By Richard Bailey, Chief Executive, Aire Group - Inflatable Buildings and Workshops
SubscribeTank troops in the desert may soon be carrying their own Bedouin tent with them … but it's nothing like the region has ever seen before.
For the Piranha armoured vehicles manufactured by world-renowned British company Alvis Vickers Ltd can now be equipped with their own inflatable shelters that have been specially-designed to link to the back of the vehicle.
This means it keeps all the sand out, yet gives the crew plenty of space for eating, sleeping and meeting.
The camouflaged Aireshelta comes with its own generator and air fan and can be inflated and ready for action in minutes. It is carried in a special basket fixed to the vehicle’s exterior.
It has been made by rescue and decontamination equipment specialists The Aire Group based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.
Company spokesman Geoff Howard said: “The Aireshelta has been specially designed to be an extension to the Pirhana to give the crew that vital extra room which can make all the difference.’’
The Piranha range of lightly-armoured wheeled vehicles - built under licence from Swiss partner MOWAG - includes personnel carriers for up to 12 troops including the crew, NBC reconnaissance, transport, command, ambulance, recovery and mortar vehicles.
The vehicle can be fitted with a range of one and two-man turrets with weapons ranging from .50 calibre to 90mm high pressure anti-tank guns.
Alvis Vickers Ltd is the UK’s only armoured vehicle manufacturer and over 98% of the British Army’s armoured vehicles have been built by the company which has bases in Telford, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Leeds and Wolverhampton.
Other well-known names from its extensive tank and armoured vehicle range include the Warrior, Challenger 2 and 2E, the long-established Scorpion and Stormer, Tactica internal security vehicles, Supacat all-terrain mobile platforms and armoured engineering support vehicles including the BR90 bridging system.