Think Defence
@thinkdefence.bsky.social
UK defence and security blog at www.thinkdefence.co.uk
Mine clearance in the littoral. This brief video clip demonstrates the USMC Catapult Launched Fuel Air Explosive (CATFAE)
November 25, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Mine clearance in the littoral. This brief video clip demonstrates the USMC Catapult Launched Fuel Air Explosive (CATFAE)
This brief video clip shows the Next Generation Light Ant-armour Weapon, NLAW
November 24, 2025 at 3:01 PM
This brief video clip shows the Next Generation Light Ant-armour Weapon, NLAW
Other manufacturers make similar products
November 23, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Other manufacturers make similar products
Corrugated cardboard doesn't have a great deal of longevity in damp environments but it could easily be replaced with Correx type materials
November 23, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Corrugated cardboard doesn't have a great deal of longevity in damp environments but it could easily be replaced with Correx type materials
One pallet = 100 beds
They might need a kip mat or thin mattress, but their load-bearing capacity is enough for all the fattest!
They might need a kip mat or thin mattress, but their load-bearing capacity is enough for all the fattest!
November 23, 2025 at 8:00 PM
One pallet = 100 beds
They might need a kip mat or thin mattress, but their load-bearing capacity is enough for all the fattest!
They might need a kip mat or thin mattress, but their load-bearing capacity is enough for all the fattest!
Coming at this from a HADR angle, a Spanish company called Humanitaria has come up with an alternative that uses corrugated cardboard. They claim some impressive savings in time, weight, space, and cost
November 23, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Coming at this from a HADR angle, a Spanish company called Humanitaria has come up with an alternative that uses corrugated cardboard. They claim some impressive savings in time, weight, space, and cost
Jokes aside about how impossible to use they are, camp beds for deployed accommodation and for humanitarian assistance/disaster response cost a lot, weigh a lot and take up a lot of scarce space on transport. Individually, not a huge problem, but at scale, it all adds up
November 23, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Jokes aside about how impossible to use they are, camp beds for deployed accommodation and for humanitarian assistance/disaster response cost a lot, weigh a lot and take up a lot of scarce space on transport. Individually, not a huge problem, but at scale, it all adds up
There is also a version in green called the GRX, but this brief video clip demonstrates how robust the Rescue Runner hull is.
November 23, 2025 at 4:00 PM
There is also a version in green called the GRX, but this brief video clip demonstrates how robust the Rescue Runner hull is.
Video illustrating a Multidrive Future Cargo Vehicle and its excellent turning circle. This was a missed opportunity I think, so much innovation from a British design, we purchased from overseas, of course.
November 22, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Video illustrating a Multidrive Future Cargo Vehicle and its excellent turning circle. This was a missed opportunity I think, so much innovation from a British design, we purchased from overseas, of course.
This short video clip illustrates the extreme mobility of the Prinoth Panther vehicle range
November 21, 2025 at 8:30 PM
This short video clip illustrates the extreme mobility of the Prinoth Panther vehicle range
Media demonstrating a Multidrive Vehicles Automate industrial trailer in use. Useful for moving vehicles and containers, although only for use on hard surfaces, obviously
November 20, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Media demonstrating a Multidrive Vehicles Automate industrial trailer in use. Useful for moving vehicles and containers, although only for use on hard surfaces, obviously
This brief video demonstrates the Maxicargo close coupled trailer concept to increase payload whilst still being limited to a B+E licence. Smart thinking
November 19, 2025 at 5:01 PM
This brief video demonstrates the Maxicargo close coupled trailer concept to increase payload whilst still being limited to a B+E licence. Smart thinking
H83 is 155mm wide, inside dimension of a Eurobox is 355mm, 45mm wasted. A Eurobox is 555mm internal dimensions, but a H83/M2A1 is 306mm, leaving quite some wasted space. This means a standard ammunition box is not dimensionally optimised for 600x400mm Eurobox and pallets
November 16, 2025 at 8:01 PM
H83 is 155mm wide, inside dimension of a Eurobox is 355mm, 45mm wasted. A Eurobox is 555mm internal dimensions, but a H83/M2A1 is 306mm, leaving quite some wasted space. This means a standard ammunition box is not dimensionally optimised for 600x400mm Eurobox and pallets
Dimensions are trickier. A standard Eurobox is 600mm long, 400mm, and 400mm high (although there are plenty of variations in height. They can be ventilated, have handles, and with lids. They are stackable and dimensionally compatible with NATO pallets
November 16, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Dimensions are trickier. A standard Eurobox is 600mm long, 400mm, and 400mm high (although there are plenty of variations in height. They can be ventilated, have handles, and with lids. They are stackable and dimensionally compatible with NATO pallets
There have been many attempts at producing lightweight plastic ammunition boxes but the Danish company PlastPack Defence seems to have a great product, the LWAC-M2A1. The M2A1 is more or less the same as the UK H83. This drops weight down to an impressive 0.75kg, less than 6%.
