By Ann Roosevelt
The General Dynamics‘ [GD] Nuclear, Biological Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle (NBCRV) and Mobile Gun System (MGS) face key development tests this year ahead of full-rate production decisions for the vehicles in fiscal year 2011, budget documents and an official said.
The NBCRV has completed the first phase of Control Damage Experiments, which characterizes the functional degradation of systems to see how subsystems react, Gordon Stein, General Dynamics senior Stryker program director, told Defense Daily.
The results give soldiers information on how to adapt to such losses. The first phase of the CDE is complete, the second phase is slated to being in April and run through June, he said.
Once those tests are complete the vehicle heads into Operational Test & Evaluation (OT&E), scheduled to begin in the third quarter of FY ’10, according to Army research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) budget documents for FY 2011. The Army Test and Evaluation Command will conduct the OT&E at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah.
General Dynamics delivered the first two low-rate initial production Stryker NBCRV in 2005 (Defense Daily, Dec. 12, 2005).
The MGV is undergoing engineer change order testing, which Stein said is testing to validate the design changes of vehicle improvements implemented since production verification testing. Phase one of the three phase effort is complete, Phase 2 is in process, and Phase 3, using a couple of vehicles pulled from the extended low-rate initial production line, will run April through December of this year.
The Army states its interest in Stryker improvements: “A critical need exists to improve the deployability and operational effectiveness of rapid response/early entry forces,” the FY ’11 budget documents said.
The Stryker-equipped Brigade Combat Team (BCT) can deploy anywhere on the globe in a combat ready configuration. Each SBCT consists of more than 300 of the wheeled, armored vehicles that are available in 10 variants.
“Immediate response by a lethal, versatile, tactically agile joint force capable of operational maneuver once in the Area of Operations has been essential in fulfilling the warfighting needs of the U. S. Army,” documents said.
Thus, project funding “will continue to address Overseas Contingency Operations, survivability, and Operational Needs Statements (ONS) issues with the Stryker program.”
For example, improving survivability is a focus, with several programs including the Stryker Reactive Armor Tile (STRAT II) initiative.
SRAT II completes later this year, with the first deliveries of actual hardware beginning in March across all 10 variants, Stein said.
The Stryker Modernization (SMOD) program addresses current and evolving survivability concerns and results in retaining interoperability with other formations and the ability to integrate spin-outs and technologies (Defense Daily, Dec. 4).
“We went through Phase 1 already. We’re on Phase II, awarded In November,” Stein said.
Phase I returns operational advantages lost when the vehicles added survivability kits. Size, power, and weight issues were addressed through efforts consisting of improved engine/transmission suspension, height management system, central tire inflation system, brakes, driveline, hull structure, seats and environmental areas.
Phase II addresses increased capability and emerging requirements as well as mitigating long-term MGS deficiencies. These efforts include such things as 360 degree situational awareness and shot detection.
“We’re trying to accelerate [the program] where practical,” Stein said. “It brings advanced capability to the warfighter.”