Future Combat Systems manned ground vehicles
Encyclopedia
The Future Combat Systems Manned Ground Vehicles (MGV) was a family of lighter and more transportable ground vehicles developed by BAE Systems Inc and General Dynamics
as part of the United States Army
's Future Combat Systems
(FCS) program. The ground vehicles were to be based on a common tracked vehicle
chassis. The MGV program has been superseded by the Ground Combat Vehicle.
.
The Army plans to restart from the beginning on manned ground vehicles. The FCS MGVs have been superseded by the BCT Ground Combat Vehicle Program
.
s capable of defeating most threats. The armor was a unique secret matrix that may be utilized by industry in the BCT Ground Combat Vehicle Program
.
FCS-W was designed to deliver a top road speed of 75 mph and a top cross-country speed of 40 mph. The vehicle's armor utilized armor similar to the tracked variant but was lighter. The vehicle would have also had some type of active protection system
. The arrangement of the turbine and drive motor provided for a two-man, side-by-side cockpit and a sizable payload compartment.
The XM1201 Reconnaissance and Surveillance Vehicle (RSV) featured a suite of advanced sensor
s to detect, locate, track, classify and automatically identify targets under all climatic conditions
, day or night.
The suite included a mast-mounted, long-range optoelectronic infrared
sensor, an emitter mapping sensor for radio frequency
interception and direction finding
, chemical sensor and a multifunction radio frequency sensor.
The RSV also features the onboard capability to conduct automatic target detection, aided target recognition and level-one sensor fusion
. To further enhance the scout's
capabilities, the RSV is also equipped with Unattended Ground Sensors
, a Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle
with various payloads and two unmanned aerial vehicles. It is armed with a 30 mm MK44
autocannon and a coaxial 7.62 mm M240 machine gun.
The XM1202 Mounted Combat System was a planned U.S. Army tank
. It was to be small enough to be able to fit two units inside a C-17
or one inside a smaller C-130 Hercules
transport.
The Mounted Combat System (MCS) was to provide both direct and Beyond-Line-of-Sight (BLOS) offensive firepower capability, and allowed for in-depth destruction of point targets up to 8 km (5 mi) away. This required the use of an integrated sensor network to detect enemy forces.
The MCS was to have had a crew of two and to be armed with a 120 mm main gun, a .50 caliber machine gun, and a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher.
The MCS was intended to deliver precision fire at a rapid rate, in order to destroy multiple targets at standoff ranges quickly, and would complement the other systems in the unit of action. It would be capable of providing direct support to the dismounted infantry
in an assault, defeating bunker
s, and breaching walls during tactical assaults. It was also intended to be highly mobile, in order to maneuver out of contact and into positions of advantage; given the vehicle's light weight, this is especially important.
The common MGV chassis was required to provide full protection from 30 mm and 45 mm cannon fire in a 60 degree arc opening towards the front of the vehicle. 360 degree protection from small arms fire up to 14.5 mm heavy machine gun and 155 mm artillery shell air-bursts was planned. Protection from higher caliber rounds as well as anti-tank guided missiles would be provided by an active protection system manufactured by Raytheon known as "Quick Kill".
The MCS would consist of the common Manned Ground Vehicle chassis
and autoloading line-of-sight
and BLOS capability.
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The XM1203 Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon (NLOS Cannon) was a mobile 155 mm cannon
intended to provide improved responsiveness and lethality to the "unit of action" (UA) commander as part of the US Army's Future Combat Systems
project. This self-propelled armored artillery
piece provides networked, extended-range targeting, and precision attack of point and area targets in support of other combat units with a suite of munitions that include special purpose capabilities. The Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon provides sustained fire for close support and destructive fire for tactical standoff engagement. The NLOS Cannon uses technology from the canceled XM2001 Crusader
.
NLOS-C was a proposed system in development to be part of the FCS environment and funded by the U.S. Congress shortly after cancellation of the XM2001 Crusader
M109 replacement. It is an 18-ton class vehicle that would have been a replacement for current vehicle systems in the 40-60 ton weight class. It would provide a level of air transportability that current M109 systems cannot at present match.
