UK and France to collaborate for Unmanned Combat Air System and Ajax armored programs 11301174

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Defence & Security News - United Kingdom / France
 
UK and France to collaborate for Unmanned Combat Air System and Ajax armored programs.
UK-France defence collaboration becomes more closely tied with the key signing of a new agreement to enable the next phase of the Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) programme and further support for Ajax and Warrior armoured vehicles.
     
UK-France defence collaboration becomes more closely tied with the key signing of a new agreement to enable the next phase of the Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) programme and further support for Ajax (pictured top) and Warrior armoured vehicles. The turret 40CTA on Nexter booth at Eurosatory defense exhibition in Paris, June 2012.
     
The Demonstration Programme will develop two full-scale versatile and world-class UCAS operational demonstrators by 2025. These demonstrators will be used for operational test and evaluation work over the following 5-10 years and could serve as the basis for a future operational capability beyond 2030.

UK-French defence cooperation has led to the integration of the Case Telescoped Cannon (CTC) onto the Army’s new multi-role AJAX armoured vehicle and the Warrior infantry fighting vehicle Ajax and Warrior, while France is integrating it onto the Jaguar armoured vehicle.

At the signing the agreement with her French Counterpart, Minister for Defence Procurement Harriett Baldwin MP said, “In an uncertain world, working with international partners and allies is more important than ever and I am delighted that our teams, working with British and French industry partners, are making good progress on these ambitious bilateral programmes.

“With a rising Defence budget, and a £178 billion equipment plan, our commitment to innovation and collaboration will deliver a safer and more prosperous Britain.”

The CT Cannon is a great example of bilateral cooperation leading to improved capability for our armed forces. The CT Cannon is smaller and lighter than conventional weapons of similar calibres, providing unrivalled punch for its size. The unique cylindrical CT ammunition design takes up less space than similar systems and is easier to select and load for automatic handling systems.

As a result of the progress made on the programme, the UK and France have signed a contract with CTA International. The contract is to cover technical support matters of the qualified CTCA equipment, and is for three years with options to extend for a further 2 years.
     
     
In March 2016, BAE Systems has announced the hand over of thez first production standard Cased Telescoped Cannon System by the British Ministry of Defence. It was the first delivery of 515 new 40mm cannons that have been ordered for the British Army for use in the Ajax and Warrior vehicles and incorporates unique technologies that will provide superior firepower.

Developed jointly by engineers from BAE Systems and Nexter Systems, the cannon system uses an innovative design for both the cannon and its ammunition, and is the first completely new cannon system ordered by the MOD since the 1960s. The new cannon fires 40mm Cased Telescoped ammunition, manufactured for the British Army by BAE Systems’ munitions factories in Washington, Tyne and Wear and Glascoed in Wales.