White PaperDefense
Key Technology Considerations for Next-Gen Army Vehicles
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The Army aims to become multi-domain capable by 2030. This capability will enable division commanders to gain and maintain information advantage and synchronize all theaters to accomplish complex combat operations. A key to maintaining military dominance in the future is the implementation of next-generation combat vehicles and the technology that powers them. From autonomous driving and advanced navigation systems to improved safety features and enhanced efficiency, electronics will be increasingly relied upon to collect and assess battlefield information, and common mission and control computers will be needed to disseminate that information. Learn about the future of army vehicles and the technology that will make this possible such as centralized computing, sensors/cameras, anti-tamper, communications, and safety.
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Overview
The white paper titled "Key Technology Considerations for Next-Gen Army Vehicles" outlines the critical advancements necessary for modernizing the U.S. Army's vehicle fleet to maintain military dominance. It emphasizes the need for a modular open systems architecture and model-based systems engineering (MBSE) to facilitate rapid integration of new technologies. This approach allows for easier upgrades and greater flexibility, ultimately reducing costs.
A significant focus of the paper is on enhancing the autonomous capabilities of vehicles through the use of high-resolution sensors and cameras. These sensors will enable vehicles to operate without human intervention, identify and neutralize threats, and gather intelligence. The processing of large sensor datasets at low latency is crucial, as it allows for real-time data interpretation using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). This capability shortens the sensor-to-decision-making timeframe, enabling vehicles to adapt quickly to changing situations.
The paper also critiques legacy platforms like the Abrams, Stryker, and Bradley vehicles, which rely on multiple mission computers tied to individual sensors. This outdated system often requires additional hardware to accommodate new capabilities, leading to prolonged deployment times and increased sustainment costs due to vendor lock-in.
To address these challenges, the white paper advocates for centralized computing systems that streamline operations and enhance the agility of modernization efforts. By leveraging sensor fusion algorithms, data from multiple sensors can be combined to create a coherent representation of the vehicle's surroundings, improving situational awareness.
In summary, the white paper highlights the importance of adopting advanced technologies and architectures in next-generation Army vehicles to enhance operational efficiency, reduce risks to soldiers, and ensure the Army remains competitive in future combat scenarios.