Currently, the US Army is armed with M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles of several modifications. This technique is quite old, and therefore needs to be replaced. Over the past few years, attempts have been made to create a new BMP with improved characteristics and new capabilities, but all of them have not yet led to the desired results. Now the Pentagon intends to develop armored vehicles for the infantry again. The new project is being created as part of the NGCV program.
NGCV program
Last year, the Pentagon launched a new program for the development of a promising infantry fighting vehicle under the official designation NGCV - Next-Generation Combat Vehicle. The basic information about the program and the requirements for the new sample were soon published. Later, the responsible persons announced the approximate work schedule. To date, a number of enterprises involved in the project have completed preliminary studies. Based on the results of this stage of work, a contract for the development of the project was signed.
Possible appearance of the future BMP NGCV
In accordance with the wishes of the military, underlying the project, the new BMP should have its own crew of two and carry six paratroopers. Due to this, the vehicle will correspond to the current concepts, which propose to transport the rifle squad on two units of armored vehicles. The military also indicated the need to ensure high mobility, for which the BMP needs a 1000 hp engine.
The fighting qualities of the NGCV machine are supposed to be improved through effective protection and powerful weapons. It is planned to use "traditional" metal armor, supplemented by a complex of active protection of an existing or prospective model. The main armament of the BMP will be a 50-mm automatic cannon on a remotely controlled combat module.
Since last year, specialists from several organizations from the US military department, together with colleagues from the defense industry, have formed a preliminary version of the appearance of the future armored vehicle. The finished preliminary design was presented to the customer in the spring of 2017. Apparently, the military wanted to make some modifications to the existing draft, but by now most of these issues have been resolved.
A few days ago, it was announced that the Pentagon was launching a new phase of a promising program. For its implementation, a contract worth $ 700 million was signed. In accordance with this document, contractors will have to develop a full-fledged project, and then build two prototypes of a promising infantry fighting vehicle. According to the terms of the contract, the equipment should appear by the end of the 2022 financial year. In 2023, it is planned to transfer it for testing.
The development of a new model of armored vehicles is entrusted to a consortium of several companies in the US defense industry. The overall design management was entrusted to Science Applications International Corporation. Also involved in the work are Lockheed Martin, GS Engineering, Moog, Hodges Transportation and Roush Industries. They will have to create and produce certain elements of the future armored vehicle.
It is curious that, as part of the development work, it is planned to create several versions of the experimental equipment. Thus, in the 2023 financial year, the demonstration vehicles, which received the symbol NGCV 1.0, will be tested. After a two-year test cycle, redesigned and improved prototypes of NGCV 2.0 should appear. The second version of the project may have the most serious differences from the first, due to the test results. At the same time, it will have to become a benchmark for subsequent serial production.
Apparently, the customer and the contractors understand that reworking the project based on the test results of the first prototypes will take a lot of time. Development, construction and fine-tuning of machines of the NGCV 2.0 type can also take several years. As a result, 2035 is considered as a possible start date for serial production. Thus, it will take almost two decades to complete all work under the Next-Generation Combat Vehicle program - in the absence of serious problems and changes in the schedule.
History of the issue
The basic modification of the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle entered service in 1981. The latest version, featuring modern on-board equipment, has been in operation since the beginning of the last decade. For well-known reasons, this technique, undergoing repairs and modernization, will be in operation for the next several years, until a full replacement appears. It is not difficult to calculate the average age of the Bradley vehicles at the time of decommissioning.
It should be noted that the Pentagon has long been planning to replace obsolete infantry fighting vehicles with modern models that have the desired technical appearance. Back in 1999, the Future Combat System program was launched, which implied the creation of several samples of armored vehicles, including the BMP. The result of this program was to be the rearmament of the ground forces with the replacement of existing equipment. The FCS program has borne some technical and technological benefits, but it has not achieved its objectives. In 2008, it was closed due to a number of serious problems.
After the abandonment of the FCS program, a similar Ground Combat Vehicle program was launched, within which it was also supposed to create a protected transport for the infantry. In 2014, the US command ordered the curtailment of these works. The army again failed to obtain promising equipment to replace existing samples.
Taking into account the existing requirements, wishes and results of the two previous projects, it was decided to launch the development of a new infantry fighting vehicle. Now a similar project is called the Next-Generation Combat Vehicle. It is curious that less than two years after the start, this program reached the stage of launching development work. If we recall the successes of previous programs, then this feature of NGCV can be considered a real success and a serious “claim to victory”.
Possible appearance
In March 2017, the Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) presented the official presentation of the new program. In addition to the general aspects of the project in version 1.0, this document provided a version of the general appearance of a promising infantry fighting vehicle. In addition to a number of facts about the project, an image showing the general view of the BMP was offered for the presentation. For obvious reasons, this figure may not reflect the actual state of affairs. Real prototypes, construction of which will start in the future, may differ in the most serious way from the published image.
The figure shows that the promising NGCV BMP will, to a certain extent, resemble some modern counterparts, including the M2 Bradley being replaced. It is proposed to build a relatively large tracked vehicle with advanced means of protection and weapons that meet the unusual requirements of the customer. It can be assumed that some of the main project solutions will be borrowed from existing developments.
According to the current views of experts, the NGCV armored vehicle will receive an armored body of a relatively simple shape, equipped with a number of protective equipment. In addition to its own armor, a set of additional overhead panels can be used to increase the vehicle's resistance to kinetic or cumulative ammunition or mines. The available figure shows that overhead modules can cover significant parts of the outer surfaces, and some of these devices will be located at the level of the chassis.
