Next-Gen Combat Vehicle To Require Emerging Tech.

• Author: Adde, Nick

The Army has made clear that it wants to field a next-generation combat vehicle by sometime between 2028 and 2035. Beyond that, a myriad of questions remain as to what such a vehicle would look like, what it would replace and how much it should cost.

Within the context of what the Army has stated publicly, the prevailing thought is such a family of vehicles would incorporate a platform capable of both human-piloted and unmanned operation--diverse enough to do everything from carry troops to deliver fires. The flesh-and-blood drivers could have the option of controlling the unmanned vehicle systems directly, or allowing them to proceed and communicate with each other autonomously.

The Army has called for the development of six prototype vehicles, to be delivered sometime next year. Two would be piloted, while the other four would operate autonomously. The human operators would have the option of allowing the robotic vehicles to move and communicate with each other on their own, or assume control and deliver instructions on the spot.

These initial robotic prototypes would be built on the Ml 13 armored personnel carrier, while the soldier-operated ones would consist of entirely new designs, the Army has stated. Soldiers could begin testing the prototypes as soon as next fall, when fiscal year 2020 begins.

Meeting these capability goals would require advancements in emerging technologies, and some determination as to how they should be incorporated into this new fleet of vehicles. One recurrent thought among experts in military procurement is that the newly established Army Futures Command, based in Austin, Texas, would grapple with such matters as one of its first major tasks.

"It's really how we engage in close combat and how we have a maneuver capability within the ground combat force," Thomas Russell, the Army's deputy assistant secretary for research and technology, said in a speech earlier this year.

Russell described ongoing efforts to incorporate emerging robotics and artificial intelligence technologies into these new platforms, which could "move equipment and force, potentially, with one leader."

Active defense systems, with the potential to intercept incoming fires, would allow for the use of less cumbersome armor, enhancing mobility and fuel efficiency but somewhat compromising armor protection. Whether the next combat vehicle should include a 50mm or 120mm gun also is to be determined.

"Power and power management are crucial,"...