SC Group

For Systems Concepts (SC Group), see Systems Concepts.
SC Group logo. SC Group is the trading brand of SC Group - Global Limited

SC Group is a British multi-faceted engineering company which prior to a re-brand in September 2015 was known as Supacat Limited. Supacat was established in 1981 and based at Dunkeswell Aerodrome in England. SC Group now comprises four companies: Supacat, SC Innovation, Proteum and Blackhill Engineering.

SC Group initially specialised in the design and development of military and civil high mobility vehicles. Throughout the last decade the company expanded its portfolio considerably to encompass developing equipment for operation in harsh environments in sectors including marine, renewables, mineral exploration, oil & gas and nuclear power. During 2014, the then Supacat made a series of acquisitions in the commercial marine sector leading to the creation of the now Proteum based in Hamble, UK. At the end of 2014 Exeter-based heavy fabrication specialist, Blackhill Engineering, was acquired.[1]

Supacat Limited rebranded to SC Group on 10 September 2015. SC Group is the trading brand of SC Group - Global Limited.[2] The current Chief Executive is Nick Ames who joined the company in 2003. Nick Jones, original co-founder of Supacat, remains a Director of SC Group.[3]

Supacat

The Supacat brand is retained by SC Group for the group's core defence business. Supacat develops and supports high mobility military vehicles and provides specialist engineering services for defence customers, and recently established itself in Australia.

Supacat Pty Ltd was established in 2011 with an office in Victoria, Australia.[4] In March 2012 Supacat Pty Ltd acquired Australian engineering design services company Unique Solutions Providers for an undisclosed amount. Supacat managing director Nick Ames said at the time: "The acquisition is the first in Supacat’s 30-year history and supports our strategy to access new regional markets and new industry sectors. It enables us to improve support for our vehicle fleets in service with the Australian Defence Force and it complements Supacat’s diversification into the oil & gas and renewable energy sectors."[5] Supacat Australia was named on 4 September 2015 by Rheinmetall Defence as the first Australian company to be part of its Land 400 Phase 2 Mounted Combat Reconnaissance Capability team for which the company will offer Boxer.[6]

All Terrain Mobility Platform (ATMP)

The All Terrain Mobility Platform (ATMP) is a 6x6 marginal terrain vehicle now in its fourth generation. Around 200 ATMPs have been supplied to mainly military users since 1982, these including the armed forces of Canada, Malaysia, Mexico and the UK.[7]

High Mobility Transporter

The High Mobility Transporter (HMT) was designed to primarily meet military needs for a light to medium load carrier. Designed by Supacat Limited with funding provided by HMT Vehicles Limited, Supacat manufactures the HMT under licence from Lockheed Martin UK. The original HMT 400 (4x4) was designed to meet a pending UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) requirement for a surveillance and reconnaissance vehicle (SRV) and the first prototype HMT was introduced in mid-1999. In 2001 a batch of 65 vehicles were ordered for United Kingdom Special Forces.[8]

In 2004, the U.S. Army placed an order with Supacat for an HMT-based patrol-type vehicle that was similar in configuration to the UK's SRV. Forty-seven vehicles, known as Marauder to the user (Delta Force) were ordered. Deliveries ran between 2004-2005.[9] Danish Special Forces have received 15 similar vehicles (for Jægerkorps Special Forces), these designated HMT4×4E (E - Extenda) as they can be reconfigured from (4x4) to (6x6) configuration by the addition of a third axle module. Australia operates 31 Extenda, these known as Narys.[10][11] In 2014 the Australian Army awarded Supacat a further contract for 89 Special Operations Vehicle - Commando (SOC-Cdo) variants of the Extenda version of the HMT. These will be delivered in four reconfigurable role versions.[12] Norway signed a contract for Supacat HMT Extenda for its special forces in 2015. Quantity is unknown. Deliveries will run between 2016-2019.[13][14]

Between June 2007 and late 2010 the British Army received around 575 further HMTs, these known as Jackal in 4x4 configuration, and Coyote in 6x6 configuration.[9]

