PROGRAM EXECUTIVE OFFICE GROUND COMBAT SYSTEMS Program Executive Office Ground Com- bat Systems (PEO GCS) manages the de- velopment, systems integration, acquisi- tion, testing, fielding, modernization, and sustainment of the U.S. Army’s ground combat systems to provide world-class, af- fordable and relevant capabilities to our soldiers and marines. Systems include the Abrams main battle , Bradley family of vehicles (FoV), self-propelled howitzers, Armored Knight FoV, M113 armored per- sonnel carrier, M88 Hercules, armored multi-purpose vehicle, FoV, ground M1A2 Abrams tank combat vehicle, robotics and unmanned ground systems. PEO GCS operates with a multibillion-dollar annual budget and re- tains more than 1,200 military and civilian employees including three board-selected Army project managers and one Marine Corps joint project manager.

Project Manager Heavy Brigade Combat Team (PM HBCT) The Project Manager Heavy Brigade Combat Team (PM HBCT) serves as the life-cycle manager for the Army’s heavy combat vehicles including the Abrams tank, M88 Hercules, Bradley fighting vehi- cle, M113 armored personnel carrier, Pal- adin, field ammunition supply ve- hicle (FAASV), armored multi-purpose vehicle, and Armored Knight FoV.

Product Manager Abrams The Abrams Tank provides soldiers with the mobility, firepower and shock effect to successfully close in and destroy enemy forces on the complex, integrated battle- field. It is the only weapon system that can withstand the impact of high-energy war- heads and remain lethal in full spectrum operations. The 120 mm main gun on the M1A1 and M1A2 SEPv2, combined with the powerful 1,500-hp turbine engine and special armor, make the Abrams tank suit- able for attacking or defending against large concentrations of heavy armor forces on a highly lethal battlefield and for roles that require shock effect, wide-area sur- veillance, combined arms maneuver, and mobile direct firepower to support Army mission requirements. Advanced improvements in lethality, survivability and fighting ability enable the M1A2 SEPv2 tank to remain lethal against future threats. The M1A2 SEPv2 has a digital command-and-control system that provides situational awareness up- dates to other within the unit. Vetronics architecture ties all electronic components in the tank together and pro- vides increased survivability and support- ability. The commander’s independent thermal viewer (CITV) provides a hunter- killer capacity, allowing the M1A2 SEPv2

October 2012 I ARMY 343 to engage one target while simultaneously Manufacturing Center (JSMC) in Ohio, The M2A3/M3A3 provides overwatch- tracking another. Improved onboard diag- where Land Systems re- ing fires to support dismounted infantry nostics allow the tank to self-diagnose assembles the tanks to a zero-time/zero- and to suppress and defeat enemy tanks, faults without any additional special tools miles standard. reconnaissance vehicles, IFVs, armored or equipment. The M1A2 SEPv2 also has AIM also serves as the venue to apply personnel carriers, bunkers, dismounted integrated C4ISR capabilities, which incor- modifications and upgrades to the tank in- infantry and attack helicopters. The IFV porate Force XXI Battle Command Brigade cluding embedded diagnostics, improved version (M2) of the A3 Bradley fighting ve- and Below (FBCB2) to provide real-time line-replaceable units, and redesigned hull hicle is used most often to close with the command and control and situational and turret network boxes. enemy by means of fire and maneuver. awareness. The sights use the latest sec- U.S. Marine Corps Abrams tanks are ac- The primary tasks performed by the CFV ond-generation forward-looking infrared tively engaged in supporting Operation version (M3) as part of a troop and/or [FLIR] thermal-imaging system for in- Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Up- squadron are reconnaissance, security and creased lethality and survivability. The graded, digitized M1A2 SEPv2 tanks are guard missions. SEPv2 package also includes a computer- being fielded to the active Army, and up- The A3 is a digitized platform with core ized mass-memory unit and color maps graded M1A1 SA tanks are being fielded electronics architecture and an improved and displays. A thermal management sys- to the National Guard. target acquisition system that includes a tem increases electronic reliability and de- full ballistic fire-control package with creases crew fatigue. Product Manager Bradley hunter-killer functionality via a comman- The Tank Urban Survival Kit (TUSK) Product Manager Bradley manages ap- der’s independent viewer. Optical im- was added as an Operation Iraqi Freedom proximately 6,452 M2/3A2, M2/3A2 ODS, provements include two second-generation (OIF) upgrade on the Abrams to improve and M2/3A3, as well as 361 M7A3 Bradley FLIRs and day television cameras, which force protection, lethality, survivability and fire-support team (BFIST) vehicles and the display information to the soldiers in the situational