Peter Lion (Rockford Managing Director) attended the Terrier (In Service Date) ISD event with dignitaries from the MoD, Army, BAE Systems and critical suppliers for the Terrier Program.

The day was used to showcase the capabilities of the Terrier Vehicle and the Training Systems at Bovington.

Peter Lion “It has been a privilege to see the vehicle now in Service with the UK Armed Forces.  The Terrier program for Rockford has utilised all four of our UK sites and many of our capabilities including Wiring Harness Design and Assembly, PCB Manufacture, Power Distribution Box Assembly also supported by our Machining and Fabrication facilities.  With over 15,000 deliverable lines for the electrical system and a similar amount for other parts of the vehicle the Terrier program has been a great success for Rockford.  The ISD event is another great milestone for a Vehicle which will greatly increase the capability of our Armed Forces.”

Press Release from BAE Systems

5 June 2013

BRITISH ARMY RECEIVES ITS FIRST ‘DRIVE-BY-WIRE’ AND REMOTELY CONTROLLED COMBAT ENGINEER VEHICLE

Newcastle, United Kingdom:  BAE Systems’ Terrier® Combat Engineer Vehicle has been officially accepted into service by the British Army. Terrier is the most advanced combat engineer vehicle – delivering uncompromising performance from a medium weight chassis. It is also the first UK combat vehicle to enter service designed with an integrated electronic architecture which facilitates ‘drive-by-wire’ and remote control making the vehicle highly capable, survivable and adaptable.

Likened to a combat ‘Swiss Army Knife’, Terrier is one of the most versatile, agile and adaptable combat vehicles and can carry out multiple roles in the most demanding battlefield conditions. Typical applications include providing mobility support (obstacle and route clearance), counter-mobility (digging of anti-tank ditches and other obstacles) and survivability (digging of trenches and Armoured Fighting Vehicle slots). With a flying weight of 32 tonnes, which allows it to be transported in the A400M airlifter, Terrier provides strategic air transportability as well as being extremely mobile on the ground on all terrains, reaching speeds of up to 70 kph and with a road range of 600km.

Terrier is the first combat vehicle with drive-by-wire technology and “special to role” computers which manage the automotive and combat engineer systems respectively allowing electronic signals sent by the vehicle’s computers to perform functions. Physical connections are maintained between the driver and the essential automotive systems for safety and survivability reasons, but the vehicle is capable of being fully controlled via the commander’s joysticks through the drive-by-wire systems and the front loader and the excavator arm hydraulic systems are fully controlled through the databus.

Moreover, the vehicle can be operated by wireless remote control up to 1km away, using a gaming type controller and remote cameras.  The remote control interface would be readily recognised by any computer gamer, making this capability easy for new recruits to learn.

David Bond, Managing Director of Combat Vehicles (UK) said: “Terrier is a superb capability and the latest combat engineer vehicle from BAE Systems, joining the Titan bridge layer and Trojan obstacle breacher already in UK service, demonstrating our unique specialist skills in combat engineering. Terrier represents a step change in vehicle design with its use of the most up to date advances in technology and is the most complex yet easy to use combat vehicle currently in service with the British Army.”

In addition to the Terrier vehicle, BAE Systems has delivered a full suite of integrated logistic support and a complete state of the art training capability including mission and scenario based training using innovative student led exploration to maximise engagement and knowledge retention. Operators and maintainers are trained simultaneously through a combination of high fidelity, full motion simulators, virtual emulations of the vehicle and its systems and hands-on ‘live’ experience.  An initial five year programme of Contractor Logistic Support covering fleet management, technical advice, maintenance and logistics support was commenced on 1 April 2013.

Sixty vehicles are being delivered under the programme which are being built in Newcastle.  The final vehicle will be delivered to the British Army by January 2014, five months ahead of schedule.

Terrier® is a registered trademark of the Secretary State for Defence

For more information, please contact:
Kate Roberts BAE Systems
Mob: 07771 767385
Kate.roberts@baesystems.com

Rachael Gordon BAE Systems
Mob: 07793 423682
Rachael.gordon@baesystems.com

Issued by:
BAE Systems plc
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384719
Email: www.baesystemsinfo@baesystems.com
Web: www.baesystems.com

Ref: 054/2013