What remains of the U.S. Army's former Future Combat Systems is getting smaller, as the service plans to remove two unmanned ground vehicles and one air vehicle from the program.
The Brigade Combat Team Modernization (BCTM) program, as FCS is now known, is removing two variants of Lockheed Martin's Multifunctional Utility/Logistics and Equipment (MULE) vehicle, one devoted to transport, one to fighting mines. The program is also removing the Class IV UAV, a role filled by Northrop Grumman's Fire Scout unmanned helicopter.
The move comes as the Army prepares its fiscal 2011 budget, due to be revealed in coming weeks. Lockheed Martin says the cuts won’t make a large difference.
“The termination order does not affect, and work continues on, the Armed Robotic Vehicle (ARV) variant of the MULE, which accounts for approximately 90 percent of total anticipated MULE production program," a company statement says.
“Lockheed Martin is obviously disappointed with the decision to discontinue development of the Transport and Countermine MULE vehicles but appreciates the Army’s recognition of the performance maturity of the program to date and the Army’s confidence in our ability to deliver the enhanced combat capability the ARV MULE variant brings to the future warfighter.”
The ARV MULE is scheduled for a critical design review in 2010, and the company also plans to build a prototype vehicle.
Fire Scout does not depend on BCTM for its future, as it's already in production for the U.S. Navy, but the company said it’s disappointed in the action.
“Northrop Grumman believes that warfighters have a strong requirement for VUASs [vertical unmanned aerial systems] to meet their needs in the areas of reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition; communications relay; signal intelligence; and resupply,” the company said in a statement.
“Army Fire Scout will demonstrate these capabilities in this month's Army Expeditionary Warfare Experiment at Ft. Benning, Georgia. Northrop Grumman remains dedicated to providing this unique capability to the soldier in the field. We are committed to meeting the VUAS needs of the Army and the U.S. Navy with this exemplary autonomous rotary wing unmanned aerial system.”
The Brigade Combat Team Modernization (BCTM) program, as FCS is now known, is removing two variants of Lockheed Martin's Multifunctional Utility/Logistics and Equipment (MULE) vehicle, one devoted to transport, one to fighting mines. The program is also removing the Class IV UAV, a role filled by Northrop Grumman's Fire Scout unmanned helicopter.
The move comes as the Army prepares its fiscal 2011 budget, due to be revealed in coming weeks. Lockheed Martin says the cuts won’t make a large difference.
“The termination order does not affect, and work continues on, the Armed Robotic Vehicle (ARV) variant of the MULE, which accounts for approximately 90 percent of total anticipated MULE production program," a company statement says.
“Lockheed Martin is obviously disappointed with the decision to discontinue development of the Transport and Countermine MULE vehicles but appreciates the Army’s recognition of the performance maturity of the program to date and the Army’s confidence in our ability to deliver the enhanced combat capability the ARV MULE variant brings to the future warfighter.”
The ARV MULE is scheduled for a critical design review in 2010, and the company also plans to build a prototype vehicle.
Fire Scout does not depend on BCTM for its future, as it's already in production for the U.S. Navy, but the company said it’s disappointed in the action.
“Northrop Grumman believes that warfighters have a strong requirement for VUASs [vertical unmanned aerial systems] to meet their needs in the areas of reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition; communications relay; signal intelligence; and resupply,” the company said in a statement.
“Army Fire Scout will demonstrate these capabilities in this month's Army Expeditionary Warfare Experiment at Ft. Benning, Georgia. Northrop Grumman remains dedicated to providing this unique capability to the soldier in the field. We are committed to meeting the VUAS needs of the Army and the U.S. Navy with this exemplary autonomous rotary wing unmanned aerial system.”
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