UK special forces vehicle designer and manufacturer, Supacat, part of SC Group, recently delivered the first production High Mobility Transporter (HMT) Extenda vehicle to the Norwegian Armed Forces.
Supacat signed a $30.5 million (£23m) contract with The Norwegian Defence Material Agency (NDMA) to supply a new fleet of high mobility vehicles in May 2015 with the provision of a comprehensive through-life support package. The first ‘pre-series’ vehicle was delivered in early 2017 followed by full fleet delivery taking place during 2018 and 2019.
Developed in the 1990s, Supercat designed the HMT range of vehicles following the success of its original All Terrain Mobility Platform (ATMP). Now being produced in 4×4, 6×6 and convertible Extenda configurations, SC Group manufactures the HMT range of vehicles under licence from Lockheed Martin.
Using the HMT variable height air suspension system, Extenda matches the capabilities of the HMT 400 and HMT 600 series sister platforms yet can be configured as a 4×4 or 6×6 to meet different operational requirements by fitting or removing a modular, self-contained third axle unit. The hamper has also been designed as a modular system to enable rapid conversion.
The HMT Extenda can be supplied with optional mine blast and ballistic protection kits and with a variety of mission hampers, weapons, communications, ISTAR and force protection equipment to suit a wide range of operational roles.
Major Arild Stangenes, NDMA programme manager said that “the delivery of our first production vehicle is a major milestone in a long-term programme that has been on going since 2011. We are very pleased with the quality of our first production vehicle and with a product that fully meets the needs of our user.”
by David Oliver
