1. Good morning ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the 2004 National Defense Industrial Association Combat Vehicle Conference and to Fort Knox, the Home of Mounted Warfare. Unfortunately MG Tucker, the Commanding General, is unable to be here but has sent along his warm invitation and his wishes that you have an exciting and informative conference.
As usual NDIA has put together an impressive array of speakers that will inform as well as motivate you to participate in these exciting times in the history of the mechanized force. I encourage you to be an active participant in the conference. Ask questions of the speakers and in particular the panel members. This is your opportunity to learn what we are doing and how you can contribute to the significant challenges ahead as part of the Army Team.
As you can see from this year’s theme, it promises to be an exciting conference. Not only will you hear about Army programs for the current, interim and future force but you will also hear about the ground vehicle improvements planned by the Marine Corps. You will hear about the ongoing activities for the Future Force and our plans for technology insertion. Of particular interest will be the panel discussion about Iraqi Freedom. You will have the opportunity to hear first hand from the combat leaders that were there and I encourage you to ask questions. And finally you will hear from our panel of “Greybeards” on their reflections on the current transformation efforts.

2. Insert Video – Run prior to BG Bryant presentation.

3. Mounted Warfare Evolution Continues….
1970’s - “Big Five” – Platform Centric
- Cold War
- Desert Storm
- Operation Iraqi Freedom
1990’s - New Operational Environment
- System of Systems Centric
- Family of Systems
Mounted warfare has evolved from the first horse cavalryman through the evolution of armored vehicles from the first mechanized vehicles to the M1A2 Abrams tank of today – the most dominant tank on today’s battlefield. The birth of the M1 as part of the “Big Five” of the 1970’s has proven it’s value from deterring the Communist threat in Europe during the Cold war to the desert warfare of Desert Storm and now to the battlefields of Iraqi Freedom. The philosophy of that period was to field dominant weapons platforms that were materiel focused and platform centric. The concepts, doctrine, organizations, and training of the time was modified as the new equipment was introduced into the organizations.
The 1990’s introduced a new Operational Environment forcing the US Army to evaluate a new way of doing business. Gone are the predicted large armored battles across the European landscape. Gone are the target rich environments and tank on tank battles envisioned during the Cold War. The new Operational Environment has changed to a System of Systems focus and the introduction of a family of systems each with its own contribution. But make no mistake that although the environment of modern battle has changed, the US Army will continue to exercise battlefield dominance through the capabilities brought by the new system of systems and our new construct of a total reorganization of the way we fight.
Capabilities Based
Battlefield Dominance

4. THE CHALLENGES “RIGHT SOLUTION – NOT JUST A SOLUTION” DOCTRINE
CURRENTLY
ENGAGED
BUILDING
THE FUTURE
FORCE
OIF
OEF
LARGEST FUNDEMENTAL CHANGE SINCE 1939
EVOLVING FORCE
MIX OF NEW AND OLD TECHNOLOGIES
SIMUTANEOUSLY M1 M2
STYKER
FCS
“RIGHT SOLUTION – NOT JUST A SOLUTION”
The US Army is undergoing the most fundamental change to the way we are organized, equipped and fight since before WWII. There are three awesome challenges to this sweeping transformation.
The first challenge is to sustain our forces in the field that are currently engaged. Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have brought about a new way of warfare and one that we have quickly adapted to with our equipment and tactics. The systems that we are using in theater are those that have served us well and which you are familiar – the M1A2 Abrams, the M2A3 Bradley to name a few. But we have also introduced our latest development the Stryker that is proving its value everyday. This hybrid force mix of older and newer equipment will continue well into the future.
The second challenge is to concurrently build the future force. This effort is being done here at Ft. Knox in the Unit of Action Maneuver Battle Laboratory but we are not doing this work alone. With the help of other TRADOC schools and our industry partners we will accomplish this formidable task. The close relationship that we have developed with our industry partners has ushered is a new way of doing business and one that is proving to be quite successful. Never before has our industry partners been as embedded in the One Team concept as they are today.
The third challenge is one that is always with us and that is the challenge of affordability. We must execute these challenges within fiscal constraints. Not only must we continue to maintain the battlefield dominance of our current force but also execute the costly development of the materiel systems of the future while at the same time transforming doctrine, training, leader development, organizations, personnel and facilities. It is our responsibility, and with your help, we will find the right solution.
I will now turn the presentation over to COL Bob Beckinger, the FCS TSM, who will present the status of the Abrams, Stryker, and FCS programs.
DOCTRINE
TRAINING
LEADERS
ORGANIZATION
MATERIEL
PERSONNEL
FACILITIES
Capabilities Based
Battlefield Dominance

