Engine Research, Development, and Acquisition Strategy for U.S. Army Ground Vehicles

Abstract

The US Army conducts Research, Development & Acquisition programs on a wide variety of tactical and combat vehicle types. Available resources for the research and development (R&D) of candidate engines, however, are far more limited. Consequently, there is need for a management strategy by which the US Army Tank-Automotive Command (TACOM) can more effectively direct the limited Department of Defense (DOD) R&D resources to those programs which will provide the greatest benefit to the overall effectiveness of the DOD. In response to this need, TACOM has evolved an engine R&D two-fold strategy. The first part of the strategy is the limitation of TACOM's R&D efforts to that range of engines wherein there are no cost-effective commercially available engine options. The second part of the strategy is the goal to develop an objective, quantifiable methodology which integrates the highest priority goals into an overall evaluation of the cost/combat (or operational) effectiveness of candidate engines.