Meggitt to produce Scout AHS

Meggitt Defense Systems will produce 40mm Case-Telescoped linkless Ammunition Handling Systems (AHS) for the Scout armoured vehicle programme under a $42.1 million contract from Lockheed Martin UK announced on 4 August.

The AHS will incorporate Meggitt’s cased telescoped ammunition handling system within Scout’s 40mm cannon. 

Rounds are translated laterally about one metre at high speed and handed off to the gun for loading into its unique rotating breech and firing. The action is based on Meggitt's ‘linear linkless’ technology in which a round travels from the magazine along a linear track until it reaches the gun's breech. Each round is handled individually, with no belt or link to snag or jam. Despite the 'linear' name, rounds are stored in a serpentine configuration to maximise utilisation of available space.

Roger Brum, president, Meggitt Defense Systems Irvine, said: ‘We are extremely proud to be associated with the UK Scout programme through our colleagues at Lockheed Martin UK and believe our innovative ammunition handling system solution will serve the British Army well for many years to come.’

Deliveries of the AHS will start in 2016 and continue through to 2021.

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