The system's primary purpose is to provide responsive fire in support of the FCS Combined Arms Battalion
s (CABs), and their subordinate units in concert with line-of-sight
, Beyond-Line-of-Sight (BLOS), Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS), external and Joint capabilities.
The system as proposed looks to add capabilities that the current M109 systems do not offer. One of the proposed systems advantages is the ability to switch shell types quickly on a one by one basis allowing an illumination round to be followed by a point detonation round, to be followed by an area effect round. This would give the system the ability to fire different rounds as required by different fire calls or to change types of shells. For instance, destroying a building then engaging anyone fleeing the area with the next round.
The rate of fire in the proposed system would enable more rounds sent downrange in a given amount of time allowing more fire power per system than is available with the current M109 system. Another capability offered by the NLOS Cannon is the Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact mission or MRSI mission. A MRSI mission is where the cannon fires several rounds at different trajectories allowing the rounds to impact on the same target at the same time, resulting in little or no reaction time for the enemy to adjust its position. This is accomplished by including the autoloader from the canceled Crusader project which achieves the goals of a much improved fire rate with a reduction in required crew.
The proposed system is envisioned as part of a fast mobile force networked via improved communications and data capabilities to allow rapid response with enhanced accuracy with the view to reducing friendly fire
incidents along with lessened collateral damage
, while providing superior protective artillery fire to units requiring gunfire support. Navigation of the vehicle and targeting information are provided via GPS and networked information systems.
Improvements in the refueling arrangements and automation of ammunition reloading allow reduced downtime for logistic functions that would otherwise leave the system unavailable for combat support operations. This also allows the system to use a crew of 2 instead of 5. This is desirable as staffing continues to be a major contributor to life cycle cost of any combat system.
The main chassis of the NLOS-C was based on the Manned Ground Vehicle (MGV) platform being developed for all manned ground platforms under the Future Combat Systems Program, giving the NLOS-C a high commonality with other MGV-based platforms, especially the NLOS-M (Non-Line-of-Sight Mortar). Use of a common chassis reduces the need for specialized training of personnel and allows for faster fielding of repairs. The MGV platform utilizes a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system. The MGV also employs numerous weight-saving features, including composite armor, composite and titanium structural elements, and continuous band tracks.
U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe
and Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. George W. Casey, Jr. traveled to BAE Systems in Minneapolis, Minnesota in late May 2008 for the rollout of the first Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon prototype. Prototype 1 made its first public appearance on the National Mall in Washington on June 11, 2008. A total of eight prototypes were delivered to the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, by 2009.
The XM1204 Non-Line-of-Sight Mortar (NLOS-M) was a turreted, self-propelled
mortar vehicle with a four person crew. It was capable of firing at targets outside of the crew's line of sight (known as indirect fire
).
The NLOS-M had a breech-loaded M1064 that fired 120 mm mortar
munitions including the Precision Guided Mortar Munition (PGMM). It had a fully automated firing control system and a manually-assisted, semi-automated ammunition loading system. It uses a crew of 3.
The NLOS-M provides fires on-demand to engage complex and simultaneous target sets. As part of an NLOS-M battery, individual NLOS-M vehicles will provide precision-guided rounds to destroy high-value targets, protective fires to suppress and obscure the enemy, and illumination fires. All of these will be in close support of infantry maneuver units.
The FCS command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR
) network enables the NLOS-M fire control system to conduct semi- to autonomous computation of technical fire direction, automatic gun lay, preparation of the ammunition for firing, and mortar round firing.
In January 2003 United Defense, now part of BAE Systems
, was selected by the Army and the FCS Lead Systems Integrators (Boeing
and SAIC
) to develop and build the NLOS-M.
