Warwick based manufacturer of motion and control technologies,
Parker Hannifin, has helped develop a groundbreaking armoured
vehicle that could play a critical role in saving troops' lives in
war torn areas across the world.
Designed and developed in the UK, the Ranger will provide at
least three times the protection available from other vehicles
currently being used by the MOD, withstanding IEDs (improvised
explosive devices), bombs and mines.
Working in collaboration with Dorset based company Universal
Engineering, Parker manufactured the revolutionary vehicle's
hydraulic units including the engine cooling system fan units, rear
ramp actuation mechanism, rear steering assembly, emergency ramp
opening and the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) fans, to provide power
if the main engine fails. Remarkably, the 19 tonne Ranger was
designed, tested and built in under a year.
Martin Lattimer, Parker Hannifin's Business Development Manager,
said, "As one of the world's leading specialists in motion and
control technologies, and especially in the field of hydraulics, we
have a long track record of working with defence contractors and
the MOD, and of developing innovative solutions.
Our work on Ranger is part of this tradition and the success of
the project to date is a reflection on the skills, experience and
knowledge of our team of designers, engineers and managers in
Warwick."
The Ranger is different to conventional armoured vehicles as it
has no chassis and instead features an armour protected capsule, to
which the automotive elements are fitted. This unique design
provides an unprecedented level of crew safety with the hull being
indirectly connected to the engine, gear box and wheels. Further
protection is offered by the armoured belly plates, floating floor
and energy absorbing suspended seats, while the vehicle's hardened
cabin has been tested to withstand controlled explosions several
times the force of NATO's standard test for this type of
vehicle.
Additionally, the Ranger is fitted with a range of cutting edge
military hardware. In particular, it features 6x6 AWD with
automatic gearbox, making it easier to drive, while its off-road
terrain capability is described as second to none thanks to
variable height control, independent suspension and central tyre
inflation systems.
By comparison with similar military vehicles currently in
operation in Afghanistan the Ranger is faster and more agile, with
a top speed of 73mph. Perhaps more importantly, its cabin is
bullet-proof and bomb resistant, with the special double-skinned
V-shaped hull offering at least three times the protection of
existing vehicles.
With troops having to face the daily threat of roadside bombs
and mines in places such as Afghanistan, this innovative armoured
vehicle has been dubbed a lifesaver. Ranger has been undergoing
extensive military testing since its launch and could be ready for
full scale production within six months.