Guest User

CNET Asia Photo Gallery

Showcasing the drool-worthy

Future Combat Systems, here and now

Sep 13, 2008

The Spin Out 1 efforts focus on just a few pieces of the overall FCS program, including the SUGV; a micro air vehicle; unattended sensors for field and urban use; the rocket-firing Non-Line-of-Sight Launch System (NLOS-LS); and the "B kit" radio technology. The B kit has three parts: The radio itself, a computing system, and the interface for the soldier. (The full designation for the radio is JTRS GMR, or Joint Tactical Radio System Ground Mobile Radio.) The kits are to be installed on existing Humvees (as here), Bradley fighting vehicles, and M-1 Abrams tanks, ahead of the arrival of actual FCS manned and unmanned vehicles.

A more widespread fielding of the Spin Out 1 gear to infantry bridge combat teams is expected in 2011. This summer's testing was performed by roughly 1,000 soldiers of the Army Evaluation Task Force.

Credit: Photo by US Army; Caption by Jonathan Skillings