BAE & GDLS to Partner on HBCT Modernization
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BAE Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems have signed a memorandum of agreement to work collaboratively in support of the U. S. Army’s Heavy Brigade Combat Team modernization plan aimed at achieving modernization and commonality among the US Army’s heavy brigades. BAE already has partnership agreements with the Army concerning its M2/M3 Bradley infantry/ cavalry fighting vehicles, and its M109 tracked self-propelled howitzers. General Dynamics makes the USA’s M1 Abrams tanks, which are undergoing upgrades (M1A2 SEP & M1 TUSK) and RESET programs of their own.
The agreement was developed with the Army’s encouragement under the leadership of Kevin Fahey, the Army’s Program Executive Officer, Ground Combat System (PEO-GCS). It defines how both companies will work with the Army’s Heavy Brigade Combat Team Project Manager, and the Abrams & Bradley vehicle Product Managers, to turn front-line requirements into common solutions for relevant vehicles in the HBCT. The agreement also establishes the basic process for collaborative specification and product development, and provisions for the common procurement of material to support system evolution on both companies’ combat vehicles. common solutions would reduce logistics burdens, lower development costs, and make Soldier training easier; the HBCT’s combat vehicles have already demonstrated successful common requirements management in programs like HTI for thermal imaging.
BAE Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems are also One Team partners for the Future Combat Systems program, with primary responsibility for the program’s family of tracked vehicles. FCS Spinout 1 is already transferring communications systems and networking hardware to HBCT vehicles, and this partnership makes it easier to leverage other emerging technologies into common upgrades as well. BAE Systems release | GD release.
