Marine Expeditionary Family of Fighting Vehicles [MEFFV]
The Marine Corps' Light Armored Vehicle (LAV) and the M1A1 Common Main Battle Tank will reach their end of service lives in 2015 and 2020 respectively. Therefore the Marines need to start thinking about systems to take their place. The primary task of the Marine Corps Combat Developers over the next six years is to define the specific capability combat vehicle needs to the Marine Air Ground Task Force on the 2020 battlefield.
The Marine Expeditionary Family of Fighting Vehicles (MEFFV) design parameters will lead to an adaptable vehicle family by designing a base platform capable of incorporating different "plug and play" mission modules (i.e. recon, mortar, assault, etc). These mission modules will give the Ground Combat Element (GCE) Commander a flexibility that is currently unavailable. These vehicles will utilize advanced technologies to increase lethality survivability and situational awareness while simultaneously reducing size, weight, cube, and logistical requirements. These systems will significantly reduce logistics footprint concerning fuel, ammo, and extend operational reach.
Future advanced weapons technology will potentially provide MEFFV with a regenerative non-carbon based weapons system, giving Marines the equipment necessary to dominate future battlefields at a reduced logistical cost. These systems could include guns, missiles, lasers or even electromagnetic guns. The EM guns offer a huge advantage because Marines could load at least 100 rounds in every vehicle, while the M1 tank only can carry 39 bullets.
The new vehicles will have a 68-inch height limit, for survivability reasons, The idea is to make them less vulnerable to line-of-sight antitank missiles, which typically fly at higher altitudes than 68 inches. That height also conforms to the storage compartments planned for future amphibious vessels. The Marine landing craft air cushioned (LCAC) currently can carry only one tank. The MEFFV would be designed so that at least two vehicles would fit on an LCAC. The designers have not determined whether the vehicles will be wheeled or tracked. Considerations such as weight may play a role in that determination.
The Army and Marines are considering utilizing the same equipment similar to that of the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft in the development of future ground combat systems. These systems would have different designs and purposes but utilize the same equipment under the hood. This would greatly reduce cost and the number of parts needed.
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