The XM1205 Field Recovery and Maintenance Vehicle (FRMV) was the recovery and maintenance system for employment within both the unit of action (UA) and unit of employment (UE) and contributes to sustaining and generating combat power to the Future Force structure. Each UA will have a small number of 2-3 man combat repair teams within the organic Forward Support Battalion
(FSB) to perform field maintenance requirements beyond the capabilities of the crew chief/crew, more in-depth battle damage assessment repair (BDAR), and limited recovery operations. The recovery vehicle is designed to hold a crew of three with additional space for three additional recovered crew. The FRMV has a close combat
support weapon (CCSW) and a 40 mm Mk 19 grenade launcher
.
The XM1206 Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV) was a set of similar vehicles for transporting and supporting ground troops. The ICV featured a crew of 2 and space for 9 passengers. It is armed with a 30 mm MK44 cannon and a 7.62 mm machine gun. The MK44 provided more firepower but weighed 25% less than the M242 Bushmaster it would replace.
The ICV consists of four platform
versions: a Company
Commander; a Platoon
Leader; a Rifle Squad; and a Weapons Squad. All four platform versions have similar exteriors to prevent targeting of a specific ICV versions.
The Rifle Squad ICV and Weapons Squad ICV each deliver 9-person infantry squads to a close battle and support the squad by providing offensive and defensive fire, while carrying the majority of the soldiers' equipment. The ICV can move, shoot, communicate, detect threats, and protect crew and critical components under all climatic conditions
, day or night.
The squad would have access to Army and joint fire delivery systems from external sources (e.g. the XM1203 Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon) to enhance the squad's range, precision, or quantity of fire. Networking
with other components of the unit of action permits rapid identification of targets and improves situational awareness.
The XM1207/8 Medical Vehicle was designed to provide advanced trauma
life support
within 1 hour to critically injured soldier
s. The Medical Vehicle serves as the primary medical system within the unit of action (UA) and will have two mission modules: Evacuation and Treatment. The time-sensitive nature of treating critically injured soldiers requires an immediately responsive force health
protection system with an expedient field evacuation system. The XM1207 FCS Medical Vehicle-Evacuation (MV-E) vehicle allows trauma specialists, maneuvering with combat forces, to be closer to the casualty’s point-of-injury and is used for casualty evacuation. The XM1208 Medical Vehicle-Treatment (MV-T) vehicle enhances the ability to provide Advanced Trauma Management (ATM)/Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) treatments and procedures forward for more rapid casualty interventions and clearance of the battlespace. Both FCS Medical Vehicle mission modules will be capable of conducting medical procedures and treatments using installed networked telemedicine
interfaces, Medical Communications for Combat Casualty Care and the Theater Medical Information Program (TMIP).
and sensor capability within the unit of action and provides the tools for commanders to synchronize their knowledge of combat power with the human dimension of leadership
. It is located within the headquarters
sections at each echelon of the unit of action down to the company level, and with the integrated command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR
) suite of equipment, it provides commanders command and control on the move.
The C2Vs contain all the interfaces required to enable the commander to leverage the power of the C4ISR network and provides the means for leaders at all levels to achieve information superiority and situational understanding and to establish, maintain and distribute a common operating picture fused from the friendly, enemy, civilian, weather
and terrain situations while on the move. The crew uses its integrated C4ISR suite (communication, computer
s and sensor systems) to receive, analyze and transmit tactical
information via voice, video and data inside and outside the unit of action. The C2V can also employ unmanned systems, such as unmanned aerial vehicle
s (UAVs) to enhance situational awareness throughout the unit of action.
General Dynamics
General Dynamics Corporation is a U.S. defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. Its headquarters are in West Falls Church , unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Falls Church area.The company has...
as part of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
's Future Combat Systems
Future Combat Systems
Future Combat Systems was the United States Army's principal modernization program from 2003 to early 2009. Formally launched in 2003, FCS was envisioned to create new brigades equipped with new manned and unmanned vehicles linked by an unprecedented fast and flexible battlefield network...
(FCS) program. The ground vehicles were to be based on a common tracked vehicle
Tracked vehicle
A tracked vehicle is a vehicle that runs on continuous tracks instead of wheels...
chassis. The MGV program has been superseded by the Ground Combat Vehicle.
