DoD funding highlights: Ground vehicles
NewsFebruary 28, 2018
WASHINGTON. Funding slated for major ground systems totals $15.9 billion under the Department of Defense (DoD) Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 acquisition funding request, an increase of $4.7 billion over the FY 2018 request. Included below are updates on ground programs such as the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, the Abrams Main Battle Tank, the Stryker family of vehicles, and more.
This funding request is covered in the DoD’s “Program Acquisition Cost by Weapons System” booklet, which lists funding for programs that have been designated as Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAPs). Of the Trump Administration’s $236.7 billion FY 2018 budget request, $92.3 billion is designated for key MDAP programs.
Ground systems funding includes the Army's continued effort to modernize and upgrade select MDAPs, including Stryker vehicles, upgrading the Abrams Main Battle Tank to the M1A2 System Enhancement Package (SEP) V3 configuration, the M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, the M109A7 Paladin 155mm howitzers and the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV). The Marine’s ground force focus in FY 2019 is on the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV). The ACV will deliver shore and sea-based infantry to the battlefield in vehicles designed for future operational environments. All the services will procure the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) as part of the Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP). Program highlights are below. To read the entire booklet, click here.
The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) is a joint program currently in development for the Army and Marine Corps. The FY 2019 program calls for funding procurement of more than 5,000 JLTVs of various configurations to fulfill the requirements of multiple mission roles and minimize ownership costs for the Light Tactical Vehicle fleet. FY 2019 funding requested is $1.961.5 billion up from $1.142.7 billion in the FY 2018 request.
The Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) will replace the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier program that was terminated in 2007. The FY 2019 program calls for funding the completion of the AMPV Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase and testing, system live fire testing of prototypes, completion of a System Verification Review/Production Readiness Review (SVR/PRR), and procurement of
197 LRIP vehicles. Total FY 2019 funding requested is $828.4 million up from $647.4 billion spent in FY 2018.
The Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles (FHTV) consists of the Palletized Load System (PLS) and the Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT). The FY 2019 program calls for funding the procurement of 1,134 vehicles within the FHTVs; which includes, trailers to modernize the heavy tactical vehicle fleet for the Active, National Guard, and Reserve units and to fill urgent theater requirements. Total FY 2019 funding requested is $265.5 million up from $118 million in the FY 2018 request.
The M1A2 Abrams is the Army’s main battle tank, which first entered service in 1980. It was produced from 1978 until 1994. Since then, the Army has modernized it with a series of upgrades to improve its capabilities, collectively known as the System Enhancement Package (SEP) and the Tank Urban Survival Kit (TUSK). The FY 2019 program funds continuation of M1A2 SEPv3 (ECP 1A - Power) testing, continues M1A2 SEPv4 (ECP IB - lethality improvements) development, and continues the testing of the Trophy Active Protective System (APS) Non-Development Item (NDI) effort leading to an Urgent Material Release (UMR) in the first quarter of FY 2019. It also provides the upgrade of 135 M1A1 vehicle variants to the M1A2SEP v3 variant. Begins procurement of an additional three brigades of Trophy APS and funds numerous approved modifications to fielded M1A2 Abrams tanks; (e.g., Ammunition Data Link (ADL) to enable firing of the Army’s new smart 120mm ammunition and Commander’s Remote Operating Weapon Station – Low Profile (CROWS-LP)). Total FY 2019 funding requested is $2.657.4 billion up from $1,213.9 billion in the FY 2018 request.
The Stryker platform is a 19-ton wheeled armored vehicle that provides the Army with a family of 17 different vehicles (10 flat bottom and 7 Double V-Hull). The FY 2019 program funds Engineering Change Proposal (ECP) 1 testing, ECP 2 lethality upgrade, and continues support of the application of multiple fleet-wide modifications. Modifications address the following areas in the FY 2019 program: Training Devices; Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence (C4I) obsolescence; reliability, capability and performance degradation; safety; and operational-related issues. Provides for the logistical support of a 30mm weapon system. It also procures the ECP of three Stryker Flat Bottom vehicles configured as DoubleV Hull vehicles. FY 2019 funding requested is $368.3 million up from $178.2 million in the FY 2018 request.
The Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) will replace the aging Amphibious Assault Vehicle. The FY 2019 program calls for funding the ACV 1.1 corrective actions, advanced capability improvements, Operational Test & Evaluation (OT&E) and Live Fire Test & Evaluation (LFT&E) support for the down-selected contractor. It also provides funding for the design and development of the new Command and Control and Recovery variants and to modify the ACV 1.1 Personnel test vehicles into the ACV 1.2 configurations. Lastly it also procures the LRIP of 30 vehicles, plus procurement of related items such as production support, systems engineering/program management, Engineering Change Orders (ECOs), Government Furnished Equipment (GFE), and integrated logistics support, and initial spares, which support the ACV Increment 1.1 program. FY 2019 funding requested is $265.7.5 million down from $340.5 million spent in the FY 2018.