awareness. The inclusion of re- M707/M1200 Knight family of vehicles. back of the vehicle and significantly im- active armor tiles, gun shields, a mine-resis- Bradley Family of Vehicles. The Brad- prove the real-time situational awareness tant driver seat, a stabilized commander’s ley M2A3 Infantry/M3A3 Cavalry Fight- for the entire dismounted or mounted crew. weapon station, counter-sniper/anti-ma- ing Vehicle (IFV/CFV) facilitates en- The A3 integrated command-and-control teriel mount and loader’s thermal weapon hanced command-and-control capabilities, package incorporates the Army’s digital sight, and underbelly armor provide en- provides mobile protected transport of in- command-and-control suite of automated hanced capabilities for the urban fight. fantry to critical points on the battlefield, messages, overlays and friend-or-foe graph- Production deliveries of the M1A2 SEPv2 and performs cavalry scout and other es- ics that meet the Army’s objectives for a tank began in February 2005, when these sential missions. Upgrades in this program fully digitized force. This same digital com- vehicles were used extensively during OIF, include advanced technology in the areas mand-and-control capability was incorpo- in which they were proven to be capable of of command and control, lethality, surviv- rated into the A2 Operation Desert Storm. handling full spectrum operations. ability, mobility and sustainability, re- The A3 variants reflect the latest itera- The Abrams Integrated Management quired to defeat current and future threat tions of a fighting vehicle family that in- (AIM) Program is the recapitalization pro- forces while remaining operationally com- cludes the Bradley M2/M3A0, A1, A2, A2 gram for the M1A1 tank. Under AIM, M1A1 patible with the . The ODS, IFV/CFV, BFIST vehicles and M2A2 tanks are completely disassembled and M2/3 vehicle armament includes the 25 ODS engineer vehicle. Additional Bradley many of the components are refurbished at mm M242 Bushmaster cannon, the TOW II variants, based on the associated tracked the Anniston Army Depot, Ala. The assem- missile systems and a 7.62 mm M240C ma- M993A1 multiple-launch rocket systems blies are then shipped to the Joint Systems chine gun. (MLRS) chassis, range from command- and-control systems to armored medical treatment vehicles. The Bradley Operation Desert Storm-Sit- uational Awareness (ODS-SA) M2/M3A2 conversion implements a digital architec- ture to mitigate obsolescence and provide commonality. The M2/3 A2 ODS-SA sys- tem consists of a modified A2 ODS turret and chassis. The two-man turret consists of a gun/turret stabilization system, a 25 mm gun, a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun, am- munition feed/storage systems, a dual-tube TOW missile launcher with a launcher erec- tion mechanism/drive and TOW launcher elevation drive, gunner’s and comman- der’s stations and sight systems, and a tur- ret processor with associated subsystems and sensors. The chassis contains the power train, suspension systems, the driver’s sta- tion and squad compartment. The A2 ODS- SA electronic architecture is based on a dual redundant serial data bus. All major turret system units are linked through this bus for signal and data transfer. Sight imagery and graphics data are routed as RS-170 video signals to the operators. M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicles The A2 ODS-SA systems have the im-

344 ARMY I October 2012 proved Bradley acquisition subsystem (IBAS) for the gunner that replaces the Bradley eyesafe laser rangefinder (BELRF) integrated sight unit in the A2 ODS. The sight has a day television and a FLIR chan- nel, both with a narrow and wide field of view. The sight images are displayed as video images to the gunner and comman- der on cathode ray tube-based biocular virtual image displays. The IBAS also has a gunner’s monocular direct-view optics port for the day view channel and a laser range finder for target ranging. The line of sight is inertially stabilized. The M7 BFIST SA (M7 SA) vehicle is the fire support team (FIST) version of the Bradley ODS- SA and was first unit equipped to the 81st Brigade Combat Team, Washington Na- tional Guard, in October 2010. M7A3 Bradley Fire Support Team (BFIST). The BFIST program is executing to the Army Campaign Plan and will com- M1200 Armored Knight plete modularization of the force in fiscal year (FY) 2012 with 20 heavy brigades of improved FIST mission equipment pack- control enhancements. The first unit A3 BFISTs and seven heavy brigades of M7 ages (MEPs) onto a M3A3 chassis. Features equipped for the M3A3 BFIST was the 4th BFIST SA. BFIST vehicles are required to incorporated from the M3A3 chassis in- Infantry Division. conduct various mission scenarios includ- clude the 25 mm gun, 7.62 mm coaxial ma- In addition to the improved features of ing reconnaissance and surveillance, re- chine gun, precision lightweight defense the M3A3, the A3 BFIST will allow the fire porting of enemy activity in