Logistics and Engineer Equipment - Eng Dev

This project line supports the family of Maneuver Support Vessels (MSV) which enable Dynamic Force Repositioning (DFR) by providing the Combatant, Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) and Joint All Domain Operations (JADO) Commanders with the ability to access multiple entry points via littorals and inland waterways (waterborne corridor) to sustain forces within an anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) bubble. The family of MSV include the Maneuver Support Vessel (Light) (MSV(L)) and other systems both manned and autonomous, to include the Autonomous Resupply Vessel (ARV), Autonomy of MSV, and enablers which support INDOPACOM operational plans and Army Title 10 requirements to prepare for land combat and provide watercraft support in a theater of operations in support of Geographic Combatant Commands (GCC). MSV connectors will provide Surge, Precision and Dispersed Logistics to move and maneuver tailored forces, combat ready troops, platforms, equipment, and supply bulk fuel and water across the full spectrum of operations. MSV connectors mitigate A2/AD threats by providing access to shallow coastal waters, rivers, in narrow inland waterways in support of dispersed force elements in austere environments and where mature ports or road networks are unavailable. The MSV(L) provides upgraded capabilities such as higher operational speed, reduced draft and increased payload to support expeditionary movement and maneuver of tailored forces and combat power to mitigate the Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) operational environment. Capable of delivering a combat configured Abrams, Stryker or Bradley Fighting Vehicles along with critical sustainment missions including delivery of food, water, fuel, and ammunition. MSV(L) is the first new development program which will displace the Army's aging Landing Craft Mechanized-8 (LCM-8) class of vessels. The LCM-8 does not have the speed, functional draft (shallow water capability), interoperability, or maneuver capability to move today's Army Maneuver Platforms. The ARV is an autonomous uncrewed cargo vessel employed as part of an intra-theater Human Machine Integrated (HMI) Supply and Distribution System. The ARV will operate in unison with manned, remotely operated, and unmanned systems to sustain widely dispersed land formations deployed in contested littoral environments.

This project supports the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) of critical capabilities for cargo aerial delivery for identified theater distribution and services capability gaps, improve unit sustainability, and increase combat effectiveness. Project supports the demonstration of engineering development models and Type Classification of cargo parachutes, airdrop containers, sling load equipment, and other aerial delivery equipment to improve safety, effectiveness, and efficiency of airborne operations. This project develops critical enablers that support the Army in executing future movement and maneuver operations and distributed sustainment support. This project also ensures Army Expeditionary Forces are capable of rapid deployment by providing aerial delivery initiatives and reduces sustainment requirements, related Combat Support/Combat Service Support (CS/CSS) demands in lift, combat zone footprint, and costs for logistical support. Funding supports modernization of cargo aerial delivery portfolio, enabling contested logistics aerial delivery in anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) by dramatically increasing range of aerial delivery vehicles and allowing them to be employed in contested environments. Additionally, funding supports developing initial prototypes to enable refinement of operational requirements and early user feedback to support future sustainment and operational movement concepts.

This project supports the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) capability of military gap crossing systems, breaching equipment, and the exploration and integration of enabling new capabilities and technologies to support and improve the mobility, safety, and survivability of combat engineers and the maneuver forces. Wet gap crossing and breaching represent two of the most complex and difficult combined arms missions. This project also supports the development of critical capabilities necessary for interoperability with International Allies and Partners. This project allows for the conduct of market research and trade studies, generating life cycle cost estimates, engineering, prototyping, pre-production test and evaluation, and testing of Army bridges and associated enablers to ensure compliance with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) standardization agreement (STANAG) and recommendations (STANREC). The FY 2027 RDT&E budget request is $12.180 million. Funding supports development of the Dry Support Bridge (DSB) replacement, simulators for institutional training of the Joint Assault Bridge (JAB), maintainability and safety upgrades to the Heavy Assault Scissor Bridge (HASB), and a Bridge Health Monitoring (BHM) system. Funding also supports market research and systems engineering activities for emerging programs to include Autonomous Rafting, a Rapidly Emplaced Bridge System (REBS) replacement, and modular gap crossing solutions. Funding will enhance the Army's engineering capabilities by developing and modifying systems to support improvements within the Bridging Product Management portfolio.

Ultra-Lightweight Camouflage Net System (ULCANS) provides increased survivability against multi-spectral visual, infrared and radar threats, thermal signature suppression and significant thermal/solar reduction capability. ULCANS variants are integrated systems that are very lightweight, easily deployable, versatile, user friendly and tailored to the equipment meeting the requirements of operations for combat systems, command and control equipment, logistic support sites, tactical facilities, and fixed facilities. RDT&E funding for ULCANS Increment I program supports formal development for necessary technology/signature enhancements of three ULCANS Increment I variants (Woodland, Arctic, Desert/Urban) to replace current legacy ULCANS variants (Woodland and Desert). Mobile Camouflage System of Systems (MC SoS) provides full spectrum signature management for Vehicles from ground, aerial, and satellite threats. MC SoS enables combat vehicle protection and survivability against current threats; defeats enemy targeting and surveillance systems through multi-spectral concealment; enables multi-domain operations in Anti-Access and Area Denial Environment (A2/AD) environment and provides operational units layered protection and concealment against long-range precision fires, drones, ground, aerial, and satellite threats. Funding supports modernization of current camouflage net systems by investigating technological insertions that decrease Soldier and ground combat vehicle detection from threat sensors. Funding also supports developing initial prototypes to enable refinement of operational requirements and early user feedback to maintain overmatch signature reduction against future threat sensors from competitors. FY 2027 funding in the amount of $5.918 million supports the development of vehicle platforms including the Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV), Army Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV), and initiate Abrams.

