payload of 4 tonnes and above. Its 20,000 vehicles are used by all three armed services and include wheeled tanker (WT), heavy equipment transporter (HET), future light equipment transporter (FLET), demountable rack off-loading & pick up system (DROPS) and others. It is currently in the process of procuring some 7,000 new and extremely capable MAN Support Vehicles following the award of a £1.3bn contract in 2005, which will replace much of the legacy fleet. As well as trying to reduce the whole life costs of its vehicles, GSV IPT is also responsible for enhancing the capabilities of units deployed on operations. This includes, improving the ballistic protection to crews and providing a cooler working environment whilst maintaining the ability to provide defensive covering fire.

At DVD, GSV IPT aims to explain the scale of the impact that in-service enhancements can have on a vehicle. “When we receive an urgent operational requirement to alter a vehicle’s specification there are a wide range of factors we must consider,” explains GSV IPT’s Lt Col Rowland Judge. “For example, adding extra protection or a new capability can mean increased weight, the need for uprated components and a requirement for additional power. DVD will enable us to discuss implications like this with our stakeholders so that we can look at new ways of working together to provide the right equipment to the front line in even shorter timescales.”

The expansion of DVD to include GSV IPT builds on last year’s successful event which was opened by Deputy Chief of Defence Logistics, Tim Flesher. In 2006, more than 2,700 visitors attended the event over the two days and more than 180 exhibitor companies attended, showing a wider range of products and systems than ever before. Whilst the attendance numbers are impressive, the organisers remain focused about the objectives of the show. “Although the attendance and exhibitor numbers continue to grow year on year, we see this as a reflection of the strength and clear strategy of the event rather than its defining purpose,” explains Gilhead. “DVD has very clear objectives in bringing industry, users and specifiers together so that they can educate and communicate with each other to achieve our ultimate goal of ensuring that the correct equipment is delivered on-time and efficiently supported through its life.”

The clarity of Gilhead’s direction for DVD has been one of the central reasons for its success and growing reputation. The event has established itself as one of the most important communication channels between the IPTs and their suppliers outside of their normal daily programmes. Other briefings tend to focus on specific projects, but changes to procurement strategy are changing too quickly for this to be effective now and DVD presents an ideal opportunity to brief the industry on wider changes and their implications. The creation of DE&S in