The Army Ground Combat Vehicle

What is it'

The Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) will be an adaptable vehicle with a modular design and incremental development approach. GCVs will provide commanders with configuration and employment options and complement the Army's versatile mix of forces. The GCV will provide improved force protection to our Soldiers; provide full tactical mobility; reduce the brigade combat team (BCT) sustainment burden; and host the Army battle command network systems. The GCV's modular design allows for growth in size, weight, power and cooling capacity, which enables rapid integration of improved capabilities in subsequent increments. In particular, GCV has growth potential in electrical and computer power to incorporate changes as network systems evolve.

Why is it important to the Army'

Our Army will continue to operate in an uncertain and complex environment. Our ability to adapt faster than our adversaries is essential to maintaining battlefield primacy. An incremental approach to combat vehicle modernization, centered on the Ground Combat Vehicle, synchronized with upgrades, reset and divestiture of existing vehicles, is the most effective way to improve capability in the near-term, mitigate risk associated with identified operational shortfalls and provide our Army with the ability to adapt to the ever-changing operational environment.

What is the Army doing'

The Army will introduce the Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) as the first variant of the GCV. Operations today and as envisioned in the near future take place among populations, on distributed battlefields, by Soldiers organized in small units. Providing the IFV variant first provides the best capability, supporting the greatest and most challenging operational demand.

What is the way ahead'

The GCV's incremental development approach enables development within five to seven years, while establishing a basis from which to adapt. The sequence of following GCV variants will be determined from continuing analysis of operational capability, capacity for adaptation, sustainment burdens, operational demands, and affordability. Capabilities incorporated in subsequent increments will be synchronized with ARFORGEN demand, based on changes in the operational environment and enabled by the maturation of developing technology.

Resources:

<a href="http://www.bctmod.army.mil/" target="_blank"> Army Program Executive Office Integration</a>