the area of advanced global positioning system (GPS) support team to detect, identify and desig- operations, reporting of hazards and obsta- receiver (DAGR) and the Bradley eyesafe nate targets for precision munitions at cles to movement, and the coordination of laser rangefinder. The current M7 SA BFIST greater ranges while remaining protected indirect fire support. Both versions have uses the standalone computer unit (SCU), by the vehicle’s armor. The new ranges equivalent mobility, survivability, signa- the ruggedized handheld computer (stowed) meet the soldier’s needs and allow for ture and night-vision capability and use and the forward observer system with full laser-guided smart munitions, laser-guided common repair parts with the maneuver interoperability with advanced field ar- bombs, and missiles for rotary- and fixed- force they support. Target designation for tillery tactical data system (AFATDS) fire wing aircraft. The first unit equipped with all available laser-guided munitions is re- support networks. The inertial navigation the A3 BFIST with FS3 was the 42nd In- quired, including those delivered by mor- system (INS) provides navigational capa- fantry Division in August 2011. tars and airborne platforms. Dismounted bility based on a blended inertial/GPS so- M1200 Armored Knight. The Armored operations are required under some condi- lution. Knight family of vehicles assist heavy tions. Extensive and real-time communica- The second model BFIST is the A3 brigade combat teams (HBCTs) and in- tions with other members of the force and BFIST. It incorporates the FIST MEP with a fantry brigade combat teams (IBCTs) in per- rear-area command posts are required for digitized M3A3 chassis. Features incorpo- forming terrain surveillance, target acquisi- mission success. Interoperability in the net- rated from the M3A3 chassis include the tion and location, and fire support for work-centric array of other systems de- commander’s independent viewer with combat observation lasing team (COLT) mands full compatibility with the newest 360-degree traverse and the IBAS, both missions. C4ISR equipment and procedures. second-generation FLIRs, to improve tar- Fielded to both IBCTs and HBCTs, the The M7 SA BFIST is one of the two mod- get acquisition and engagement; the 25 Knight family of vehicles consist of a laser els that replaced all of the M981 (FISTVs). mm gun; the 7.62 mm coaxial machine designator and rangefinder, thermal im- The M7 SA integrates both existing and gun; DAGR; and digital command-and- ager, digital command-and-control system,

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October 2012 I ARMY 345 blended inertial/GPS navigation and target- Product Manager Armored Multi- rivatives within the FoV with major perfor- ing capability, and a self-defense weapon. Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) mance improvements in mobility, reliability Combat observation lasing teams use the The Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle and survivability through installation of a Knight precision targeting systems, along (AMPV) is the proposed program to replace 275-hp 6V53T engine with an X-200-4A with the forward observer systems soft- the M113 series family of vehicles in heavy transmission. Coupled with reconfiguration ware, to provide precise far-target location brigade combat teams including the M113, of the driver’s station and several other ve- and laser designation for conventional ord- M577, M1068, and M1064 vehicles currently hicle subsystems, these improvements pro- nance, laser-guided munitions and preci- performing general purpose, medical evac- vide battlefield mobility commensurate sion-guided projectiles such as Excalibur. uation, medical treatment, command-and- with the supported Abrams/Bradley ma- First fielded in 2008, the M1200 Ar- control and carrier roles. neuver force and permit a range of en- mored Knight provides improved surviv- Potential alternatives to meet AMPV hanced survivability options. ability for the COLTs and precision strike mission requirements include Stryker, The M88A2 Heavy Equipment Recovery capability by locating and designating tar- mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP), Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation Sys- gets for both ground- and air-delivered Bradley derivatives, and other nondevel- tem (HERCULES) is a fully tracked, heavy laser-guided ordnance and conventional opmental systems, and/or variants of armored vehicle developed to accomplish munitions. The M1200 Armored Knight DoD development programs such as the safe, effective and independent battlefield adds 360-degree continuous cupola rota- ground combat vehicle. A subsequent de- recovery operations. It implements swift tion, CREW II, high-frequency radio capa- cision will address replacement of M113 and effective combat evacuations through bility, and M2 .50-caliber capability. vehicles in other than HBCT formations. the battlefield recovery operations of tow- The