Next Generation Combat Vehicle Advanced Technology

Will mature soft-kill countermeasure techniques to defeat laser-guided ATGM threats; Will determine optimized sensor configuration for detection of unknown/unexploited threats; Will improve threat detection algorithms to include additional emerging threat classes and increase accuracy of threat tracking; Will demonstrate representative…

Will begin development and maturation of next increment of soft-kill subsystems to address additional threats; environmentally harden the system, begin upgrading to the latest revision of the Modular Active Protection System Framework; improve optimization of subsystems for space, weight, and power (SWAP) and begin virtual and lab…

Will complete Survivability subsystem/system demonstration, provide documentation and reports for selected survivability subsystems, and transition relevant information to stakeholders.

Will build upon prior year's work, at the system level for demonstration, to integrate packaged component designs for protection against advanced and emerging threats which employ complex defeat mechanisms. Will mature and optimize designs through integrated system-level environmental and automotive durability testing, followed by…

Will complete laboratory demonstration and transition deliverables to program office. Will document designs for advancements of next phase of active defense technologies.

Will provide Interface Control Documents at the sub-system level, including those for the Countermeasure, Launcher, Fire Control Solution, and Radar. Will update the system-level Interface Control Document based on sub-system finalization completing the Final Design Review package in order to baseline the system architecture. Will…

Builds upon FY2026 effort to culminate in the build of system-level demonstrator hardware for the final design. Validate performance of the design at the integrated system-level through physical testing of the demonstrator. Demonstration will be conducted in a relevant operational environment to include multiple types of loading…

Will collaborate with industry partners to identify and assess novel capabilities to enhance formation-level survivability; activities include down-selecting candidate technologies, procuring components to address identified threat defeat gaps, and validating component performance.

Will further develop integrated collaborative defense system design based on data from previous component-level demonstrations; mature and demonstrate threat and effector sensing and tracking modalities and optimize associated hardware and software; optimize effector and payload hardware for required terminal effects performance…

Will validate performance of the multi-spectral threats soft-kill design at the system-level through physical testing of the demonstrator. The demonstration will be conducted in a relevant operational environment to include multiple types of threats to ensure performance. Will transition multi-spectral threats soft-kill products.

Will build upon research conducted in PE 0602145A - Advanced Concepts for Active Defense/Advanced Vehicle Survivability. Will define and document system requirements to support integration on ground platforms. Will collaborate with industry partners to identify and assess novel capabilities to enhance platform survivability and occupant…

Mature and continue optimization of safety processes, components, and software focused on low level control (base vehicle platforms sensors, Drive By-Wire (DBW) systems, payload/subsystem management/monitoring) for uncrewed systems. Expand integration of safety certified components onto uncrewed systems to improve safe mobility with…

Improve and demonstrate an autonomous maneuver capabilities, with autonomous vehicles operating at speeds comparable to manned vehicles and executing comparable movement techniques in obstructed environments; continue to improve and demonstrate coordinated movements including both robotic platforms and Soldiers in these environments…

Improve and demonstrate the ability to operate three or more robotic assets from by a single operator within through the Warfighter Machine Interface (WMI). This task will develop improve the user interface minimize the by reducing the cognitive workload on a single operator and while allowing the robot operator to achieve the mission…

Continue to integrate, optimize, and demonstrate advanced autonomy behaviors, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) sensors, and optimize small, unmanned ground system platform and controls (using the Warfighter Machine Interface -WMI); mature and demonstrate enhanced autonomy behaviors for small Unmanned Ground Vehicles…

Advance robotic and autonomous systems warfighter effectiveness, lethality and survivability for Human-Machine Integrated Formations (H-MIF) by developing and integrating command and control (C2) and autonomy software for robotic maneuver and payload control; mature autonomy for ground robots through software development, advancement and…

Will advance the Army's un-crewed systems capabilities through a coordinated effort focused on architecture, security, resilience, and integration, prioritizing the rapid adoption of ready-now commercial technologies. Expand the foundational un-crewed architecture and interoperability standards - leveraging open standards, modular…

Will mature and demonstrate key ruggedized high-performance compute processing and intra-vehicle network functions within the common on-vehicle network architecture and electronics, enabling emerging artificial intelligence (AI)-intensive capabilities including autonomous mobility, aided targeting, identification, and recognition, active…

Will evaluate technologies associated with track, running gear and chassis systems needed to operate in complex off-road terrain; evaluate power generation, storage and distribution technologies required for vehicle propulsion and for onboard power and energy-based capabilities.

Will integrate a commercial automotive high power battery system on a military vehicle to evaluate and demonstrate capability in Soldier-operated evaluations.

Will integrate commercial power generation technologies onto a demonstrator offboard power system and demonstrate the capability in Soldier-operated evaluations.

