Future Combat Systems

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FCS program logo

Future Combat Systems ( German weapon systems of the future ) was a program of the United States Army and the most important part of the transformation of the United States Army . The aim was to develop new manned and unmanned vehicles and aircraft as well as equipment and to integrate them into a network in order to increase the effectiveness of the individual units. After the Armored Systems Modernization program, it represents the second attempt by the US Army to create a future family of tanks. The entire program was canceled by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on June 23, 2009 .

history

prehistory

After the ASM program was discontinued in 1992, only the development of the self-propelled howitzer and its supply tank, which was referred to as the XM2001 Crusader , continued. Instead, lighter, more air-transportable vehicles should be used. The first considerations for a future battle tank, which should weigh only 40 tons, were published at the beginning of 1996 at the Tank Automotive Command (TACOM). In addition to the fight against helicopters, the central point was a greatly increased weapon range, which should enable the vehicle to fight targets up to 10 km away. For this purpose, powder cannons , ETC cannons , railguns and missiles should be examined as the main armament. According to the ideas of the project team, the weapon technology should have been developed first, from which the overall concept should then be derived. To improve situational awareness and survivability, the vehicle should be equipped with a large number of sensors that corresponded roughly to those of the Vehicle Integrated Defense System (VIDS) (IR, LIDAR, RADAR, IFF, laser / missile warning system, etc.). The first concept relied on a core crew of two men in the front of the tub, a full-fledged but unmanned tower and a hybrid drive in the rear. A combination of diesel engine and gas turbine was proposed as the engine, whereby speeds of 64 km / h should be experienced with the diesel engine as the base load engine, and 100 km / h when the gas turbine is switched on ( CODAG drive , cf. Stridsvagn 103 ). Armor protection should be around 1000mm RHA. Since two tanks were to be transported in a McDonnell Douglas C-17 , the outer armor was removable.

US-British cooperation

On July 7, 1998, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the United States and Great Britain to develop a joint reconnaissance vehicle. The vehicle was referred to as the Future Scout and Cavalry System (FSCS) in the USA and the Tactical Reconnaissance Armored Combat Equipment Requirement (TRACER) in the British. The vehicle should be equipped with a number of new technologies, for example:

  • Electric drive as a serial hybrid with lithium-ion accumulator with the possibility of driving 6-10 km purely electrically, with a total range of 650 km on the road.
  • Electric motors with a total of 500 kW and a vehicle weight of 19 t, which led to a specific output of 26 kW / t (35 PS / t).
  • Rubber tracks instead of steel for a top speed of 90 km / h and acceleration from 0 to 50 km / h in 9 seconds.
  • The use of micro air vehicles with limited range (10 kilometers or less) and endurance (around 15 minutes) to be able to take a look "into the next valley" before a robot or the FSCS / TRACER drives into it.
  • Unmanned turret for the 40 mm Cased Telescoped Weapon System , which fires air-igniting grenades or sub-caliber ammunition.
  • Using lightweight construction technology, in the Composite Armored Vehicle (CAV) technology demonstrator, the vehicle hull was made from fiberglass-reinforced plastic .
  • A number of systems to improve situational awareness and survivability as with VIDS:
    • The use of laser, radar and missile alarms, as well as the initiation of defensive measures to avoid hits ( softkill system )
    • Automatic target search and recognition to improve the crew's situational awareness. The system consisted of an infrared sensor, a millimeter wave radar with moving target indication , an optical camera and a multi-purpose laser, which was to be used for distance measurement, target illumination and scanning. The data should then be evaluated by a computer system to discover targets.
    • The Multifunction Staring Sensor Suite (MFS3) should combine infrared cameras, microphones and multi-purpose lasers for target identification, air surveillance and as a firefinder. The microphones should enable the discovery and identification of targets, and the location of mortars and snipers.
  • The accommodation of the three crew members in the front of the tub, similar to the latest Russian designs, where they were supposed to control the tank via corner mirrors as well as external cameras and flat screens on workplace systems , or any other information could be displayed on the screens.
  • The use of a sensor mast that can be extended to a height of five meters.