Armored Knight program continues AMPV will integrate current M113-se- ing, winching and lifting. The Hercules is to evaluate ways to increase the level of ries MEPs and provide for integration of the primary recovery support for the 70-ton protection of the Armored Knight plat- future radio and network systems as well tank, the Wolverine and other form. More than 300 M1200 Armored as improved medical equipment packages heavy combat vehicles. Knights have been fielded to support op- fielded on MRAP ambulances. The M88A2 includes a 1,050-hp engine; erations in Iraq and Afghanistan. AMPV is aimed to provide production a 35-ton boom; overlay armor; a 140,000- The procurement, production and field- vehicles and be first unit equipped no later pound, single-line, constant-pull main ing of 465 M1200 Knights is scheduled than FY 2017. winch; and a 3-ton auxiliary winch for de- through FY 2013. To increase force protec- ploying the main winch cable. When com- tion, the design, integration and validation Product Manager Mounted pared with the M88A1, these upgrades im- of the targeting under armor (TUA) capa- Maneuver prove towing power by 25 percent, lifting bility will be complete in FY 2012. TUA The M113 Family of Vehicles (FoV) pro- capability by 40 percent and winching incorporates a common remotely operated vides a highly mobile, survivable and reli- ability by 55 percent. The system is in full- weapon system II (CROWS II) and a com- able tracked-vehicle platform that, with rate production and deployment. Fielding mon remote stabilized sensor system upgrades, is able to keep pace with began in July 1997. (CRS3) onto the Armored Knight. This ca- Abrams- and Bradley-equipped units and pability will put the soldier under armor is adaptable to a wide range of current and Product Manager Self-Propelled for operations—with no degradation in ca- future battlefield tasks through the inte- Howitzer Systems pability—and add an optional fourth crew gration of specialized mission modules. Product Manager Self-Propelled How- member station. Additional efforts are un- Although not presently in production, the itzer Systems manages approximately 1,934 der way to upgrade the mission equipment more than 10,000 M113 FOV systems in platforms, including the M109A6 Pal- package (MEP) and software to a more Army vehicle inventories constitute a sig- adin/M992A2 Field Artillery Ammunition open architecture. The program is currently nificant percentage of present and future Supply Vehicle (FAASV) system, the Pal- funded for 65 upgraded TUA Knights and heavy division assets. adin/Carrier Ammunition Tracked (CAT) will begin fielding in late FY 2013. The latest A3 models provide various de- and Paladin Integrated Management (PIM) program vehicles. Paladin/FAASV. The M109A6 Paladin 155 mm self-propelled howitzer provides the primary indirect fire support to modu- lar HBCTs and armored cavalry regiments. Like the earlier M109 models, the M109A6 Paladin is a fully tracked, armored vehicle. The enhanced Paladin configuration is achieved through extensive modifications to existing M109A2/A3 vehicle hulls and the subsequent introduction of an entirely new turret structure. The Paladin includes an onboard Paladin Digital Fire-Control System (PDFCS), a ve- hicle location/navigation system, secure ra- dio communications systems, an improved M284 cannon and M182A1 gun mount, au- tomotive improvements, improved ballistic and nuclear-biological-chemical protection, driver’s night-vision capability, and built-in test equipment. Additional chassis up- grades include a remotely actuated travel M1064 Self-propelled 120 mm Heavy Mortar Carrier lock (for quicker site occupation and dis- placement), longer torsion bars (to help

346 ARMY I October 2012 M109A6 Paladin Howitzer

Project Manager Stryker Brigade Combat Team The Project Manager Stryker Brigade Combat Team (PM SBCT) develops, pro- duces and sustains the full range of safe, reliable, supportable and effective Stryker vehicle systems—a diverse fleet of medium- weight vehicles capable of being rapidly de- ployed to trouble spots around the world. Stryker Family of Vehicles. The Stryker FoV consists of 10 unique mission equip- ment packages incorporated into the eight- wheeled, common combat vehicle plat- form configurations. The Army’s responsibility to satisfy 21st- century requirements for effective full support the new turret) and a low-heat re- tures. These upgrades and better commu- spectrum operations required an improved jection engine with an improved cooling nications technology will significantly im- capability for the rapid deployment of system. The Paladin has improved respon- prove operational awareness on the battle- highly integrated combined arms forces, siveness, survivability, lethality and reliabil- field and reduce the logistics footprint possessing overmatch capabilities, exploit- ity compared with the earlier M109s. within the HBCT. The new electric-gun dri- ing the power of information and human A parallel