thedrifter
01-16-07, 08:50 AM
Humvee could be replaced 2 years early
By Kris Osborn - Staff writer
Posted : January 22, 2007
The Marine Corps and the Army want to start replacing their Humvees by 2010, two years earlier than planned.
The new schedule, approved several weeks ago, calls for a prototype Joint Light Tactical Vehicle in 2008, low-rate initial production and deployment by 2010 and full deployment by 2012, said JLTV program officials with the Army’s Tank-automotive and Armaments Command.
Working with Marine Corps Systems Command, TACom is compiling a Capabilities Development Document that will list “capability gaps” and requirements.
TACom officials expect to issue a request for proposals by April, decide in November which vehicle models to develop and award development contracts in December.
The military operates about 160,000 Humvees. Initial orders for the JLTV have not been set, TACom officials said. At least five industry teams are working on designs, technology and vehicle mock -ups, addressing a TACom request for information that went out in December.
A key question is: Can the new vehicle be light, mobile and sufficiently armored? The Navy’s Office of Naval Research has been working on technological answers to that question since 2005, and has ordered modeling and simulation aid from AM General, BAE Systems, Cadillac Gage, General Dynamics Land Systems and Oshkosh.
“It’s a challenge,” said ONR engineer Jeff Bradel. “We have aggressive survivability requirements which lead down the path of heavier armor, yet at the same time we need the vehicles to be expeditionary, which means they need to be light enough to fit on helicopters.”
Bradel said ONR is looking at kinds of composite armor and hybrid propulsion systems, and has asked for $36 million for JLTV development in 2008.
ONR officials say the vehicles will cost $200,000 to $250,000 apiece.
The JLTV must also weigh under 14,000 pounds and travel at least 65 mph.
JLTV officials also want variable ride-height suspension, which will allow the vehicle to ride lower and faster when necessary.
“If you are in an off-road environment faced with the threat of an enemy, you do not want to crawl at 5 miles an hour,” said Dave Hare, a marketing manager with Oshkosh.
Lowering the suspension will also make it easier to load and unload the vehicle.
Various ideas are being tested, including systems that use hydraulics and electromagnets.
Lockheed Martin scientists are looking for ways to incorporate the firm’s new TekShield, a lightweight ceramic-and-composite armor with shock-absorbing polymers. As part of its effort to win a JLTV contract, Lockheed formed a joint venture with Armor Holdings in October. Under the arrangement, Lockheed Martin will serve as the prime contractor and systems integrator, providing the vehicle design. Armor Holdings will assemble the vehicle and manufacture the armor survivability subsystems.
This month, General Dynamics and Humvee maker AM General formed General Tactical Vehicles, a joint venture in Detroit, to compete for the JLTV contracts with a networked vehicle with a basic armor package and add-on armor kit.
Some observers say the Iraq war has changed the requirements for light vehicles.
“There is no longer a sharp separation between combat vehicles and tactical vehicles. Now, all tactical vehicles are combat vehicles that need to be armored and armed,” an industry analyst said.
Ellie
By Kris Osborn - Staff writer
Posted : January 22, 2007
The Marine Corps and the Army want to start replacing their Humvees by 2010, two years earlier than planned.
The new schedule, approved several weeks ago, calls for a prototype Joint Light Tactical Vehicle in 2008, low-rate initial production and deployment by 2010 and full deployment by 2012, said JLTV program officials with the Army’s Tank-automotive and Armaments Command.
Working with Marine Corps Systems Command, TACom is compiling a Capabilities Development Document that will list “capability gaps” and requirements.
TACom officials expect to issue a request for proposals by April, decide in November which vehicle models to develop and award development contracts in December.
The military operates about 160,000 Humvees. Initial orders for the JLTV have not been set, TACom officials said. At least five industry teams are working on designs, technology and vehicle mock -ups, addressing a TACom request for information that went out in December.
A key question is: Can the new vehicle be light, mobile and sufficiently armored? The Navy’s Office of Naval Research has been working on technological answers to that question since 2005, and has ordered modeling and simulation aid from AM General, BAE Systems, Cadillac Gage, General Dynamics Land Systems and Oshkosh.
“It’s a challenge,” said ONR engineer Jeff Bradel. “We have aggressive survivability requirements which lead down the path of heavier armor, yet at the same time we need the vehicles to be expeditionary, which means they need to be light enough to fit on helicopters.”
Bradel said ONR is looking at kinds of composite armor and hybrid propulsion systems, and has asked for $36 million for JLTV development in 2008.
ONR officials say the vehicles will cost $200,000 to $250,000 apiece.
The JLTV must also weigh under 14,000 pounds and travel at least 65 mph.
JLTV officials also want variable ride-height suspension, which will allow the vehicle to ride lower and faster when necessary.
“If you are in an off-road environment faced with the threat of an enemy, you do not want to crawl at 5 miles an hour,” said Dave Hare, a marketing manager with Oshkosh.
Lowering the suspension will also make it easier to load and unload the vehicle.
Various ideas are being tested, including systems that use hydraulics and electromagnets.
Lockheed Martin scientists are looking for ways to incorporate the firm’s new TekShield, a lightweight ceramic-and-composite armor with shock-absorbing polymers. As part of its effort to win a JLTV contract, Lockheed formed a joint venture with Armor Holdings in October. Under the arrangement, Lockheed Martin will serve as the prime contractor and systems integrator, providing the vehicle design. Armor Holdings will assemble the vehicle and manufacture the armor survivability subsystems.
This month, General Dynamics and Humvee maker AM General formed General Tactical Vehicles, a joint venture in Detroit, to compete for the JLTV contracts with a networked vehicle with a basic armor package and add-on armor kit.
Some observers say the Iraq war has changed the requirements for light vehicles.
“There is no longer a sharp separation between combat vehicles and tactical vehicles. Now, all tactical vehicles are combat vehicles that need to be armored and armed,” an industry analyst said.
Ellie