US Army once again seeks new IFV designs

[Zarvan]

The Bradley, in service since the early 1980s, exceeds its size, weight, power, and cooling limits, but the proven IFV fills a niche within the army's portfolio and requires improvements to maintain it. Source: BAE Systems
The US Army has awarded about USD57 million between BAE Systems Land and Armaments and General Dynamics Land Systems for conceptual design work on a future fighting vehicle (FFV) that could potentially replace the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle.

Work on this effort is to run through November 2016.

"As part of the FFV Phase 1 effort, General Dynamics will develop design concepts for the next-generation Infantry Fighting Vehicle [IFV]," the company said in a 2 June statement. It will "conduct trade studies, requirements analysis, modelling and simulation [M&S], and assess technology capability and maturity to support each of the three design concepts".

General Dynamics was awarded USD28.267 million and BAE Systems was awarded USD28.868 million, both are cost-plus-fixed-fee multi-year incrementally funded contracts, according to a 29 May Pentagon announcement. All of BAE Systems' contract was obligated at the time from fiscal year 2014 (FY 2014) and FY 2015 research and development funding, and USD20 million of the General Dynamics contract was obligated from the same accounts.

In FY 2016 the army has requested USD49.3 million to research and develop FFV technologies; according to IHS Jane's analysis this represents just 0.21% of all vehicle modernisation spending in the budget proposal.

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[C130]

K21 would be a worthy and cheap upgrade.


K21+K9 Thunder would boost our fighting capability ASAP.

 

[AMDR]

K21 would be a worthy and cheap upgrade.


K21+K9 Thunder would boost our fighting capability ASAP.

Why would we want the K9 when we are already taking deliveries for the M109A7?

 

[C130]

Why would we want the K9 when we are already taking deliveries for the M109A7?

K9 outclasses the M109A7. M109 is a outdated design.

problem with the M109 even wit the A7 upgrade is the cannon is only 39 calibers long instead of 52 so reduced range, and it has a low rate of fire.

and K9 has better electronics than the M109A7 as well.

we just keep polishing a turd

 

[Oldman1]

K9 outclasses the M109A7. M109 is a outdated design.

problem with the M109 even wit the A7 upgrade is the cannon is only 39 calibers long instead of 52 so reduced range, and it has a low rate of fire.

and K9 has better electronics than the M109A7 as well.

we just keep polishing a turd

 

[C130]

shame Crusader didn't work out. too ambitious. should of partnered up with the Germans.


K9 has about the same rate of fire while being less technical

.

 

[Penguin]

K9 outclasses the M109A7. M109 is a outdated design.

problem with the M109 even wit the A7 upgrade is the cannon is only 39 calibers long instead of 52 so reduced range, and it has a low rate of fire.

and K9 has better electronics than the M109A7 as well.

we just keep polishing a turd

M109L52
Jointly developed by the Dutch firm RDM and the German firm Rheinmetall, the M109L52 was first revealed in 2002. The main improvement was replacing the M126 series gun with the longer 52-caliber cannon from the PzH 2000, thus the MTLS ammunition of the PzH 2000 can be used. In addition, improvements to the loading system were made. This resulted in an increase of the rate of fire to 9–10 rds/min from the original 3 rds/min, and this high rate of fire can be sustained for up to 2 minutes. A total of 35 rounds can be carried.

M109 "KAWEST
This Swiss improved version produced by Ruag incorporates a new Swiss-designed L47 155 mm gun with an increased firing range of up to 36 km. The L47 155 mm gun is derived from the Swiss Bison fortress gun's inertial navigation system coupled with a new gun-laying system and more ammunition storage. The KAWEST (lit. Kampfwertsteigerung = upgrade of combat capabilities) requires only 6 crew members instead of 8, and is able to fire 3-round bursts within 15 seconds or maintain a constant firing rate of over one round per minute. Technical modifications: Increased firing range of up to 27 km, increased rate of fire (burst of 3 rounds in 15 sec.), increased ammunition autonomy (40 rounds, 64 charges). New electrical system increases reliability (better than Mil STD 1245A, higher operational readiness, increased mean time between failures, fault-finding diagnostics with test equipment.) Integrated inertial navigation and positioning system, increased mobility (gears, engine), day and night operations capabilities, effective fire suppression system installed, NEMP and EMP protection. Camouflage: paint and netting. Upgraded Swiss PzHb (Panzerhaubitze) 79 and 88 (M109A1) are known as respectively PzHb 79/95 and PzHb 88/95.