Not all HMTs have been delivered in SRV-type configuration. In August 2003 it was announced that a Lockheed Martin UK-led team had been selected by the UK MoD as preferred supplier for Project Soothsayer, the next-generation battlefield electronic warfare system for the British Army and Royal Marines. An HMT 600 platform was selected as the base platform and 35 chassis were manufactured. Soothsayer was cancelled in mid-2009 and these chassis are currently surplus to requirement.[9] In August 2003, the UK Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) awarded a GBP6 million contract to then INSYS (now Lockheed Martin UK) to design, build and test a system demonstrator of the Lightweight Mobile Artillery System Rocket (LIMAWS(R)) for the British Army. The system was expected to enter service in 2007 and Supacat was to provide the 24 6x4 platforms required for the project. It was confirmed in May 2008 that the LIMAWS(R) project had been cancelled. An 8x6 Supacat vehicle (HMT 800) was the base for the BAE Systems Land Systems portee version of its M777 155 mm/39-cal lightweight howitzer, one of two candidates for the UK MoD's Lightweight Mobile Artillery Weapon System Gun (LIMAWS(G)) project. It was confirmed in September 2007 that LIMAWS(G) had been cancelled. Supacat's HMT 600 is the chosen ground station platform for the UK MoD's Watchkeeper unmanned air vehicle (UAV) project.

HMT operators

Supacat Protected Vehicle 400 (SPV 400)

The Supacat Protected Vehicle 400 (SPV 400) was developed by Supacat from 2009 as a private venture. A protected light 4x4 vehicle, the SPV 400 features a V-shaped steel chassis hull onto which is fitted a composite crew pod. A production standard SPV 400 was shown mid-2012. This had completed over 21,000 km of trials during which its reliability level was 96 per cent. Further development of the SPV 400 will lead to the SPV 600 that will be a 6x6 vehicle with increased volume and payload and be able to carry out a wider range of missions.[15]

Light Armoured Multipurpose Vehicle

The Light Armoured Multipurpose Vehicle (LAMV) was shown in February 2014 by the Indian company of Tata. The Light Armoured Multipurpose Vehicle was developed with technical input from Supacat.[15]

Light Reconnaissance Vehicle 400 (LRV 400)

Supacat displayed the Light Reconnaissance Vehicle 400 (LRV 400) Mk1 publicly for the first time at DSEI 2013, the prototype completed shortly before the show opened. The LRV 400 is an open lightweight 4x4 vehicle of the Land Rover Defender class. The LRV 400 was developed based on a combination of market research and customer feedback from the 2011-unveiling of a proof-of-concept closed cab variant. Development of the LRV 400 continues, with details of the latest Mk2 announced at the time of the rebrand.[15] The LRV 400 Mk2 was shown publicly for the first time at DSEI 2015 (15–18 September). The most significant design change for the Mk2 is a switch of the automotive platform to the Land Rover Discovery rather than the rally car platform previously offered.[16]

Bombardier Lynx Snowmobile

The Royal Marines 3 Commando Brigade's Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron (SRS) Oversnow Reconnaissance Vehicle (ORV) is Bombardier Lynx snowmobile which has been modified for military use by Supacat.

Gallery

SC Innovation

SC Innovation provides engineering solutions to support all SC Group non-defence business. SC Innovation[17] incorporates specialist vehicle work with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and the emergency services together with products and services for sectors such as oil & gas, marine, renewable energy and nuclear. Products include:

Gallery

Proteum


Proteum is the marine brand within SC Group and was formed following the acquisition of MDS Marine and Bukh Diesel UK.

Proteum[22] represents and distributes a portfolio of marine products and services across the UK and Ireland, these including Bukh, Marine Diesel Sweden, OXE Diesel and Konrad propulsion systems.[23][24] The company has two UK offices, these in Poole and Hamble.

At the DSEI 2015 defence and security exhibition held in London, 15–18 September, OXE Diesel launched what the company claims to be the first viable high power NATO single fuel policy compliant diesel outboard engine for military users. According to the company, the 200 hp outboard has the highest power density of any marine diesel and incorporates a self-contained belt propulsor unit (S-BPU) to eliminate bevel gears and transfer shafts. In addition, the unit uses a conventional automotive engine block adapted for marine use, and unlike most outboards is mounted horizontally to improve reliability and reduce maintenance.[24]

Blackhill Engineering Services

Typical example of Blackhill Engineering's heavy engineering capability

Blackhill Engineering Services is a heavy fabrication and machining specialist. Supacat Limited acquired Blackhill in late 2014.

