Flensburger Fahrzeugbau-Gesellschaft mbH (FFG) - military vehicles

Statement of sources

I hereby confirm that all information about FFG and military vehicles on this website comes exclusively from publicly available sources, including FFG's official website, Wikipedia, as well as general, public information provided by ChatGPT (OpenAI).
I am not revealing any confidential or classified information. 
I also emphasize that I do not represent the company..

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FFG - military vehicles and much more

Here is an overview of their main business areas:

  1. Military Vehicle Systems that I have worked with – see below
  • Development and production of new armored vehicles, including FFG G5 and other special vehicles.
  • Modernization and upgrading of existing combat and support vehicles (e.g. Leopard series).
  1. Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO)
  • Comprehensive workshop and service activities for both own and third-party military vehicles.
  • Lifecycle extension, upgrades and customizations.
  1. Integrated Logistic Support (ILS) & Services – see right column
  • Planning of spare parts, training, documentation and all logistical support so that the equipment can be operated efficiently.
  • Preparation of technical documentation in standards such as S1000D.
  1. Technology & Engineering Solutions
  • Research and development, prototypes and customer-specific solutions within, among other things, drivelines, electronics, protection and special equipment.
  1. Civil/Commercial Projects (smaller but existing)
  • Selected non-defense industrial projects where FFG's heavy engineering skills can be used – e.g. specialized vehicles for disaster response

Military vehicles were "my" department

Military Vehicle Systems includes both the development of our own vehicles and the modernization of existing platforms.

Self-developed vehicles

  • PMMC G5 – a modular armored personnel carrier that can be configured as an ambulance, command post, engineer vehicle or combat support, among other things.
  • AGM (Armoured Ground Mobility) – a lightweight but highly protected vehicle designed for rapid response and flexible missions.

Modernization and upgrades

FFG specializes in renewing and extending the life of older military platforms:

  • Leopard series (1 and 2) – powertrain, protection, electronics and fire control upgrades.
  • Special variants such as recovery and engineering vehicles.
  • Integration of modern communication and sensor systems.

Characteristics

  • Modularity: The vehicles can be adapted to different missions and requirements.
  • Protection and mobility: Combination of high protection level and good off-road performance.
  • Logistics and maintenance: Designed for low life cycle cost and simple service, often accompanied by FFG's own Integrated Logistic Support packages.

FFG's military vehicle sector is thus both a manufacturer of new armored solutions and a life cycle partner that keeps older vehicles operational and technologically updated for military customers worldwide.

Two important standards for Military documentation: S1000D and ILS

S100D:

A planning and maintenance concept that ensures that complex systems (e.g.

military vehicles) can be operated efficiently throughout their entire lifespan.

Includes, among other things, spare parts, training, documentation, maintenance plans and support.

 

ILS (Integrated Logistics Support):

An international standard for technical documentation for defense and aviation.

  • XML-based structure that allows content to be reused in “data modules”.
  • Used for manuals, maintenance guides, interactive electronic technical publications (IETP). 

Context: S100D and ILS

FFG works within the defense industry, where both S1000D documentation and ILS are important requirements within NATO and the EU.

When FFG supplies or modernizes military vehicles, they must:

  • Prepare technical documentation in S1000D format.
  • Be part of the customer's overall ILS program, so that the vehicles can be maintained and supported throughout their entire lifespan.

In short: FFG: + S1000D + ILS are interconnected as supplier (FFG), documentation standard (S1000D) and the overall logistics and maintenance concept (ILS).

Storytelling

My manuals - with standard 82079-1:2020 and Autodesk Inventor 3D

Standard 82079-1:2020:
Preparation of user manuals (instructions for use) for products – Part 1: Principles and general requirements

The standard covers the entire product life cycle, including:
installation, operation, maintenance

Other requirements throughout the product's life cycle.

  • Plan your trip – analysis of target group, product, risks and media before the documentation is prepared.
  • Roles and competencies – requirements for authors' qualifications, interdisciplinary collaboration and responsibility.
  • Design and structure – layout, typography, language requirements (clarity, consistency, translation-friendliness), graphic elements, pictograms, digital/printed version, etc.
  • Media and delivery – guidelines for print, online, app, integrated help, etc.
  • Quality and verification – requirements for testing, evaluation, user testing, versioning and maintenance of the documentation. 
  • See here more about standards

Autodesk Inventor - for 3D illustrations

AAutodesk Inventor is a professional 3D CAD program for mechanical design and product development.
I used the program intensively:

1.
I generated screen dumps of the vehicles, e.g.: Complete vehicle, doors, engine, brakes, GPS.

2.

I use these screen dumps as a reference in the technical documentation of the vehicle's systems.

You can find more about Inventor here on Autodesk's website.