British Defence Science and Technology Laboratory looks the future for new combat vehicles 12909161

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Military Defense Industry Technology - Future combat vehicles
 
British Defence Science and Technology Laboratory looks the future for new combat vehicles
The UKs Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) looks the future for new combat vehicles based on new technologies and to the new face of modern warfare. Modern technologies mean that future armoured vehicles could be very different from the heavy tracked vehicles in service today. (Source: GOV.UK)
     
The UKs Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) looks the future for new combat vehicles based on new technologies and to the new face of modern warfare. Modern technologies mean that future armoured vehicles could be very different from the heavy tracked vehicles in service today. (Source: GOV.UK) Futuristic design of new wheeled combat armoured vehicles ( Source UKs Defence Science and Technology Laboratory)
     

According the British DSTL, modern combat vehicles must have active protection systems that can destroy incoming weapons fire reduce the need for heavy armour, allowing lighter weight vehicles to be developed.

The new generation of combat vehicles will have stealth technologies that make vehicles harder to locate, target and destroy. The vehicle must be equipped with electric drive systems that are smaller, lighter and more efficient than traditional fossil fuel engines. Their use could also reduce the vehicles heat signature making them harder to detect.

New vehicles must be also fitted with new energy storage systems that could power lasers and other advanced systems such as electric armour. The use of materials technologies that allow innovative forms of armour to be developed that boast both high levels of protection and low weight.

The vehicle will have advanced suspensions and electric drive systems that enable wheeled vehicles to have similar mobility to tracked vehicles, but travel much faster.

Armament of future combat vehicles will include emote controlled unmanned vehicles that operate as an integral part of the vehicle which could be used in a range of ways such as reconnaissance, route proving and force protection.

DSTL is continuing work to explore the nature and design of future vehicles, including very light, agile and networked vehicles exploiting long range sensors and weapons for survivability, new configurations to provide maximum protection to the crew, optimising designs for urban operations and the increased use of automation to reduce crew numbers or minimise exposure of the crew to threats. These studies are building on years of experience and work with industry.

One view of the future of armoured vehicles comes from recent studies under the Future Protected Vehicle Capability Vision, looking at light and medium vehicle concepts.
     
The UKs Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) looks the future for new combat vehicles based on new technologies and to the new face of modern warfare. Modern technologies mean that future armoured vehicles could be very different from the heavy tracked vehicles in service today. (Source: GOV.UK)
     
Three types of new vehicle are being studied as the Land Apache, A lightweight (13 ton) very agile platform with advanced suspension and electric drive. Equipped with long range sensors and missiles, it would exploit networking with other platforms and unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) for intelligence gathering and the defeat of threats.
 

The Urban Operations Vehicle, a medium weight (22 ton) vehicle optimised for operations in urban areas. Multi-wheel steer, long travel suspension and electric drive provide agility. Multiple sensors and weapon systems allow the simultaneous detection and engagement of threats, advanced active protection systems provide protection against rocket propelled grenades and other threats fired from short ranges. The vehicle can be fitted with a dozer blade and robotic arm for clearing rubble and barriers.

The Force protection unmanned vehicle, a very lightweight (2 ton), high mobility vehicle that is capable of reaching speeds of 50 mph (80 kph). Its design allows the vehicle to be configured for a range of operational requirements and sophisticated countermeasure launchers for defence.

DSTL is working closely with the military to understand their developing requirements to inform the work required to ensure that the coming generations of armoured vehicles meets their expected operational needs.

The UK’s current generation of AFVs, the Challenger II Main Battle Tank (MBT) and Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV), is due to be phased out of service by the middle of the century. Although this is many years away Dstl’s work will ensure that the fighting vehicles of tomorrow utilise the latest technologies and meet the military’s evolving operational requirements.