Will evaluate technologies to facilitate long term safe storage of batteries. Will evaluate filler materials to increase the survivability of commercial batteries in environments. Will evaluate advanced power distribution technology to support high power systems on the battlefield. Will evaluate floating high voltage architectures to…

Will develop advanced sensor components to inform future maturation of a common, modular multispectral sensor system with low power processing and reduced SWaP; mature and demonstrate precision far target location for on-the-move performance and reduced crew workload for legacy and next generation targeting and surveillance systems…

FY 2025 Plans: Will optimize polarized sensors and demonstrate with embedded detection algorithms and a ground penetrating radar sensor with synthetic aperture radar processing to accurately identify locations of near peer threats from small UAS systems. Will provide threat data and their precise locations onto the tactical network from…

Will mature and demonstrate day/night electro-optic infrared (EO/IR) aided target detection and recognition (AITDR) threat detection capabilities using imagery collected in both temperate and sub-tropical environments, supporting expanded maneuver of ground platforms against remotely deployed mines; will demonstrate integrated air/ground…

Will mature novel, spectrally agile sensor protection measures for selective targeting and situational awareness while under attack from current and emerging laser threats.Mature integrated sensor signature reduction and self-protection technologies to enhance the resilience of tactical infrared imaging sensors against detection…

FY2027 planned work Will mature large caliber technologies to demonstrate interoperability and optimize technologies to improve armament system lethality, modularity and reliability while reducing size, weight, and cost; validate technology designs by conducting integrated live-fire demonstrations on relevant armament systems.

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decrease due to the reduction in live-fire demonstrations for large caliber technologies.

FY2026 plans — current year Will mature and optimize large caliber direct fire component level technologies that increase armament system lethality, modularity and reliability; conduct demonstrations of technologies on relevant armament systems via live-fire; validate technologies for improved armament system logistics and supportability.

FY2025 accomplishments Will demonstrate large caliber direct fire cannon component level technologies that increase: lethality against armored targets, probability of hit, and rate of fire; demonstrate compatibility automated ammunition handling; provide improved logistics and platform supportability via improved automation technologies.

FY2027 planned work Will mature and demonstrate mobility and counter mobility technologies;provide technologies for integration into autonomous uncrewed systems and validate technology interfaces in a lab environment.

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decrease due to economic adjustment.

FY2026 plans — current year Will mature technologies to conduct combat engineer operations including terrain shaping and breaching and integrate into robotic demonstration test bed hardware; validate the technology interfaces within a modeling and simulation environment, to include hardware in the loop (HIL) demonstration to validate integration and system performance.

FY2027 planned work Will mature, optimize & demonstrate advanced crew-station technologies through expanded rapid Soldier-Centric validations via high-fidelity vehicle simulators and future ground combat vehicle demonstrators, enhancing system effectiveness and lethality for the Army of 2030. Demonstrate Artificial Intelligence-based crew technologies and holistic digital assistants that augment reduced crew for future ground vehicle platforms. Mature and demonstrate drone & counter-drone control technologies, and automated crew-interaction with intelligent detection & recognition systems. Demonstrate collective Embedded Training solutions to enhance warfighter efficiency & readiness.

FY2026 to FY2027 change This increase in funding reflects an economic adjustment.

FY2026 plans — current year Will mature and demonstrate commercial technologies that provide for soldier-guided field adaptation of sensing and autonomous mobility technologies; demonstrate futuristic User Interfaces (UIs) of helmet-mounted displays and spatial audio to command, control and provide lethality for closed-hatched future combat platforms; mature and demonstrate Embedded Training capability for multi-role and add addition training modes for vehicle crews; demonstrate UAS/Counter-UAS crew technologies; validate effectiveness in operationally-relevant Modeling & Simulation (M&S) and field demonstration.

FY2025 accomplishments Mature and demonstrate technologies that augment overall NGCV crew task load; demonstrate use of augmentation technology aids and virtual control to facilitate battlespace awareness of events taking place outside the vehicle in simulation of closed hatched operations, improving protection for Soldiers operating NGCVs; optimize NGCV crew and/or formation notifications and cuing of mid-mission events; integrate, optimize and demonstrate advanced crew-to-section embedded training capability for NGCV platforms; validate effectiveness in an operationally-relevant, field demonstration.

FY2025 accomplishments Will demonstrate silent operation extension technology in the system level integration lab.

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decrease reflects the strategic reallocation of resources to support evolving priorities and objectives.

FY2026 plans — current year Will address supply chain deficiencies for the Li-ion 6T and other standard batteries by cultivating additional battery vendor technologies for to enable improved competition and a stronger supply base; exploit Department of Energy (DOE) investment to develop alternative material and cell suppliers for Li-ion 6T and other ground vehicle battery systems; mature and demonstrate approaches to safely integrate the Li-ion 6T and Modular high voltage battery to accelerate the fielding of these technologies to improve vehicle performance while reducing logistics.

FY2025 accomplishments Continue to exploit the Li-ion 6T, Small Tactical Universal Battery (STUB), Conformal Wearable Battery (CWB), and BB2590 form factor to cultivate new applications for this technology to increase standardization and volume to and reduce costs. Optimize the vehicle import/export power system for power density and further compatibility with the grid and microgrid systems.

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decrease reflects the strategic reallocation of resources to support evolving priorities and objectives.

FY2026 plans — current year Will mature track and suspension components for heavy combat applications; will improve vehicle height changes through suspension system spring adjustment, while augmenting vehicle performance with switchable damping.