History
The Department of Defense announced budget cuts in April 2009, which resulted in the cancellation of the FCS Manned Ground Vehicles family. The DoD determined that the proposed FCS vehicle designs would not provide sufficient protection against IEDsImprovised explosive device
An improvised explosive device , also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...
.
The Army plans to restart from the beginning on manned ground vehicles. The FCS MGVs have been superseded by the BCT Ground Combat Vehicle Program
BCT Ground Combat Vehicle Program
The Ground Combat Vehicle is the U.S. Army's replacement program for armored fighting vehicles in Heavy and Stryker brigade combat teams. The GCV is organized under the Follow On Incremental Capabilities Package of the BCT Modernization program. The first variant of the vehicle is to be prototyped...
.
Design
Most vehicles were protected with Hard-kill active protection systemActive protection system
An active protection system is a system designed to prevent sensor-based weapons from acquiring and/or destroying a target....
s capable of defeating most threats. The armor was a unique secret matrix that may be utilized by industry in the BCT Ground Combat Vehicle Program
BCT Ground Combat Vehicle Program
The Ground Combat Vehicle is the U.S. Army's replacement program for armored fighting vehicles in Heavy and Stryker brigade combat teams. The GCV is organized under the Follow On Incremental Capabilities Package of the BCT Modernization program. The first variant of the vehicle is to be prototyped...
.
Variants
Initial Technology Demonstrator Vehicle by United Defense yielded both tracked and wheeled prototypes. Only the tracked variant was pursued further.Wheeled
FCS-Wheeled was an early concept designed to demonstrate hybrid-electric drive system and two-man cockpit workstation. A Technology Demonstrator Vehicle was built by United Defense and was unveiled in 2002.FCS-W was designed to deliver a top road speed of 75 mph and a top cross-country speed of 40 mph. The vehicle's armor utilized armor similar to the tracked variant but was lighter. The vehicle would have also had some type of active protection system
Active protection system
An active protection system is a system designed to prevent sensor-based weapons from acquiring and/or destroying a target....
. The arrangement of the turbine and drive motor provided for a two-man, side-by-side cockpit and a sizable payload compartment.
Reconnaissance and surveillance vehicle
Sensor
A sensor is a device that measures a physical quantity and converts it into a signal which can be read by an observer or by an instrument. For example, a mercury-in-glass thermometer converts the measured temperature into expansion and contraction of a liquid which can be read on a calibrated...
s to detect, locate, track, classify and automatically identify targets under all climatic conditions
Weather
Weather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. Most weather phenomena occur in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. Weather refers, generally, to day-to-day temperature and precipitation activity, whereas climate...
, day or night.
The suite included a mast-mounted, long-range optoelectronic infrared
Infrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
sensor, an emitter mapping sensor for radio frequency
Radio frequency
Radio frequency is a rate of oscillation in the range of about 3 kHz to 300 GHz, which corresponds to the frequency of radio waves, and the alternating currents which carry radio signals...
interception and direction finding
Direction finding
Direction finding refers to the establishment of the direction from which a received signal was transmitted. This can refer to radio or other forms of wireless communication...
, chemical sensor and a multifunction radio frequency sensor.
The RSV also features the onboard capability to conduct automatic target detection, aided target recognition and level-one sensor fusion
Sensor fusion
Sensor fusion is the combining of sensory data or data derived from sensory data from disparate sources such that the resulting information is in some sense better than would be possible when these sources were used individually...
. To further enhance the scout's
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
capabilities, the RSV is also equipped with Unattended Ground Sensors
Unattended Ground Sensors
This article describes Unattended Ground Sensors under development as part of the United States Army's Future Combat Systems Program. For information on currently fielded UGS systems, refer to the Current Force UGS Program or CF UGS....
