Vehicle is able to take soldiers up to 20 times deeper into enemy

The army will soon use a brand new armoured vehicle equipped with state-of-the-art systems to take soldiers up to 20 times deeper into enemy territory.

Designed and built in the UK by General Dynamics, the new Scout SV will be used to counter threats from enemies such as Islamic State.

It was developed as part of a £3.5billion programme and will replace the Scimitar light tank which has been used by the army since the 1970s and most recently saw action in Afghanistan.

Designed and built in the UK by General Dynamics, the Scout was developed as part of a £3.5billion programme and will replace the Scimitar light tank which has been used by the army since 1970

The army has ordered 589 Scout vehicles, of six different types - they are all due to be delivered by 2024

The Scout is designed to give soldiers the ability to move quicker and further than ever before across a battle ground. It is also the first ever fully digital army vehicle.

It can carry a crew of three and is due to first go into use by the end of next year.

It is designed to provide most advanced ground-based intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance capabilities.

The Times reports that the army has ordered 589 Scout vehicles of six different types and all are due to be delivered by 2024.

The newspaper reports that the vehicle has a much larger range than anything the army has ever had before with a maximum speed of 44mph and will be able to travel 1,240 miles from headquarters - although its official maximum range is 310 miles.

The Scout features a 40mm cannon, a 7.62mm machinegun and a remote weapons station

It will be used to both defend and attack but will mainly be used to pinpoint targets and reconnaissance

Each Scout will feature a 40mm cannon, a 7.62mm machine gun and a remote weapons station.

Last month the MoD announced that the guns will be built by CTA International, in a joint venture with British BAE Systems and France’s Nexter Systems as part of a £150m contract.

A General Dynamics spokesman said previously: 'It will provide safe transportation of fully-equipped soldiers in a well-protected environment.

THE SCOUT: VITAL STATISTICS Top speed: 44mph (70kmh) Maximum range: 310 miles (500km) Crew: 3 Length: 25ft (76m) Weight: 38 tonnes Features: Laser warning system, external ammunition storage, modular armour, primary sighting system, smoke and grenade launchers, 40mm automatic canon with 7.62mm machine gun, driver's periscope, mine blast resistant seats, far-target thermal sights, and a 360 degree remote weapon system for urban and mountainous combat Advertisement

'On dismount, troops will be able to more effectively conduct a variety of tasks, such as dismounted surveillance (including patrols), observation posts and close target reconnaissance.

'Its extensive capabilities include acoustic detectors, a laser warning system, a local situational awareness system, an electronic countermeasure system, a route marking system, an advanced electronic architecture and a high performance power pack.'

The Scout will be used to both defend and attack although it will mainly be used to pinpoint targets and for reconnaissance.

General Sir Nicholas Carter, the head of the army, said: 'This, I think, will give us the capability to genuinely provide operational and infra-theatre, new ways of entering the threatre rather just than by air or sea.