PROJECTS
MLS is, and always has been, busy on many projects. A comprehensive list of all of them would be too long so a selection appears below with some points of interest.
Historical
Probably the two most famous programmes associated with MSV are the Land Rover Ambulance and the Bedford 4 t programmes for the UK and overseas MODs. Many of the hundreds of thousands of these vehicles remain in service today even though they are older than their drivers, and in many cases their commanders too!
These vehicles set the tone for a generation of logistic support vehicles. From here MSV moved into the DROPS stores delivery systems which became military standards too.
On the shelter side of the business work in medical, bakery, repair and communications facilities branched out in to expanding shelters for these and other applications. MSV shelters can be found in single or expandable configurations in all these roles providing operational and logistic support to soldiers, sailors and airmen all over the World. Applications as Command Centres, Operations Rooms, Satellite and UAV ground stations have been activities undertaken in the more recent past.
Bomb Disposal Robots, remote controlled diggers for work in hazardous areas, special communications systems, and electronic warfare are all aspects of MSV's work which are in service and have saved countless lives. All these programmes continue to be supported by the Customer Service Team.
CURRENT PROGRAMMES
Shelters
Norwegian Surgical Units; MSV has a contract for the provision of two fully integrated shelter based field hospitals able to be transported by C-130 Hercules Aircraft. Based on single and expandable shelters some 25 shelters fit together to provide each hospital. In addition to the 2 field hospital 2 smaller surgical units upon which the hospitals are based were provided earlier.
Watchkeeper
Watchkeeper is the UK MOD's Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) capable of carrying out operational Surveillance at long range from its launch point. MSV's shelters provide the communications hubs and ground control stations for this strategic system. The integration of all the communications and other systems such as life support into the shelters was undertaken by MSV. These shelters are either integrated into a vehicle or ground based. Other work on the carrying case for the UAV and its wings is being undertaken by MSDG.
BAE Systems Herti
Herti is another UAV programme for which MSV were chosen to provide the ground control station for the prototype systems. MSV undertook the integration of Command Control and Communications Equipment into the ground control stations.
ASTOR
The ASTOR manned aircraft is designed to provide long range surveillance of the battlefield or operational area. Transportable shelters from MSV provide the vehicle and ground based operational environments. In other words the ground control stations, HQ's and operations rooms and briefing facilities that the system requires to operate effectively were integrated in to MSV shelters by MSV technicians.
FMV
MSV have been selected by the Swedish procurement Authority-FMV- to design and provide standard expandable shelters with very high protection levels against EMP, EMC, EMI and CBRN.
DMS
Deployable Machine Shop (DMS) is a complete system to provide a machine shop that can be moved around the battlefield to repair and in some cases manufacture components of equipment. MSV were selected as the preferred supplier and are currently manufacturing the first prototype for the MOD to examine. Of particular importance is the EMI, EMC capability of the system to prevent the moving parts causing interference with each other and other nearby electronic systems.
Vehicles
UK Support Vehicle
MVE is currently building 6,700 load beds for the UK Support Vehicle programme. These are the successors to the Bedford referred to above. MSV is making load beds for 6, 9 and 15t cargo and troop carrying variants some of which are equipped with cranes and winches. MSV was responsible for the load bed design which involved 700 different combinations of load and is responsible for painting these and a number of other variants with special paint and then adding special protective wax layers. The load bed needs more than 2000 welds which are done on a state of the art robotic welding machine. To protect the beds which have a very long guaranteed life there is a requirement to clean and then paint and apply wax protection to a far higher standard and specification than civilian vehicles because of the harsh environment these latest MSV products will have to operate in. These equipments have recently been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Special Projects
PPRF and PRRU
These two systems are static and mobile versions of a system designed to run up and diagnose the ailments of armoured vehicle power packs. They are constantly being re worked by MSDG to keep pace with changes in UK armoured unit organisation and the design and modification of the vehicles and power packs. These units save huge amounts of money for the UK MoD because diagnostics and repairs can carried out in the field rather than shipping the power packs back to the UK.
EOD
The threat from "bombs" whether they are devices planted by the side of the road or in vehicles is huge. MSV make a range of equipments and carry out studies in a number of other areas which help reduce the treat and effects of these devastating devices. Areas of work include robotic vehicles, integrated sensor suites and electronic counter measures.
Studies
MSV undertakes studies for MODs and Defence and Security companies around the World. Current examples include safety case work for WATCHKEEPER and UK MOD's HET heavy transporter programme, work on the Intermodal Study to work out the best way of getting MOD equipment deployed to overseas destinations.