Obviously, from the point of view of the layout of the hull, the BMP of the new type will not differ from the existing vehicles. The front part of the body will house the engine and transmission, and a control compartment with a driver's workplace will be installed in the immediate vicinity. The central compartment of the hull will most likely become the fighting compartment, and the troopers will be in the stern.
The basis of the power plant, according to the terms of reference, will be an engine with a capacity of at least 1000 hp. A transmission of an unspecified type will sit next to it and provide power to the front drive wheels. In its proposed form, the NGCV will have six road wheels on each side, as well as front drive and rear idler wheels. Undercarriage layout may indicate the need for support rollers.
The image from the official presentation shows the possible appearance of the combat module. The Pentagon wants the NGCV vehicle to carry an uninhabited tower with a set of necessary weapons. It is not known whether it will be possible to do this, but it is possible to create a fighting compartment that is completely placed inside the turret and does not occupy the useful volume of the hull. Regardless of the layout and features of the placement of the units, from the point of view of means of protection, the tower will be similar to the hull.
Components of the NGCV program
The main weapon of the future BMP should be an automatic cannon with a caliber of 50 mm. At the moment, there is no such weapon, which is why a project for its creation is envisaged within the framework of the Next-Generation Combat Vehicle program. The gun will be located on a swinging installation with vertical guidance drives. In addition to the cannon, the infantry fighting vehicle will receive a coaxial machine gun (or two machine guns with independent guidance) and a set of smoke grenade launchers.
The fire control system will have to have all the basic functions of modern similar means. At the same time, it should include devices for remote control of an uninhabited fighting compartment and all weapons. Also, the machine needs optoelectronic or other means of detection, information from which will be displayed on the commander's multifunctional console, also performing the functions of a gunner-operator.
To improve the fighting qualities, the new NGCV IFV will have to have a developed complex of surveillance and detection equipment. In addition to traditional optics based on electronic components, radar or other systems can be used. Also, the car should be equipped with various sensors for the timely detection of a possible attack from the enemy using a particular weapon. Information about the detected enemy can be used for a retaliatory strike using any available weapon.
The own crew of a promising BMP will consist of only two people. In the front of the hull, next to the engine compartment, the driver and commander-operator will be placed. The aft compartment of the hull will serve as an airborne compartment and will receive six seats for soldiers. Embarkation and disembarkation will be via the aft ramp. The published image shows that the troop squad will not receive any surveillance equipment of its own. Installation of onboard embrasures for firing personal weapons is not provided.
Prospects of the project
The requirements for the new infantry fighting vehicle were determined taking into account the operating experience of the existing M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and the peculiarities of recent local conflicts. Now and in the foreseeable future, various anti-tank weapons and explosive devices pose a particular danger to such equipment. As a consequence, the NGCV project pays special attention to protective equipment. The body's own armor will be supplemented with overhead modules and active protection.
The proposed armament complex, or rather its "main caliber" in the form of a 50-mm automatic cannon, is of great interest. Modern infantry fighting vehicles and other equipment of similar classes are equipped with guns with a caliber of no more than 30 mm, and also have protection against such weapons. Because of this, an increase in firepower, capable of providing superiority over enemy equipment, can only be obtained through the use of weapons of a larger caliber. It is for this reason that, within the framework of the Next-Generation Combat Vehicle program, it is proposed to create a new 50-mm cannon.
The presence of modern and promising optical and radio electronic systems, in theory, should significantly increase the potential of technology in observation, as well as increase the effectiveness of fire and ensure a decrease in the likelihood of being hit by enemy weapons.
The main functions of the NGCV machine, however, will remain the transport of troops and fire support for the landing fighters. In accordance with the requirements of the customer, this BMP will be able to take on board only six soldiers. Thus, to transport one compartment, two armored vehicles will be needed at once. It should be recalled that the M2 Bradley vehicle has previously been heavily criticized due to the insufficient volume of the troop compartment. In the new project, interestingly, similar technical features will be preserved. The problem of transporting more soldiers is proposed to be solved by the simultaneous use of two infantry fighting vehicles.
At the level of technical specifications and general features, the promising NGCV armored vehicle looks quite interesting and promising. Its design takes into account the main problems of existing technology and current challenges. This is especially evident in the case of the proposed weapons complex. Nevertheless, even now you can find certain shortcomings that can have the most serious impact on the course of the project.
There is reason to believe that the NGCV BMP, like previous developments in this area, will meet the requirements, but at the same time differ in a very high cost. Also, within the framework of the general program, it will be necessary to develop several new "auxiliary" projects: for example, it will be necessary to create an automatic cannon with increased characteristics.
According to the announced plans, at the beginning of the next decade, prototypes of armored vehicles of the first version will have to be tested. Based on the results of their checks, the NGCV project can be redesigned in one way or another. The creation, testing and fine-tuning of the NGCV 2.0 BMP will also take some time. As a result, it will be possible to start mass production of equipment only in the mid-thirties. Such a long process of creating BMPs can lead to negative consequences.
Due to the lengthy development work involved, the cost of the program may exceed reasonable limits. In addition, in the course of development, certain problems may arise that can complicate the work and lead to its rise in cost. Also, one cannot exclude the risk that over the next two decades, the requirements for promising transport for the infantry may change, including in the most serious way.
However, the Pentagon can no longer wait. The existing technique is gradually becoming obsolete morally and physically, and therefore needs to be replaced. However, there is still no need to create a new BMP as quickly as possible, and the industry has the opportunity to carefully work out the project, including with the creation of two series of experimental equipment. According to the latest reports, SAIC and others in the program are now starting full engineering. This means that in the near future there may be new messages about the progress of the Next-Generation Combat Vehicle program. However, it is still far from the appearance of real prototypes.
