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Alvis |
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World ranking: 79 Alvis plc, 34 Grosvenor Gardens, London SW1W OAL BACKGROUND Alvis is dedicated to the production of armoured vehicles and tanks and has a long history of providing vehicles for both UK and overseas armed forces. Its website proudly states that it has exported military vehicles to more than 60 countries. In September 2002 Alvis acquired Vickers Defence Systems from Rolls-Royce, making it the sole armoured vehicle manufacturer left in the UK. Alvis’s UK operations now take place under the auspices of Alvis Vickers Ltd, a subsidiary of Alvis plc, which has facilities in Newcastle upon Tyne, Telford, Leeds and Wolverhampton. Alvis also has major manufacturing facilities in Scandinavia and South Africa (through a 75% stake in Alvis OMC).2 EXPORTS Middle East The Middle East is a favourite market for Alvis. The Piranha armoured vehicle has been sold to Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia and is ‘currently under detailed consideration by several other GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] countries.’3 In addition to Piranhas, Oman operates Stormer and Scorpion armoured vehicles. Jordan also operates the Scorpion and both countries have selected Alvis for Scorpion upgrades. In October 2002 Jordan declared that it had chosen Alvis as the supplier for gunnery training equipment for the Al Hussein Main Battle Tank. Kuwait operates hundreds of Warrior infantry fighting vehicles, the UAE operates the RG-12 armoured personnel carrier, and a new armoured vehicle (the RG-32) is now ready for production with a version having been specifically developed for sales to the Middle East.4 The Piranha is to be produced in Turkey for the Turkish armed forces following an agreement signed at DSEi 2001 (on the day following the attack on the World Trade Centre). East Asia East Asia has also been, and remains, an important market. Malaysia provided the first customer for the Stormer, operates the Bv206 armoured vehicle (including a long-term support contract with Alvis), and has trailed the Cv90120 tank. Brunei confirmed the selection of Alvis for the upgrade of its Scorpion vehicles in June 2002. In January 2002 an order was made for Bv206 armoured vehicles for the South Korean armed forces. More coyly, Alvis states that a ‘Far Eastern Army’ has received an initial quantity of Supacat vehicles and has now ordered a second tranche.5 Indonesia Alvis has a long-standing relationship with the Indonesian military, having sold 15 Saracen armoured personnel carriers to the Indonesian Army in 1955, 30 Ferret armoured cars in 1958, 15 Saladin armoured cars in 19606 and, more recently, the Stormer armoured vehicle.7 Moreover, after coming to power in 1997, the Labour government honoured an export order of 50 Scorpion light tanks worth £100m, which had been approved by the Conservative government.8 Scorpions have been deployed to Aceh in contravention of restrictions placed on their use by the UK government at the time of sale.
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Campaign Against Arms Trade, 11 Goodwin St, Finsbury Park, London N4 3HQ
Tel: +44-(0)20 7281 0297 | Fax: +44-(0)20 7281 4369