, a Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle
Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle
The XM1216 Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle is a Future Combat Systems specific, man packable The XM1216 Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle (SUGV) is a Future Combat Systems specific, man packable The XM1216 Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle (SUGV) is a Future Combat Systems specific, man packable (The XM1216...
with various payloads and two unmanned aerial vehicles. It is armed with a 30 mm MK44
Bushmaster II
The Mk44 Bushmaster II is a 30 mm chain gun manufactured by Alliant Techsystems. It is a derivative of the 25 mm M242 Bushmaster, and uses some 70% of the same parts as the M242 while increasing the firepower by as much as 50% with the 20% increase in caliber size. The barrel is chromium-plated...
autocannon and a coaxial 7.62 mm M240 machine gun.
Mounted combat system
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
. It was to be small enough to be able to fit two units inside a C-17
C-17 Globemaster III
The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft. Developed for the United States Air Force from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas, the C-17 is used for rapid strategic airlift of troops and cargo to main operating bases or forward operating bases throughout...
or one inside a smaller C-130 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
transport.
The Mounted Combat System (MCS) was to provide both direct and Beyond-Line-of-Sight (BLOS) offensive firepower capability, and allowed for in-depth destruction of point targets up to 8 km (5 mi) away. This required the use of an integrated sensor network to detect enemy forces.
The MCS was to have had a crew of two and to be armed with a 120 mm main gun, a .50 caliber machine gun, and a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher.
The MCS was intended to deliver precision fire at a rapid rate, in order to destroy multiple targets at standoff ranges quickly, and would complement the other systems in the unit of action. It would be capable of providing direct support to the dismounted infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
in an assault, defeating bunker
Bunker
A military bunker is a hardened shelter, often buried partly or fully underground, designed to protect the inhabitants from falling bombs or other attacks...
s, and breaching walls during tactical assaults. It was also intended to be highly mobile, in order to maneuver out of contact and into positions of advantage; given the vehicle's light weight, this is especially important.
The common MGV chassis was required to provide full protection from 30 mm and 45 mm cannon fire in a 60 degree arc opening towards the front of the vehicle. 360 degree protection from small arms fire up to 14.5 mm heavy machine gun and 155 mm artillery shell air-bursts was planned. Protection from higher caliber rounds as well as anti-tank guided missiles would be provided by an active protection system manufactured by Raytheon known as "Quick Kill".
The MCS would consist of the common Manned Ground Vehicle chassis
Chassis
A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...
and autoloading line-of-sight
Direct fire
Direct fire refers to the launching of a projectile directly at a target on a relatively flat trajectory. The firing weapon must have a sighting device and an unobstructed line of sight to the target, which means no objects or friendly units can be between it and the target...
and BLOS capability.
Non-line-of-sight cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
intended to provide improved responsiveness and lethality to the "unit of action" (UA) commander as part of the US Army's Future Combat Systems
Future Combat Systems
Future Combat Systems was the United States Army's principal modernization program from 2003 to early 2009. Formally launched in 2003, FCS was envisioned to create new brigades equipped with new manned and unmanned vehicles linked by an unprecedented fast and flexible battlefield network...
project. This self-propelled armored artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
piece provides networked, extended-range targeting, and precision attack of point and area targets in support of other combat units with a suite of munitions that include special purpose capabilities. The Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon provides sustained fire for close support and destructive fire for tactical standoff engagement. The NLOS Cannon uses technology from the canceled XM2001 Crusader
XM2001 Crusader
The XM2001 Crusader was to be the United States Army's next-generation self-propelled howitzer , designed to improve survivability, lethality, mobility, and effectiveness and planned to be introduced by 2008. United Defense was the prime contractor; General Dynamics the major subcontractor...
.
NLOS-C was a proposed system in development to be part of the FCS environment and funded by the U.S. Congress shortly after cancellation of the XM2001 Crusader
XM2001 Crusader
The XM2001 Crusader was to be the United States Army's next-generation self-propelled howitzer , designed to improve survivability, lethality, mobility, and effectiveness and planned to be introduced by 2008. United Defense was the prime contractor; General Dynamics the major subcontractor...
