. Military Space News .
FCS Program Completes Integration Of First Manned Ground Vehicle Prototype

File photo: NLOS-C
by Staff Writers
St. Louis MO (SPX) Jun 12, 2008
Boeing and Science Applications International, together the Lead Systems Integrator (LSI) for the U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) program, have announced the successful integration and public debut of the first FCS Manned Ground Vehicle (MGV) prototype -- the Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon (NLOS-C).

Featuring a two-man artillery crew, the NLOS-C prototype is the first of eight FCS MGV variants and is designed to deliver precision munitions in urban and conventional battlespace environments.

The NLOS-C uses advanced networked technologies that enable warfighters to quickly fire on targets with precision, as well as an automated loading system, projectile tracking and hybrid propulsion.

The prototype will be on display at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., this week during Army Birthday activities.

"The NLOS-C prototype unveiling is the result of a collaborative effort by Army and industry to deliver a networked, precision-fire capability that will provide soldiers with unprecedented technological advantages in both irregular and conventional engagements," said Gregg Martin, Boeing vice president and FCS program manager.

"The MGV team exemplifies the FCS 'best of industry' approach, bringing to bear the expertise of the LSI, vehicle developers BAE Systems and General Dynamics, and a vast team of suppliers to develop and deliver a networked family of vehicles that will connect and protect our soldiers -- both current and future."

The NLOS-C is the first of a family of FCS Manned Ground Vehicles that will all employ a common chassis and maximize the use of common parts and subsystems.

Overall, FCS vehicles will require less fuel and logistics support than current-force vehicles. As directed by Congress, eight NLOS-C prototypes will be produced at locations in York, Pa.; Santa Clara, Calif.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Lima, Ohio; Elgin, Okla.; and Sterling Heights, Mich., and will undergo testing, safety certification and evaluations at various Army test facilities.

The completion of NLOS-C integration marks the most recent in a series of accomplishments for the FCS program. In March, the FCS One Team successfully completed the Technical Field Test (TFT), the first in a series of test activities planned for "Spin Out 1" systems that validated FCS interoperability with current-force systems.

This industry-led activity, conducted in a field environment at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., was designed to test the FCS network and its ability to interoperate across the system-of-systems.

Current-force vehicles equipped with FCS network interoperability, or "B-kits," interfaced with Urban and Tactical Unattended Ground Sensors (UGS) that were placed in buildings and on the desert floor, enabling information exchange and enhancing situational awareness of the location of "enemy" assets.

The TFT was followed in May by Force Development Testing and Evaluation, an activity led by the Army's Training and Doctrine Command that was designed to evaluate new and existing tactics, doctrine, training, organizations and logistics -- providing data that will help refine broader doctrinal processes associated with FCS capabilities.

This summer, the Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC) will conduct a Spin Out 1 Limited User Test, an independent soldier evaluation of FCS system capabilities as they perform required tasks and missions in an operationally realistic live and virtual environment.

In addition, FCS represented the Army's main effort in the U.S. Air Force-led Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment (JEFX) 2008. FCS formed the ground component of JEFX by enabling near real-time threat data to be available on the network and enabling shared situational awareness between ground and air assets.

The experiment, which culminated in April, demonstrated the ability to call for joint network fires to engage targets that FCS sensors acquired in real- and near real-time, spanning the joint and coalition tactical, operational and strategic operating picture.

"The FCS industry team, working together with the Army, has achieved tremendous success this year, conducting soldier testing of early FCS capabilities and providing valuable feedback that will be incorporated back into the program as a risk mitigation measure," Martin said.

"The NLOS-C debut further demonstrates that FCS is reality, and that the FCS One Team is committed to equipping Brigade Combat Teams with better equipment and unmatched situational awareness that will dramatically change the way the Army fights."

Community
Email This Article
Comment On This Article

Share This Article With Planet Earth
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit
YahooMyWebYahooMyWeb GoogleGoogle FacebookFacebook



Related Links
The latest in Military Technology for the 21st century at SpaceWar.com



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


Boeing Flight-Tests B-1 Equipped With New Targeting Pod
St. Louis MO (SPX) Jun 12, 2008
Boeing has announced it has successfully flight-tested an electro-optical/infrared targeting pod system designed for the B-1 bomber.







  • US Envoy Would Like To See Russia As NATO Member
  • Outside View: Russia's new top general
  • Walker's World: Bush's Europe problem
  • Analysis: Euro 2008 and security

  • India PM calls for end to opposition to US nuclear pact
  • Iran won't 'trade dignity' on nuclear drive: Ahmadinejad
  • Analysis: Bush finds allies against Iran
  • Bush warns 'all options' open on Iran

  • Russia Destroys 20 Ballistic Missiles In 2008 Under START Treaty
  • Analysis: Missiles aimed at Taiwan
  • Lockheed Martin Receives 90 Million Dollar MLRS Launcher Contract
  • RBS15 Mk3 Successfully Fired

  • Rice expected to sign Czech radar deal at start of July: report
  • Poland would let Russia inspect missile site: report
  • Raytheon-Led Team Successfully Fires Enhanced Patriot Missile
  • Raytheon Standard Missile-2 Intercept Shows Near-Term, Sea-Based Terminal Capability

  • China's new jumbo-jet firm no threat to Airbus, Boeing: state media
  • China unveils new jumbo jet company: report
  • NASA And JAXA To Conduct Joint Research On Sonic Boom Modeling
  • Analysis: Can airplanes go green?

  • Boeing Awarded Navy Contract For ScanEagle Services
  • Dassault, Thales and Indra Submit A Joint MALE UAV offer
  • War Zone Demand Assures Steady Growth For US Unmanned Aviation Systems Market
  • AAI Shadow UAS Reaches 300000 Flight Hours

  • USAF And ISAF Act In Iraq And Afghanistan
  • Immunity for private guards in Iraq a sticking point: US
  • Gates looks to smooth wartime political transition
  • Future US forces in Iraq don't threaten Iran: Pentagon

  • Boeing Flight-Tests B-1 Equipped With New Targeting Pod
  • Special Cell Set Up To Counter Growing Threat To Space Assets
  • FCS Program Completes Integration Of First Manned Ground Vehicle Prototype
  • LockMart F-35B STOVL Stealth Fighter Achieves Successful First Flight

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement