Tuesday, 16 March 2021 15:33
NP Aerospace, a global armour manufacturer and vehicle integrator, has re-engineered the Ridgback and Mastiff platforms for an Urgent Capability Requirement (UCR) in Mali, Africa, under the UK Ministry of Defence Protected Mobility Engineering &Technical Support (PMETS) contract.
Re-engineered Mastiff (Picture source: NP Arospace)
The off-road mobility upgrade contract, awarded in May 2020, is valued at c. £7m and covers 12 vehicles and associated spares. It has enabled proven, heavy armoured vehicles held within the protected mobility fleet to be used to protect British Army troops in challenging operational terrains. Optimising current platforms has significantly reduced delivery timescales, ensuring the British soldiers are safer, faster.
The first bikes for the new West Midlands cycle hire scheme have hit the streets this week following the launch of a trial in Sutton Coldfield.
This limited trial will feature five docking stations and 25 bikes placed in and around the town centre for the next month to allow a group of selected volunteers to road test the bikes, docks, locks and mobile app technology.
The scheme has been launched by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) to encourage more people to become active and healthy and offer a convenient and more environmentally-friendly alternative to the car for shorter journeys. That will also help support WM2041 – A Programme for Implementing an Environmental Recovery, which aims to see the region become net-zero carbon within the next 20 years.
A new cycle hire scheme is due to launch across the West Midlands next year.
The operator of London’s Santander Cycles has been appointed by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) to offer bikes for hire in Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Wolverhampton and Walsall from next spring.
Contractor Serco will initially provide 1,500 bikes for hire, of which 10% will be e-bikes. The pedal cycles will all have three gears to cope with the hilly parts of the region and fitted with laser safety lights that project an image of a bicycle five metres in front of the bike.
The bikes are manufactured in Stratford-upon-Avon by Pashley Cycles who also works with Serco to provide the bikes for London and Edinburgh. Supporting technology will be provided by British micromobility operator Beryl, who also works with Serco in London.