M109 replacement. It is an 18-ton class vehicle that would have been a replacement for current vehicle systems in the 40-60 ton weight class. It would provide a level of air transportability that current M109 systems cannot at present match.
The system's primary purpose is to provide responsive fire in support of the FCS Combined Arms Battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
s (CABs), and their subordinate units in concert with line-of-sight
Direct fire
Direct fire refers to the launching of a projectile directly at a target on a relatively flat trajectory. The firing weapon must have a sighting device and an unobstructed line of sight to the target, which means no objects or friendly units can be between it and the target...
, Beyond-Line-of-Sight (BLOS), Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS), external and Joint capabilities.
The system as proposed looks to add capabilities that the current M109 systems do not offer. One of the proposed systems advantages is the ability to switch shell types quickly on a one by one basis allowing an illumination round to be followed by a point detonation round, to be followed by an area effect round. This would give the system the ability to fire different rounds as required by different fire calls or to change types of shells. For instance, destroying a building then engaging anyone fleeing the area with the next round.
The rate of fire in the proposed system would enable more rounds sent downrange in a given amount of time allowing more fire power per system than is available with the current M109 system. Another capability offered by the NLOS Cannon is the Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact mission or MRSI mission. A MRSI mission is where the cannon fires several rounds at different trajectories allowing the rounds to impact on the same target at the same time, resulting in little or no reaction time for the enemy to adjust its position. This is accomplished by including the autoloader from the canceled Crusader project which achieves the goals of a much improved fire rate with a reduction in required crew.
The proposed system is envisioned as part of a fast mobile force networked via improved communications and data capabilities to allow rapid response with enhanced accuracy with the view to reducing friendly fire
Friendly fire
Friendly fire is inadvertent firing towards one's own or otherwise friendly forces while attempting to engage enemy forces, particularly where this results in injury or death. A death resulting from a negligent discharge is not considered friendly fire...
incidents along with lessened collateral damage
Collateral damage
Collateral damage is damage to people or property that is unintended or incidental to the intended outcome. The phrase is prevalently used as an euphemism for civilian casualties of a military action.-Etymology:...
, while providing superior protective artillery fire to units requiring gunfire support. Navigation of the vehicle and targeting information are provided via GPS and networked information systems.
Improvements in the refueling arrangements and automation of ammunition reloading allow reduced downtime for logistic functions that would otherwise leave the system unavailable for combat support operations. This also allows the system to use a crew of 2 instead of 5. This is desirable as staffing continues to be a major contributor to life cycle cost of any combat system.
The main chassis of the NLOS-C was based on the Manned Ground Vehicle (MGV) platform being developed for all manned ground platforms under the Future Combat Systems Program, giving the NLOS-C a high commonality with other MGV-based platforms, especially the NLOS-M (Non-Line-of-Sight Mortar). Use of a common chassis reduces the need for specialized training of personnel and allows for faster fielding of repairs. The MGV platform utilizes a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system. The MGV also employs numerous weight-saving features, including composite armor, composite and titanium structural elements, and continuous band tracks.
U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe
Jim Inhofe
James Mountain "Jim" Inhofe is the senior Senator from Oklahoma and a member of the Republican Party. First elected to the Senate in 1994, he is the ranking member of the United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and was its chairman from 2003 to 2007. Inhofe served eight...
and Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. George W. Casey, Jr. traveled to BAE Systems in Minneapolis, Minnesota in late May 2008 for the rollout of the first Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon prototype. Prototype 1 made its first public appearance on the National Mall in Washington on June 11, 2008. A total of eight prototypes were delivered to the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, by 2009.
Non-line-of-sight mortar
Self-propelled artillery
Self-propelled artillery vehicles are combat vehicles armed with artillery. Within the term are covered self-propelled guns and rocket artillery...
mortar vehicle with a four person crew. It was capable of firing at targets outside of the crew's line of sight (known as indirect fire
Indirect fire
Indirect fire means aiming and firing a projectile in a high trajectory without relying on a direct line of sight between the gun and its target, as in the case of direct fire...
).
