BAE FRES SV Scout Vehicle

The BAE FRES SV was a prototype reconnaissance vehicle, developed by BAE Systems (Sweden) for the British Armies former Future Rapid Effect System program (FRES).

The vehicle was competing for the Scout Vehicle (SV) role as a replacement to the armies Scimitar CVR(T).

BAE Systems FRES SV trials started in 2004. In March 2010, the army selected BAE Systems competing design by General Dynamic Land Systems UK based on the ASCOD, now known as the AJAX.

FRES SV Program

The British Army in recent years had been developing a program called the “Future Rapid Effect System” (FRES), which was to be a fleet of vehicles that could be rapidly deployed, were network-enabled, capable of operating across a broad spectrum of operations and protected against current known threats of the time.

The FRES fleet was expected to comprise five families of vehicles. Since the selection of AJAX for the FRES SV role, the program has ceased and new programs started. For example, the former 8×8 wheeled FRES UV (Utility Vehicle) has matured in to the 8×8 Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV) program.

BAE FRES SV Description

: BAE FRES SV Scout Vehicle

: BAE FRES SV Scout Vehicle

: BAE FRES SV Scout Vehicle

: BAE FRES SV Scout Vehicle

: BAE FRES SV Scout Vehicle

The BAE design was based on a shortened CV90 Infantry Fighting Vehicle hull with a new 2 man turret, which would have received the new 40mm CTA auto-cannon (a joint develpment with France, manufactured in the UK by BAE Systems). It featured a completly new digital architecture. BAE Systems described the vehicle at the time as …

Nearly half of the armoured reconnaissance vehicles are a Scout variant and the rest are repair, recovery and protected mobility variants.

All will use the same chassis, referred to as a “common base platform.” A scout vehicle needs very high protection levels on the modern battlefield. BAE Systems’ combat-proven CV90 has made improvements in this area (and many others) with each of its six customers. We have fully met, and for certain threats, exceeded the MoD’s extremely challenging survivability requirements in mine blast trials. Trials commenced in 2004, culminating in a qualification test in 2008. Representative tests in 2009 have been successful against the FRES defined threats.

Furthermore, Our FRES SV Scout chassis has been modified from the base vehicle, reducing its physical size and therefore weight to optimise it for the army’s reconnaissance role. This has further increased the weight growth margins existing for CV90 while maintaining total system size and weight, consistent with the FRES reconnaissance requirement.

This evolutionary approach to meet changing threats means it is now the best-protected vehicle in its class, including mine protection comparable with a main battle tank – and yet it can be carried by an A400M.

The FRES Scout variant builds on this pedigree and features a shorter and lower profile chassis plus an electronic architecture, or operating system, specifically developed to meet the needs of the British Army. CV90’s unusually low thermal and noise signatures and ability to perform long periods of silent watch suit it well for the Scout role.

During 2015, the prototype was seen in BAE systems Swedish workshops with out its turret by one of our admin team.

BAE FRES SV Specifications

Firepower
Main Gun	40mm CTA-40 Auto-cannon Elevation -? to +?
Secondary Weapons	x1 coaxial 7.62mm MG
Ammunition Storage	x? 40mm, x? 7.62mm
Mobility
Engine	Scania DS16 41A 616hp (460Kw) Diesel
Transmission	Perkins X300 Series x4 speed forward/x2 reverse
Top Road Speed	70 km/h
Road Range	500km+
Fuel Capacity	525 litres?
Vertical Obstacle	1m
Water Capability	1.5m?
Trench Crossing	2.6m?
Gradient	60%?
Side Slope	40%?
Dimensions
Length Gun Forward	?m
Length Hull	?m
Width	3.8?m
Height	2.8?m
Ground Clearance	0.4?m
Weight	35,000+kg ? aka 35+ tonne combat
Protection
NBC Protected	Yes
Armor Type	Steel/Passive/Modular
Active Protection Systems	No
Crew
Commander	Yes
Gunner	Yes
Loader	No
Driver	Yes
Additional Crew	—
Troops Carried	?