Lockheed Martin has successfully completed amphibious testing of its Havoc 8×8, an eight-wheel-drive armoured modular vehicle, at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, US.
Conducted as part of its evaluation for the Marine Personnel Carrier (MPC) competition, the vehicle demonstrated its resistance capability to water penetration while carrying a full complement of Marine Corps battle gear for the crew during testing.
Earlier in 2012, the USMC awarded a $3.5m contract to Lockheed to carry out an eight-month evaluation programme on its Havoc 8×8 vehicle and validate its amphibious capabilities and human factors.
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control ground vehicles vice president, Scott Greene, said that the Havoc 8×8 has validated its ability to operate in all surf and wave conditions, while meeting the US Marine Corps (USMC) requirements.
"The vehicle maintained 100% operational readiness throughout the test," Greene added.The Lockheed-led team for the programme includes Patria Land Systems. Design of Havoc 8×8 vehicle is based on Patria Land Systems’ 8×8 Armoured Modular Vehicle, which is deployed by armed forces globally to meet a range of mission requirements on both land and at sea.
Equipped with a modular ballistic protection system, the multi-mission expeditionary ground combat vehicle is capable of protecting troops against ballistic threats ranging from high-blast force levels to large-calibre kinetic threats.
Featuring exceptional mobility and transportability, Havoc has been configured to provide a wide range of weapons, sensors and communications options to meet various operational requirements.
Image: Lockheed’s Havoc 8×8 vehicle conducting in-shore operation. Photo: courtesy of Lockheed Martin Corporation.
