ST Engineering to demonstrate battle-proven Bronco 3 and ExtremV all-terrain vehicles at Eurosatory 2024.

ST Engineering, a Singaporean company, has announced that its latest (and battle-proven) Bronco 3 all-terrain tracked vehicle will be featured in a dynamic demonstration at Eurosatory 2024, highlighting its capabilities for various military applications. The Bronco 3, an enhancement over its predecessors, exhibits improvements in mobility, protection, and modularity. This vehicle will be displayed alongside ST Engineering's ExtremV, a variant of the Bronco designed for HADR and support missions.
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The Bronco 3 has undergone extensive testing, including over 1,860 miles in Arctic conditions and more than 200,000 miles in various operational environments. (Picture source: ST Engineering)

The Bronco 3 is engineered to navigate 82% of global terrain, including environments such as snow, mud, and sand. It is fully amphibious, allowing for the crossing of water obstacles. Its modular design allows for quick reconfiguration, adapting the vehicle for roles such as troop transport, command and control, logistics support, and casualty evacuation. The vehicle’s torsion bar suspension with hydraulic dampers enables it to handle gradients of 60%, side slopes of 30%, vertical obstacles up to 0.5 meters, and trenches up to 2.1 meters.

The Bronco 3 is built with a V-shaped hull and armor plates, providing protection against mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), thereby enhancing occupant survivability in hostile conditions. It can be fitted with adaptable add-on armor components, such as ST Engineering’s CleArmour ceramic glass. It is capable of reaching a maximum speed of 65 km/h on roads, with a range of 500 km.

Measuring 8.6 meters in length, 2.2 meters in width, and 2.5 meters in height, the Bronco 3 has a combat weight of 16,000 kg and a payload capacity of up to 5,000 kg. It has undergone extensive testing, including over 1,860 miles in Arctic conditions and more than 200,000 miles in various operational environments. These tests indicate its reliability and functionality in extreme conditions, from hot desert climates to frigid Arctic environments.

ST Engineering's enhanced armor on the Bronco, known as Warthog in British service, was credited with saving Lance Corporal William Reeks' life during a 2010 IED attack in Afghanistan. (Picture source: UK MoD)

In December 2008, ST Kinetics was awarded a £150 million single source contract by the British Ministry of Defence for over 100 Bronco All Terrain Tracked Carriers (ATTCs) for use in Afghanistan under an Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR). These vehicles, known as Warthog in British service, supplemented the similar BvS 10 Viking vehicles operating in southern Afghanistan by the British military. Four Warthog variants were built under this contract – Troop Carrier, Ambulance, Command, and Repair & Recovery.

In December 2010, ST Engineering's armor enhancements were noted when a British Army soldier, Lance Corporal William Reeks, survived an IED attack. The Warthog he was traveling in set off an improvised explosive device believed to be 50 kg. His family credited the stronger armor of the Warthog, which had replaced less heavily fortified Viking armored vehicles prior to their protection upgrades, with saving his life.

Additionally, the Bronco 3's digital architecture supports plug-and-play functionalities, making it adaptable to emerging technologies and future upgrades. Equipped with the Advanced Driver Assist System, it is prepared for drive-by-wire operations, allowing for potential autonomous or remotely controlled missions. At Eurosatory 2022, a variant of the Bronco 3 was displayed, equipped with a Casualty Evacuation Robot (CEV) weighing 120 kg. This robot, deployable from the rear unit, has a ten-hour operational endurance and can carry a stretcher casualty. It operates in follow-me and playback modes, facilitating autonomous navigation and medical evacuation capabilities.

Sharing the Bronco’s capabilities, the ExtremV was deployed in search-and-rescue missions during Hurricane Otis in Mexico. (Picture source: ST Engineering)

At Eurosatory 2024, ST Engineering will also showcase the ExtremV all-terrain tracked carrier designed for first responders. Sharing the Bronco’s capabilities, the ExtremV is used in disaster relief, flood rescues, wildfire fighting, and humanitarian aid, due to its terrain accessibility and amphibious capabilities. For instance, it was deployed in search-and-rescue missions during Hurricane Otis in Mexico. The ExtremV's modular design allows for easy reconfiguration, enabling interchangeability of its enclosed rear cabin for various payloads, transforming it into an ambulance, personnel carrier, command post, or utility vehicle. It utilizes off-the-shelf components for improved ergonomics and lower cost of ownership, with reliable commercial automotive components reducing the maintenance burden.

The ExtremV can be optionally fitted with Prism Artificial Intelligence Vision Enhancement (PAVE) systems. PAVE uses a cone prism for a 360° undistorted view with a single camera, coupled with proprietary imaging software to enhance crew safety at a lower cost. Additionally, the ExtremV can be transported by aircraft, helicopter, or inside a 40-foot high-cube container, enabling quick deployment in disaster scenarios.