ROYAL Brunei Technical Services (RBTS) yesterday unveiled its latest project, a Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF)-owned Land Rover Defender 110, commonly used as a transportation vehicle for infantries, that has been converted into a Light Utility Vehicle for military use.

Fitted with three weapon mounts, a heavy strength roll-over protection frame, lightweight seats and storage amneties, the vehicle is a result of a collaboration between RBTS and Ricardo, a UK-based technology consultancy with more than 10 years' of experience in the conversion of Land Rover Defender-based products as well as the militarisation of other commercial vehicle platforms.

"This is the only Light Utility Vehicle that has been approved by the British army's Ordnance Safety Board," he told The Brunei Times during the project's unveiling at RBTS' vehicle maintenance workshop facility in Kampong Salar, Muara.

Other features include storage areas for soldiers to store personal kits, extra fuel or food rations.

The lightweight utility vehicle is scheduled to make its first public appearance in the upcoming Armed Forces Day parade at the new Lumut camp, which houses the RBAF's Third Battalion.

"This vehicle is an excellent demonstration of the cooperation between RBTS and the UK government in the form of the UK Trade and Investment Defence and Security Organisation," said Dave Morgan.

"The engagement with Ricardo, a supplier to the UK's Ministry of Defence, has been facilitated through RBTS and should prove of great benefit to the RBAF," he said.

The project, which RBTS said is part of an ongoing effort to provide value-added services to the RBAF, is in line with one of the key areas for development stipulated in the Defence White Paper Update 2007, which will see the mechanisation of one of the current infantry battalions under the Royal Brunei Land Force. A mechanised battalion will allow deployment at short notice and sustain a land force presence essential to the sultanate's ability to provide a consistent and valued contribution to cooperative security operations.

Source: The Brunei Times