Advanced Armour And APS Is An Integral Part Of Future Survivability Reality
"There are a plethora of factors that will instigate conflict in 2020 like Socio-Economic Pressure, Human Induced Environmental Change, Organised and Endemic Crime and with time, the nature of these conflicts will become even more unpredictable and violent. The uncertain future will demand adaptable and agile survivability response. In order to meet this demand, the combination of advanced armour and APS is an integral part of the Future Survivability Reality,” said Col (R) Cobus van der Merwe, MMM, SA StC, Executive Manager Business Development, Saab at the 3rd Armoured Vehicles India conference held in New Delhi.
Cobus elaborated on the factors and nature of Future Conflict and Threat Evolution. His presentation dwelled upon Evolution in Conflict Support and Future Force Protection Concept.
He explained the paradigm shift in the wars of the 21st century where drastically reduced cost of operations, enhanced situational awareness, Joint Intelligence Picture and Networked strike have become some of the core drivers of military missions.
Cobus said, “APS will offer significant weight reduction, survivability improvement and through-life cost saving. The right survivability technologies in combination will allow overmatch of the threat and also burden enemy sustainability.”
This opinion was shared by other international speakers and several countries presented future force design concepts that include APS as part of the basic vehicle capability and no longer just as an afterthought. Israel has registered a next generation main combat vehicle requirement that will move away from heavy passive armour and use an integral APS to defeat the entire threat spectrum. In their concept, passive armour will only contain residual damage and meet IEDS blast requirements.
Saab also displayed Training & Simulation products designed to provide armoured vehicles crews full spectrum training from driver and crew simulators through to tactical engagement simulation and live fire gunnery training.
The event was attended by officials and dignitaries from Indian Army, DRDO, Canadian Army, British MOD, Swedish Armed Forces, Polish Land Forces, Italian Army, Israeli Ministry of Defence, US Army Manoeuvre Centre of Excellence, Confederation of Indian Industry. Representatives from Defence industries like NAMSA NATO, CMI Defence, Bharat Electronics Ltd, TATA Power, Mahindra Defence Systems and Rolta to name a few, were also present at the event.