The USA’s GCV Infantry Fighting Vehicle: 3rd time the charm?

Bradley puts on wear

The US Army’s Heavy Brigade Combat Teams have relied on BAE’s 30+ ton Bradley family of M2/3/6/7 vehicles for a variety of combat functions, from armed infantry carrier and cavalry scout roles, to specialized tasks like calling artillery fire and even short-range air defense. The Bradley first entered US Army service in 1981, however, and the fleet has served through several wars. Even ongoing RESET, modernizations, and remanufacturing cannot keep them going indefinitely.

The Army’s problem is that replacing them has been a ton of trouble. Future Combat Systems’ MGV-IFV was terminated, along with the other MGV variants, by the 2010 budget. A proposal to replace it with a “Ground Combat Vehicle” (GCV) program raised concerns that the Army’s wish list would create an even less affordable solution. Now a revised GCV program is underway. Can it deliver a vehicle that will be effective on the battlefield? Just as important, can it deliver a vehicle that the US Army can afford to buy and maintain, in the midst of major national budgetary problems and swelling entitlement programs?

Rapid Fire April 24, 2013: Contractors Starting to Face Sequestration Fallout

• BAE Systems and its suppliers are lobbying the US Congress to sustain Bradley orders from the US Army and keep their production line open.

• Lockheed Martin’s Q1 2013 revenue was down 2% Y/Y to $11.1B, dragged down by the Aeronautics segment because of fewer F-16 and C-130 deliveries. They estimate sequestration could lower net sales for the year by $825M. Boeing’s sales for Q1 were down by 3% to $18.9B, with BDS at $8.1B.