• UK MoD has awarded a £19.7m ($26.1m) contract for 270 Recce Strike Vehicle 4x4s under Project Niala
• The award to Sonic Communications includes associated support for “11 Brigade (11X) mobility”, but key details are redacted
• Vehicle type, upgrade package, and delivery timeline have not been disclosed; Sonic declined to comment
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) awarded a £19.7m ($26.1m) contract to industry for the provision of hundreds of specialist Recce Strike Vehicle 4x4s, although much of the contract details have been redacted in official documentation.
The contract award was completed under the MoD’s Project Niala, intended to provide a Recce Strike Vehicle capability for Land Special Operations Force.
Published on 5 June the contract award notice details the award to Sonic Communications, based near Birmingham Airport, includes the supply of 270 Recce Strike 4x4s and associated support, was “in support of 11 Brigade (11X) mobility”.
When contacted by Army Technology, Sonic Communications declined to comment on the specific 4×4 vehicle selected by the MoD, any upgrades to the fleet, nor the delivery timescale.
The company describes itself as a supplier and installer of specialist vehicle-mounted systems “of all types” to parapublic services via its “bespoke Special Vehicle Operations” department.
Within company literature, the UK MoD is listed as a partner, with a “long and established history” as a provider of radio accessories and surveillance systems.
Sonic states that it also provides additional services, “such as product training and often take part in project developments for future technologies in direct collaboration with end users”.
What is the British Army’s 11 Brigade?
11 Brigade is the British Army’s Land Special Operations Force’s formation, designed to “intercept, engage, and deceive the enemy”, according to the British Army.
The British Army’s 11 Brigade is undergoing transition to a tactical recce-strike role. The unit was formerly the 11th Security Force Assistance Brigade, providing training and guidance for foreign militaries.
The service adds that the unit integrates “the latest robotics” as well as “autonomous and uncrewed systems” as part of its restructure.
Earlier this month, 3rd Battalion, The Rifles, one of the units that comprise 11 Brigade, undertook exercises in Finland where they deployed a range of drones and other technology in small-unit infantry serials.
Imagery available from the exercise shows 11 Brigade personnel operating old Land Rover 4x4s, as well as a host of uncrewed systems.
Tactics being developed include the use of a ‘Ghost’ UAV, designed for medium-range reconnaissance and surveillance, providing real-time intelligence and target acquisition to UK forces.
According to the UK MoD’s description of the exercises in Finland, data collected by the Ghost UAV is sent to a distributed command post, which then disseminates information to deploy a ‘Bolt’ FPV attack drone.
Such tactics are common-place in Ukraine, where Ukrainian and Russian forces continue to revolutionise ground combat.
It is thought that 11 Brigade was involved in the training of Ukrainian forces under Operation Interflex, and also contains elements of 77 Brigade, the British Army’s psychological warfare operations unit.
Given 11 Brigade’s structure of four infantry battalions and other specialist detachments, the unit would require a pool of around 250-300 4×4 vehicles to support its operations.
The apparent bespoke nature of the 4x4s under Project Niala is notable in that it appears separate to a wider replacement of the Land Rover under the British Army’s LMV and LMP programmes.