5. Current Force Will Fight and Overmatch the Enemy through 2032
Abrams & Bradley key battlefield systems in US land warfare capability – battle proven
Abrams is the most feared combat system on the battlefield
Modernization essential to maintain overmatch & crew survivability until 2032 – will occur with Tech Spiral from FCS.
KEYS:
360 o protection (i.e., APS, armor improvements)
2nd & 3rd Generation FLIR
System of System Common Operating Environment (SOSCOE)
Upgrade computer processing allowing networking with FCS
TC and Loader Protection if exposed
Recapitalization of AGT1500 (now) // M1A1 (now) // SEP (later)
Next generation ammunition dependant on threat and FCS tech programs
THE CURRENT MECHANIZED FLEET IS A VERY CAPABLE FIGHTING FORCE ON TODAY’S BATTLEFIELD. THE ABRAMS AND BRADLEY ARE COMBAT PROVEN IN DIFFERENT OPERATING ENVIRONMENTS AND OVERWHELM THE ENEMY. THOSE COMBAT PLATFORMS WILL REMAIN IN THE ARMY’S INVENTORY FOR THE NEXT THIRTY YEARS AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE ARMOR FORCE DECISIVE FIREPOWER WHENEVER NECESSARY. HOWEVER, AS THE THREAT AND OPERATING ENVIRONMENTS CHANGE, SO TO MUST THESE PLATFORMS. OVER THE NEXT TWENTY TO THIRTY YEARS, IT WILL BE ESSENTIAL FOR THE ABRAMS TANK TO MODERNIZE IN LETHALITY, SURVIVABILITY, COMMUNICATIONS, AND SUSTAINABILITY IN ORDER TO GUARANTEE OVERWHELMING OVERMATCH IS CONTINUED ON THE BATTLEFIELD. THIS MODERNIZATION WILL MOST LIKELY OCCUR WITH SPIRALING FCS TECHNOLOGIES TO THE CURRENT FORCE COMBAT VEHICLES. SOME OF THE KEY AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT ARE:
DEGREE PROTECTION FROM RPGs, TROOPS, BLOS THREATS, ETC. THE TYPE OF PROTECTION COULD BE PROVIDED WITH A ACTIVE PROTECTION SYSTEM
(APS), LIGHTWEIGHT COMPOSITE ARMORS, NEW ARMOR TECHNOLOGIES, ETC. THE TYPE OF MATERIEL SOLUTION IS TBD, BUT THE CAPABILITY IS NECESSARY FROM WHAT WE HAVE SEEN DURING OPERATIONS IN OIF. IED, RPG, SNIPERS, INFANTRY USED BY THE ENEMY HAVE RESULTED IN CAUSALITIES TO ARMOR CREWMEN.

6. Current Force Will Fight and Overmatch the Enemy through 2032
Abrams & Bradley key battlefield systems in US land warfare capability – battle proven
Abrams is the most feared combat system on the battlefield
Modernization essential to maintain overmatch & crew survivability until 2032 – will occur with Tech Spiral from FCS.
KEYS:
360 o protection (i.e., APS, armor improvements)
2nd & 3rd Generation FLIR
System of System Common Operating Environment (SOSCOE)
Upgrade computer processing allowing networking with FCS
TC and Loader Protection if exposed
Recapitalization of AGT1500 (now) // M1A1 (now) // SEP (later)
Next generation ammunition dependant on threat and FCS tech programs
--- 2ND GEN FLIR IS A PROVEN COMBAT MULTIPLIER AND ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO THE ENTIRE ABRAMS FLEET. 3RD GEN FLIR IS ALREADY READY AND COULD BE AN UPGRADE TO ABRAMS AND BRADLEY, IF NECESSARY.
--- ANOTHER ESSENTIAL UPGRADE FOR MECH FLEET IS THE SAME NETWORK FCS USES AND THE COMPUTING POWER NECESSARY TO INTERFACE WITH THAT NETWORK. SOSCOE IS THE COMPUTING SYSTEM AND NETWORK PLANNED FOR FCS.
--- TC AND LOADER PROTECTION IS A KEY LESSON LEARNED FROM OIF. SOME OF THE CAUSALITIES EXPERIENCED IN OIF OCCURRED WHILE TANK CREWMEN WERE EXPOSED FIRING THEIR CREW WEAPONS OR SMALL ARMS. SOME VERY PROMISING SOLUTIONS HAVE RECENTLY BEEN MANUFACTURED, TESTED, SAFETY RELEASED, AND FIELDED TO ABRAMS AND HMMWVS. OTHER OPTIONS NEED TO BE EXPLORED TO PROVIDE FULL 360 DEGREE PROTECTION AND VISION OR CHANGES MADE TO THE PLATFORM TO ALLOW REMOTE UNDER ARMOR SMALL ARMS ENGAGEMENTS. CHANGES TO TANK GUNNERY TABLES WILL ALSO REQUIRE BETTER TC AND LOADER PROTECTION.
--- RECAPITALIZATION OF THE ABRAMS AND BFV FLEET IS ALSO ESSENTIAL. SOME OF THOSE PLATFORMS ARE EXCEEDING TWENTY YEARS OF OPERATION AND REQUIRE EXTENSIVE OVERHAUL. ABRAMS ACCOMPLISHES THIS THROUGH THE AIM (ABRAMS INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT) PROCESS ON M1A1 TANKS. THE AGT1500 ENGINE WILL ALSO BE OVERHAULED THROUGH THE TIGER (TANK INTEGRATED ENGINE REVITALIZATION) PROGRAM.
--- LETHALITY IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO NECESSARY TO DEFEAT FUTURE THREATS. DEPENDING ON THE FCS CALIBER DECISION, THESE AMMUNITION IMPROVEMENTS MAYBE COMMON TO ABRAMS.

