Army's budget request prioritizes BCT Modernization: "The new Brigade Combat Team Modernization plan and the Army’s goal to 'achieve balance' by 2011 are among top priorities in the service’s budget request for next year.
Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. and Secretary of the Army John McHugh testified Tuesday to the Senate Armed Services Committee about the Army’s budget for Fiscal Year 2011.
The Army’s BCT Modernization plan was released Feb. 19. It calls for fielding 'Spin-Out' technologies such as sensors and robotics from the former Future Combat Systems program to all BCTs. It cancels the FCS Manned Ground Vehicle variants and calls for developing a new 'Ground Combat Vehicle' that the Army can begin fielding within seven years.
A hybrid of capabilities, the vision for this new vehicle is to combine the best elements from existing combat carriers: the carrying capacity of an infantry squad, the underbelly protection of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected, or MRAP, vehicle, the off-road mobility of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle and the operational mobility of the Stryker, and the Army has requested $934 million to help develop it."
