Devon-based Supacat has successfully carried out the second round of ballistic tests on its SPV400, the contender for the UK Ministry of Defence’s Light Protected Patrol Vehicle (LPPV) programme.
During the tests, SPV400 demonstrated the upgrades and improvements, which were incorporated after the first round of testing in December 2009.
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According to Supacat, the latest blast tests showed the protection levels of the vehicle were above the set standards for the LPPV programme and confirmed that the vehicle could be repaired quickly after a blast using the post-test formal repair analysis system.
Additional testing, focused away from the central V-shaped hull, also showed the value of mounting axles in sacrificial subframes fore and aft of the hull.
The SPV400 features an integrated protection system comprising a composite crew pod mounted on a V-shaped hull, which deflects the majority of any blast.
Supacat is scheduled to conduct another round of tests next month.
As part of the LPPV programme, the UK MoD purchased two vehicles from Supacat, Vehicle 02 and 03, which will participate in trials and risk reduction activities.
