Article Posted on : - Aug 22, 2011

US Army Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV).

MICHIGAN (BNS): A team led by General Dynamics that includes Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Company and Tognum America, Inc., was awarded a $439.7 million contract for the Technology Development (TD) phase of the US Army’s Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) programme.

The overall goal of the GCV IFV programme is to develop and produce an affordable and operationally effective Infantry Fighting Vehicle in seven years.

The purpose of the 24-month GCV TD phase is to complete the preliminary design of the GCV and to reduce the risk of performance of the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase of the programme.

Deliverables for this contract include the Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) Protection Subsystem Prototype, the Mine Blast Subsystem Prototype Test Article, technical documentation and associated data.

General Dynamics being the prime contractor is responsible for programme management, vehicle design and integration. Besides, the company will be in charge of vehicle structure and chassis, squad and crew environments and integrated survivability and safety.

"Our solution will provide a nine-Soldier squad an affordable protected mobile environment, mounted and dismounted connectivity, and superior lethality while providing the Army with the growth potential necessary to adapt the GCV IFV platform to the varied and evolving conditions of combat," Steve Schultz, vice president, Ground Combat Vehicle Program for General Dynamics Land Systems, was quoted as saying in a General Dynamics news release.

Lockheed Martin will be responsible for the turret, lethal and non-lethal effects and embedded training; Raytheon will take charge of RPG protection system, indirect-vision and sensor integration; and Tognum America will provide the power pack of the vehicle, which comprises the engine, transmission and generator.