U.S. Army recapitalization ef- ves and rammer components, as well as a potential, and combining the advantages of fort was seen in the M992A2 FAASV. The microclimate air conditioning system, will both light and mechanized forces across basic M992A0 FAASV emerged from an in- be powered by the common modular the full range of military and nonmilitary dustry research and development project power system (CMPS). Once delivered to operations. As a result, the Army invested designed to provide self-propelled field ar- the field, the PIM vehicles will give HBCT in the Stryker FoV. tillery units with a ballistically protected commanders a more sustainable vehicle, In 2000, the Stryker became the first new vehicle capable of performing critical re- providing commanders with increased combat vehicle to be acquired by the Army supply and support functions. The FAASV confidence in their artillery fleet. in more than 20 years. The procurement of system was type classified and entered production in 1983. It was based on an M109 howitzer chassis that provided the resupply asset with mobility and surviv- ability characteristics commensurate with the supported cannon element. The system is paired on a one-for-one basis with the Army’s M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzer. Paladin/FAASV Integrated Management (PIM/CAT). The PIM program is a modern- ization program engineered to improve readiness, avoid components’ obsolescence and increase sustainability of the M109A6 Paladin and the M992A2 FAASV platforms through the year 2050. PIM will leverage fleet commonality for key components in- cluding the Bradley engine, transmission, fi- nal drives and suspension. PIM uses the ex- isting M109A6 main armament and recently designed cab structure while replacing out- moded chassis components with advanced components from the Bradley fighting vehi- cle to increase sustainability and commonal- ity across the HBCT. PIM also incorporates select technologies from the non-line-of- sight cannon (NLOS-C), including a (modi- fied electric) projectile rammer and modern electric-gun drive systems to replace the current hydraulically operated elevation and azimuth drives that were designed in the early 1960s. The M109 FoV platforms will be fitted with Blue Force Tracker capability to en- sure compatibility with future architec-

October 2012 I ARMY 347 the Stryker emerged following the chal- lieu of DVH RVs because the ICVV’s remote ongoing during the technology develop- lenge presented in 1999 by then-U.S. Army weapon station afforded greater protection ment phase. This prong will enable the Chief of Staff GEN Eric K. Shinseki: “We and lethality and carried more personnel. To Army to make informed, timely require- must provide early entry forces that can continue to perform scout missions, a kit ments trades. The Army is conducting a operate jointly without access to fixed for- was developed that will facilitate the instal- technical and operational analysis of exist- ward bases, but we still need the power to lation of the RV’s unique mission equip- ing nondevelopmental vehicles. The effort slug it out and win decisively.” ment package into ICVVs. from this prong will validate existing capa- have accumulated more than 30 The Stryker supports communications bilities against the ground combat vehicle million combat miles in Operation Endur- suites that integrate the single-channel requirements and further inform potential ing Freedom and Operation Iraqi Free- ground-and-air radio system (SINCGARS) design trade-offs. As the Army approaches dom. There are 10 Stryker variants. radio family; enhanced position location milestone B, the assessments of technical The M1126 infantry carrier vehicle (ICV) reporting system (EPLRS); Force XXI Bat- achievability, existing vehicle platform ca- is a troop transport vehicle capable of carry- tle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2) pabilities, refined cost estimates and poten- ing nine infantry soldiers and their equip- or Blue Force Tracker (BFT); GPS; high-fre- tial affordability tradeoffs will significantly ment and requires a crew of two—a driver quency (HF) and multiband very high fre- inform potential adjustments to the GCV’s and a vehicle commander. The ICV is quency and ultrahigh frequency (VHF/ requirements. armed with a remote weapons station that UHF) radio systems; and computer work- The need for GCV is driven by com- supports the M2 .50-caliber machine gun or stations using Command Post of the Fu- pelling current and emerging threats and a the Mk 19 automatic grenade launcher, the ture software. critical need for better force protection. Sol- dier input, informed by 10 years of war, clearly identifies an ever emerging threat and requirement for an infantry fighting vehicle that can deliver a full, nine-soldier squad to the battlefield in an improvised explosive device (IED) environment under armor. No single vehicle that is available today can provide that combination of ca- pabilities.

