Army, BAE bringing Bradleys into digital age

[unhappycamper]

Army, BAE bringing Bradleys into digital age
By Kris Osborn - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Feb 29, 2008 11:46:30 EST

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The Army is finalizing plans to outfit the 30-ton, battle-tested Bradley fighting vehicle with high-tech sensors, computers and weapons designed to last through 2050, service officials said.

The capabilities description document being drafted calls for upgrading the Bradley with computer technologies that will enable it to fit into the Army’s Future Combat Systems.

“What the improvements to the Bradley do is it brings it into the digital age,” said Army Maj. Gen. Mike Lanears, who directs the Life Cycle Management Command of the service’s Tank Automotive and Armaments Command. “We will be able to operate within FCS and across the battlefield.”

The Army plans at least two upgraded Bradley variants: the Bradley A3B1 to field in 2010, and the A3B2 to field in 2012, Army and BAE Systems officials said.

“This vehicle is intended to be complementary to the FCS (Brigade Combat Team),” said Ralph Spencer, BAE’s Bradley program manger.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/02/defense_bradley_022908/



uhc comment: According to wikipedia.org, the Future Combat Systems program will cost only $340,000,000,000 --> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Future_Combat_Systems