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Rome, 7 September 2016 – Leonardo-Finmeccanica has signed a contract with the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO) to provide Vehicle Mission Systems for the DanishArmy’s land vehicles. Based on the Leonardo solution, developed to be fully compliant to the very latest Generic Vehicle Architecture (GVA) technology, systems will be fitted on several platformsincluding the newly procured Piranha V APC, new Armoured Patrol Vehicles, Wisent engineering vehicles, Leopard II MBTs and CV90 IFVs. The first production order under the framework contract isexpected imminently.
Leonardo was selected as the chosen supplier after two competitive user field trials and comprehensive through-life cost and supportability analyses. Modular mission systems will be tailored to each ehicletype and role, with DALO able to select the mix of rugged imaging sensors best suited to the job (up to full 360° colour and thermal imaging coverage), while benefitting from the lower maintenance costs and ease of training inherent to modular systems with common elements.
The mission system provided by Leonardo is based on the UK-led Generic Vehicle Architecture (GVA) standard which is increasingly being adopted by other allied nations. GVA is an approach to vehiclemission system design that uses standard infrastructure and system control interfaces making it easy to train users, more straightforward to upgrade a vehicle’s systems and reduces the cost of ownership by allowing mission-specific configurations and through-life upgrades. The images from the mission system’s sensors are hosted on GVA multi-functional digital displays, providing low-latency digital video. Images from all sensors can be shared around the vehicle and multiple images can be displayed on screen at the user’s discretion to provide maximum information to suit functional requirements.
Because of the GVA design, other mission systems such as high powered mast mounted sensors for reconnaissance and remote weapon stations for local protection can be readily integrated into the system and controlled through the existing displays, saving vital space and reducing costs for procurement, training and logistics. Most mission systems will include Leonardo’s Drivers Night Vision System (DNVS4), which offers both daylight colour and thermal images to enable the driver and crew of the vehicle to operate safely and in confidence both day and night and in all weather conditions. In addition to DNVS4 and the display screens Leonardo is also providing the Citadel Panoramic and Compact cameras from its partner,Copenhagen Sensor Technologies.
DNVS4 builds upon Leonardo’s extensive experience in providing situational awareness systems to the UK MOD on vehicles such as Mastiff, Ridgback, Wolfhound, Challenger and Warrior over many years. The company is also the partner of choice of the Italian Ministry of Defence for battlefield digitization programmes. A prime example is Forza NEC which develops solutions to fully integrate the different elements that make up the Armed Forces – soldiers, vehicles, platforms and systems – through the most advanced information and communication technologies.
