Next Generation Combat Vehicle Advanced Technology

The Next Generation Combat Vehicle Advanced Technology program is a key element of the Army's modernization strategy, focusing on the research, development, and demonstration of advanced technologies for future ground combat vehicles. The overarching goal is to enable smarter, faster, more lethal, precise, protected, and adaptable Army formations by maturing and integrating foundational vehicle architectures, including autonomy, power, electronic, physical, lethality, and protection systems. The program supports manned, optionally manned, and unmanned vehicles, aiming to deliver decisive capabilities for multi-domain operations. Research is conducted by several Army centers, including the Ground Vehicle Systems Center, C5ISR Center, Armament Center, and the Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory.

Combat Vehicle Robotics Advanced Technology focuses on maturing and demonstrating scalable integration of robotic and autonomous systems within Army formations. Specific objectives include platform electronic control and autonomy safety engineering, unmanned maneuver technologies, and soldier-robotic interface integration. The project emphasizes the transition from government-developed autonomy software to integration and testing of industry solutions, with a strong focus on safety certification, assured teleoperation, and real-time video assurance. The Human-Machine Integrated Formations subproject advances command and control and autonomy software, modular open system architectures, and system integration for both armored and infantry robotic platforms.

Crew Augmentation and Optimization Advanced Technology aims to enhance crew performance and enable closed-hatch operations through rapid integration of intelligent systems and machine learning. The project's goals include dynamic tasking, decision aids, early warnings, and improved crew interactions, with a focus on reducing response times and optimizing task durations. Technologies are validated through operational demonstrations and modeling and simulation. Efforts include maturing helmet-mounted displays, spatial audio, embedded training, and UAS/Counter-UAS crew technologies.

Sensors for Auto Oper and Survivability Advanced Technology develops and demonstrates advanced multi-function sensors and threat cueing capabilities to improve situational awareness and targeting for manned and unmanned platforms. Objectives include maturing multispectral sensor systems, optimizing sensor-to-shooter timelines, and automating sensor data fusion. The Multi-Mission Payload subproject focuses on integrating sensors for ground vehicle-based unmanned aerial systems to detect threats and obstacles in all environments, with emphasis on aided target recognition and real-time data dissemination.

Ground Systems Active Defense Advanced Technology is dedicated to maturing and demonstrating protection and survivability technologies for ground vehicles. This includes active and passive protection systems, advanced armors, blast mitigation, and adaptive interior protection. Key areas of focus are soft-kill and hard-kill active protection systems, integrated signature management, next-generation adaptive armor, and collaborative defense technologies that enable resource sharing across multiple platforms. The project also supports system-level integration and validation through laboratory and field demonstrations.

Platform Electrification and Mobility Advanced Technology centers on maturing high-power technologies for both manned and unmanned vehicles, supporting advanced payloads like directed energy weapons and enabling silent mobility and extended operational duration. The project addresses energy storage, supply chain security for batteries, hybrid electric systems, and advanced running gear and suspension systems. Collaboration with the Department of Energy is leveraged to develop energy-efficient solutions and improve vehicle performance while reducing logistics and carbon emissions.

Ground Vehicle Advanced Technology is a Congressional Interest Item supporting a wide array of research and development initiatives, including blast-resistant fuel systems, autonomous ground vehicle research, advanced materials applications, additive manufacturing, cybersecurity for autonomous vehicles, battery technologies, and virtual prototyping. The project funds efforts to address survivability, mobility, energy efficiency, manufacturing processes, and operational effectiveness for future ground vehicle platforms, with a focus on transitioning innovative concepts into practical capabilities for the Army.