Eurosatory 2016: BAE Systems Hägglunds hoping for Beowulf buyer by turn of the year

BAE Systems Hägglunds' BvS10 Beowulf at Eurosatory 2016. The company is hoping to secure a contract for the vehicle by the turn of the year. Source: IHS\P Felstead

By: Wording OD

BAE Systems Hägglunds is hoping to secure a contract for its new BvS10 Beowulf all-terrain vehicle (ATV) by the end of this year or the start of next year, allowing serial production to start by the end of next year or the beginning of 2018, company officials told IHS Jane's at Eurosatory on 15 June. Tore Akser, ATV platform manager for BAE Systems Hägglunds, said the company is having parallel discussions with potential buyers in Europe, South America and Asia, with the potential clients ranging from those who already operate the Beowulf's predecessor, the Bv202, or the armoured ATV from which it is derived, the BvS10 Viking, to those with no experience of operating BAE Systems Hägglunds ATVs.

Akser said interest in the vehicle, which combines the chassis and powertrain of the BvS10 Viking with an unarmoured front cab provided by Finnish company Fortoco, ranges from military users to those with an interest in developing an all-terrain capability for civilian applications such as rescue services or firefighting. The concept behind the Beowulf, Akser explained, is a combination of three elements: extreme mobility, an extensive payload capability (the vehicle can carry 8 tonnes compared to 2.2 tonnes for the Bv202), and flexibility, with the rear section of the ATV able to be reconfigured in a variety of ways or even designed and provided by the user.

Like the Bv202, the Beowulf remains fully amphibious but now has a digitised front section. Additionally, the front cab, taking a lesson from the commercial truck sector, can now be tipped forward to allow access to the vehicle's powerpack for easier maintenance. In terms of performance the Beowulf can reach a top speed of 80 km/h compared to 50 km/h for the Bv202 (achieving twice the speed of the Bv202 in difficult terrain) and has a range of up to 1,000 km compared to 300-350 km for the Bv202.

SOURCE: IHS Janes