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Millbrook, based in Bedfordshire, UK, makes a significant contribution to the quality and performance of military vehicles worldwide. Its specialist expertise is focussed in two distinct areas: test programmes to help armed services and their suppliers ensure that their vehicles and systems work as the specification requires; and design and build work to upgrade new or existing vehicles, evaluate vehicle capability and investigate in-service failures. Complementing these is driver and service training and a hospitality business that allows customers to use selected areas of Millbrook’s remarkable facilities for demonstrations and exhibitions.
www.millbrook.co.uk
14 Nov 08. Vehicle development engineers now have a new location for tilt table evaluations, as Millbrook further expands its testing capabilities at its Bedford headquarters. One of Europe’s largest tilt tables has been installed at Millbrook, the UK-based military vehicle test and development centre and home of the UK Battlefield Mission. The facility can be used to determine static rollover thresholds and tilt operation capabilities for a wide range of vehicles including light, medium and heavy trucks, buses, ambulances, transporters, off-highway machines, cranes and stackers.
“The data provided by this facility will complement many different vehicle dynamics and safety test programmes taking place across our extensive proving ground and systems test laboratories,” explains Millbrook’s engineering project manager Graham Clarke. “With the knowledge that we can supply using this system, vehicle engineers can optimise vehicle operation across challenging terrains, improve dynamics and ensure that vehicle-mounted systems operate safely and effectively on inclined surfaces.”
Data from the new tilt table will include rollover thresholds, end limit performance, side slope operation (evaluating areas such as the ability of oil pick-ups and fluid systems to operate on side slopes), active suspension development, equipment stowage validation, payload stability and certification testing to various world automotive, commercial vehicle and military standards. It can also be used to determine the height of a vehicle’s centre of gravity. Similar testing can be conducted on non-vehicle systems such as container stacks and military field operations equipment. The platform of Millbrook’s tilt table measures 9m x 3.2m and has a maximum tilt angle of 45°. Loads up to 42,000kg can be raised and lowered at from 0.08° per second to 0.25° per second, providing excellent resolution and repeatability.
“Our substantial heavy vehicle and off-highway expertise is helping us win new business from manufacturers and users who are committed to increasing the durability, safety and capability of their vehicles,” concludes Clarke. “The new tilt table provides an important complement to these programmes, enhancing Millbrook’s position as one of the most comprehensively equipped military vehicle test specialists available commercially anywhere.”
Millbrook operates as an independent vehicle test and development centre with the most comprehensive range of tracks, calibrated hill routes and laboratories available commercially anywhere in the world. Specialist sectors include whole-vehicle durability, powertrain, safety, component and systems test, NVH, emissions and alternative fuels engineering. The company has considerable expertise in low CO2 vehicles, helping a range of vehicle manufacturers and technology suppliers bring their products to market more quickly, more cost-effectively and with increased driveability, durability and refinement.
08 Sep 08. Defence Secretary Des Browne, on a visit today to NP Aerospace Coventry, announced a £60m contract to deliver 170 Mastiff 2 - the next generation of Mastiff.
Defence Secretary, Des Browne said: "The Mastiff is already a hero in Iraq and Afghanistan. Today's contract for Mastiff 2 will deliver a vehicle that is even better - improved thermal-imaging for the drivers, increased armour and specially designed seats that will give the soldiers that extra protection - it is the next generation of vehicles for our commanders on operations.
"NP Aerospace and its workforce are to be congratulated on the support they are
providing to our Armed Forces - the equipment they deliver from body armour
plates to helmets is saving lives on a daily basis."
The Mastiff 2 vehicles will have:
* Improved axles and suspension to cope with the harsh terrain;
* Better thermal imaging for the drivers;
* Explosive attenuating seats - providing better protection to the soldier on impact;
* Improved armour;
* Greater crew capacity - 8+2.
The MoD would not confirm which thermal imaging system had been procured with system being offered from an Ultra team which included DRS, Selex and a company believed to be outside usual defence contractors.
The £60m contract with NP Aerospace will turn the Cougar 6x6 base vehicle from Force Protection Inc into Mastiff 2.
Nigel Gilhead head of the SUV IPT said that the Mastiff was performing very well in theatre and that 30 training vehicles which are basic Force Protection Cougars will be upgraded by Thales. This brings the total number of Mastiffs to 282 with 152 Ridgbacks also to enter service. Gilhead confirmed that ex-Procurement supreme Lord Drayson had ordered that the SUV IPT UPPV Requirement be combined with Ridgback. However, with trails undertaken by the SUV, the Ridgback came out top. He also said that the OUVS Project was now being run by the GSV IPT with Annualise Look and her team transferring there with the SUV being free to run the UORs and the legacy fleet including land Rover, RB 44 and Pinzgauer.
While visiting the facility, the Defence Secretary praised the company for its outstanding job in transforming basic Cougar vehicles into the sophisticated
Mastiffs, and in providing Osprey body armour plates and MK 6A helmets to our
Armed Forces - undoubtedly saving numerous lives in Iraq and Afghanistan.
NP Aerospace is a world-leader in the production of personal equipment and armoured vehicles designed to protect military personnel in combat environments.
The firm also manufactures state-of-the-art full body armour suits worn by our bomb disposal operators, complete with integral air conditioning that allows wearers to operate in high temperatures.
Des Browne told BATTLESPACE that 600 vehicles of varying types have been procured under UORs and more will be procured in the near future to meet new threats. He would not confirm whether or not this included a FRES-type vehicle such as VBCI or whether the whole FRES Project had been affected by these extra vehicles.
The new contract will lead to around 100 new jobs being created at the firm while it also boosts the region’s supply network. There will be 70 manufacturing jobs with 10 coming from the MoD’s DSG and 30 clerical jobs.
The Birmingham Post reported that the announcement came of the same day as the Government restated its commitment to provide Coventry with a new Manufacturing Technology Centre. The company is one of the largest thermosetting moulding companies in Europe. It manufactures an extensive range of products in engineering thermoset and composite materials for a wide variety of customers in the Defence, Aerospace, Electrical, Automotive and Medical Industries.
NP Aerospace chief executive Roger Medwell said: “This is very good news for the
firm and it will mean us taking on around 100 people, which is good for manufacturing.
“We also source a lot of our components in the region and so it is good for the
supply network as well.”
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