Future Rapid Effect System
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The Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) is a proposed family of armoured vehicles for the British Army. It is expected to enter service in the 2010s. FRES will replace the Army's Saxon wheeled APC, tracked FV432, and some of the CVR(T) vehicle family. The design is planned to follow the philosophy of "medium weight" forces that balance ease of transportability ("light") with armour ("heavy"). The will feature an eight wheel drive design with in-hub electric motors and independent traction control for each wheel giving the off road ability of a tracked vehicle with the speed and other benefits of a wheeled vehicle.
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[edit] History
[edit] Development
In 1999, Germany and United Kingdom began development of the Boxer Multi Role Armoured Vehicle, which was intended to assume different roles via switchable modules. However, the UK announced it would withdraw from the project in 2003, citing that the Boxer did not fulfill requirements.[1] The British Ministry of Defence decided to pursue a replacement, with a specification that it could be airlifted by Airbus A400M and smaller C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. The new "Future Rapid Effect System" project was established on May 5, 2004, with an assessment period of two years.[2]
Since then, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory has been researching electrically charged armour, with the view of ultimately integrating it into the FRES design.[3] Plans for FRES vehicles to carried by C-130 have also been dropped for being unworkable.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ Written Answers for 17 July 2003 House of Commons Hansard - URL accessed on May 2, 2006
- ^ Written Ministerial Statements for 5 May 2004. House of Lords Hansard. URL accessed on April 23 2006
- ^ "Faster, harder, stronger". Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. URL accessed on April 24 2006.
- ^ In February 2007 the MOD announced, to counter criticism from the media that delays with FRES was putting soldiers lives at risk, that trials for vehicles would begin in Summer 2007 and a vehicle would be selected sometime in 2007. Written Answers for 21 July 2005. House of Commons Hansard. URL accessed on April 23, 2006.
