Land Combat Systems Industry Report, Academic Year 2002-2003
Abstract
The United States remains the preeminent power in the global land combat systems (LCS) industry. The single most significant event in the LCS industry is the U.S. Army's transformation to the "Objective Force," a lighter, more agile and deployable, more lethal force. The premier program of this transformation, the Army's Future Combat System (FCS), will be expensive, absorbing the majority of the Army's near-term research and development (R&D) funding, as well as the procurement and operations and maintenance funds previously earmarked for upgrades to existing weapons systems. The selection of a "lead systems integrator" to coordinate and integrate the fielding of a "system of systems" capability has itself greatly changed the industry, but has also generated some concerns. Overall, demand for land combat vehicles has declined, and funding levels have consequently decreased as well. While some of the land combat manufacturing firms have diverse product lines and can weather the vagaries of the defense business, others are entirely devoted to defense products and their continued viability remains uncertain.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA425313
Entities
People
- Andrew Haeuptle
- Dale S. Gabriel
- Michael E. Donovan
- Raul Heredia
- Timothy G. Goddette
Organizations
- Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy