American Rheinmetall Vehicles has signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Army’s Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center (DEVCOM GVSC).
The CRADA allows American Rheinmetall Vehicles and DEVCOM GVSC to collaborate on a regular basis to develop integrated combat vehicle suspension, track, and running gear technologies.
In addition to the defined research and development tasks, the CRADA provides a conduit for the team to explore integration of the U.S. Army’s Advanced Lightweight Track and improvements in running gear systems and configurations on platforms that are potential candidates for the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) program and other critical vehicle modernization programs.
American Rheinmetall Vehicles and DEVCOM GVSC will leverage their respective expertise to improve track, suspension, and running gear solutions, which may also be applicable to future weapons systems for broader military services, international military markets, and further spin-off applications. The effort may include, but is not limited to, modeling and simulation, development, and testing of track, running gear, suspension, road wheels, and subsequent developments to improve these systems and sub-systems in harmony for best-in-class ride quality for tracked combat vehicles.
The CRADA is the start of a budding relationship to research, develop, and integrate the newest technologies into modern combat vehicles.
Specifically, efforts on integration of the Advanced Lightweight Track will provide ride quality improvements and room for growth without reductions in performance on tracked combat vehicles.
Mike Milner, American Rheinmetall Vehicles Director for Business Development and Strategy
Source: Rheinmetall news release
