Combat Vehicles

As the Army's combat vehicle improvement programs advance, some are slated to receive one-time gains in fiscal year 2019 research, development, test and evaluation money, while others would continue to wind down.

The Army's fiscal year 2019 budget request includes increased research, development, test and evaluation funding to support the efforts of the cross-functional teams pursuing senior leaders' six modernization priorities.

Lt. Gen. Mike Murray, the Army deputy chief of staff (G-8), told the Senate Armed Services airland subcommittee in a hearing Feb. 7 the service is considering "all options" for the Next Generation Combat Vehicle's design.

A program using hydrogen fuel cells to reduce a vehicle's detectability has revealed other potential uses for the technology, which the service is exploring. Powering an assault vehicle or a command post are among the possibilities, the project lead with the Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center told Inside the Army.

The Marine Corps modified the interior layout of the Assault Amphibious Vehicle Survivability Upgrade so that a troop commander can easily exit the vehicle through the ramp in the back, according to the service.

A new breech is included in the plans for a future incremental upgrade to the Army's M109A7 self-propelled howitzer, as well as a new gun -- potentially meaning a complete replacement of the vehicle's upper half, program officials told Inside the Army.

The Army's current upgrade of the Bradley fighting vehicle has yet to meet its reliability requirement, according to program officials.

The Marine Corps plans to kick off in the third quarter of fiscal year 2021 a new competition to replace its aging Light Armored Vehicle fleet.

BAE Systems will use its own funding to manufacture the next-generation amphibious vehicle before the Marine Corps issues a contract award in June, while competitor Science Applications International Corp. is now in the midst of production planning.