Supacat submits bid for JP2097 Ph 1B (REDFIN)

Supacat Team Australia submitted its bid today to the Australian Defence Material Office (DMO) for the JP2097 Ph 1B (REDFIN) programme, offering the proven Special Forces HMT Extenda vehicle at the very latest configuration to meet the requirement.

The Supacat HMT series is world renowned as the vehicle of choice for Special Forces, including Australia. The REDFIN 1B vehicle shares commonality with the Nary HMT fleet, which Supacat successfully delivered to the DMO in October 2009. Supacat is a proven supplier to the DMO and to the UK Ministry of Defence for whom it has delivered over 500 HMT vehicles, Jackal and Coyote, into service in Afghanistan.

Supacat has selected and signed MOUs with proven Australian suppliers to form Supacat Team Australia. The team will build and deliver REDFIN Ph 1B efficiently and on a best value basis for the Commonwealth of Australia whilst creating and sustaining high value Australian jobs. Supacat's Global Support Solution is already supporting in-service vehicles in Australia and will be expanded to support the REDFIN Ph 1B fleet.

Designed for use by Special Forces, the HMT Extenda is unique in being 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. Supacat's 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 options offered that the Commonwealth may wish to choose from.

Nick Ames, Managing Director of Supacat said, "The HMT Extenda is a proven off the shelf capability and the best in class to meet the REDFIN requirement while offering the cost benefits of fleet commonality within Australian forces. Supacat has proven itself as a supplier to DMO and is fully committed to partnering with Australian industry to transfer capability and give local companies entry into global supply chains".

Source: Supacat