November 16, 2025 at 8:01 PM
There have been many attempts at producing lightweight plastic ammunition boxes but the Danish company PlastPack Defence seems to have a great product, the LWAC-M2A1. The M2A1 is more or less the same as the UK H83. This drops weight down to an impressive 0.75kg, less than 6%.
As can be seen from above, even high density payloads like water and ammunition have a wastage factor of about 15%, and that is before any securing straps are included.
November 16, 2025 at 8:01 PM
As can be seen from above, even high density payloads like water and ammunition have a wastage factor of about 15%, and that is before any securing straps are included.
Another example is ammunition. A typical steel H83 Mk2 container for 5.56mm ammunition is 2.6kg, carrying 800 rounds for a total weight of 15.2kg. The newer BAE lightweight ammunition will reduce this, but the contents are approximately 17% of total weight, slightly higher than water.
November 16, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Another example is ammunition. A typical steel H83 Mk2 container for 5.56mm ammunition is 2.6kg, carrying 800 rounds for a total weight of 15.2kg. The newer BAE lightweight ammunition will reduce this, but the contents are approximately 17% of total weight, slightly higher than water.
Lighter packaging improves the packaging to usable payload ratio, but it sacrifices robustness. A 10L water bag weighs 90g empty, so the same 20L as using a jerrycan is 180g of packaging v 2.6kg, a significant improvement.
November 16, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Lighter packaging improves the packaging to usable payload ratio, but it sacrifices robustness. A 10L water bag weighs 90g empty, so the same 20L as using a jerrycan is 180g of packaging v 2.6kg, a significant improvement.
First, weight. The 20l water container is 2.6kg empty, with 20kg of water, three of them would be a shade under maximum payload. The container itself represents 12% of the total payload. But this weight buys robustness
November 16, 2025 at 8:01 PM
First, weight. The 20l water container is 2.6kg empty, with 20kg of water, three of them would be a shade under maximum payload. The container itself represents 12% of the total payload. But this weight buys robustness
The width between the landing skids is difficult to determine but scaling from the US Scepter 20L water cannisters often seen being carried, and case of 12 US MRE's, it would seem 350-400mm width is possible.
November 16, 2025 at 8:00 PM
The width between the landing skids is difficult to determine but scaling from the US Scepter 20L water cannisters often seen being carried, and case of 12 US MRE's, it would seem 350-400mm width is possible.
If we look at a design typical of the breed, and one recently purchased by the USMC and gifted to Ukraine, the BAE/Malloy Aerospace TRV-150C, it has a maximum payload of 68kg, although this reduces range.
November 16, 2025 at 8:00 PM
If we look at a design typical of the breed, and one recently purchased by the USMC and gifted to Ukraine, the BAE/Malloy Aerospace TRV-150C, it has a maximum payload of 68kg, although this reduces range.
Both of these are effective strategies with pros and cons for either approach, although in most cases, the captive carriage method is probably best. This imposes dimensional constraints on any payload, regardless of weight, but weight will always be critical
November 16, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Both of these are effective strategies with pros and cons for either approach, although in most cases, the captive carriage method is probably best. This imposes dimensional constraints on any payload, regardless of weight, but weight will always be critical
FlyingBasket, Ziyan, Velos, Phenix, Malloy, and many others tend to adopt the same approach to the carriage of cargo. This is either suspending the load in a lightweight net or securing boxes inside the landing skids, with those boxes no higher than the skid itself.
November 16, 2025 at 8:00 PM
FlyingBasket, Ziyan, Velos, Phenix, Malloy, and many others tend to adopt the same approach to the carriage of cargo. This is either suspending the load in a lightweight net or securing boxes inside the landing skids, with those boxes no higher than the skid itself.
Accepting there is still some debate about the value of cargo drones for the last mile, one area that seems under discussed is lightweight and standardised packaging.
Let's have a look
Let's have a look
November 16, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Accepting there is still some debate about the value of cargo drones for the last mile, one area that seems under discussed is lightweight and standardised packaging.
Let's have a look
Let's have a look
All these are muscle multipliers, and forces must trade ammunition or sustainment supplies for them, everything has to earn its keep. Go up the size band to those typically use a light vehicle to tow, and a much wider range of options is available
November 9, 2025 at 8:01 PM
All these are muscle multipliers, and forces must trade ammunition or sustainment supplies for them, everything has to earn its keep. Go up the size band to those typically use a light vehicle to tow, and a much wider range of options is available