Allison Transmission developing electrification technology for next-gen tanks
INDIANAPOLIS (Inside INdiana Business) — Indianapolis-based Allison Transmission Inc. (NYSE: ALSN) says it is accelerating the development of electrification technology to be integrated into the U.S. Army’s ground combat vehicles, including tanks. The company says electrification of tracked and wheeled military vehicles is gaining momentum for its quieter mobility in hostile environments.
“Electrification to the Army represents a means to achieving many different capabilities that enhance soldiers’ effectiveness in multi domain operations. Specifically, it means the use of electric power to augment vehicle performance,” said Michael Cadiuex, Director of the U.S. Army’s Ground Vehicles Systems Center, during testimony to the House Armed Services Subcommittee.
Allison says as part of its Next Generation Electrified Transmission initiative, the company will design, develop and validate a motor/generator and inverter system to be coupled to a tracked vehicle transmission.
The company has partnered with Michigan-based American Rheinmetall Vehicles for their Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle, the next generation of battle tanks. The combat vehicle maker is one of five companies recently selected by the Department of Defense to design a concept of the next generation of heavy-duty battle machines, which would replace the M-2 Bradley tank.
“The Next Generation Electrified Transmission is informed by Allison’s two decades of experience in electrified propulsion. Now we are focused on powering the U.S. Army’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) a tracked vehicle program that could be the Army’s largest vehicle procurement in over four decades, with a potential volume of nearly 4,000 vehicles,” said Dana Pittard, Vice President for Defense Programs at Allison Transmission. “Allison remains committed to working with our Defense partners and customers around the world to meet the demanding propulsion requirements of today and developing solutions for the future.”
The Army says the OMFV is designed to operate with or without a crew while also controlling maneuver robotics and semi-autonomous systems.