Farnborough-based QinetiQ (www.QinetiQ.com) announced earlier this month that it has been awarded two contracts by the US Office of Naval Research to develop its proprietary hub drive unit electric propulsion system and long travel suspension for use in armoured reconnaissance vehicles.

The Office of Naval Research awarded 16 contracts, two of which went to QinetiQ — the only organisation from outside North America to be given contracts.

This follows the electric hub drive development accomplished by QinetiQ under the DARPA Ground X Vehicle Technologies (GXV-T) programme.

Globally, the electric drives market is changing rapidly; all major OEMs in Europe and the USA have the development of electric-powered next-generation combat vehicles in their plans, as the defence sector seeks military operational advantages around enhanced mobility, survivability, manoeuvrability and mission flexibility.

The QinetiQ electric hub drive unit technology, which combines a compact electric motor with a multi-stage gear box and integral brake, has been conceived to overcome the functional drawbacks associated with single-speed and fixed-speed hub drives for military application.

Its ability to operate at either high output speed or high output torque enables combined improvements in operational and tactical mobility.