and also includes support and training equipment. There are also options to order an additional 127 vehicles divided in three different batches in the future.[15]
On 25 September 2013, Sweden agreed to buy 105 additional BvS10 vehicles for over $160 million, as part of the options agreed upon in the first order.[16] On 19 December 2013, Sweden officially ordered 105 BvS10 vehicles for $120 million. The vehicles include troop carrier, command, ambulance, and logistic carrier variants and will be delivered from 2014 to 2015.[17]
In 2019, Sweden began fielding the Eldenhet 98 surface-to-air missile mounted on the Bv410 platform as a replacement for the obsolete RBS 70.[18]
On 3 May 2021, BAE Systems signed a contract worth around $200 million to produce and deliver 127 BvS10 all-terrain vehicles to the Swedish Army, adding to its existing fleet of BvS10s. The contract signed with the Swedish military procurement agency, FMV, is for both command and control and logistics vehicles. Deliveries of the 127 vehicles are planned to begin in 2022 and complete in 2024, in 2022 A $50m follow-on order for 40 was placed while a further 236 where ordered under the CATV program.[19]
Austrian order
On 30 June 2016, it was announced on the BAE Systems website that the Austrian Army decided to procure 32 units of the model BvS10, to be delivered from 2017 to 2018. The BvS10 will also play a role in Austria's mission in the European Union Mountain Training Warfare Initiative (EU MTI).[20]
According to the Austrian military magazine "Truppendienst", the Austrian Army will receive the first build BvS10's MkIIB with CBRN protection and all vehicles equipped with WS4 PANTHER remote controlled weapon station. A possible additional BvS10 MkIIB order could be signed after 2018 delivery.
The Austrians received the first of their BvS10 vehicles in February 2019.[citation needed]
On 22 August 2022, BAE Systems and Department of Defense announced a $278 Million dollar fixed-price contract including spare parts and contractor logistics support to procure 163 vehicles delivered by 2029 for the US Army Cold Weather All-Terrain Vehicle (CATV) program. The CATV will utilize components from US suppliers for its engines, transmission, and hydraulics. The Beowulf will replace the current BV206 based Small Unit Support Vehicles (SUSV) from BAE Systems Hägglunds in use by the US Army since the 1980s.[21][22]
Collaborative All-Terrain Vehicle (CATV)
On 23 November 2022, Sweden gave notice on the direct award of a £600 million framework order for an initial 436 units of an improved BV410 model with higher mine protection and load capacity for use as troop transport, logistics and communication. It will be procured in five national variants 236 on behalf of Sweden, 140 for Germany and 60 for the United Kingdom with the option to extend the contract to include further countries or orders. [23][19]
France ordered 53 BvS10 MkII (known locally as VHM - véhicle à haute mobilité) in December 2009 with an option for 77 additional vehicles. The option was never exercised. The production took place in Sweden. The trials lasted 8 months in 2011, and the vehicle was accepted by the DGA in September 2011. The first deliveries took place in November 2011. [29]
Initially it was equipped by the PL80 manned weapon station with a M2 Browning machine gun, and in 2018, it was replaced by the Protector M151 RCWS.
The US Army selected the BvS10 Beowulf (the unarmoured variant) in August 2022. The contract for the first batch is worth USD $278 million, for 110 vehicles.[38]
It followed the cold weather all-terrain vehicle programme launched in 2020, aiming at the replacement of the Bv206. In 2021, BAE supplied 2 prototypes that were evaluated by the US Army.[39]
The first delivery took place in 2023, with 2 followed by 3 vehicles for testing. [40]
Germany, Sweden and the United Kingdom associated to purchase 436 BvS10 vehicles in December 2022 worth USD $760 million.[41] The delivery is planned from 2025 onwards.
In June 2024, BAE Systems signed a €42 million contract with Tatra Defense Vehicle for the welding, paintin and cab insulation of 250 BvS10, with an option for 274 additional vehicles.[42]
As part of the DAME programme (Domestic Arctic Mobility Enhancement), the Canadian Army is looking for a successor to its Bv206. The vehicles are expected in four variants, troop transport, command post, cargo transport and ambulance. In June 2023, the Army issued a RFI from the industry. The RFP is planned for 2026, and the contract would be awarded in 2027, with the intent to get a full operational capability by 2030.[45] In terms of quantity, the expectation is changing, so there is no clear target at the moment.
The German ministry of defence mentioned in 2022 that the requirement was for 640 vehicles of this type up to 2031, meaning that 273 additional BvS10 would need to be ordered.[46]
As part of the programme FLATM BV (Future Littoral All Terrain Mobility Band Vagn) the Netherlands Marine Corps is looking to purchase 179 additional BvS10 to replace the BvS206D.[47][48][49]
The Military Balance: The Annual Assessment of Global Military Capabilities and Defence Economics. The International Institute for Strategic Studies. 2018.
