It comes as Devon-based agency Supacat is including a 105mm howitzer to its Coyote six-wheeled lengthy vary tactical car, already utilized by Special Forces and different branches of the military. The SAS at the moment use NLAW anti-tank weapons – which have turn out to be famed for his or her success with destroying Russian tanks in Ukraine – and 81mm mortars after they want further firepower and are unable to name in an air strike.
However latest operational experiences in Afghanistan, Iraq and – notably – Syria have highlighted the necessity for added firepower in difficult conditions involving overwhelming enemy forces.
Although the UK nonetheless makes use of the ageing L118 gentle gun- a towed 105mm Howitzer – it’s too heavy to be mounted on to automobiles.
However the growth of a brand new 105mm howitzer has now opened up new prospects.
Hawkeye, developed within the US by Mandus, incorporates a groundbreaking modular light-weight system and low recoil, permitting it to be operated from a variety of automobiles with a 360 diploma discipline of fireside.
It has already been trialled efficiently within the US, the place the ever present Humvee jeep has been reworked into a light-weight, go anyplace artillery system capable of strike and go away earlier than being focused itself.
The British Army additionally has 70 six-wheeled Coyotes. The long-range automobiles had been initially designed and constructed by Supacat Ltd in Devon for the Afghan marketing campaign in 2009.
With little in the way in which of armour, the open-topped automobiles depend upon firepower and their 70mph speeds to evade enemy motion.
A senior supply stated: “There was rising concern that Special Forces have felt underpowered, and this was particularly observed in Syria.
“The plan is to mount the gun on a Coyote, the six-wheeled platform we utilized in Afghanistan, which has the capability to hold the gun and ammunition.
“Mounting a normal L118 wouldn’t work on account of its recoil, which might break the Coyote’s axles. However the Hawkeye is gentle with a vastly decreased recoil.
“If lastly adopted after trials, it’s going to present large firepower to particular forces in a cellular configuration in a method that has by no means been skilled earlier than and we should always fairly count on a restricted quantity to be in service throughout the subsequent two years.”