Blackhill Engineering Services Ltd.[25] has existed in various forms since the 1950s; originally its main role was to provide an engineering centre for English China Clays (Quarries Division), which looked after capital and revenue repairs, modifications, projects and servicing, for sites all over the United Kingdom and Channel Islands. Early in 1995 the company became privately owned.

Production of SC Group's SC Innovation's Lifeboat Launch and Recovery System (L&RS) is now undertaken by Blackhill Engineering.[26]

In October 2015 Blackhill Engineering issued a press release informing it had been contracted by Supacat, also part of SC Group, to manufacture replacement chassis frames for the Supacat Jackal vehicle.[25]


Television and film appearances

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Supacat acquires Blackhill Engineering". regensw. 2014-12-09. Retrieved 2015-09-09.
  2. ↑ "SC Group About Us". SC Group. 2015-09-09. Retrieved 2015-09-09.
  3. ↑ "SC Group Meet The Team". SC Group. 2015-09-09. Retrieved 2015-09-09.
  4. ↑ "Supacat Pty Ltd". Supacat. 2011-10-13. Retrieved 2015-09-10.
  5. ↑ "Supacat acquires Unique Solutions Providers". South West News. 2012-03-09. Retrieved 2015-09-09.
  6. ↑ "Supacat Australia selected by Rheinmetall". defense-aerospace.com. 2012-09-04. Retrieved 2015-09-10.
  7. ↑ "Supacat (6x6) light vehicle". IHS Jane's. 2015-01-14. Retrieved 2015-09-09.
  8. ↑ IHS Janes Flyer International Defence Review, November 2015, Vol 47, page 12
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Supacat HMT high mobility transporter and variants". IHS Jane's. 2015-04-11. Retrieved 2015-09-09.
  10. ↑ Janes Defence Weekly, 16 April 2014 page 26
  11. ↑ http://www.supacat.com/news/latest-news/q/date/2012/12/14/supacat-successfully-delivers-redfin-1b-vehicle-prototype-to-the-australian-defence-force/
  12. ↑ Janes Defence Weekly, 27 Aug 2014, page 15
  13. ↑ http://www.tu.no/industri/2015/05/12/her-er-spesialstyrkenes-nye-stridskjoretoy
  14. ↑ http://www.supacat.com/news/latest-news/q/date/2015/05/06/supacat-signs-23m-contract-for-norwegian-high-mobility-vehicles/
  15. 1 2 3 "Supacat Protected Vehicle 400 (SPV 400) Light Protected Patrol Vehicle". IHS Jane's. 2015-03-31. Retrieved 2015-09-09.
  16. ↑ "Supacat Unveils Latest LRV 400 Recon Vehicle". defensenews.com. 2015-09-11. Retrieved 2015-09-20.
  17. ↑ "SC Innovation-Global". SC Innovation-Global. Retrieved 2016-04-29.
  18. ↑ "Supacat provides rescue remedy". theengineer.co.uk. 2012-05-14. Retrieved 2015-09-09.
  19. ↑ "Supacat SUV 600". sixappeal.org. Retrieved 2015-09-09.
  20. ↑ "Supacat Produces First Oil & Gas Industry ATEX Standard Passenger Transit Vehicle". hazaedexonthenet.net. 2012-01-27. Retrieved 2015-09-09.
  21. ↑ "James Fisher Marine Services invest in Supacat’s Multi-purpose Vessel". James Fisher and Sons plc. Retrieved 2015-09-09.
  22. ↑ "SC Innovation-Global". SC Group Proteum. Retrieved 2016-04-29.
  23. ↑ "Supacat Pounces on MDS Marine". World Maritime News. 2014-06-10. Retrieved 2015-09-09.
  24. 1 2 "Proteum". SC Group. 2015-09-09. Retrieved 2015-09-09.
  25. 1 2 "Jackals at Blackhill Engineering". SC Group. 2015-10-08. Retrieved 2015-11-26.
  26. ↑ "Big is beautiful for Blackhill Engineering". Francis Clark. 2015-03-09. Retrieved 2015-09-09.
  27. ↑ "Brazil - Supacat ATMP". www.imcdb.org. 1985. Retrieved 2015-08-05.
  28. ↑ "Jackal". www.imcdb.org. Retrieved 2015-08-05.
  29. ↑ "Top Gear". www.imcdb.org. 2010. Retrieved 2015-08-05.

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