The NLOS-M had a breech-loaded M1064 that fired 120 mm mortar
Mortar (weapon)
A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....
munitions including the Precision Guided Mortar Munition (PGMM). It had a fully automated firing control system and a manually-assisted, semi-automated ammunition loading system. It uses a crew of 3.
The NLOS-M provides fires on-demand to engage complex and simultaneous target sets. As part of an NLOS-M battery, individual NLOS-M vehicles will provide precision-guided rounds to destroy high-value targets, protective fires to suppress and obscure the enemy, and illumination fires. All of these will be in close support of infantry maneuver units.
The FCS command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR
C4ISR
C4ISR may refer to:* the C4ISR concept of Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, the U.S. term for C4ISTAR* C4ISR Journal, a journal published by the Defense News Media Group...
) network enables the NLOS-M fire control system to conduct semi- to autonomous computation of technical fire direction, automatic gun lay, preparation of the ammunition for firing, and mortar round firing.
In January 2003 United Defense, now part of BAE Systems
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
, was selected by the Army and the FCS Lead Systems Integrators (Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
and SAIC
Science Applications International Corporation
SAIC is a FORTUNE 500 scientific, engineering and technology applications company headquartered in the United States with numerous federal, state, and private sector clients...
) to develop and build the NLOS-M.
Recovery and maintenance vehicle
Forward Support Battalion
A forward support battalion was an Army of Excellence combat service support unit designed to support a Brigade. In divisions, it was part of the Division Support Command .It was composed of:...
(FSB) to perform field maintenance requirements beyond the capabilities of the crew chief/crew, more in-depth battle damage assessment repair (BDAR), and limited recovery operations. The recovery vehicle is designed to hold a crew of three with additional space for three additional recovered crew. The FRMV has a close combat
Close combat
*Close combat is a generic term for both Close Quarters Battle and Hand to hand combat.*Mêlée generally refers to disorganized close combat.*CQB is an acronym for Close Quarters Battle, such as that which occurs in urban warfare....
support weapon (CCSW) and a 40 mm Mk 19 grenade launcher
Mk 19 grenade launcher
The Mk 19 Grenade Launcher is a 40 mm belt-fed automatic grenade launcher or grenade machine gun that entered U.S. military service during the Cold War, first seeing action during the Vietnam War and remaining in service today.-Overview:...
.
Infantry carrier vehicle
The ICV consists of four platform
Automobile platform
An automobile platform is a shared set of common design, engineering, and production efforts, as well as major components over a number of outwardly distinct models and even types of automobiles, often from different, but related marques...
versions: a Company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
Commander; a Platoon
Platoon
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 16 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer—the...
Leader; a Rifle Squad; and a Weapons Squad. All four platform versions have similar exteriors to prevent targeting of a specific ICV versions.
The Rifle Squad ICV and Weapons Squad ICV each deliver 9-person infantry squads to a close battle and support the squad by providing offensive and defensive fire, while carrying the majority of the soldiers' equipment. The ICV can move, shoot, communicate, detect threats, and protect crew and critical components under all climatic conditions
Weather
Weather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. Most weather phenomena occur in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. Weather refers, generally, to day-to-day temperature and precipitation activity, whereas climate...
, day or night.
The squad would have access to Army and joint fire delivery systems from external sources (e.g. the XM1203 Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon) to enhance the squad's range, precision, or quantity of fire. Networking
FCS Network
The FCS Network - Brigade Combat Team Network consists of 5 layers that combine to provide seamless delivery of data to forward-deployed Army units....
with other components of the unit of action permits rapid identification of targets and improves situational awareness.
