Jane's Defence Industry, Volume 21, Number 8: August 2004

The Prowler arrives in Europe

One of the most popular exhibits at Defence Vehicles Dynamics (DVD 2004) — the mili­tary and emergency vehicles exhibition held on 30 June-1 July at Millbrook Proving Ground, Bedfordshire — was All Terrain Vehicle Corporation's (ATV's) Prowler.

ATV's CEO Amos Deacon left two of his Prowler vehicles behind for testing by the UK Defence Procurement Agency's (DPA's) Specialist & Utility Vehicles Integrated Project Team (SUV IFT). The team was formed in October 2003 and has responsibilities to both the DPA and the Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO). The relatively new organisation also organised DVD 2004 for the DPA.

Deacon managed MDB Systems in Cali­fornia 20 years ago. The company specialised in packing avionics and other systems into ever-smaller spaces. Deacon sold MDB and later created Phoenix International, parent of ATV Phoenix data-storage boxes, Deacon claims, can be found in every US warship and submarine and are involved in programmes such as the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System, Predator and Wedgetail.

The company was also involved in manu­facturing boxes for telecommunications: "Then that went toes up, about eight on the Richter scale, and it was time to look for something else," Deacon told JDI. The developing needs of US forces for versatile, light and durable all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) provided a fresh opportunity.

At Millbrook it was difficult to talk to Deacon, as numerous UK armed forces offi­cers queued to try out the vehicles, which have already been evaluated by US Navy Special Warfare Group I, the US Army's 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and the US Marine Corps' 1st Force Reconnaissance Company. Deacon has already sold 50 units to special forces detachments of the US Air Force.

Prowler can be configured for numerous roles — two of the latest Light Tactical Wheeled Vehicle versions were on show at Millbrook. The Internally Transportable Vehicle (ITV) was accompanied by the Prow­ler II Side-by-Side Tactical/Assault Platform.

"These were purpose-built to solve the problems of generic ATVs with regard to operator safety, vehicle reliability, rugged endurance and operator controls," said Deacon. He pointed out that ATVs modified for military use require the operator to strad­dle the machine, steering with handlebars and using both hands for control. Prowler can be driven like a car. "We have not had one vehi­cle-related injury so far," Deacon said. "Properly harnessed, if you keep your elbows in, you don't get hurt if the vehicle rolls."

Singapore and the United Arab Emirates are showing interest in Prowler, which has been successfully deployed from a Caribou aircraft at 13,000ft with the aid of an airfoil.

The vehicle runs on unleaded fuel, although some military personnel would pre­fer diesel. Deacon and his team are also experimenting with JP8 kerosene-based fuel used in jets, armoured fighting vehicles and portable heaters. (See also Jane's International Defense Review, October 2002; Jane's Defence Weekly, 16 July 2003.)

More information can be found at: www.atvcorp.com.