Modular Electric Turret Drive and Stabilisation System for Bradley Replacement
On 8 October Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions division announced that its Drive Technology business in Switzerland has developed cost-effective, COTS-based electro-mechanical turret drive servo system (TDSS) solutions that deliver unprecedented flexibility for a new class of medium calibre, gun-based ground combat vehicle platforms.
The proven, modular and upgradeable TDSS is ideal for use on new ground vehicles, such as the US Army Future Command (AFC)’s planned replacement for the BRADLEY, the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV), part of its Next Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV) programme.
Well positioned to support AFC’s goal of demonstrating the OMFV in six months and deploying it in four to five years, the TDSS offers an ideal combination of modular cost-saving COTS design, industry-leading target location accuracy and turret stabilisation. The unique modular design enables a system integrator in a development programme to rapidly demonstrate a vehicle with one calibre and easily integrate a different calibre system, using the same proven components.
“Our Drive Technology business is ideally positioned to meet emerging demands for rapidly demonstrable, cost-effective, highly accurate turret stabilisation technology,” stated Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Defense Solutions division, Lynn Bamford. “Thanks to our internal engineering, operations and manufacturing prowess we are constantly improving the SWaP [Size, Weight and Power Consumption] performance of our electric gun turret drives and stabilisation systems, with new motors, and support for high voltage requirements, up to 600V, as we strive to set the industry standard for cost-effective, scalable turret drive servo systems.”
Because it uses standard system configurations, the TDSS approach speeds system development and enables programmes to reach demonstration and production phases far more rapidly. Curtiss-Wright’s rugged, high-reliability modular electromechanical stabilisation/aiming solutions include motion control systems (gun turrets, ammunition handling, missile handling) and related electromechanical components. The use of these preconfigured TDSS system components also reduces the time and costs associated with the requirements definition process.
The company’s scalable electro-mechanical turret drive stabilisation system solutions enable customers to select the appropriate level of turret stabilisation while providing an upgrade path that enables performance, precision, and features to be scaled as missions and budgets evolve. This approach uniquely enables customers to upgrade their ground vehicles with new or heavier weapons, without needing to replace the entire turret drive system.