Medical vehicle
Physical trauma
Trauma refers to "a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident." It can also be described as "a physical wound or injury, such as a fracture or blow." Major trauma can result in secondary complications such as circulatory shock, respiratory failure and death...
life support
Life support
Life support, in medicine is a broad term that applies to any therapy used to sustain a patient's life while they are critically ill or injured. There are many therapies and techniques that may be used by clinicians to achieve the goal of sustaining life...
within 1 hour to critically injured soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
s. The Medical Vehicle serves as the primary medical system within the unit of action (UA) and will have two mission modules: Evacuation and Treatment. The time-sensitive nature of treating critically injured soldiers requires an immediately responsive force health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
protection system with an expedient field evacuation system. The XM1207 FCS Medical Vehicle-Evacuation (MV-E) vehicle allows trauma specialists, maneuvering with combat forces, to be closer to the casualty’s point-of-injury and is used for casualty evacuation. The XM1208 Medical Vehicle-Treatment (MV-T) vehicle enhances the ability to provide Advanced Trauma Management (ATM)/Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) treatments and procedures forward for more rapid casualty interventions and clearance of the battlespace. Both FCS Medical Vehicle mission modules will be capable of conducting medical procedures and treatments using installed networked telemedicine
Telemedicine
Telemedicine is the use of telecommunication and information technologies in order to provide clinical health care at a distance. It helps eliminate distance barriers and can improve access to medical services that would often not be consistently available in distant rural communities...
interfaces, Medical Communications for Combat Casualty Care and the Theater Medical Information Program (TMIP).
Command and control vehicle
The XM1209 Command and Control Vehicle (C2V) was to provide for information management of the integrated network of communicationsTelecommunication
Telecommunication is the transmission of information over significant distances to communicate. In earlier times, telecommunications involved the use of visual signals, such as beacons, smoke signals, semaphore telegraphs, signal flags, and optical heliographs, or audio messages via coded...
and sensor capability within the unit of action and provides the tools for commanders to synchronize their knowledge of combat power with the human dimension of leadership
Leadership
Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task". Other in-depth definitions of leadership have also emerged.-Theories:...
. It is located within the headquarters
Headquarters
Headquarters denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top of a corporation taking full responsibility managing all business activities...
sections at each echelon of the unit of action down to the company level, and with the integrated command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR
C4ISR
C4ISR may refer to:* the C4ISR concept of Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, the U.S. term for C4ISTAR* C4ISR Journal, a journal published by the Defense News Media Group...
) suite of equipment, it provides commanders command and control on the move.
The C2Vs contain all the interfaces required to enable the commander to leverage the power of the C4ISR network and provides the means for leaders at all levels to achieve information superiority and situational understanding and to establish, maintain and distribute a common operating picture fused from the friendly, enemy, civilian, weather
Weather
Weather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. Most weather phenomena occur in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. Weather refers, generally, to day-to-day temperature and precipitation activity, whereas climate...
and terrain situations while on the move. The crew uses its integrated C4ISR suite (communication, computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
s and sensor systems) to receive, analyze and transmit tactical
Military tactics
Military tactics, the science and art of organizing an army or an air force, are the techniques for using weapons or military units in combination for engaging and defeating an enemy in battle. Changes in philosophy and technology over time have been reflected in changes to military tactics. In...
information via voice, video and data inside and outside the unit of action. The C2V can also employ unmanned systems, such as unmanned aerial vehicle
Unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
s (UAVs) to enhance situational awareness throughout the unit of action.
See also
- Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (tracked)Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)The Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance —or CVR—is a family of armoured fighting vehicles s in service with the British Army and others throughout the world...
, an earlier, but similar, British concept - List of U.S. military vehicles by model number
External links
- RL32888 "The Army's Future Combat System (FCS): Background and Issues for Congress". Congressional Research Service, May 29, 2009.
- Manned Ground Vehicles page on GlobalSecurity.org
- StrategyPage.com article
- NLOS Cannon Electronic Press Kit
- First Round fired from 38-Calibre NLOS Cannon
- US Army FCS page with MGVs listed (archived version)
- US Army MCS page (archived version)
- US Army NLOS-C page (archived version)
- US Army C2V page (archived version)
- US Army ICV page (archived version)
- US Army FRMV page (archived version)
- US Army MV-T/MV-E page (archived version)
- US Army NLOS-M page (archived version)
- US Army RSV page (archived version)