The U.K. Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) has secured a contract for the British Army’s Heavy Equipment Transport (HET) capability. HET enables the Army to rapidly move heavy armour, such as Challenger 2 main battle tanks, to where it is needed, using an operationally proven vehicle platform. The agreement forms part of a wider Materiel Distribution Land Programme, which incorporates HET, bulk liquid transportation (such as fuel tankers) and palletised load-carrying vehicles for the Army. The vehicles were secured under an £80 million interim capability solution over the next three years, with industry partners KBR Ltd. The contract with KBR Ltd means the Army will be provided with serviced HET trains – consisting of a cab and trailer – with enough operational spares packs to allow for operations on multiple fronts, anywhere in the world.
Mike Cooper, Senior Responsible Owner of the MDL 25 Programme for the British Army, said:“Placing this contract secures a critical enabling capability for the Army, allowing continued logistic movement of heavy armour and other large equipment for current and future operations and exercises that will ensure the British Army remains able to project fighting power where required.”
Nick Taylor, the Head of Land Combat Vehicles for DE&S, said:“These vehicles are the bedrock of credible operational capability and underpins our logistical provision to ensure the right equipment is delivered to the right people, on time. I am thrilled that we have secured this vital contract so that we can continue to equip and support the British Army.”
Heavy Equipment Transporter System (HETS) is the name of a U.S. Army logistics vehicle transport system, the primary purpose of which is to transport the M1 Abrams tank. It is also used to transport, deploy, and evacuate armored personnel carriers, self-propelled artillery, armored bulldozers, and other heavy vehicles and equipment. The current U.S. Army vehicle used in this role is an Oshkosh-built M1070 tractor unit in A0 and A1 configurations which is coupled to a DRS Technologies M1000 semi-trailer. This combination replaced the earlier Oshkosh-built M911 tractor unit and M747 semi-trailer. They come in A0, A1, and M1300 configurations. The M1070 is coupled to a DRS Technologies M1000 semi-trailer. The M1300 is a U.S. Army Europe-specific derivative designed to be road legal within Europe and operates with a different trailer.
The Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) became the new British Army heavy tank transporter in 2001 replacing the Scammel Commander. The vehicle has been in production by Oshkosh since 1992 and more than 2,600 of them to the US Army in various engine configurations such as the 1070E and the 1070E1. The UK version (1070F) had to be supplied with compliance to European legislation on emissions (EURO III). The Oshkosh 1070F HET has the same basic chassis and axle set-up as the M1070 model, but the cab, engine and transmission were changed to meet the European requirements. The cab is an all-steel affair with two doors that seats six. The driver and front passenger are seated on suspension seats and the four passengers in the back are on a bench seat able to convert into two double bunks (the full crew for the truck and loaded tank is 12).
