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Aging PSNI Vehicle Fleet Faces Rising Repair Costs, Report Reveals

Unknown autos, cars, military vehicles, police and law enforcement, police reports

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 Nearly one-fourth of the police cars are over a decade old, and an escalating amount are frequently trapped in maintenance facilities, according to a report by the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO).


 The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) operates a fleet of 2,700 vehicles that collectively travel 27 million miles annually.


 The organization informed the NIAO about considerable challenges in supplying vehicles for front-line services. It also acknowledged "the possible safety hazards linked to having an aging vehicle fleet."


 From 2021 to 2024, the expense for repair work and upkeep carried out in internal workshops amounted to nearly £11 million.


 The proportion of the fleet in workshops on any given day has risen from 6% to 16%.


 The NIAO said "at its most extreme", almost 500 vehicles were off the road at a given time.


 Four years ago, the PSNI launched a strategy setting out plans for the modernisation of its fleet, with the ambition for the average age of vehicles to be five years.


 But this has not been achievable, with most vehicles exceeding the target.


 Almost £26m has been spent on purchasing new vehicles since 2021.

<h2>
 PSNI fleet management 'critical'
</h2>

 Commenting on the report, Northern Ireland's Comptroller and Auditor General Dorinnia Carville said effective fleet management is "critical" for the PSNI.


 She added: "Achieving the planned fleet replenishment rates within the current financial environment will be challenging, however, managing an ageing fleet is also costly, with potentially significant operational impacts.


 "This report finds that progress has been made in a number of areas but that there is much more to be achieved, particularly in relation to the introduction of electric vehicles."


 The PSNI had planned to have around 700 electric vehicles by next year.


 As of last October it had 179.


 Electric vehicles are said to be unsuitable for many roles within the PSNI, including an inability to carry the weight of armouring.

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Aging PSNI Vehicle Fleet Faces Rising Repair Costs, Report Reveals

Unknown autos, cars, military vehicles, police and law enforcement, police reports

Nearly one-fourth of the police cars are over a decade old, and an escalating amount are frequently trapped in maintenance facilities, according to a report by the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIA…

M2A2 Bradley Tanks Rescue Ukrainian Forces from Minefield Peril

Unknown armoured vehicles, military, military vehicles, military weapons, weapons

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 The Western infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) supplied to Ukraine are extremely valuable as they offer protection from mines, which the older Soviet-era models do not. Among these modern IFV types in Ukraine, one of the most prevalent and well-regarded designs is the American-made M2A2 Bradley.
 


 Members of a Ukrainian team operating an M2A2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle from the 100th Mechanized Brigade spoke with Army TV about various subjects including their experiences with counter-mine tactics. During this discussion, the unit’s leader recounted encountering an anti-tank TM-62 mine at some stage during operations. Fortunately, despite setting off the device, nobody sustained injuries. All personnel managed to safely disembark from the vehicle after the incident—the track rollers suffered damage—but remarkably, none required medical attention for so much as a concussion.


 These are just some of the numerous reports from Ukrainian troops who credit the M2A2 Bradley – famously associated with the 47th Mechanized Brigade – for saving their lives against threats like landmines, drone attacks, anti-tank missiles, and machine gun fire from Russian forces.

<h2>
 M2A2 Bradley — outdated but still highly intimidating for Russians, a present from the USA
</h2>

 Ukraine has been equipped with M2A2 Bradley ODS infantry fighting vehicles from the USA, units that have seen action during the Gulf War. This model represents a substantial upgrade over the original iteration introduced in the 1970s.


 
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 The modifications led to the A2 variant no longer being amphibious because of its increased weight at 27 tonnes. Upgrades during the '90s entailed fitting advanced optoelectronic systems featuring high-resolution thermal imagers along with a laser rangefinder.


 Despite the fact that the Bradley's weight varies significantly from heavier infantry fighting vehicles like the CV90 or Puma, which tip the scales at nearly 40 tonnes, it still offers outstanding protection for its crew of three and a squad of seven soldiers.


 
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 Russia's diminishing T-72 tanks highlight changing combat trends.


 The standard armor provides defense against attacks from heavy machine guns such as the KPW caliber 14.5×114 mm, and the frontal armor is capable of enduring hits from 30 mm shells discharged by 2A42 cannons. Moreover, the Bradley can also feature BRAT explosive reactive armor, greatly enhancing its resilience against assaults from shoulder-fired anti-tank systems and unmanned aerial vehicles.