7. Stryker Fights in Current COE
8 of 10 variants fielded to 2 SBCTs and Combat Capable
3-2 IN currently deployed to OIF, 1-25 IN to deploy
172d SIB (Alaska) fielding now
Six Stryker BCTs being fielded through FY09.
Block modifications (P3I) incorporated throughout fielding.
AS YOU KNOW THE STRYKER IS ALREADY IN THE FORCE AND HAS BEEN DEPLOYED TO THEATER. THE RESULTS TO DATE ARE IMPRESSIVE AND INDICATE THAT WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK WITH INTRODUCTION OF THE VEHICLE INTO THE CURRENT OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT. WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIELD THE STRYKER WITH CURRENT PLANS SHOWN HERE.
A MAJOR CONCERN IN FIELDING THE VEHICLE WAS THE SURVIVABILITY OF THE VEHICLE IN MOUT OPERATIONS. THE US ARMY SPENT A LOT OF EFFORT TO MAKE THE STRYKER AS SURVIVABLE AS POSSIBLE PRIOR TO ITS INTRODUCTION AND THIS EFFORT HAS PAID BIG DIVIDENDS. THE SPEED AND STEALTH OF THE STRYKER HAS PROVEN, AS WAS EXPECTED, TO BE A KEY ASSET TO THE SBCT IN OIF, BOTH IN MOBILITY AND SURVIVABILITY. INTRODUCTION OF SLAT ARMOR, AS INTERIM RPG PROTECTION, HAS PROVEN TO BE A DEFINITE ASSET TO THE SURVIVABILITY OF THE STRYKER CREWS IN THE MOUT ENVIRONMENT OF OIF. STRYKER SURVIVABILITY WILL BE ENHANCED THROUGH THE INCORPORATION OF IMPROVED ARMOR PACKAGES, ACTIVE PROTECTION SYSTEMS AND SIGNATURE MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGIES.
LETHALITY IMPROVEMENTS CONTINUE TO BE INTRODUCED TO FURTHER ENHANCE THE VEHICLE CAPABILITIES, THE INTRODUCTION OF 2ND AND 3RD GENERATION FLIR WILL SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE ITS COMBAT CAPABILITIES.
A KEY SITUATIONAL AWARENESS ENHANCEMENT WILL BE THE INTEGRATION OF MOUNTED WARRIOR AND LAND WARRIOR CAPABILITIES ONTO THE STRYKER. INNOVATION HAS NOT BEEN LIMITED TO THE CURRENT FORCES. ALTHOUGH EQUIPPED WITH EPLRS BASED COMMUNICATION, THE STRYKER HAS BEEN ABLE TO ADAPT TO THE INTEROPERABILITY NEEDS OF THE COMMANDER, SUCH AS ACCEPTING AN ADD-ON BFT CAPABILITY.
AS NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND EQUIPMENT MATURE AND ARE MADE AVAILABLE, FUTURE SBCTs WILL INCORPORATE THEM. OF PARTICULAR INTEREST WILL BE THE CONTINUED UPGRADE OF THE C4I CAPABILITIES TO ENSURE THE STRYKER CAN SUCCESSFULLY OPERATE IN THE SOSCOE.
KEYS:
Survivability: APS, Signature Mgmt., Combat ID Sys., Armor upgrades
Lethality: ICV, RV, MGS Far Target Designate/Locate, 2nd & 3rd GEN FLIR
Land Warrior/ Mounted Warrior Systems Integration
System of System Common Operating Environment (SOSCOE)
Upgrade C4I and computer processing to allow networking with FCS

