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BAE Systems Unveils Hybrid Electric Drive System for Future Combat Systems

15 August, 2007 12:00:00

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BAE Systems demonstrated the first hybrid electric drive system for ground combat vehicles as part of the U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) program.

Creation of the hybrid electric drive system, led by BAE Systems, is a joint development with General Dynamics Land Systems in partnership with the Army and the FCS Lead Systems Integrator team of Boeing and Science Applications International Corp.

The FCS Manned Ground Vehicles (MGV) family of eight vehicles is the first ever planned operational Army suite of ground combat vehicles to use hybrid electric technology. The first use of the hybrid electric drive technology will be in the Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon (NLOS-C) - the lead FCS ground combat vehicle slated to begin initial production in 2008. The NLOS-C, designed and built by BAE Systems - in partnership with General Dynamics Land Systems -- is a fully automated, 155mm self-propelled howitzer.

FCS is the U.S. Army's principle modernization program, which is made up of a family of manned and unmanned ground and air systems, and sensors connected by a common network.

The first use of the hybrid electric drive
technology will be in the Non-Line-of-Sight
Cannon (NLOS-C) - the lead FCS ground
combat vehicle slated to begin initial
production in 2008.

The test held today in Santa Clara marks a significant milestone in technological maturity of the hybrid electric drive system. Today's test is the first evaluation of the complete MGV hybrid electric system consisting of the engine, generator, generator dissipater controller, traction drive system, energy storage system, and cooling subsystem.

The hybrid electric drive is the cornerstone of integrated power management designed to meet the demands of future ground combat vehicles in a networked environment while allowing the tailoring of power and cooling dictated by the mission.

[source: BAE Systems ]