- Yes
- No
BAE FRES SV
Vehicle design history
The BAE FRES SV was a prototype recon vehicle, developed by BAE systems for the British Army’s Future Rapid Effect System program (FRES). The FRES SV was as the name suggests competing for the Scout Vehicle (SV) role, with the intention of the vehicle replacing the Scimitar CVR(t), then in service. The trials for the FRES SV started in 2004, before coming to an end in march of 2010, when the army selected the competing ASCOD design from GDLS, which would go on to be named the AJAX.
Despite this setback for the design, the FRES SV is an interesting vehicle, designed to fulfil one of the five families of vehicles the British army was seeking to acquire. The common base platform of the FRES SV was the previously proven CV90 chassis, which was selected to provide a high level of protection in the modern battlefield, along with ease of implementation, as the base components had been previously proven by numerous military clients. The base CV90 was modified by both a reduction in physical size and weight, along with modification to allow weight growth margins for potential armour packages in the future. This modular approach would allow the FRES SV to change its armour needs based on possible threats, in theory creating the best-protected reconnaissance vehicle in its class, with mine protection comparable to an MBT, whilst still being able to be carried in a A400M transport plane.
In addition to protection from threats, the CV90 also possesses an unusually low thermal and noise signature, allowing it to perform long periods of silent watch, making it well suited to the scout role. The design differs from the base model though with the addition of modular armour side skirts for increased protection, along with a MTIP-2 manned turret fitted with the CT40 automatic cannon, which fires case-telescopic rounds, along with a coax machine gun. This turret is also fitted with modular armour similar to the hull. The turret itself, was designed with enhanced protection of the barrel and cradle in mind, as its well-thought-out design eliminates the potential weak spot in the vehicle’s frontal arc. The turret also possesses four electro-optical devices composed of two fixed day/night sights, a gunner’s main sight that can be slaved to the commander’s line of sight, and a third stabilized multi-sensor for observation from a defilade position. in the hull the driver is fitted with a thermal sight device, allowing continued visibility at night, through dust, smoke and fog.
Overall this design seemed pretty successful, and though doing well in trials, the FRES SV would not go on to win the FRES competition, instead losing out to the AJAX, which has yet to still enter service, marking a continuation to an ongoing saga that started with the FLAV program in the mid-1980s.
Vehicle specification
Additional historical photos:
Sources
- https://fighting-vehicles.com/bae-fres-sv/ (Good article about the vehicles specifications)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY4KwewUrSA&t=132s (Promo video for the vehicle from BAE)
- The BAE FRES SV - TankNutDave.com (Additional article about the FRES SV)
- https://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/british-army-medium-weight-capability/scout-to-end-of-fres/ ( complete History of the project broken down by month)
- UK Armed Forces Commentary: FRES SV has a contract (Mention of the program and how it will integrate existing tech)
- https://defense-update.com/20100210_cv90_fres_sv_demonstrator.html (more details and photos)
