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America`s armed forces to undergo further modernisation
Washington, May 20: Buoyed by the performance of the latest weaponry of the US armed forces in Iraq, the Pentagon is modernising them further with the Defence Department approving a USD 14.9 bn project to build a network of high-tech tanks and surveillance drones.
Washington, May 20: Buoyed by the performance of the latest weaponry of the US armed forces in Iraq, the Pentagon is modernising them further with the Defence Department
approving a USD 14.9 bn project to build a network of high-tech tanks and surveillance drones.
The "Future Combat System" (FCS) would include
remote-controlled drones to prowl the air and the ground,
looking for enemies and carrying soldiers' combat gear.
Lumbering tanks and armoured troop carriers will be replaced by vehicles that, in some cases, would weigh less than a third of current models.
A computer system will link all the vehicles and other weapons with soldiers and their commanders to give the troops better awareness of an entire battle as it progresses.
The USD 14.9 bn project is only the first phase. It covers development and testing of the system. Eventually the cost will run into tens of billions of dollars.
Boeing Co. and Science Applications International Corp are teaming up to manage the "future combat system" and will be paid about USD five billion.
The rest of the money will go to other defence contractors.
Plans call for an army battalion (about 700 soldiers) to be fully equipped with the new system by the end of 2010. Another five battalions would be so equipped by 2015.
The system would replace 70-ton M-1 Abrams tanks with 24-ton tanks and 33-ton Bradley fighting vehicles with 22-ton armoured vehicles.
The new vehicles will be designed to be transported by the C-130 transport aircraft which can land on short, unpaved landing strips. The vehicles would be built on a common chassis to make maintenance and repairs easier.
Bureau Report
Lumbering tanks and armoured troop carriers will be replaced by vehicles that, in some cases, would weigh less than a third of current models.
A computer system will link all the vehicles and other weapons with soldiers and their commanders to give the troops better awareness of an entire battle as it progresses.
The USD 14.9 bn project is only the first phase. It covers development and testing of the system. Eventually the cost will run into tens of billions of dollars.
Boeing Co. and Science Applications International Corp are teaming up to manage the "future combat system" and will be paid about USD five billion.
The rest of the money will go to other defence contractors.
Plans call for an army battalion (about 700 soldiers) to be fully equipped with the new system by the end of 2010. Another five battalions would be so equipped by 2015.
The system would replace 70-ton M-1 Abrams tanks with 24-ton tanks and 33-ton Bradley fighting vehicles with 22-ton armoured vehicles.
The new vehicles will be designed to be transported by the C-130 transport aircraft which can land on short, unpaved landing strips. The vehicles would be built on a common chassis to make maintenance and repairs easier.
Bureau Report