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Background
— CF Multi-Mission Effects Vehicle (MMEV) Project |
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The Moribund Multi-Mission Effects Vehicle Project
MMEV is the culmination of DND's Future Armoured Vehicle Systems
technology demonstration project (as its awkward name suggests, the goal of MMEV was to combine several roles into
one vehicle type (the initial concept, right, was for a large-calibre gun in a remotely controlled turret.[1]
Later, attention was turned to the possibility of adapting the existing ADATS turret.[2]
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ADATS on Wheels – DND's Morphing MMEV
As displayed, Oerlikon Contraves' Multi-Mission Effects Vehicle is an ADATS turret plonked onto the LAV
III hull (right) instead of a tracked M113. Just noticable (at right) are unguided rocket pods (substituting
for a single ADATS tube per side). Otherwise, the turret looks identical to the original on the ADATS
M113s. But DND plans for MMEV were more complex. MMEV was to be a system-of- systems concept combining air defence,
direct-fire and beyond-line-of-sight fire on a single 'platform'. To acheive the latter, the old turrets
were to be modernized with a '3D' radar with a 35 km range. This would turn the MMEV into an impressive
surveillance asset but this is where the concept becomes confused – was the MMEV a direct-fire, indirect
artillery, air defence, or surveillance/recce system?
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Critics noted the trade-off in any all-in-one system. There are obvious economic benefits to combining multiple roles
on one 'platform'. However, should MMEV be knock-out in battle, all these capabilites are lost in one
full swoop. [3] Even if MMEV could successfully pull off all of the missions required of it, the vehicle will
inevitably need to be positioned to favour one single role. Both radar and armament varies greatly in published art and
the mock-up. [4]
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In late September 2005, the MND announced a $750M project for 33 "new" MMEVs. Prime contractor for the first,
$100M phase of the project was to be Oerlikon Contraves Canada. So, what went wrong? MMEV was part of a
'system of systems' including LAV TUA and MGS. When the
Mobile Gun System was chopped, the concept fell apart. MMEV had its
own conceptual problems, too. The economy of re-cycling the ADATS turret was also dubious, quickly evaporating
when new missions demand state-of-the-art sensors to replace existing, near-obsolete E/O imagers and a first
generation digital radar. Like MGS, few will mourn the passing of MMEV. The question is: what will replace it now
that CF air defence systems are phasing out and direct fire relies on old Leopard tanks?
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[1] The 'Sports LAV' concept was developed by Defence Research&Development Canada as part of FAVS (the
Future Armoured Vehicle Systems) technology demonstration project which included the MMVV (Multi-Mission Virtual
Vehicle) simulation. Published artwork was rather crudely based on the LAV III but revealed few details. The raised
rear deck suggests that the crew would be seated behind the gun.
[2] The concept of 'recycled' turrets may have originated with ADATS designers Oerlikon Contraves which
formed an early MMEV team.
[3] Early on, there was a proposal to mount the original ADATS system on a better-protected Leopard tank hull
– the sensors and missile tubes were to be elevated on an extensible arm rather like that of the
Leopard-based Badger AEV. Survivability would be increased with such a system but
deployment problems would be compounded and the main limitation remains – all eggs being in one
basket, as it were.
[4] The mock-up shows a standard ADATS turret and radar, six ADATS missiles and twin 70mm rocket pods.
Rheinmetall artwork shows a more varied weapons load (four ADATS, two 70mm pods, and two Hellfire
missiles) plus X-Tar 3D radar and a remote weapons station.
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