NCMS Project #: 142218
Problem: The proliferation of new on-board technologies that have been deemed necessary for effective operations in current and future environments, is increasing the maintenance and sustainment costs of legacy ground vehicles, watercraft, and airborne platforms. Each new supported on-board technology reduces available payload capacity and increases the need for additional power. The reduction in power directly impacts operational performance and is exceeding the ability of traditional power sources, such as alternators and batteries, to effectively meet growing power demands. Traditional Auxiliary Power Units (APUs), which use older engine architectures and inefficient power generation systems with limited diagnostic capability, only further contribute to the challenges to maintenance and sustainment of legacy platforms.
Benefit: Reducing size and weight and mitigating maintenance and sustainment activities pertaining to APUs will provide significant cost and time savings across various vehicle and equipment fleets. These savings can be passed on to end users in the form of improved levels of service, decreased equipment downtime, and reduced costs.
Solution/Approach: Small innovative APUs that utilize modern engine architectures and high efficiency power generation systems with advanced diagnostics are an effective tool in countering the negative effects that new onboard technologies may have on legacy vehicles, watercraft, and airborne platforms. Phase III of this initiative will continue to support the development of a next generation APU with modern fuel injected diesel engine and advanced power generation system, used to demonstrate the impact of a small innovative APU on a legacy vehicle platform.
Impact on Warfighter:
- Enhance electrical power production or legacy combat vehicles
- Reduce maintenance and sustainment costs
- Decrease requirement for spares and time between failures
- Increase warfighter readiness and lethality
DOD Participation:
- Office of the Secretary of Defense Rapid Reaction Technology Office (RRTO)
- U.S. Army, Program Executive Office, Ground Combat Systems (PEO GCS)
- Project Manager, Maneuver Combat Systems (PM MCS)
- Product Director, Main Battle Tank Systems (PD MBTS)
- Project Manager, Stryker Brigade Combat Team (PM SBCT)
- Project Manager, Next Generation Combat Vehicle (PM NGCV)
- U.S. Army, Program Executive Office, Combat Support & Combat Service Support (PEO CS&CSS) (observer)
- U.S. Marine Corps (observer)
Industry Participation:
- Ricardo Defense, Incorporated
- BlueSky Innovations
- NCMS
Benefit Area(s):
- Cost savings
- Mx avoidance & reliability
- Positive environmental impact
- Energy efficiency
- Durability
Mx Focus Area:
- CBM+/Predictive Maintenance