In January 1999 the development contract was awarded to two industrial consortia, namely SIKA International (British Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Vickers Defense and General Dynamics) and LANCER (Marconi, Alvis, United Defense and Raytheon). After both prototypes had already been completed and tested, it was decided in 2001 to discontinue the FSCS / TRACER program. The technologies should be incorporated into the successor systems Future Combat Systems (FCS) and Future Rapid Effect System (FRES), which were planned as vehicle families. The FSCS / TRACER program actually expired and was discontinued in July 2002 after the final assessment phase.

Revolution in Military Affairs

M1126 Infantry Carrier Vehicle

The term Revolution in Military Affairs describes a military-theoretical thesis that states that at certain intervals in human history doctrines, strategies, tactics or technologies have led to an irrevocable revolution in warfare. Under the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush , this thesis became a guideline for armaments policy and defense planning. In June 1999, the then Chief of Staff Eric K. Shinseki announced a realignment: In order to be able to react more quickly to international conflicts, the armored vehicles should be relocatable in a Lockheed C-130 , in addition, the tanks should be supported on site by a series of sensors, robots, Drones and other systems are supported. The designation "Future Combat Systems" for the armaments program as part of this change was first used in 1999. The armaments programs that competed with the FCS program, namely the FSCS and Crusader, were discontinued. As an interim solution , the Interim Brigade Combat Teams (IBCT) were created, which were later renamed the Stryker Brigade Combat Teams (SBCT) after the vehicle .

In May 2000, DARPA awarded four development contracts for preliminary studies for the FCS program; in March 2002, Boeing and Science Applications International Corporation were given the task of supervising the program as main developers. In August 2004, the two companies in turn awarded 21 FCS development contracts to other companies. The FCS was seen as the most important part of the transformation of the United States Army . The aim was to integrate new manned and unmanned vehicles and aircraft as well as equipment into a network called the Global Information Grid in order to increase the effectiveness of the individual units. Research was carried out on 44 individual components. Each unit of the network should be able to receive data streams from all other elements of the system and send them to them ( network-centric warfare ).

In early 2007, parts of the program were canceled due to lack of funds. The planned class II and III drones and the ground-based combat robot were canceled and the development of the armed reconnaissance robot was discontinued for the time being. In addition, the first brigade should no longer be equipped with the new weapons in 2014, but in 2015. After that, one brigade per year should be converted to FCS and not three in two years, as initially planned. The number of different weapons per brigade was also changed as part of these savings proposals. However, as of 2011, six and not just three brigades should receive individual systems from the program in advance. These changes are expected to save around $ 3.4 billion by 2014. The cost of equipping an FCS brigade should drop from $ 6.2 billion to $ 5.9 billion. In 2008 the development of the Intelligent Munitions System was canceled. The companies involved continued to operate the project at their own expense. At the end of 2008, the production of the XM501 Non Line of Sight Launch System began in small numbers for testing purposes.

The end

Army Special Forces in Western Afghanistan with MultiCam

The FCS program relied on situation awareness and distance-active protective measures to protect the platforms. However, after the deployment experience in Iraq and Afghanistan, the effectiveness of this concept has been questioned. Additional demands for better mine protection and additional armor on the vehicle flanks against projectile-forming charges as well as the use of more robust steel chains would have been necessary, but this could not be achieved within the scope of the weight limit. As a result, Defense Secretary Robert Gates suspended the program on June 23, 2009 . The successor program Brigade Combat Team Modernization is mainly aimed at improving the networking of already introduced systems and should only take over some components of the FCS:

This part of the program also includes various new camouflage suits. The US Army tested the MultiCam camouflage suits in Afghanistan and Ghillie suits with the same camouflage pattern. An improved Army Combat Uniform called the Universal Camouflage Pattern - Delta was also tested; it was essentially an ACU with brown splashes of paint. On February 19, 2010, MultiCam was selected as the US Army’s new camouflage pattern.

The XM501 NLOS-LS and the XM156 Class I UAV were later deleted. Only SUGV and UGS were incorporated into the equipment of the US Army. The GCV program was started for the new vehicle platform, which in turn is based on the ASM program .

Components

network

The network ensures a constant connection between all units on the battlefield and beyond. It is possible to send and receive data (including pictures, tactical maps, videos) and commands .

  • Global Information Grid (System of Systems)
  • Transformation Communications Satellite, Air Force communications satellite program, not part of the FCS but designed to help increase capabilities and downsize communications equipment, discontinued in 2009.
  • Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS), central radio network for the transmission of voice and (moving) images, first tests planned for 2009.

