MilDef from Sweden to upgrade Norwegian army’s M113 APCs.

The Norwegian Defense Materiel Agency (NDMA, Forsvarsbygg) has asked Swedish company MilDef to upgrade its fleet of M113 armored personnel carriers for $7.8 million (82 MSEK), several media reported on July 6. According to the company, this is a follow-up order on an existing program and a mid-life upgrade of armored vehicles in the M113 series.
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Norwegian army M113 APC (Picture source: Norwegian army)

MilDef will equip the vehicles with computers, displays and network infrastructure for Command and Control, DefenseMirror.com reports. Different variants of the M113s are targeted by this program. The new delivery consists of tactical IT from MilDef’s hardware portfolio, integrations, and other services. The order value of deliveries in 2022 are estimated to be approximately $1.1 million (12 MSEK) and $6.7 million (70 MSEK) in 2023.

The Norwegian Armed Forces converted the existing M113s to the M113E3 configuration. The upgrade kits include a power pack, suspension, weld, air conditioning and hydraulic manifold. These upgrades supplement 72 kits that the company provided to Norway between 2007 and 2009, and supplied by BAE Systems in the USA. BAE Systems’ suspension upgrades enable the vehicle to use rubber band tracks (like these manufactured by Canadian company Soucy) that provide passengers with a smoother ride, among other advantages.

MilDef will also provide support to the Defence Logistics Organisation in Norway.