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Bradley Urban Survivability Kits installed a month early, 20 percent under budget

June 19, 2012

By Bill Good, PEO GCS Public Affairs

Warren, Mich. -- Tuesday, June 19, 2012 -- Last week, the Bradley A3 Fighting Vehicles assigned to units stationed in the Republic of Korea became the latest in the fleet to receive the Bradley Urban Survivability Kit III (BUSK III) upgrades.

The BUSK III Modification Work Order (MWO) application mission began in Korea for the 1st Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division and Army Materiel Command pre-positioned stocks in January of this year and concluded on June 4th, a month ahead of schedule.

"The team involved did an amazing job when you consider the statistics," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Glenn Dean who serves as product manager for Bradley. "Our BUSK III installation team applied approximately 2,400 total MWOs and repairs on 236 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, finishing a month earlier than projected and 20 percent under budget -- that constitutes roughly $700,000 in savings."

The BUSKs are designed to allow the Army's infantry fighting vehicle to better adapt to the rigors of urban combat. BUSK III incorporates four modifications including a blast-proof fuel cell, a blast resistant driver seat, a turret survivability system, and an emergency ramp release.

The team was able to save time and money by bundling other pending MWOs while installing BUSK III on the vehicles. Modifications applied in addition to the four BUSK III MWOs were electrical ground improvements, a fire suppression guard improvement, an automatic fire suppression system control panel switch guard, and a hotbox protection system enhancement. The installation team also conducted check and repair activities which addressed the control panel retrofit, track adjuster, driver's hatch bearings and generator re-torque.

"Events like this demonstrate the best of both worlds. Operationally, our teams installed critical force protection enhancements to the Bradley A3 which will allow our forces to maintain battlefield dominance well into the future. Simultaneously, we did it ahead of schedule and well below cost. The BUSK III team did a marvelous job," said Col. William Sheehy, project manager for the Army's Heavy Brigade Combat Team.

After finishing work in Korea the BUSK III installation team will now move to Ft. Carson, Colo. to begin servicing the 4th Infantry Divisions Bradley's.

BUSK installation is managed by the Army's Product Manager for Bradley and Armored Knight which falls under leadership of the PM Heavy Brigade Combat Team within the Program Executive Office for Ground Combat Systems (PEO GCS).