As Modern Day Marine 2014 drew to a close, Garrett Kasper, Boeing’s Combat Support Vehicle (CSV) spokesman, told MT the PHANTOM BADGER would be shown for the first time with its mortar module and ammunition trailer at AUSA 2014.
“We look forward to demonstrating our 120mm mortar configuration at AUSA. PHANTOM BADGER can carry the mortar and more than 20 rounds in the vehicle, and can tow along an ammo trailer carrying in excess of 50 rounds. In the case of capability for the USMC, the PHANTOM BADGER configuration will effectively double ammunition load beyond currently fielded systems. Keep in mind, the mortar carrier we’re going to show at AUSA is just one among many potential systems, since the vehicle itself is modular,” Kasper remarked.
Designed in the V-22 transportable size range, Boeing’s CSV is also sling loadable and can be air dropped due to its comparatively low gross weight of 7500lbs. Kasper said the PHANTOM BADGER is in production, a single vehicle requires approximately 30 days to build, “though that could be accelerated, as we are getting a lot of international interest, when you consider all the countries looking at a V-22 capability or who currently have CH-47s or C-17s already. Their first question becomes, ‘what can I put inside our V-22?’ We know this vehicle is the best solution.”
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A new design, the PHANTOM BADGER maximises use of commercial off the shelf (COTS) components and standardized MILSPEC parts such as a hydraulic pump, “we purposely chose the same unit in use on the M-88 armoured recovery vehicle,” Kasper said, noting a number of slightly more specialized commercial components used in National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) were incorporated into the vehicle. That matters greatly, considering their current customer consists of elements of US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).
“Boeing designed the PHANTOM BADGER to our customer’s exact specifications, and that took a lot of work. They gave us tough thresholds to meet, and the vehicle’s design and performance is totally customer-driven," Kasper elaborated further, “To make it even more versatile, the entire vehicle from behind the driver compartment to the rear is designed to be changed out with just six bolts, allowing a passenger space to quickly serve a more specialized purpose.”
Kasper said his group is “finding these capabilities more and more attractive to a far wider potential international customer base, considering the vehicle is not ITAR restricted in its basic package. We can also offer it as a commercial utility vehicle, including many uses in other government agencies, forestry, customs or border patrol, and we are even looking at sales in the civilian market.”
MT observed the BADGER was fitted with thermal reduction padding in several areas around the engine, additionally, it was noted the vehicle design maximises carriage area, with both above and below chassis storage.
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The PHANTOM BADGER is built by MSI Defense Solutions of Mooresville, North Carolina, in a teaming arrangement Boeing. As explained by Kasper, “MSI has experience in the automotive and suspension aspects, while Boeing has the aircraft experience, so we worked closely together and built something innovative and reliable, which is what our initial customer was looking for.”
The vehicle has four –wheel steering affording a near 90° turning radius, a feature Kasper said the client needed to navigate quickly through built up urban areas, “Operators can steer both axels to move the Badger around a corner, far faster than a conventional vehicle. This is a huge operational advantage when a team is trying to exit a situation quickly.” Another benefit is ability to raise the Badger’s ground clearance to adapt to road conditions, Kasper added.
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| Boeing's PHANTOM BADGER (Photos: Josh Cohen) |
“We look forward to demonstrating our 120mm mortar configuration at AUSA. PHANTOM BADGER can carry the mortar and more than 20 rounds in the vehicle, and can tow along an ammo trailer carrying in excess of 50 rounds. In the case of capability for the USMC, the PHANTOM BADGER configuration will effectively double ammunition load beyond currently fielded systems. Keep in mind, the mortar carrier we’re going to show at AUSA is just one among many potential systems, since the vehicle itself is modular,” Kasper remarked.
Designed in the V-22 transportable size range, Boeing’s CSV is also sling loadable and can be air dropped due to its comparatively low gross weight of 7500lbs. Kasper said the PHANTOM BADGER is in production, a single vehicle requires approximately 30 days to build, “though that could be accelerated, as we are getting a lot of international interest, when you consider all the countries looking at a V-22 capability or who currently have CH-47s or C-17s already. Their first question becomes, ‘what can I put inside our V-22?’ We know this vehicle is the best solution.”
.jpg)
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A new design, the PHANTOM BADGER maximises use of commercial off the shelf (COTS) components and standardized MILSPEC parts such as a hydraulic pump, “we purposely chose the same unit in use on the M-88 armoured recovery vehicle,” Kasper said, noting a number of slightly more specialized commercial components used in National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) were incorporated into the vehicle. That matters greatly, considering their current customer consists of elements of US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).
“Boeing designed the PHANTOM BADGER to our customer’s exact specifications, and that took a lot of work. They gave us tough thresholds to meet, and the vehicle’s design and performance is totally customer-driven," Kasper elaborated further, “To make it even more versatile, the entire vehicle from behind the driver compartment to the rear is designed to be changed out with just six bolts, allowing a passenger space to quickly serve a more specialized purpose.”
Kasper said his group is “finding these capabilities more and more attractive to a far wider potential international customer base, considering the vehicle is not ITAR restricted in its basic package. We can also offer it as a commercial utility vehicle, including many uses in other government agencies, forestry, customs or border patrol, and we are even looking at sales in the civilian market.”
MT observed the BADGER was fitted with thermal reduction padding in several areas around the engine, additionally, it was noted the vehicle design maximises carriage area, with both above and below chassis storage.
.jpg)
.jpg)
The PHANTOM BADGER is built by MSI Defense Solutions of Mooresville, North Carolina, in a teaming arrangement Boeing. As explained by Kasper, “MSI has experience in the automotive and suspension aspects, while Boeing has the aircraft experience, so we worked closely together and built something innovative and reliable, which is what our initial customer was looking for.”
The vehicle has four –wheel steering affording a near 90° turning radius, a feature Kasper said the client needed to navigate quickly through built up urban areas, “Operators can steer both axels to move the Badger around a corner, far faster than a conventional vehicle. This is a huge operational advantage when a team is trying to exit a situation quickly.” Another benefit is ability to raise the Badger’s ground clearance to adapt to road conditions, Kasper added.
Josh Cohen