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07 Aug 14. US Army looks to lighten combat vehicles and tanks. US Army scientists are aiming to reduce the weight of existing combat tanks and infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) by at least 40%. During a recent combat vehicle lightweight science and technology campaign workshop, experts from the Research, Development and Engineering Command (REDCOM) stressed that the weight reduction goal will require both non-traditional approaches and new ideas from across the science and technology community. US Army Research Laboratory Weapons and Materials Research Directorate director Dr Patrick Baker said it was necessary to implement a holistic approach, with researchers working on materials science, mechanisms, modelling and simulation, and manufacturing technology. “How can materials foster a significantly lighter class of combat platforms? We’re going to have to do something different to get the advances that we need to make this happen,” Baker said. While previous efforts to lighten army vehicles focused on overcoming weaknesses in existing materials, the researchers are currently developing revolutionary laboratory materials with potentially extraordinary properties. Baker suggests that, as new materials near completion, scientists and engineers should incorporate manufacturing science to enable tailored properties. US military vehicle weights are believed to have increased during the last 13 years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, in the wake of new and emerging threats. The US Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) is currently undertaking combat vehicle weight-reduction initiatives, including research in modular protection, lighter conventional components and adaptive protection, as well as under-armour volume and unmanned systems. However, TARDEC research and technology integration executive director Dr Jennifer Hitchcock said a strategy to integrate advanced materials into vehicle design is needed to help the centre achieve the desired weight reductions. (Source: army-technology.com)
07 Aug 14. Armoured Vehicle Upgrade & Retrofit Market Forecast 2014-2024
Opportunities For Leading Companies. Visiongain defence report. Many armoured vehicles can serve for many more years if given upgrades. The withdrawal of US-led forces in Afghanistan by the end of 2014 is expected to shift the focus away from land systems and the upgrading of existing armoured vehicle fleets provide a cost-effective way of keeping the required numbers in service. Visiongain has calculated that the value of the global armoured vehicle upgrade & retrofit market in 2014 will reach $4.76bn. How this report delivers:
• View global armoured vehicle upgrade and retrofit market forecasts and analysis from 2014-2024 to keep your knowledge ahead of your competition and ensure you exploit key business opportunities
• Read exclusive expert opinion interviews from industry specialists informing the analysis
– Navistar
– Diehl Defence
• Discover sales predictions for the key end use submarkets from 2014-2024
– Medium armoured vehicles upgrades and retrofits forecast 2014-2024
– Main battle tanks upgrades and retrofits forecast 2014-2024
– Medium mine-resistant vehicles upgrades and retrofits forecast 2014-2024
– Light protected vehicles upgrades and retrofits forecast 2014-2024
– Other armoured vehicles upgrades and retrofits forecast 2014-2024
• Learn about the market potential for armoured vehicle upgrade and retrofit companies in the developed and developing countries, from 2013 onwards. You will see where and how opportunities exist with revealing individual market forecasts and analysis from 2014-2024 for 20 leading national markets.
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– Our report reveals