Millbrook Proving Ground - Military Vehicle Testing and Development

Millbrook is one of the UK’s leading centres for the enhancement of every aspect of vehicle quality and their performance. With the capability to evaluate and develop vehicles for almost any usage conditions worldwide, test reliability, refinement, safety and emissions, and homologate to any world standard, Millbrook is an ideal partner for the military and service vehicle industries.

The company’s Bedford site is purpose-built for the rigorous testing of all sizes of vehicle. Resources include one of the world’s finest off-road courses, a wide range of hills and special surfaces, laboratories for safety, powertrain and component testing and a dedicated VCA office to help ensure fast, efficient type approval.

The specialist expertise and resources at Millbrook are focused on two distinct areas: test programmes to help the UK MoD and its suppliers ensure their vehicles and systems work as the specification requires; and design and build work to upgrade new or existing vehicles, evaluate vehicle capability and investigate in-service failures. Complementing these is driver and service training and a hospitality business that allows customers to use selected areas of Millbrook’s remarkable facilities for demonstrations and exhibitions.

SPECIALIST MILITARY VEHICLES TESTING

Millbrook’s dedicated military vehicle engineering team, experienced in the design, evaluation, demonstration and construction of specialist vehicles, is ready to deliver everything from a seat test through to a sophisticated forensic investigation or Military Commercial Off-The-Shelf (MCOTS) design and build programme.

Extensive heavy vehicle facilities allow durability, performance, refinement and certification testing for every world market, complemented by an in-depth understanding of military vehicle usage and the highest ‘list X’ security classification. Our on and off-road driver training programmes help users extract the maximum capability from their vehicles. The military team helps to ensure vehicles complete testing programmes in the shortest time possible and that cost-effective test solutions are developed that allow vehicles to return to the field quickly.

VEHICLE TEST TRACKS AND LABORATORIES

The outstanding field-based resources provided by Millbrook present an ideal environment for confidential trials and evaluation of any size of service vehicle. The wide range of tracks includes the world’s finest commercially available off-road course, providing a wide range of surfaces and ground conditions, and is complemented by laboratories for safety, emissions and powertrain testing, component and systems testing.

In the event of failure in service, Millbrook’s experienced forensic engineering team applies considerable expertise and resources to deliver fast, accurate answers and, where appropriate, can propose simple, cost-effective solutions.

MILITARY VEHICLE DESIGN, BUILD AND MAINTENANCE

Millbrook' military vehicle design and build programme helps its customers to cost effectively meet the operational objectives of military end-users, combining its military and service vehicle expertise with a value-driven approach based on the latest automotive engineering principles.

With its substantial workshops and a low-volume production line, Millbrook can provide build and up-fit programmes for new or existing military vehicle fleets as well as refurbishment programmes to extend the life and capability of older vehicles. Combining these capabilities with the expertise and experience of its engineering teams allows Millbrook to deliver programmes that integrate design, validation and type-approval for a fast, cost-effective solution.

Given the growing demand for military and service vehicles to meet the same environmental and safety standards as conventional vehicles, a detailed knowledge of world homologation requirements is essential. Millbrook’s specialists can advise during the design phase, coordinate testing, prepare documentation, negotiate with certification agencies and project-manage programmes to enable sales in any market worldwide.

DRIVER TRAINING AND HOSPITALITY

At Millbrook, drivers can acquire a high level of expertise, quickly and safely, across almost every type of terrain. Courses can be tailored to particular customer requirements, including fast pursuit, anti-hijack, terrorist evasion and off-road in a range of vehicles.

Within the high-security Bedford complex is a selection of dedicated hospitality units with VIP viewing areas designed to allow confidential demonstrations of specific areas of capability.