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The U.S. Army could soon field a set of lightweight ground vehicles that would work equip a joint forcible entry mission as part of the service’s efforts to develop its expeditionary portfolio, Defense News reported Monday.
Joe Gould writes that the Army eyes an air-droppable mobile protected firepower tank, an ultra-lightweight combat vehicle and light reconnaissance vehicle as potential Humvee replacements.
James Hasik, an analyst at the Atlantic Council, told the publication that competition for these contracts would attract a lot of bidders following the Special Operations Command’s contract award to General Dynamics last year for ground mobility vehicles.
“Because of the volumes involved, [these]Â should attract more companies, companies who say they have an advantage in high-volume, low-cost production,” Hasik said.
“The number of companies bidding on this could not be fewer than bid on GMV.”
An airborne infantry brigade combat team could use ULCVs and LRVs carried on sling load with support from another company unit that would use MPFs, according to Gould.
Among the three, Gould reports that ULCV is the branch’s highest priority and differs from the joint light tactical vehicle as it would not carry armor, gear and additional weaponry due to the nature of forcible entry missions.
LRVs would carry surveillance systems such as infrared and radar and link with unmanned aerial vehicles, while MPFs would be fitted with armor and designed to engage enemy forces and assets.
Gould reports that the Army wants ULCV, LRV and MPF to be operational by fiscal years 2016, 2020 and 2024, respectively.
