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Armoured Vehicles  –  Danish CV9035s for Afghanistan  –  February 2010 Heavier Armour for Helmand Province – The Danish Army Tests and Heat-Trials its Equivalent of the CF's Close Combat Vehicle The Danish military's Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization has made arrangements to test the Danish Army's new CV9035 DK IFV under simulated Afghan conditions. By doing their klimatest in South Africa, the Danes took advantage of  the summer heat in the Southern Hemisphere while deploying  their  operational CV9035s into Helmand Province during winter. The operational deployment wasn't simultaneous. The idea was to work the final bugs out of  the CV9035s as the operational vehicles were being prepared for shipment. But the shipment itself proved more problematic than the hot weather trials – first the ship transporting the CV90s from Denmark to the Mid East had mechanical problems. Then overflight permission was denied leaving the IKKs stranded on the Arabian peninsula. Although transit permit approvals had Danish logistics scrambling , the Danish Army seems to have taken the climate tests in its stride.  Having deployed other vehicles  – notably the Mowag Eagle IV  –  without prior climate testing, the Army knew that the trials were well worth the effort. Back in Nov 2009, the Chief of Long-Term Planning for Army Operational Command ( HOK or Hærens Operative Kommando )  was quoted in Berlingske Tidende saying that maker, BAE Hägglunds, had already climate tested the CV90s. What was of  concern was electronics gear specific to the Danish CV9035 DKs. Oberstløjtnant [LCol] Flemming Agerskov identified the "dilemma," saying that HOK "would like to refine and polish the vehicle before" deployment  but  Danish "soldiers require the best ... protection as quickly as possible." As it turn out, climate tests may have prevented a repeat of  Eagle IV-style troubles by identifying potential problems. The Canadian Forces usually train in simulated Afghan conditions at CFB Wainwright or at US bases in Texas or California.  And it makes sense to train with those who you will be fighting alongside. But what of CF vehicle trials? South African-made armoured vehicles like RG-31 APVs will have been tested in South Africa. It is odd, though, that the Canadian Forces have not made fuller use of opportunities to acclimatize its troops and to test equipment 'off-season' in the Southern Hemisphere.  Australia would seem an obvious choice being an ally in Afghanistan as well as being enroute to Kandahar. Below is a translation of an article published by HOK, Hærens Operative Kommando: CV9035 Passes the First Phase of IKK climate tests ( Første del af IKK-klimatest er veloverstået ) To stay ahead, the Danish military is in South Africa climate testing the new Infantry Fighting Vehicle to be used by the Danish Army's ISAF Roto 9 in Afghanistan 10-01-2010 Maintenance routines must be established before any armoured vehicle is committed to combat. Therefore, the Danish Army concluded that the new Infanterikampkøretøj (IKK), should be climate tested before facing the 50°C temperatures of Afghanistan in May. The IKK climate tests took place in the fine sand and heat of South Africa at the height of a Southern Hemisphere summer. The primary purpose of these Danish Army tests was to be forewarned of possible technical difficulties caused by similar climatic conditions and to devise technical solutions to any problems arising. CV9035 DK IKK Climate Tests Split into Five Phases IKK climate test command consisted of  personnel  from the Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization (DALO or Forsvarets Materieltjeneste/FMT), the Danish Army Combat School (Hærens Kampskole  or HKS ), and  the Danish Military Health Service (Forsvarets Sundhedstjeneste), BAE Hägglunds (the CV9035 DK's manufacturer), and two Danish Army IKK crews.  The IKK climate tests will be undertaken in five phases of  increasing intensity. The first part of the climate tests began 18 Jan 2010 in South Africa on the firing range with the IKKs shooting all its ammunition varieties.  These firing trials have now been completed. The next step is a mobility test of more than 1200 kilometers. The results of this 'mobilitetstest ' have identified some glitches as is normal for any reasonably new armoured vehicle type operating in novel conditions. Amongst problems uncovered were the deleterious effects of extreme heat on informa- tion systems through  the overheating of  routers  for  the onboard computers. Vehicle cooling was also less effective than anticipated with the filters clogging with fine sand more frequently than expected.  Higher than anticipated coolant temperatures reduced both engine performance and life span. That fine sand also resulted in greater wear on the track links, track pads, and suspension components. Initiatives have already been devised to tackle these problems.  New ventilators have been purchased to cool the computer routers. Coolant additives have been adjusted to help reduce engine running temperatures. Procedures have also been changed for the interior air conditioning system, with filters being cleaned and changed more often to limit clogging. Heavy wear dictates that tracks must also be changed more frequently. With its new vehicle tested in the best possible ways in South Africa, the CV9035 DK IKK will be able to cope with the extreme heat of Afghanistan in the month of  May. However, before these IKKs are committed in Helmand Province, they must continue their climate tests in South Africa.  Further tests will include lab test of the lubricating oil to thoroughly test  the effect of  that  extreme  heat  on the engine's  moving  parts.