TWV Protection Kits
Abstract
This program element supports periodic, evolutionary upgrade of survivability and crew protection for Heavy Tactical Vehicles (HTV) and Medium Tactical Vehicles (MTV) as described in the Tactical Wheeled Vehicle (TWV) Strategy and individual variants' Capability Production Documents. The upgrades will leverage the Army Technology Objective's (ATO) survivability and Army Research Laboratory's (ARL) research and development activities to develop and evaluate kits which increase the protection level of all HTVs to the Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) protection level as well as anticipating changing threat environments, protection gaps, or improving the operating performance, efficiency, and reliability through armor weight reduction. This Program Element (PE) also supports increasing crew protection by leveraging advancements in autonomous ground vehicle technology via development and evaluation of autonomous applique kits that can be applied to the current and future HTV fleet. The Heavy Dump Truck (HDT) supports construction projects by loading, transporting and dumping payloads of sand and gravel aggregates, crushed rock, hot asphalt mixes, earth, clay, rubble, large boulders and other materials up to gross vehicle weight rating to job sites under world-wide climatic conditions. The HDT also serves as a quarry truck for the quick transport of bulk raw earth material to and from the crushing, screening and washing plant and the asphalt mixing plant. The HDT also serves as a transportation asset for organizational equipment. The HDT is Long Term Armor Strategy (LTAS) compliant with MRAP 1.1 underbody protection. Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck A4 (HEMTTA4) and Palletized Load System A1 (PLSA1) Suspension and Weapon Station Upgrade - There have been several survivability enhancements that have occurred since the HEMTT and PLS truck production program began. These enhancements did not incorporate measures to correct for automotive performance degradation that has occurred due to the additional mass of the survivability enhancements. Currently the HEMTTA4 and PLSA1 with top, side, underbody, fuel tank and RPG protection as well as the addition of a weapon station have overloaded the truck axles by 10-15% or more. To regain the original design performance and safety factors, new suspension components are required. HEMTTA4/PLSA1 Underbody Armor Kit Technical Data Package (TDP) Conversion from Prototype-level to Production-level - HEMTTA4/PLS A1 Underbody Kits provide an MRAP-level of underbody blast protection for the HEMTT Fleet and was developed in response to a Joint Urgent Operational Needs Statement (JUONS). The kit contains additional underbody armor, blast attenuating seats, and energy absorbent flooring; adding 2,550 lbs. to the vehicle. This underbody armor kit augments the existing top and side B-Kit armor. HEMTT and PLS share a common cab design, therefore, the Underbody Armor Kit can be applied to both trucks. The conversion effort is required to procure kits in the future. The M915A5 tractor truck manufactured by Daimler Trucks North America LLC is a prime mover of flatbed and tanker semi-trailers used primarily to transport containers, bulk cargo and petroleum products over primary and secondary roads and trails under worldwide climatic conditions. It has a diesel engine, automatic transmission, anti-lock brakes, air conditioning, and a fully sliding 36 inch fifth wheel. It has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 66,000 lbs and is compatible with the following trailers: M872 (34-ton flatbed trailer), M871 (22-1/2 ton flatbed trailer), M127 (12-ton stake trailer), M967/969 (5000-gallon trailer), M1062 (7500-gallon trailer), M1062A1 (9200-gallon trailer), MILVAN, and commercial trailers. The M915A5 has two configurations, a base armor-ready A-Cab and an up-armored B-Kit. M915A5 underbody Protection Kits are required to protect the line haul fleet from current and future threats and add protection to the B-kit configuration. FY 2018 Project VR5 Base funds in the amount of $5.757 million will be used to develop Heavy Dump Truck (HDT) armor. It will also be used to fund the design, prototype, and testing of axle/suspension/weapon station upgrades for the HEMTTA4/PLSA1. To include the conversion of the HEMTTA4/PLSA1 Underbody Armor Kit TDP from Prototype-level to Production-level and Systems Engineering/Program Management (SEPM) support.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2018
- Source ID
- VR5_0604622A_5_2040_PB_2018
Related Documents
- Root: Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles
- Child Accomplishment: Heavy Dump Truck (HDT) Armor Development
- Child Accomplishment: HEMTTA4/PLSA1 Suspension and Weapon Station Upgrade
- Child Accomplishment: HEMTTA4/PLSA1 Suspension and Weapon Station Upgrade - Prototype Axle, Suspension, and Protected Weapon Station
- Child Accomplishment: HEMTTA4/PLSA1 Suspension and Weapon Station Upgrade - Test
- Child Accomplishment: HEMTTA4/PLSA1 Underbody Armor Kit TDP Conversion - Convert TDP
- Child Accomplishment: HEMTTA4/PLSA1 Underbody Armor Kit TDP Conversion - Conduct Fit-up
- Child Accomplishment: HEMTTA4/PLSA1 Underbody Armor Kit TDP Conversion - Release TDP
- Child Accomplishment: Systems Engineering/Program Management (SEPM) Support
- Child Accomplishment: HDT System Engineering/Program Management (SEPM) Support
- Child Accomplishment: M915A5 Underbody Armor - SEPM
- Child Accomplishment: M915A5 Underbody Armor - Test and Evaluation