CMI Defence SA and Ricardo UK Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding on June 14 to address the British Army’s Challenger 2 Life Extension Project (LEP). CMI will act as prime contractor and Ricardo as systems engineering and delivery partner in developing a response to the Invitation to Tender recently issued by the MoD.
CMI has delivered over 2,500 heavy calibre vehicle guns since 1970, many under the well-established Cockerill brand. The company’s turret-mounted weapons have established a strong reputation for applied firepower in testing operational conditions and have proven capability via an open electronic architecture. It is in a strong position to deliver an innovative, reliable and safe approach to a solution that extends the life of Challenger 2 to its Out of Service Date of 2035 through its newly established CMI Defence UK Limited.
Ricardo is a leading systems engineering consultancy with over 1,000 engineers and technicians in the UK and has been providing support to the MoD and defence industry for over a century. The company has wide experience of delivering programmes on tracked Armoured Fighting Vehicle and protected wheeled vehicles, that range from sub-system obsolescence redesigns through to whole system analysis, and ‘clean sheet’ whole platform and drive train design
Ricardo specializes in systems and automotive engineering, bringing modern modelling and simulation tools and techniques that have been developed and refined in both the military and commercial vehicle markets. Ricardo has wide experience of delivering programmes on tracked Armoured Fighting Vehicle and protected wheeled vehicles, that range from sub-system obsolescence redesigns through to whole system analysis, and clean sheet whole platform and drive train design.
Recently Ricardo has been supporting the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) with powertrain and drivetrain obsolescence management studies on CR2 utilising Total System Optimisation, a Ricardo-developed tool set used for whole system lifecycle cost modelling including the ability to model to cost effectiveness of potential system upgrade options from initial development and implementation costs plus through life costs such as fuel efficiency and maintenance.
Jean-Luc Maurange, President of CMI Defence, commented: “CMI Defence has the passion, energy, drive and full commitment to becoming the Challenger 2 Design Authority. The bringing together of our two independent companies creates a dynamic, flexible and responsive team. As specialists in the defence land domain, we will create and deliver an innovative solution to not only meet the customers’ needs but also to take into consideration the aspirations of the User (British Army).”
John Stretton, Head of Defence of Ricardo UK Ltd, stated: “Both our leading expert companies are looking forward to a long term continuation of our already successful relationship. Together, by combining our skill sets and resources we are perfectly positioned to answer UK MoD’s needs and ambitions for the Challenger 2 fleet.”