UK to send new armed vehicles to Iraq, Afghanistan

LONDON, June 25 (Reuters) Britain's Ministry of Defence said today it would buy new British-built armed vehicles for use on patrols in Iraq and Afghanistan.

''The MWMIK will deliver a new level of power ...with more firepower and a better range and mobility. It will be fast for a 4 tonne vehicle, with a potential top speed of (128 km/h),'' the ministry said in a statement.

It can be fitted with a range of firepower including a .50 calibre machine gun or an automatic grenade launcher and a general purpose machine gun, as well as carrying up to four troops with their own weapons.

The ministry said it planned to acquire a fleet of 130 of the vehicles for delivery through 2008 and was doing so under the ministry's ''Urgent Operational Requirement'' provision for delivering supplies to troops quickly.

The vehicle is designed by Supacat and manufactured by Devonport Management Ltd (DML), which Babcock International agreed to buy in May.

REUTERS SKB PM1916