ST. LOUIS -- The Future Combat System (FCS) family of Manned Ground Vehicles (MGVs) being developed by the LSI MGV Team, including their major teammates General Dynamics and BAE Systems, successfully completed the U.S. Army and Lead Systems Integrator’s (LSI) Systems Functional Review (SFR) event.

General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, and BAE Systems formed an integrated design team in December 2003 to develop and demonstrate a family of eight Manned Ground Vehicles, sharing common components and subsystems. General Dynamics Land Systems has the lead responsibility for the overall MGV Common Systems Engineering and Integration and the integration of the Command and Control Vehicle, the Mounted Combat System and the Reconnaissance and Surveillance Vehicle. BAE Systems is participating in the Common design and is responsible for integrating the FCS Recovery and Maintenance Vehicle, Infantry Carrier Vehicle, Medical Vehicle, the Non-Line-of-Sight-Cannon, and Mortar.

The purpose of the SFR is to confirm that the Army, LSI and GD/BAE Team understand the MGV platform-level requirements as communicated from the System of System specifications, and have developed MGV platform concepts that meet the requirements. The week-long review included a comprehensive examination of 16 areas. All issues identified during the process have been resolved or have approved closure plans in place.

• Prime Item Development Specifications for each of the 8 MGV variants

• Functional analysis and allocation of requirements

• Design data defining each of the variants

• Analyses, reports, trade studies, logistics, support analysis data, and design documentation

• Proposed system design configuration in terms of Technical Performance Measures (TPMs)

• Individual program and design plans

“Completion of the MGV SFR represents an important accomplishment for the Army, LSI and our partners as we prepare for the next FCS technical milestone, the In-process Preliminary Design Review in August, and continue to focus on program execution,” said Dennis Muilenburg, Boeing vice president-general manager and FCS program manager. “MGVs are a crucial element of the FCS system of systems, and we are pleased with the tremendous effort put forth by the MGV design team of BAE and General Dynamics to ensure a successful SFR.”

Successful completion of the MGV SFR positions the program for the beginning of the MGV Preliminary Design Phase, which will be started in steps as closure plans are completed. Here, platform hardware and software requirements at the subsystem and component level will be identified and defined, and designs will be developed that support moving to the next phase - detailed design.

The FCS family of MGVs is a critical component of the FCS-equipped force. MGVs are expected to host more than 75 percent of the Future Combat System Brigade Combat Team [FCS(BCT)] lethality and nearly that same level of ground-sensor capability. MGVs are the cornerstone of the Army’s FBCT.

FCS MGVs share a common architecture that focuses on high performance, commonality and reliability. The family of vehicles will be in the 24-ton weight class and multi-mode transportable, while offering lethality and survivability equal to or better than that of today’s heavy armored force. This will be achieved through a combination of enhanced situational awareness, assured communications within a network-centric force and use of technologies in the lethality and survivability arenas.

FCS is the centerpiece of the U.S. Army’s transformation to a lightweight, rapidly deployable and lethal network-centric force. FCS is a “System of Systems” that includes 18 vehicle platforms plus an overarching network. Once completed, FCS will integrate soldiers with a new family of unmanned air platforms and sensors, together with both manned and unmanned ground platforms across the battlespace. FCS will equip tactical formations with an affordable and optimum set of net-centric combat capabilities required to fulfill the Army’s “Future Force” vision.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 72,700 people worldwide and had 2005 revenue of $21.2 billion. The company is a market leader in mission-critical information systems and technologies; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and business aviation.

BAE Systems is the premier transatlantic defense and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With more than 100,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems sales exceeded GBP £15.4 billion (US$28 billion) in 2005.

GDLS
02.06.2006