8. FCS Capabilities Full Spectrum Dominance
The Army's future force is revolutionary; capable of deploying worldwide in a matter of hours, leveraging information superiority, and entering areas of operations ready for combat on arrival.
The FCS relies on a total “system of systems” approach to achieve full spectrum dominance.
FCS capabilities will be fuzed into the current & modular force constructs (beginning FY08) through a Spiral integration process.
Keys:
Transportability: C-130 deployable for (Strategic) inter-theater options, and (operational) intra-theater operational maneuver.
Survivability: FCS networked enabled protection for crews and passengers equal to current force platforms (Abrams, Bradley).
Lethality: Networked lethality brings together sensors, fires and effects, internal and external, to create “overmatch”.
Mobility: The FCS FoS will have the standoff capabilities to detect, identify, report, mark, neutralize, and destroy counter-mobility obstacles & devices in stride.
Sustainability: The FCS Family of System’s network enabled Operational Availability (Ao) will meet or exceed the current force.
CAPABILITIES ASSESSMENT:
Transportability:
FCS FoS transportability provides intertheater options for strategic deployment and intra-theater options for operational maneuver in order to execute a range of missions within a campaign.
Essential Combat Configuration (ECC) weight tons; Full Combat Configuration (FCC) “design to” weight of 20 tons
ECC to FCC Transition time (Referred to as “30 / 30” – total 1 hour for “ECC to FCC”):
30 minutes to organized to fight as coherent organizations - with initial sustainment
30 minutes to incorporate “add-on armor” packages as required by variant.
Current developmental course of action is to refine ECC definition and explore ECC to FCC transition options prior to next Requirements ICT.
Survivability:
KPP requirement (for manned fleet) defined as: Protection of crews and passengers from life threatening incapacitation resulting from: 14.5mm; 30 mm against frontal 60 degree arc; RPG; ATGM; and HE/HEAT effects.
Lethality:
Networked lethality brings together sensors, fires and effects, internal and external, to create the overmatch against target sets outlined in the FCS STAR (except for threat fixed wing aircraft) with a 65%(T) / 99%(O) probability of achieving the desired effect, given a decision to employ an effect.
Networked ( and Networked Lethality) is primary focus of development during Spiral I.
Current Individual MGV lethality solutions status:
NLOS-C ( 155mm / 38 Cal)
MCS ( 120mm LW vs 105mm S / R - still working; final results of IRT will support TRADOC recommendation sometime mid-September 04)
All other variants (minus MED-V) still working secondary weapon systems.
Mobility: The FCS FoS must have:
The standoff capability to detect, identify, report through the C4ISR architecture, mark, neutralize, and destroy mines, obstacles, Improvised Explosive Devices (IED), and booby traps (cunning devices) (Threshold) in stride. (Objective).
A capability to proactively populate selected operating areas with unmanned systems linked to specific effect-munitions throughout the battlefield. (Threshold).
Provide the UA an organic capability for mounted forces to detect, mark and neutralize surface and buried AT mines, IEDs and Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) that have recently been emplaced (under 48 hours)(Threshold) and existing impediments (over 48 hours) (Objective) with a Probability of Detection (Pd) .90 (Threshold) and .98 (Objective), a Probability of Neutralization (Pn) of .95 (Threshold), and .99 (Objective).
Sustainability: Operational Availability (Ao) for critical systems is 85% (Threshold); 99% (Objective)
PROGRAM ACCELERATION:
Core Systems:
Spiral I Network; Unattended Ground Sensors; NLOS–Launch System; Intelligent Munitions System; NLOS-Cannon (Pre-Production)
Spiral II - Comms Relay Payload; Enhanced EO/IR/LD (UAV); UAVs; NLOS-Cannon (Block 0)
Spiral III - Unmanned Ground Vehicles ( 3 variants)
Spiral IV - Battle Command Global Information Grid / MGV’s

9. As you have seen from the video we have built an impressive mechanized force throughout the years that has and continues to ensure battlefield dominance. You have heard our plans for the existing Abrams and Bradley vehicles as well as some of the planned improvements to Stryker. As the lessons learned continue to come in from Enduring Freedom, we may yet again revise improvement plans for these vehicles. And we certainly take these lessons learned into consideration as we move forward with development of the Future Force.
I hope you find this conference exciting and informative and that you enjoy your stay here at the “Home of Mounted Warfare”. I encourage you to participate in the conference. Ask questions of the speakers and dialog among yourselves as to how you can help us in the challenges ahead as a member of the Army team.