Final Fate of the MLVWs

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Seeing that the MLVW is based on the US M35, you can be pretty sure it's an arms / technology trafficking issue which is enforced by your Southern brothers.

Residual value does not exist in government accounting. The budget was spent, there is no asset value in the books. Even when time comes to dispose of assets, making money is not the prime objective of governments.

H.

Originally Posted by 45jim

It could very well be an ITAR issue. Since the truck and it's IP (intellectual property) are of US origin the sale of these trucks could be subject to ITAR restrictions imposed by the US. This also affects things like the CF-5's (sitting for sale in Winnipeg for years) M 113's and other pieces of US technology. The Leopard is obviously not of US origin (neither is the Iltis) so is unaffected by US law, or the perception of US law. ITAR is so sticky that the Government may just be taking the high road and destroying them rather than face a potential problem later. They really could get around it by restricting the export of the trucks out of Canada like the US does with its equipment.

I don't by argument that it's a potential liability either, surplus equipment (non-military and military) is sold everyday and the Government does not care about the liability. I firmly believe its the nanny state bureaucrats who don't think civilians should own military equipment. They don't care what they cost, they don't care that the tax payer is losing out on potential residual value, they just care about their jobs and their pensions. Its the land of "cover your ass" and screw the rest.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Residual value does not exist in government accounting. The budget was spent, there is no asset value in the books. Even when time comes to dispose of assets, making money is not the prime objective of governments.

H.

This may have been the case at one time, but in the UK the Disposals Services Authority has been running for some time now, and getting more value from disposal of its reduntant equipment, so so much so that the Australian government has taken note of the UK operation and learning lessons from it in their bulk disposal of military vehicles which is becoming dated or obsolete. This fact was noted from one of their official statements.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

This may have been the case at one time, but in the UK the Disposals Services Authority has been running for some time now, and getting more value from disposal of its ureduntant equipment, so so much so that the Australian government has taken note of the UK operation and learning lessons from it in their bulk disposal of military vehicles which is becoming dated or obsolete. This fact was noted from one of their official statements.

Indeed, but the UK MoD is the exeption to the rule, not only in their disposal strategy, but also in their acquisition and support contracts. In my view they are the most innovative MoD for these aspects. Taxpayers can only hope their respective governments will adopt the British "best practices".

H.