Supacat delivers REDFIN 1B prototype to ADF

Supacat has announced that it has delivered a prototype of its new special operations vehicle to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) for the Special Operations Vehicle element of the Australian Defence Material Organisation (DMO)’s JP2097 Ph 1B (REDFIN) programme.

The Supacat team was selected in April 2012 as preferred bidder to provide a prototype vehicle for the Special programme. The DMO will use the prototype during the evaluation phase in support of the options that will be provided to government at second pass.

The vehicle is the latest version of Supacat’s Special Forces HMT Extenda. The new vehicle retains a high level of commonality with the Australian Army’s existing Nary HMT fleet, delivered by Supacat in 2009, but provides improved capabilities, particularly in crew protection and vehicle versatility.

Michael Halloran, managing director of Supacat, said: ‘With our partners and Elbit Systems of Australia, we are delighted to have delivered this initial phase of the REDFIN 1B programme. We have worked closely with the customer and our joint commitment has enabled us to achieve this on time and to budget.

‘Supacat’s REDFIN 1B solution offers capability improvements in the key areas of firepower, protection, capacity, operability and safety, based upon direct feedback from the worldwide operational use of existing HMT fleets. There are also a number of additional options offered that the ADF may wish to choose.’

Supacat’s HMT combines high levels of mobility, protection, payload and firepower. Designed for use by Special Forces, the HMT Extenda is convertible to either a 4x4 or 6x6 configuration to meet different operational requirements by inserting or removing a self-contained third axle unit. Like other HMT series platforms, the HMT Extenda can be supplied with optional mine blast and ballistic protection kits and with a variety of mission hampers, weapons, communications, ISTAR and force protection equipment to suit a wide range of operational roles.