Future Combat Systems

Tuesday May 23, 2006

What is it? The Future Combat Systems (FCS)-equipped Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) will be the Army's future tactical warfighting echelon. They will provide the Combatant Commander a dominant ground combat force. The FCS-equipped BCT will consist of the following elements:

- The Combined Arms Battalions (three in each BCT)
- The Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) Cannon Battalion
- The Reconnaissance Surveillance and Target Acquisition (RSTA) Squadron
- The Forward Support Battalion (FSB)
- The Brigade Intelligence and Communications Company (BICC)
- The Headquarters Company.

FCS includes eighteen-plus-one-plus-one (18+1+1) core systems.

- Unattended Ground Sensors (UGS)
- Two unattended munitions, the Non-Line of Sight-Launch System (NLOS-LS) and Intelligent Munitions System (IMS)
- Four classes of unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) organic to platoon, company, battalion and BCT echelons
- Three classes of unmanned ground vehicles; the Armed Robotic Vehicle (ARV), Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle (SUGV) and Multifunctional Utility/Logistics and Equipment Vehicle (MULE)
- Eight Manned Ground Vehicles (MGVs)
- Plus the network (18+1)
- Plus the Soldier (18+1+1)

What has the Army done? FCS is now in the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase. The FCS acquisition program was approved by the Defense Acquisition Board in May 2003. FCS has been designated a Joint Services program with an Army and Marine Joint Program Office.
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For more information on this and other topics see Addendum J in the Army Posture Statement.

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