Mobile Maintenance Equipment provides state of the art, deployable, vehicle-mounted, Soldier portable and containerized shelter tool systems supporting the readiness of the Joint warfighter directly supporting Soldier Lethality, Next Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV) and Long Range Precision Fires (LRPF), as well as, addressing warfighting capability GAPs 10(tactical mobility) and GAPs 17(material management and maintenance support processes and systems) as identified by US Army Combined Arms Center(CAC). These systems are equipped with industrial quality tools required for Two Level Maintenance that reduce common tool redundancy, provide tool standardization, minimize transportation requirements, reduce logistical footprint, and are backed by a Lifetime Warranty/Replacement Program which reduces sustainment costs. This is accomplished by employing a system of systems approach to maintenance acquisition. The System of Systems approach builds a maintenance capability upon each system, allowing a logical and natural approach to the Army's overall two level maintenance strategy. These inter-connected systems distributed throughout the Army at multiple levels and echelons provide a holistic repair capability in all scenarios and environments. These systems provide the Maintenance and Combat Commanders an unprecedented capability to repair wheeled, tracked, aviation, ground support and weapons systems on site at one location at one time. This approach to maintenance acquisition increases efficiencies and supports the current force while providing modular configurations designed to meet the specific needs of the Army maintainer in today's complex transforming environment. The need to develop and maintain a System of System maintenance approach is critical for maintaining readiness due to the growing complexity of today's military equipment, operational tempo, modularity, and current and evolving Tactics Techniques and Procedures (TTPs). The individual maintenance systems are comprehensive, interconnected and capable of solving and repairing any maintenance problems.

This funding line is a key enabler for multiple Army Modernization Priorities by providing adaptable and efficient tactical electrical power sources for network modernization, soldier lethality, long range precision fires, and air & missile defense. This project supports the Tactical Electric Power (TEP) programs (2kW-900kW Generators and Associated Equip) which is established to develop a modernized, standard family of Mobile Electric Power (MEP) systems to include power generation, distribution, storage, and management systems for all Services throughout the Department of War IAW DoDI 4120.11. Building on the device/component evaluations conducted in PE 0603804A project G11, this project supports the system development and demonstration of a series of innovative mobile electric power systems that are essential to the development and eventual fielding of modernized TEP. This project also supports Army modernization priorities, specifically Combat Support/Combat Service Support (CS/CSS) demands in Network / Command, Control, Communications & Intelligence (C3I), Soldier Lethality, Air & Missile Defense and Long Range Precision Fires, field hospital power, and reduces sustainment requirements. Power Distribution Illumination Systems Electrical (PDISE) provides reliable, modular designed power distribution equipment that is critical to deploying power networks. The Prime Power Distribution Systems (PPDS) effort will fulfill prime power (medium voltage, 4160 Volts Alternating Current (VAC)) distribution shortfalls to support 249th Engineer Battalion (Prime Power) and Force Provider Expeditionary (FPE) requirements. PPDS will provide modernized power distribution capabilities for the U.S. Army Deployable Power Generation and Distribution System (DPGDS), the FPE Prime Power Connection Kit (PPCK), and the U.S. Air Force Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources (BEAR) power systems. The PPDS will incorporate advanced capabilities and include three primary components: an improved Primary Switching Center (iPSC), secondly, an improved Secondary Distribution Center (iSDC), and last, a Tactical Prime Power Transformer (TPPT).

This project directly advances the National Defense Strategy by pioneering the next generation of logistics and engineer equipment. The Army is pursuing manufacturing solutions to meet Joint Concept for Contested Logistics (JCCL) requirements for theater and port opening, rapid port and airfield repair, and Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) operations. This effort projects force, deploys units, and sustains operations in the INDOPACOM AOR, while delivering the critical construction and survivability capabilities for Air and Missile Defense and Long-Range Precision Fires / Hypersonic Weapon firing positions. To meet the mobility, counter-mobility, and survivability requirements of Joint Force and Divisional commanders, this project will leverage a suite of equipment including: Dozers, Graders, Scrapers, various Loaders, High Mobility Engineer Excavators (HMEE), Hydraulic Excavators (HYEX), a family of All-Terrain Cranes, and the Engineer Rapid Airfield Construction Capability (ERACC). RDT&E funding will fast-track the acquisition of a Next Generation Medium Dozer and/or HYEX, aiming for a production contract award in FY28. This funding enables early prototype assessments and logistics development, with a contingency to explore proof-of-concept opportunities for future remote construction equipment if the primary plan is not executable. Our actions guarantee battlefield dominance and bolster joint interdependence by restoring our industrial capacity and innovative spirit. FY 2027 RDT&E in the amount of $2.285 million funds the development and program support for Combat Engineer Equipment to include Dozer and HYEX.

This project supports Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) of critical soldier support and sustainment systems that provide more endurance and agility to combat operations, enabling success of Army Expeditionary Forces in future multi-domain scenarios. Sustainment systems includes highly mobile shelter systems (rigid and soft wall), expeditionary base camp subsystems, field service systems, mortuary affairs equipment, field heaters, and other combat service support equipment. These systems will fill identified theater capability gaps, improve safety, improve unit sustainability, improve resource and energy efficiency; address environmental impacts, and increase combat effectiveness. This project supports Joint Service command and control, as well as medical, force projection, and maintenance platforms. This project ensures Army Expeditionary Forces are capable of rapid deployment while reducing sustainment requirements, related Combat Support/Combat Service Support (CS/CSS) demands in lift, combat zone footprint, and costs for logistical support. Specifically, shelters developed under these efforts will be better insulated, thus reducing environmental control requirements, energy demand, and fuel usage. Therefore, they will reduce the Army's logistics and carbon footprint and lengthen the resupply interval in contested, support-constrained environments. Additionally, better insulated shelter systems allow for operational viability in extreme environments such as the Arctic.