Prototype based on ST Kinetics’ NGAFV chassis
Last week, Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) announced that it will compete to rapidly develop combat vehicle prototypes to meet the US Army’s need as part of the Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) programme. SAIC, together with ST Kinetics and CMI Defence, will develop and integrate a vehicle, based on ST Kinetics’ Next Generation Armored Fighting Vehicle (NGAFV) chassis and CMI Defence’s Cockerill Series 3105 turret currently in production. This vehicle will, according to the team, offer the army an innovative solution that provides infantry forces access to combat environments in 21st century operations. SAIC is competing against BAE Systems and GDLS.
“As a systems integrator, SAIC can deliver an alternative option to the Army that brings together best-of-breed, non-developmental components to field a new combat vehicle quickly that meets critical requirements,” Jim Scanlon, SAIC Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Defense Systems Customer Group, told MONS. “Rapid delivery of this MPF solution is essential to the army and our solution is extremely well-positioned to meet these requirements and deliver a modernised vehicle to soldiers.”
SAIC will compete for an Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract to build prototypes that incorporate a lightweight combat vehicle design while still providing mobility and lethality for Army units. Such a vehicle will enable freedom of movement and action, specifically for restrictive, urban operations but tailorable for full-spectrum combat environments, says the company.
“SAIC has developed a superior solution that integrates mature, currently produced offerings from our industry partners, ST Kinetics and CMI Defence. By marrying ST Kinetics’ chassis with CMI Defence’s turret, SAIC can deliver a reliable vehicle that gives soldiers a new capability in combat environments,” Mr. Scanlon explained.
“ST Kinetics is indeed honored to team up with SAIC again to participate in another major defence programme in the US,” Dr. Lee Shiang Long, President of ST Kinetics continued. “Our NGAFV is an advanced system that is fully digitalised, highly mobile and developed to support networked knowledge-based warfighting. A fleet of seven prototypes had been developed and robustly tested over several years. As the NGAFV will be in production soon, this platform brings minimal technical risk and a robust supply chain to the MPF programme.”
President of CMI Defence, Jean-Luc Maurange, added: “We are extremely proud to participate in the MPF programme with SAIC, especially as this is the 200th anniversary of our company’s founding. Our highly innovative turret and gun solution is already qualified and in production, which translates into a high level of manufacturing readiness, low technical risk and ensures our ability to meet the compressed program schedule required by the US Army.”
SAIC’s entry into the MPF competition builds on continued momentum in combat vehicle modernisation, to include the company’s recent collaboration with the Detroit Automotive Technologies Consortium (DATC) and the US Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) to assist in the development of the next-generation combat vehicle – experimental prototype (NGCV-EP). This recent success expands upon SAIC’s proven experience in modernising combat and tactical vehicles including Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles for the army, and Amphibious Combat Vehicles 1.1 (ACV) and Amphibious Assault Vehicles with Survivability Upgrades (AAV-SU) for the US Marine Corps.
DPM