<h2>
 The armament of the M2A2 Bradley forms an efficient combination for targeting most objectives.
</h2>

 The primary weapon system is an M242 Bushmaster autocannon with a caliber of 25mm. It fires both armor-piercing and high explosive incendiary M792 HEI-T ammunition at a rate of 200 rounds per minute, effectively engaging targets within a range of up to three kilometers. Furthermore, there’s a dual launcher designed for BGM-71F (TOW 2B) anti-tank guided missiles. These missiles have the capability to neutralize enemy tanks from distances as far as 3.7 kilometers by targeting their weaker top armor.


 
 Read also:
 


 Western machinery fuels Russian arms in the Ukraine conflict.


 Nonetheless, this is an outdated system necessitating missile guidance all the way till impact and can only be employed when stationary. Additionally, advanced Russian active defense systems such as Arena-M, which are beginning to emerge on the battlefield, might neutralize these missiles. Despite being antiquated, the M2A2 Bradley remains a significant threat and constitutes the largest number of Western infantry fighting vehicles that have reached Ukraine.


 
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 The Ukrainian brigade has deployed US-provided M2A2 Bradley fighting vehicles in Donetsk.


 Ukrainian M2A2 Bradley: A powerful presence in the attack on Pokrovsk


 Trapped in the crossfire: Russia seizes a US M2A2 Bradley

M2A2 Bradley Tanks Rescue Ukrainian Forces from Minefield Peril

Unknown armoured vehicles, military, military vehicles, military weapons, weapons

The Western infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) supplied to Ukraine are extremely valuable as they offer protection from mines, which the older Soviet-era models do not. Among these modern IFV type…

BEML Unveils Indigenous 12x12 High-Mobility Vehicle: A Game-Changer for India's Defence

Unknown armoured vehicles, engineering, indian national news, military vehicles, transportation

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 Palakkad (Kerala), India, March 27 (ANI): BEML Ltd has introduced an indigenous High Mobility Vehicle (HMV) known as the 12x12 model at their facility in Palakkad.
 
 
 Created for the Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE) under DRDO, this advanced vehicle improves operational mobility for India’s defense units while supporting the country's aim of becoming self-reliant in critical military equipment as part of the Aatma Nirbhar Bharat initiative.
 
 
 Shantanu Roy, CMD of BEML Ltd, officially unveiled the vehicle with G Ramamohana Rao, Director of VRDE, at his side, along with BEML’s functional directors and high-ranking officials from both companies present for the occasion.
 
 
 The HMV 12x12 is designed to handle severe landscapes and tough weather situations, thus serving as an essential resource for military missions. Equipped with a BSIII-compatible motor and boasting a 7-speed Allison Automatic Transmission, this vehicle can support up to a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of 65 tons.
 
 
 The vehicle has been created via BEML's Futuristic Product Innovation and Incubation Centre (FPIIC), thereby strengthening India’s defense autonomy.
 
 
 At the event, Shantanu Roy highlighted BEML's steadfast dedication to innovation, stating, "We are delighted to present this state-of-the-art, domestically developed vehicle for our Defense personnel. This unveiling, which took place at our facility in Palakkad, showcases BEML’s approach of reaching 'Beyond Limits.'"
 
 
 G Ramamohana Rao stated, "This partnership with BEML to create a cutting-edge native vehicle represents a crucial step toward bolstering India’s defense capabilities. Kudos to CMD and the entire BEML team for their accomplishment."
 
 
 The introduction of the HMV 12x12 marks another significant step for BEML as it remains at the forefront of enhancing India’s defence mobility options. By utilizing their internal skills and top-tier production facilities, they contribute significantly to bolstering the nation’s safety and preparedness. (ANI)
 
 
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BEML Unveils Indigenous 12x12 High-Mobility Vehicle: A Game-Changer for India's Defence

Unknown armoured vehicles, engineering, indian national news, military vehicles, transportation

Palakkad (Kerala), India, March 27 (ANI): BEML Ltd has introduced an indigenous High Mobility Vehicle (HMV) known as the 12x12 model at their facility in Palakkad. Created for the Ve…