GKN Aerospace to develop fuel system for UK's SV programme

GKN Aerospace has been contracted by General Dynamics European Land Systems, Madrid, to develop an advanced fuel storage system for the UK MOD's Specialist Vehicle (SV) programme.

Each fuel system will comprise four fuel tanks and all their associated fuel components and equipment.

GKN Aerospace has the responsibility for development, qualification, trials and certification of systems for all six prototype SV's, with first delivery of the six sets of equipment taking place in autumn 2013.

The GKN Aerospace design comprises a lightweight, advanced fuel filling and storage system with the ability to refuel the vehicle from a wide range of both pressure and gravity fuel supplies. This unique capability means the SV will be refuel-able from any source - from a jerry can to an airport fuel tanker, shortening critical refuelling times and increasing vehicle availability for return to vital military operations.

The SV main system tanks will all be equipped with the latest explosion suppression technology whilst the ballistically-protected external auxiliary fuel tank will incorporate GKN Aerospace's self-seal technology that allows the tank to heal itself after damage from small arms fire.

The fuel system will meet the latest warfare requirements for survivability in today's intense operational environment, facing threats ranging from 7.62mm AP rounds to improvised explosive devices (IEDs). It will be fully qualified to Def-Stan 00-35, the standard which defines the UK MOD requirement for the climatic, environmental, biological and mechanical performance of their equipment. Current European road legislation will also be covered, allowing the SVs to be driven on civil/normal roads.

Phil Swash, CEO, GKN Aerospace Europe and Special Products comments: "This is a key win for us in that SV is the largest UK land-based military programme for 50 years and these vehicles will be at the heart of the British army's land fire power in the 21st century. Our fuel system, designed and manufactured entirely in the UK, brings together our latest material developments with proven explosion suppression and self-seal technologies to give the SV the fastest, most capable and most versatile fuel, de-fuel system for an armoured fighting vehicle on the market today."

GKN Aerospace has drawn on experience and engineering expertise acquired through the development of similar fuel systems for UK MOD platforms, such as the Terrier armoured combat engineer vehicle, the Challenger 2E MBT development programme and for other customers internationally.