RBSL to upgrade and sustain UK Fuchs fleet
The importance of counter-CBRN capabilities for the UK has been underlined by the conflict in Syria and Salisbury nerve agent incident in 2018
RBSL (the UK-based JV between Rheinmetall and BAE Systems) has received a contract worth more than £16 million ($20.67 million) from UK MoD Defence Equipment and Support for sustainment of Fuchs 1 6x6 CBRN vehicles in service with the British Army.
A total of 11 ex-Bundeswehr vehicles were supplied to the UK in 1990 to support CBRN operations during the First Gulf War.
After receiving a mid-life upgrade in 2003, they were temporarily retired in 2012 but subsequently recommissioned in 2016 to counter the resurgent CBRN threat, Shephard Defence Insight notes.
Nine vehicles (plus a training simulator) remain in service with the specialist Falcon Squadron for British Army CBRN. The vehicles will be upgraded to address CBRN equipment-related obsolescence and safety modernisation issues, by integrating the latest generation of sensor technologies.
The simulator will also be updated and sustained under this latest contract.
RBSL will fulfil the contract at its facility in Telford, with involvement from its UK supply chain. A new service concept will also be introduced.
Col Tim Chapman, Assistant Head of Counter-CBRN at Army HQ, said in a 7 October statement: ‘The provision of world class Area Surveillance and Reconnaissance (AS&R) capability is a cornerstone of the UK’s Defence C-CBRN policy, which seeks to avoid the hazard, protect the force and preserve fighting power in order to maintain operational freedom of action post a CBRN incident.’
He added: ‘The contract will ensure this vital capability is updated and maintained, providing reassurance to allies and partners whilst bolstering our deterrence to would-be aggressors.’
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