The Army has released its draft performance specifications for improving the Cold-War era Humvee, to make it more survivable, mobile and capable in the current and expected threat environment.
The Army wants proven material solutions for Humvee Expanded Capability Vehicles (ECV) to allow them to provide protected mobility to ground forces where ambushes, mines, IEDs and small arms fire could be encountered from unconventional adversaries. This newer capability will be called the Humvee Modernized Expanded Capability Vehicle (MECV).
This effort reflects the Army’s Tactical Wheeled Vehicle Strategy released earlier this year (Defense Daily, Jan. 28). Originally unarmored, the light, highly mobile and unarmored vehicle cost some $70,000 in inflation adjusted dollars. Adapting to changing environments and requirements has driven the costs over $220,000 per vehicle with frag kits–yet still will not meet all the Army’s needs. That’s why the service is pursuing the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, which will cost more than the recap Humvee, but still less than the cost of the Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles. Both the JLTV and MRAP will take on some of the current Humvee missions that they are better suited for, which allows the divestment of older Humvees and reduction in the numbers and kinds of Humvees.
In the spring, the Army did a a market survey of industry on the Humvee recap, at the time saying there was a potential requirement to not only recapitalize and modernize the Army’s fleet of 60,000 uparmored Humvees, but with other customers that figure could rise to some 100,000 vehicles over the next 20 years (Defense Daily, April 25). Last year AM General, as well as Granite Tactical Vehicles teamed with Textron [TXT] were particularly interested in the program (Defense Daily, Dec. 23).
The Humvee MECV effort requires developing and integrating protective armor below the cab, improving the vehicles ability to respond to demands for speed and braking, ability for the driver to control it, and incorporating safety improvements, such as a fire suppression system to reduce the possibility of fire from fuel or enemy projectiles from entering the crew compartment.
The goal is to acquire the Humvee MECV as a recapitalization effort using the Humvee ECV as a starting point for redesign and integration. Recapitalization of the Humvee ECV to the produce Humvee MECV is expected to reduce development time and improving the vehicle system without adding extensive new training requirements or maintenance requirements.
For example, the performance specs want to see a number of variants reduced to a utility truck armaments carrier, a troop/cargo/shelter carrier, a command and control vehicle, and TOW missile carrier.
The total service life is expected to be not less than 15 years, and have two-level maintenance system, the draft said.
The armor B-kit is expected to allow three configurations: underbody protection only; 360 degree protection only; or underbody and 360 degree protection.
In addition, the crew compartment must have an emergency exit independent of the side doors and gunners station, and those inside the vehicle must be able to open it. And, this exit must still be in operation even if the vehicle has rolled over and is upside down.
The service wants the MECV to “accelerate from 0 to 30 mph within 14 seconds and from 0 to 50 mph within 42 seconds.” Additionally, the MECV is expected to range at least 300 miles at an average of 30 mph to 40 mph on hard surface roads, on its own fuel tanks
The ground service expects multiple revisions of the performance specs and annexes before any potential release of a request for proposals.
For more information: http://contracting.tacom.army.mil/majorsys/mecv/mecv.htm