Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle RFP

This excerpt from the draft request for proposals outlines the roles for Canada's new Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle.

TAPV Tactical Operations

Protected transport, tactical reconnaissance and patrol tasks shall be required on all missions from peace support to full combat, and shall be a factor everywhere on the battlefield. The mix of light, medium and heavy force support shall depend on the force makeup and tasks. The TAPV could be assigned to all sections, platoons, patrols and troops conducting tactical operations.

The TAPV Project shall deliver two base configurations:

a. General Utility; and
b. Reconnaissance.

It is envisioned that the TAPV output shall include/contribute to:

a. Situational awareness of the battle space through observation and data collection;
b. Support to command and control (C2) through the development and maintenance of shared SA;
c. Net-Centric Operations support through information transport as nodes and knowledge sharing;
d. Protection against conventional weapons, terrorists and support to recovery;
e. Tactical operations support, including the conduct of operational manoeuvre, defensive operations, recce and surveillance tasks and control of territory, populations, and resources;
f. Support to operations related to POWs, refugees and internally displaced personnel;
g. Support to and protection of logistics operational requirements (convoy escort);
h. Support to specific operations, such as direct action, counterterrorism, civil-military operations (CIMIC), and psychological operations (PSYOPs);
i. Stability Operations, such as Peace Support Operations (PSO) and Humanitarian Assistance;
j. Domestic Operations, such disaster relief and critical infrastructure protection;
k. Military Assistance to Civil Authorities and Civilian Law Enforcement Agencies and Aid to Civil Power; and
l. Full spectrum operations including conventional warfare and COIN operations.

It shall be operated as a stand-alone single-type vehicle (in a convoy for instance) up to a sub-unit strength. Force protection is paramount to its conception, but cross-country mobility shall be maintained to fulfill its functions, especially that of recce. The TAPV shall provide sufficient levels of deployability and mobility to support the expeditionary forces it conducts operations with.

The TAPV shall provide mobile protected recce, surveillance and patrol task support to allow deployed lightweight assets to conduct tactical operations in the full spectrum of conflict.

The TAPV shall be employed in the conduct of, but not limited to recce, surveillance, patrolling, and command and liaison tasks. Additionally, the vehicle shall provide for protected transport of troops and VIPs in theatre. Primary users shall be:

m. Armoured Recce Squadrons - Recce Troops;
n. Light Infantry Companies - Light Infantry Recce Platoon and Sniper Section;
o. Light Infantry Companies - Light Infantry patrols; and
p. Deployed Task Force Support - Patrol vehicles primarily for National Support Elements (NSE), Operational Mentor and Liaison Team (OMLT); and secondly for Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), Military Policy (MP), Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC), Psychological Operations (PSYOPS) and other command support tasks (e.g. liaison officers).

Roles stated in Paragraphs a. and b. will be conducted using the Recce configuration, while roles for Paragraphs c. and d. will be conducted using the General Utility configuration.

Drivers and maintainers shall require a detailed knowledge of their vehicle and its equipment properties. Drivers and equipment operator shall also be familiar with field repairs and maintenance, to ensure that continued functional qualities of the system are maintained. Maintenance personnel shall be able to conduct first line maintenance and repairs as well as being able to determine the effectiveness of damaged and repaired vehicles.

Commanders at all levels shall be responsible for risk assessments when recce and patrol operations are required in high threat conditions. In particular, commanders shall understand the capabilities and limitations of these vehicles.

By: Shelldrake