Published in: The Cavalry & Armor Journal – Winter 2025 Edition
Written by: Chris Haag
The U.S. Army stands at a pivotal moment in its ground combat vehicle modernization efforts. As a business developer deeply involved in cutting-edge military vehicle technology, I have witnessed firsthand the rapid pace of technological advancement and the growing challenges of integrating these innovations into legacy platforms. Continued investment in next-generation ground vehicle technology is not just beneficial, but essential for maintaining our military’s tactical edge on future battlefields.
The Limitations of Legacy Platforms
Our current fleet of ground combat vehicles has served us well, but they are increasingly constrained by their original designs. While still formidable, these legacy platforms were conceived in an era before the advent of technologies we now consider indispensable on the modern battlefield and they are reaching their limits in terms of size, weight, and power (SWaP) capacity, making it increasingly difficult and expensive to integrate new systems without compromising performance or protection.
The challenges are multifaceted:
- Power Generation: Modern combat systems require significantly more electrical power than legacy vehicles can provide.
- Weight Constraints: Adding new armor or systems often pushes vehicles beyond their design weight limits, affecting mobility and reliability.
- Space Limitations: The internal layout of legacy vehicles leaves little room for new electronics or modern crew stations.
- Outdated Architectures: Closed system architectures make software and hardware upgrades complex and costly.
The Promise of New Technologies
The rapid evolution of military technology offers unprecedented opportunities to enhance the capabilities of our ground forces. Artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, advanced sensors, and networked battlefield management systems have the potential to revolutionize how we fight. However, these technologies demand a new approach to vehicle design and integration.
Key areas of advancement include:
- AI-Powered Decision Support: Enhances situational awareness and reducing cognitive load on crews.
- Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA): Enables rapid integration of new capabilities and future-proofing our platforms.
- Advanced Materials: Lightweight composites can significantly reduce vehicle weight while improving protection.
- Electric and Hybrid Propulsion: Offering increased operational range and reduced logistical footprint.
- Lethality improvements: Advancements in counter drone/UAS technologies, improved propellant and round technology, and advancements in fire control and digitization improve range and firing times
The Case for Investment
Investing in next-generation ground combat vehicles is not just about keeping pace with potential adversaries; it’s about leapfrogging them. The Army’s Next-Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV) program represents a critical opportunity to incorporate these advanced technologies from the ground up, designing vehicles that are not only more capable but also more adaptable to future upgrades.
The benefits of this investment extend beyond immediate tactical advantages:
- Operational Flexibility: New vehicles designed with modularity in mind can be quickly reconfigured for different mission sets, enhancing the Army’s ability to respond to diverse threats.
- Reduced Life-Cycle Costs: Modern design approaches can significantly reduce long-term maintenance and upgrade costs.
- Industrial Base Revitalization: Developing next-generation vehicles will drive innovation in the defense industrial base, ensuring we maintain the expertise and capabilities needed for future challenges.
- Force Multiplication: Advanced autonomous systems and AI can potentially reduce crew sizes while increasing combat effectiveness, allowing for more efficient use of our most valuable resource – our Soldiers.
The Path Forward
To fully realize the potential of these new technologies, we must commit to a comprehensive modernization strategy.
This includes:
- Sustained Funding: Consistent, long-term investment is crucial for seeing complex development programs through to completion.
- Agile Acquisition: Adopting more flexible procurement processes that can keep pace with rapid technological change.
- Soldier-Centric Design: Involving Warfighters early and often in the design process to ensure new vehicles meet real-world operational needs.
- Cross-Domain Integration: Developing vehicles as part of a broader networked battlefield ecosystem, capable of seamless information sharing and cooperative engagement.
Conclusion
As stewards of our nation’s defense, it is our responsibility to ensure that when called upon, our ground forces have the most advanced, capable, and adaptable vehicles possible. The path to maintaining overmatch on future battlefields runs through continued, dedicated investment in ground combat vehicle modernization.
The imperative for continued investment in ground combat vehicle technology is clear. Our potential adversaries are not standing still, and neither can we. By committing to the development of next-generation platforms, we ensure that our maneuver forces will have the tools they need to dominate future battlefields.
The challenges are significant, but so are the opportunities. With sustained investment and a clear vision, we can provide our Soldiers with vehicles that offer unparalleled lethality, survivability, and operational flexibility. The time to act is now – the future of ground combat depends on the decisions and investments we make today.
About the Author:
Chris Haag is a seasoned business developer and military veteran with extensive experience in the defense industry. Currently serving as the Senior Director of Business Development at American Rheinmetall, Chris leads capture and proposal efforts for combat platforms, autonomy, robotics, and new technologies. Chris holds a Bachelor’s degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point and a Master’s degree from Central Michigan University. His career spans roles in both military and corporate environments, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan as a member of the U.S. Army.