Future Rapid Effect System

The Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) is the UK Ministry of Defence’s programme to deliver a fleet of more than 3,000 armoured vehicles for the British Army that is rapidly deployable, network-enabled, capable of operating across the spectrum of operations; and protected against the most likely threats. The total FRES fleet is expected to comprise five families of vehicles: Utility, Reconnaissance, Medium Armour, Manoeuvre Support and a family of simpler variants known as the ‘Basic Capability Utility’.

History

ystem of Systems Integrator

Due to the complexity of the project a "System of Systems" Integrator (SOSI) was appointed to assist the MoD in selection of the vehicles and cross-vehicle electronic architecture. In October 2007 the FRES SOSI contract was awarded to a joint team of Thales and Boeing.

The SOSI team will act as an independent, honest broker between industry and the MoD to co-ordinate the procurement of more than 3,000 vehicles that are expected to be acquired under FRES.

Six main elements of the SOSI role are: programme management; systems of systems engineering and integration; alliance development and management; development of the MoD's SOSI competence; through-life capability management; and through-life technology management. [ [http://www.janes.com/news/defence/systems/jdw/jdw071008_1_n.shtml Jane's Defence Systems News - UK names preferred bidder for FRES SOSI ] ]

Utility Vehicles

The first family of vehicles, known as the Utility Vehicles (UV) are 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. [ [http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EquipmentAndLogistics/DesignSelectedForFutureArmouredVehicleForBritishArmyfres.htm Design selected for future armoured vehicle for British Army] ] The design is planned to follow the philosophy of "medium weight" forces that balance ease of transportability ("light") with armour ("heavy").

Competitor 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. [ [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmhansrd/vo030717/wmstext/30717m05.htm#30717m05.html_spmin5 Written Answers for 17 July 2003] House of Commons Hansard - URL accessed on May 2, 2006] 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. [ [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200304/ldhansrd/vo040505/text/40505-12.htm Written Ministerial Statements for 5 May 2004] . House of Lords Hansard. URL accessed on April 23 2006]

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. [ [http://www.dstl.gov.uk/news_events/science_spot/fres.php "Faster, harder, stronger"] . Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. URL accessed on April 24 2006.] Plans for FRES vehicles to be carried by C-130 have also been dropped for being unworkable. [

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. [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm050721/text/50721w49.htm Written Answers for 21 July 2005] . House of Commons Hansard. URL accessed on April 23, 2006.]

Vehicles selected for trials

On June 7, 2007, the Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support, Lord Drayson, announced that three vehicles had been selected for trials to determine the utility vehicle design for FRES. These were: [ [http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EquipmentAndLogistics/DraysonNewVehiclesWillHavevitalPartToPlayInTheArmyOfTheFuture.htm Ministry of Defence | Defence News | Drayson: New vehicles will have "vital part to play in the Army of the future"] ]
*Boxer MRAV, built by Artec Germany.
*Piranha V, built by General Dynamics UK.
*VBCI, built by Nexter (France).

Final design selected

The announcement of the winning design was initially planned for November 2007, [ [http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EquipmentAndLogistics/DraysonNewVehiclesWillHavevitalPartToPlayInTheArmyOfTheFuture.htm Ministry of Defence | Defence News | Drayson: New vehicles will have "vital part to play in the Army of the future" ] ] but the selection was not announced until May 8 2008. The winning design provisionally selected for the FRES Utility Vehicle contract was the Piranha V, manufactured by General Dynamics. [ [http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EquipmentAndLogistics/DesignSelectedForFutureArmouredVehicleForBritishArmyfres.htm Ministry of Defence | Defence News | Design selected for future armoured vehicle for British Army (FRES)] ] This decision had been expected, with speculation from February 2008 onwards that General Dynamics was the preferred contractor for the deal. [ [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0799d92a-d458-11dc-a8c6-0000779fd2ac.html Financial Times: Franco-US group signs armoured vehicle deal (SOSI role)] ] [ [http://www.economist.com/world/britain/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11024621 The Economist: Goldplating new armour ] ] However, as no production order was announced, various sources "feared that the FRES programme had fallen victim to the UK defence "budget crunch"." [ [http://www.janes.com/news/defence/land/jdw/jdw080509_1_n.shtml Jane's Land Forces News - General Dynamics' Piranha V makes FRES provisional selection ] ]

pecialist Vehicles

Overview

The Specialist Vehicles are to cover a range of vehicles including reconnaissance, engineering and battlefield medical, and are expected to be of the tracked (not wheeled like the UVs) variety. Though final competing designs have not yet been announced, the CV90120 and ASCOD have been put forward as potential reconnaissance vehicles, having been awarded assessment-phase contracts. [ [http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3156510&c=EUR&s=LAN Defense News: U.K. Nears FRES Design Decision ] ]

Response to criticism

In a defence briefing on June 14 2007, Lord Drayson made it clear that FRES will not be the standard off the shelf version of any of these vehicles:

" "They are designs which are currently in development to provide new models within existing families of vehicles. I am sure you agree that it would make no sense to invent a new vehicle from scratch. The designs we will look at in the trials this summer take proven vehicles, and evolve them to the next level to have the capacity, mobility, ability to upgrade through life, and, above all, the level of protection the Army need." [ [http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/DefencePolicyAndBusiness/DefenceNewsDaily.htm Quoted in Defence News Daily] ]

Ensuring that the vehicles will be customised to meet British Army requirements and be supported and upgraded through life will be the role of the "vehicle integrator". A number of companies are bidding for this role, including BAE Systems, which is the design authority for 97 per cent of armoured fighting vehicles in UK service, and General Dynamics.

References

ee also

* Stryker
* Future Combat Systems Mounted Combat System
* European defence procurement

External links

* [http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/MicroSite/DPA/OurTeams/FutureRapidEffectSystemfres.htm Ministry of Defence FRES site]
* [http://www.atkinsglobal.com/markets/aviationanddefence/defencesystems/fres/ Atkins Global FRES]
* [http://news.mod.uk/news/press/news_press_notice.asp?newsItem_id=2895 MoD Press release launching FRES programme]
* [http://www.baesystems.com/fres/ BAE Systems FRES site]
* [http://www.army-technology.com/projects/fres/ Army Technology FRES]
* [http://www.generaldynamics.uk.com/FRES/default.asp General Dynamics FRES Microsite]