Robotic Systems Joint Project Office (RS JPO) The Robotic Systems Joint Project Office takes a joint Army and Marine Corps per- spective in managing the development, ac- quisition, testing, systems integration, product improvement and fielding of ro- botic systems that will form the backbone of the Combat Force of the Future. RS JPO manages the MARCbot, the M160 Anti- Personnel Mine Clearing System, the Pack- Bot family of systems, the TALON family of systems, and the small unmanned ground vehicle (SUGV) family of systems, which includes the mini-explosive ord-

U.S. Navy/MC1 Daniel N. Woods nance disposal (EOD) and the XM1216. M1126 Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV) The Multi-function, Agile, Remote Con- trolled Robot (MARCbot) is a commercial M6 countermeasure device (smoke grenade Ground Combat Vehicle Project off-the-shelf (COTS) manportable, rela- launcher) and an integrated thermal Management Office (GCV PMO) tively low-cost, tele-operated, wheeled ro- weapon sight. The other nine variants con- The Ground Combat Vehicle, managed botic platform. The system includes a sist of the M1130 commander’s vehicle, the by PM GCV, is part of the Army’s combat mast-mounted color video camera, a radio M1127 reconnaissance vehicle (RV), the vehicle modernization strategy, second transmitter and an operator control unit. M1131 A1 fire support vehicle, the M1129 only to the Network. The GCV Program’s The camera mast can be raised up to 45 A1 mounted mortar carrier, the M1134 anti- objective is to develop and deliver an af- inches. The four-wheel-drive independent tank guided missile vehicle, the M1132 en- fordable and effective infantry fighting ve- suspension allows maneuverability over gineer squad vehicle, the M1133 medical hicle by focusing on affordability and pro- relatively rough terrain including curbs up evacuation vehicle and the M1135 nuclear- gram risk reduction through the use of to 4 inches tall. In 2008, the system was up- biological-chemical reconnaissance vehicle. mature technology and prudent perfor- graded to replace the separate control and The M1128 mobile gun system is based on mance trades. The Army is executing a video radios with a single digital radio. the ICV but modified to incorporate a 105 three-pronged strategy, now in the technol- The custom suitcase-sized controller was mm turreted gun, an autoloader system ogy development phase, that uses contrac- replaced with a common, ruggedized note- and a crew of three. tor-developed, best-value designs; techni- book personal computer and game-style The addition of the double-V hull (DVH) cal and operational studies of existing handheld controller. The MARCbot has provides improved blast protection for the vehicle platforms; and continued analysis been fielded since 2004 with more than 850 Stryker crew and is currently being fielded of existing alternatives to assess GCV re- robots deployed. in Afghanistan. Based on the unique operat- quirements against cost and schedule. An The M160 Anti-Personnel Mine Clear- ing environment encountered in Afghan- update to the analysis of alternatives, in- ing System, Remote Control, is a 6-ton, istan, DVH ICVs (ICVVs) were provided in formed by contractor design work, will be tracked robot designed for tele-operation

348 ARMY I October 2012 from either mounted or dismounted posi- tions to perform area clearance of antiper- sonnel mine-sown areas. The M160 deto- nates or destroys antipersonnel mines in a 66-inch wide path through the action of a rotating chain and hammer flail system. It fills the light flail mission in the area clear- ance family of systems. Because it’s a program-of-record robot, system improvements are implemented via an engineering change process. Multiple engineering change proposals have been approved and integrated into the M160 de- sign to enhance the robot’s utility for the soldier or marine. These improvements in- clude transportability certification, soft- ware version updates to allow vehicle maintainers to troubleshoot and isolate causes of failures at the vehicle control panel, and updated marking requirements. The M160 was originally procured as a COTS item but has made the transition to a program of record and is currently in production. The PackBot is a COTS, small, tele-oper- ated, tracked robotic platform. The system is modular and easily reconfigured. Basic XM1216 Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle mission packages include an articulated arm with a gripper, a color surveillance tion, system endurance, camera resolution, improved electro-optical and infrared