Combat Vehicle Improvement Programs

Abstract

PE 0203735A Combat Vehicle Improvement Programs corrects vehicle deficiencies identified during Army operations; continues technical system upgrades to include the integration of applicable technologies on ground systems; addresses needed evolutionary enhancements to tracked combat vehicles; and develops technology improvements which have application to or insertion opportunities across multiple Ground Combat Systems vehicles. This PE provides combat effectiveness and Operating and Support (O&S) cost reduction enhancements for the Abrams tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Stryker Family of Vehicles (FOVs) through a series of product improvements. The strategy for Abrams and Bradley will focus on incrementally delivering capability to the warfighter to meet both near-term limitations as well as mitigating gaps and maintaining combat overmatch in the future. This effort was approved by the Army Acquisition Executive in 3rd Quarter (QTR) Fiscal Year (FY) 2011. The Recovery Vehicle Improvement program is a group of Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs) that will allow the current recovery vehicle to regain Single Vehicle Recovery (SVR) for the heaviest tracked combat vehicle as defined in the Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation System (HERCULES) Enhanced M88A2E1 Capability Production Document Increment 2 dated 20 January 2017. The fielded M88A2 HERCULES lacks the necessary power, weight, and braking ability to safely support the recovery of the M1A2SEPv2 in all situations and with the next generation M1A2SEPv3 weight growth, the problem will get worse. The M88A3 HERCULES vehicles will bring back the operational capability of the single vehicle recovery. The increased winching and lifting capability accommodates all 80 ton Abrams variants. Without this increased capability, units must use two M88A2 Medium Recovery Vehicles to perform the necessary spectrum of recovery operations. The Abrams M1A2 SEP V2 and M2/M3A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicles are at or exceed Space, Weight, and Power-Cooling (SWaP-C) limitations. In order to host and restore lost platform capability, the Abrams Tank and Bradley Fighting Vehicle programs will execute a series of ECPs to support the current embedded systems and to facilitate integration of technologies currently in development under other existing Programs of Record. The ECPs are not intended to exceed the operational capability outlined in current system requirements documents, but rather to ensure that the existing system performance is not further degraded and that Army mission equipment packages can be integrated on the Abrams and Bradley Platforms. Stryker Improvement will address the development of Lethality, Survivability, Mobility, Network Lethality, and Communication, Command and Control (C3) improvements within the Stryker FoV. Principal development efforts include upgrades associated with the Stryker Double V-Hull (DVH) A1 ECP, Stryker 30mm Infantry Carrier Vehicle Dragoon (ICVD) Operational Needs Statement (ONS), Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station-Javelin (CROWS-J) ONS, Stryker Survivability Enhancement, and Stryker Lethality ECPs. DVH A1 ECP power generation, suspension, and network upgrades restores Stryker DVH Space, Weight, and SWaP-C lost as a result of incorporating vehicle changes to counter threats encountered during deployment operations while allowing the future network to be hosted without further degradation in vehicle protection and mobility. The Stryker 30mm ICVD and CROWS-J ONS efforts addressed Urgent Operational Need to increase the firepower of Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicles (ICV) within the US Army European Command (USAREUR). The 30mm ICVD ONS effort integrates a 30mm-equipped weapon station providing, USAREUR with precision direct firepower to overwhelm the enemy in encounter actions and suppressive fire to preserve mounted and dismounted freedom of movement. The Stryker Survivability Enhancement will address evolving threats by assessing survivability improvements, to include passive protection systems, active protection systems, an under-armor fire capability for Stryker-equipped reconnaissance troops, 360 Situational Awareness, and reactive armor tiles. Stryker Fire Direction Center (FDC) Variant will provide an on-the move, protective vehicle that processes voice and digital information in a timely manner while maintaining contact with the indirect fire team over extended distances. Stryker Lethality ECP efforts focus on the integration of a suite of complementary Mission Equipment Package (MEP) lethality upgrades (medium caliber weapon ECP, CROWS-J ECP, Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) ECP, common masted sensor ECP, and other capabilities) that will improve the suppressive fire and armored vehicle engagement capabilities across the Army's Stryker Brigade Combat Teams (SBCTs) and address Remote Weapon Station (RWS) and Modified Improved Target Acquisitions System (MITAS) obsolescence issues that will impact fleet sustainment beginning in FY 2020. The ATGM ECP will upgrade the MITAS, incorporate a far target locator and disseminate target acquirement information utilizing network lethality, providing a common operating picture.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2021
• Source ID: 0203735A_7_2040_PB_2021
• Service Agency Name: Army

Entities

Organizations

• United States Army

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Cyber
• Electronic Warfare
• Energy and Power Technologies
• Human Systems
• Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Anti-Tank Missiles
• Armored Personnel Carriers
• Armored Vehicles
• Combat Vehicles
• Contractors
• Contracts
• Cost Analysis
• Cost Overruns
• Emerging Technology
• Governments
• Logistics
• Maintenance
• Product Development
• Systems Engineering
• Test And Evaluation
• Test Equipment
• Warfare

Fields of Study

• Engineering

Readers

• Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
• Space