Manned vehicles

The NLOS-C is the first vehicle in the Manned Ground Vehicle platform
Future Force Warrior with SUGV
Multifunctional Utility / Logistics and Equipment Robots
Soldier with Unattended Ground Sensors

All manned vehicles should be based on the Manned Ground Vehicle platform. This weighed around 20 tons and included:

The following versions of the Manned Ground Vehicle platform are being developed:

What is striking about these designs is the high silhouette, which favors the observation range at the expense of vulnerability.

soldier

In terms of personal equipment, the main goal was to make the soldiers "network-compatible". For this purpose, a number of sensors and radio devices for data transmission for vehicles and aircraft as well as individual soldiers have been developed. In addition, the weapons and findings from the Objective Individual Combat Weapon and Lightweight Small Arms Technologies programs were to be incorporated. For this purpose, an unmanned robot ( SUGV ) and an unmanned aircraft ( Class I UAV ) were developed for the infantry .

Components:

Unmanned vehicles

The unmanned vehicles should take on so-called "dangerous, dirty & dull" tasks, i.e. tasks that are too dangerous, too dirty or too monotonous for people. With the MULE an attempt was made to automate the supplies for the fighting troops .

Unmanned ground systems

Unmanned aerial vehicles

The FCS Brigade

The new equipment should also be accompanied by a new structure for the associations equipped with it. With all FCS systems in place, a brigade of three Combined Arms Battalions (CABs), a Non-Line-of-Sight-Cannon Battalion (NLOS), a reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition squadron (Reconnaissance , Surveillance, and Target Acquisition squadron - RSTA), a Forward Support Battalion (FSB), a Brigade Intelligence and Communications company (BICC) and the brigade headquarters.

The unit, structured and equipped in this way, should be able to conduct heavy combat on its own for 72 hours or operate for seven days in an environment with low to medium military challenge. Compared to today's units of the same size, they should require 30 to 70 percent less fuel, water, ammunition and spare parts, be able to be relocated significantly faster over a strategic distance and be able to control a larger area with a smaller number of soldiers.

criticism

The main criticism was the cost. After originally estimated costs of up to 100 billion US dollars for the complete system, these have increased continuously in the past few years. The development of four of the originally 18 planned systems was therefore stopped. A March 2006 estimate by the US Court of Auditors assumes that so far $ 161 billion has been invested in FCS. In mid-2006, the Ministry of Defense assumed a cost of 300 billion dollars for all weapons budgeted in the FCS program to become operational, the army command of 230 billion. Associated with the rise in costs is the failure to meet the planned schedule.

Another point of criticism was the control over the large number of unmanned systems. Since these never work completely autonomously, but always require more or less human control, there is a need for personnel that should actually be saved by these systems.

It was also criticized that because of its networked character, FCS, unlike other weapon systems, can only be tested very late as a “prototype”. Maneuvers with larger units and the complete equipment under realistic conditions were expected for 2013, when series production should already have started.

In addition, there were doubts about the performance of individual components, such as the active defense systems for vehicles, as well as fears that the radio bandwidths available would not be sufficient for FCS and various similar projects. In particular, some of the larger ground vehicles have exceeded the original weight limit of 20 tons, as well as dimensions that make them loadable on a Lockheed C-130 transport aircraft .

See also

literature

  • Rolf Hilmes: Main battle tanks today and tomorrow: Concepts - Systems - Technologies. Motorbuchverlag, edition: 1 (December 6, 2007), ISBN 978-3-613-02793-0 .
  • Andrew Feickert: The Army's Future Combat System (FCS): Background and Issues for Congress , Congressional Research Service, May 18, 2008. PDF document
  • Hans Ulrich Kaeser: The Future Combat System - What Future can The Army Affort? CSIS report, February 5, 2009 PDF document

Web links

Commons : Future Combat Systems  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Archive link ( Memento of the original dated February 3, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / assets.opencrs.com
  2. ↑ Archive link ( Memento of the original from April 20, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.army.mil
  3. ↑ Archived copy ( memento of the original dated December 24, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / defense-update.com
  4. ↑ http://www.mtu-online.com/mtu/produ/proddies/proddiesspec/proddies890/  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.mtu-online.com  
  5. ↑ Archived copy ( memento of the original from October 17, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.defense-update.com