U.S. delays combat vehicle program by 6 monthsThe U.S. Army said Wednesday it has cancelled the original contract solicitation for its combat-vehicle modernization program, delaying the replacement of thousands of vehicles by at least six months. "The Army determined that it must revise the acquisition strategy to rely on mature technologies in order to reduce significant developmental risk over a seven-year schedule following the initial contract award," the military said in a statement. Details of the next proposal request from the Army for contractors are still being finalized. The Army had expected to field the first of the new vehicles by 2017. The program was originally a part of the $160 billion Future Combat Systems, which was canceled in 2009 because of cost overruns.
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-delays-combat-vehicle-program-by-6-months-2010-08-25-1323410
From Wikipedia........
The BCT (Brigade Combat Team) Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) Program 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 in 2015 and fielded by 2017. It replaced the canceled Future Combat Systems, manned ground vehicles program.
Design
Specific design elements of the GCV will be contracted out, though the Army will design the architecture and retain overall responsibility for synchronization. This contrasts with the former FCS manned ground vehicles program where contractors had more control over the design. The GCV will be networked and offer improved survivability, while using the state-of-the-art mobility and power management functions. The military is releasing classified details of the FCS Manned Ground Vehicles program to interested contractors to be utilized in design proposals for the GCV. The GCV family will be built around a common chassis.
Mobility
The GCV must be transportable by cargo aircraft, rail and ship. The Army requires it to meet the availability rates of the current Stryker. The Army is not limiting the vehicle by the dimensions of the C-130, which, in the past, has constrained many designs. Air mobility will be provided by the more spacious C-17. The GCV will have good cross-country mobility, with a baseline requirement of 30 mph off-road speed. The GCV should deliver higher sustainability levels and consume less fuel than the Bradley or other vehicles of similar weight and power.The military is accepting both tracked and wheeled designs.
Countermeasures
The Army would like the GCV to have a passive blast protection level equal to the MRAP and would utilize hit avoidance systems.
Variants
The Army is using an incremental approach to combat vehicle modernization, centered on the Ground Combat Vehicle. The deployment will be synchronized with upgrades, reset and divestiture of existing vehicles. Vehicles displaced by the IFV may then replace selected M113 family of vehicles such as command and control, medical evacuation, and mortar carrier, allowing the Army to begin divestiture of the M113 family of vehicles. Upgrades to existing Bradley and Stryker vehicles may be considered as risk mitigation based on the rate at which the GCV is introduced. Although upgraded, the Stryker would also be replaced in the midterm.