Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Show Report

Jane's ^ | October 30 2002 | Christopher F Foss

[knighthawk]

UDLP unveils two new vehicles

During the recent Association of the United States Army (AUSA) show, held in Washington DC from 21-23 October, United Defense LP unveiled two new chassis prototypes: the Future Combat System - Tracked (FCS-T), and the Future Combat System - Wheeled (FCS-W). Developed as a private venture, these are aimed at the US Army's Future Combat System (FCS) chassis requirements.

It is envisioned that production vehicles will share some 70 per cent common components to reduce overall life-cycle costs.

FMTV rebuy decision next year

Stewart & Stevenson, Tactical Vehicle Systems, has now built over 18,000 of the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) for the US armed forces and a number of export customers in 2.5 ton (4 × 4) and 5 ton (6 × 6) configurations.

For the follow-on contract there is a Competitive Rebuy (CR), with Stewart & Stevenson and Oshkosh Truck Corporation both having supplied a batch of vehicles for extensive US Army trials that have now been completed. Phase II production proposals are due to be delivered to the US Army in mid-November 2002 and, if all goes to schedule, a production decision and contract award will be placed in March 2003, with a projected first unit equipped date of February 2005.

More TOW missiles for export

During AUSA, Raytheon announced that the US Army had awarded the company a US$52 million contract for the supply of 1,689 TOW 2A, 2B and practice missiles for Israel, Jordan, Luxembourg, Japan and Spain via the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme. It is expected that final deliveries under this contract will take place in August 2004.

First LOSAT handed over

During AUSA, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control handed over the first of 12 production Line Of Sight Anti-Tank (LOSAT) systems to the US Army. The system is based on a modified AM General High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle (4 × 4) chassis designated the M1113, which carries four Kinetic Energy Missiles in the ready-to-fire position.

These 12 LOSAT systems have been built as part of the Engineering & Manufacturing Development programme and will be deployed by A company of the 511th Infantry of the 82nd Airborne Division.

More users for MK 44 cannon

ATK Gun Systems Company is now in quantity production of its latest MK 44 automatic cannon - the latest member of the expanding Chain Gun family of weapons.

The MK 44 has been selected for the US Marine Corps General Dynamics Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle now under development as the replacement for the current AAV7A1 series vehicles. Production MK 44 weapons are already being delivered for the now Alvis Hägglunds CV 9030 infantry fighting vehicles ordered by Finland and Switzerland.

The MK 44 is a growth version of the original 25mm M242, with which it shares 60 per cent logistics commonality. It can fire a variety of 30mm type ammunition and, with minor modifications and a new barrel, 40mm Super Forty ammunition.

OICW tested at Fort Benning

The ATK XM29, previously the Objective Individual Combat Weapon, was recently demonstrated at Fort Benning, home of the US Infantry School. During this demonstration, 20mm high-explosive air-bursting ammunition was fired and detonated precisely on target. In addition, 5.56mm and 20mm target practice rounds were also demonstrated.

The XM29 is currently at the Program Definition/Risk Reduction phase and an accelerated 12- to 15-month System Development and Demonstration phase is expected to commence in 2005.

[knighthawk]

First photograph released of the United Defense Future Combat System - Wheeled chassis (United Defense LP)

Kinetic Energy Missile (KEM) being launched from a LOSAT launcher based on an HMMWV during trials (Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control)

[knighthawk]

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