Parker Hannifin has developed the complete hydraulic systems for the new Ranger armoured vehicle.
Parker Hannifin has helped develop an armoured vehicle that could play a vital role in saving the lives of troops across the world. Designed and developed in the UK, the Ranger armoured vehicle is claimed to provide at least three times the protection available from other military vehicles currently being used by the MOD, withstanding IEDs (improvised explosive devices), bombs, mines, rocket-propelled grenades (RPG) and all small arms fire.
Working in collaboration with Universal Engineering, Parker manufactured the vehicle's complete hydraulic system including the engine cooling system fan units, rear ramp actuation mechanism, rear steering assembly, emergency ramp opening and the auxiliary power unit (APU) fans. Remarkably, the 19-tonne Ranger was designed, tested and built in under a year.
The Ranger is said to be different to conventional armoured vehicles in that it has no chassis; instead it features an armour-protected capsule to which the automotive elements are fitted. This design is intended to provide improved crew safety, with the hull being indirectly connected to the engine, gear box and wheels. Further protection is offered by the armoured belly plates, floating floor and energy-absorbing suspended seats, while the vehicle's hardened cabin has been tested to withstand controlled explosions several times the force of NATO's standard test for this type of vehicle.
With troops having to face the daily threat of roadside bombs and mines in places such as Afghanistan, this innovative armoured vehicle has been dubbed a lifesaver. Ranger has been undergoing extensive military testing since its launch and could be ready for full scale production within six months.