CASR
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In Detail |
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by T.S. Rea |
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Defence Technology — March 2004
Does Canada have alternatives to the Mobile Gun System?
Part 8 – “Make it so” Turning the Hypothetical Alternative MGS into Reality Having examined a hypothetical alternative to the Mobile Gun System, where are we left in the ‘real world’? When Paul Martin became Prime Minister, one of his first acts was to implement a freeze on capital projects – including DND’s $600M order for sixty-six LAV III-based Mobile Gun Systems. This is an opportunity. The MGS is a made-in-Canada ‘solution’. It is quite feasible to quickly prototype a superior vehicle in this country. As a first, low-risk step, a development test-rig could be constructed from surplus components. [1] This test bed would be used to study handling characteristics and the tire/ground interactions of fixed-wheel differential steering. Concurrent or subsequent to the first phase of testing would be the application of hydraulic suspension units (derived from the Suffield Iltis).
The third phase of development and testing would deal with the main armament, providing static recoil data. [2] Numerical data from these tests would be added to the cross-country drive data to provide composite fire-on-the-move data. For more on the prototyping of the main armament, itself, see the 155mm Sidebar. Once results from the demonstration rig tests were in and the data processed, the design could be adjusted. Then, construction of a complete prototype armoured fighting vehicle could begin. Canada should seize the opportunity to build a next- generation AFV. Canada could be the first to develop a new, hard-hitting AFV with an armour-optimized design. Instead of the current MGS, which must avoid situations where its light armour makes it vulnerable, the Canadian Forces could be fielding a rugged, fully armoured vehicle that is designed in Canada – a vehicle that is capable of both engaging the enemy and surviving on the battlefield. [1] Suitable parts are available from AVGP upgrades (these used first-generation LAV components would have no resale value) or a reduced-scale demonstration rig could be built using Iltis parts when those light 4x4s are finally pensioned-off. A computerized Automatic Braking System (which have been under development for some years for civilian vehicles) could also be applied at this stage of testing. [2] Under a very tight budget, spring-loaded weights could be used to simulate cannon recoil. Simulating the main gun would be far cheaper while still providing extensive data about how the suspension system would respond to recoil forces. < Part 7 — “... eyes they have and see not ...” Sensor Systems and Survival |