camera with ultra low-light and zoom ca- situational awareness, radio communica- cameras in the head assembly for im- pabilities, and a rugged game-style con- tion, and mission data storage. Additional proved long-range night-vision perfor- troller for the common, ruggedized laptop improvements being developed and eval- mance; laser rangefinder to provide target operator control unit. Two different styles uated include an increase in manipulator location by grid coordinates; enhanced of manipulator arms are available within arm dexterity, improved communication manipulator arm; fiber optic tether spooler; the PackBot family. The first is a small arm range in urban and covert scenarios, and chemical, biological, radiological and nu- manipulator with 42-inch extension and a increased drive motor torque to improve clear detector; and an embedded tactical lifting capacity of 5 pounds throughout the system mobility. engagement simulation system. full range of motion. The second is a three- The TALON family is supporting sol- The SUGV is currently in low-rate initial link arm that can extend 80 inches and lift diers and marines with explosive ordnance production. 30 pounds close to the chassis and 10 disposal, route clearance engineer support, The Mini-EOD (SUGV310) is a COTS, pounds at full extension. and reconnaissance and surveillance mis- lightweight, manportable, tracked robotic Multiple variants of the PackBot have sions. Approximately 800 TALON systems vehicle. The Mini-EOD is composed of a been fielded, including the PackBot 500 ex- were fielded to Operation Enduring Free- manipulator arm with camera, lights, and a plosive ordnance disposal, PackBot 500 dom and Operation New Dawn. Approxi- chassis with four drive cameras. The user FIDO chemical sniffer, and PackBot 510 mately 450 systems are supporting various wears a monocle over one eye to see what FasTac. A recent software upgrade on the training requirements in the United States the robot sees and operates the vehicle with PackBot 510 platform enhances plug-and- and abroad. a small handheld device similar to that play interoperability of all 500 and 510 se- The XM1216 Small Unmanned Ground used in common gaming systems, both at- ries payloads on the FasTac chassis. Vehicle (SUGV) is a program of record, tached to a wearable operator control unit. More than 1,900 PackBot family robots tele-operated, manportable, tracked ro- The Mini-EOD can navigate over vari- have been supporting operations in theater. botic vehicle capable of conducting six- ous types of terrain including rocky, sandy The TALON Family of Systems is a hour missions in urban areas, tunnels and and uneven surfaces, and the low-light ca- COTS, vehicle-transportable, tele-oper- caves. The SUGV provides situational pabilities enable it to perform during both ated, multi-terrain tracked system that has awareness, intelligence, surveillance and day and nighttime operations. The pivot- the operational flexibility for a variety of reconnaissance to dismounted soldiers, en- ing manipulator arm is capable of extend- missions. The TALON provides standoff abling the performance of manpower-in- ing up to 2 feet and can lift up to 15 pounds protection during remote reconnaissance tensive or high-risk functions without ex- close in and 7 pounds fully extended. and surveillance. The gripper attached to posing soldiers directly to threats. The RS JPO utilizes feedback from units us- the control arm can support explosive ord- SUGV can climb stairs, negotiate 10-inch ing the Mini-EOD in theater and U.S. nance disposal as well as additional engi- vertical obstacles, and traverse slopes and training sites to develop enhancements neer support activities that may not involve austere terrain. The modular design allows and solutions for improved performance, interrogation of improvised explosive de- multiple payloads to be integrated in a reliability, and operational effectiveness vices. The systems include three cameras plug-and-play fashion. for the soldier or marine. and a modular design that allows for plug- During FY 2010, 52 design improve- As a result of a joint urgent operational and-play upgrades. ments were implemented. Final XM1216 needs statement, more than 400 Mini-EOD The TALON family of systems has un- SUGV baseline configuration increased ca- robots have been fielded in support of dergone various improvements through pabilities include: enhanced radio for se- combat operations by all branches of the user feedback to enhance operator protec- cure communications at greater distances; military.

October 2012 I ARMY 349