Suite of Survivability Enhancement Systems - EMD

The Suite of Survivability Enhancement Systems - EMD program is a critical Army initiative under Program Element (PE) 0604852A, designed to advance the protection of ground combat and tactical vehicles against evolving battlefield threats. The program's overarching goal is to develop, mature, and integrate a range of survivability solutions spanning active, reactive, and passive protection onto multiple vehicle platforms. This effort supports Army Modernization Priorities, addressing the limitations of legacy systems such as Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) and Slat armor, which do not provide preemptive or active defense and may pose secondary hazards to personnel and equipment.

Vehicle Protection Suite (VPS) Base Kit Integration is a foundational component of this program, focusing on the development and integration of the Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA) survivability systems controller. The VPS Base Kit (VBK) is designed to enable future technology insertion and supports both Non-Developmental Items (NDI) and developmental technologies. A key objective is the integration of the Laser Warning Receiver (LWR), which provides early threat detection for vehicle crews. Planned activities include continued MOSA software development, qualification testing, installation kit design, logistics product development, prototype manufacturing, and vehicle-level testing on platforms such as Abrams, Bradley, Stryker, and Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV).

Survivability Improvements within the program aim to transition and mature Science and Technology (S&T) protection technologies for integration onto ground combat and tactical vehicles. This includes the maturation of Soft Kill Active Protection Systems B Kit, passive and reactive armor tile engineering, and signature management solutions such as Camouflage, Concealment, Deception, and Obscuration (CCDO) technologies. The program plans to conduct engineering studies, demonstrations, and improvement assessments, as well as develop technical data packages and logistics products. These efforts are intended to address current and emerging threats, including top attack munitions, unmanned aircraft systems, and electronic warfare.

Vehicle Protection Suite Government Engineering and Program Management provides essential oversight and management support for all VPS-related activities. This includes coordination of integration, testing, and logistics for the Base Kit with LWR, Survivability Improvements such as reactive armor tiles and signature management, and active protection systems. The program management team ensures that development and fielding efforts remain aligned with Army requirements and acquisition strategies. This coordination facilitates effective transition from research and development to operational deployment.

VPS Trade Study activities are conducted to identify future technology insertion opportunities and inform formation protection requirements. These trade studies and feasibility assessments evaluate the operational impact of new survivability capabilities and analyze emerging threats. The studies focus on mature defense capabilities preemptive, active, reactive, and passive that can detect, track, divert, disrupt, neutralize, or destroy incoming threats, including non-lethal/lethal unmanned aircraft systems, air-to-ground missiles, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), mines, and cyber/electronic warfare. The results guide the selection of technologies for future integration and development.

The program's acquisition strategy emphasizes Horizontal Technology Integration (HTI) and the use of Modular Open System Architecture to enable tailored survivability solutions for specific vehicle platforms. This approach allows for future upgrades and technology insertion, ensuring that Army vehicles can adapt to evolving threats. Key stakeholders include TACOM/GVSC (Warren, Michigan), Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC), and the Maneuver Capabilities Development and Integration Directorate (MCDID), with oversight from the Next Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV) Cross Functional Team. The program is structured to support ongoing modernization efforts, with scheduled milestones for software development, testing, integration, and production readiness extending through 2030.