The U.S. Army wants to replace bulky and heavy vehicles with much lighter armored transportation to maximize mobility and better prepare for fighting in future battlefields. Army officials believe that lighter combat vehicles can greatly support their strategy of placing a heavier emphasis on armored mobility. Army leaders have discussed future designs ahead of releasing a new formidable force using modernization strategy by 2035.
Major Gen. Eric Wesley says in a statement that current combat vehicles such as M1 and Bradley are not sustainable if dominant weapons system is what you're going for. The Army's latest maneuver concept borrow ideas from the Russian New Generation Warfare Study. This research project examines how soldiers will tackle threats between 2020 and 2040.
Military researchers report that the US Army capabilities might not be enough to handle threats which are fast becoming varied such as laser and electronic warfare. It is, therefore, important to focus on how to equip soldiers who will be tasked with handling a wider variety of threats. Army leaders are currently drawing up two strategies to enhance future combat vehicles to help with the emerging threats, the UPI reported.
The first strategy places emphasis on light infantry vehicles with enhanced firepower and maneuverability. Next is the development of next-generation combat vehicles with cross-functional capabilities. Hardy and reliable M1 Abrams battle tank and M2 Bradley troop carriers engineered in the 1970s have fought well for decades, but there are limits to what an old design can do.
Meanwhile, the US Army's Next Generation Combat Vehicle are slated to be built by 2022, the Breaking Defense reported. Contractors will first build less full-up prototypes than the armored equivalent of concept cars, then have real soldiers evaluate the vehicles through demonstration. Once the technology demonstrators are completed and the technologies assessed, they will make some refinements according to requirements, then finally launch the revamped combat vehicles for enhanced warfare.
