WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Army's Tank-Automotive
Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) will demonstrate its
commitment to supporting our Soldiers at the 2004 Association of the United
States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., October 25 - 27, 2004
(Booth 3201).  Highlights will include ground vehicle survivability programs
and TARDEC's National Automotive Center's (NAC) Concept HMMWV demonstrator
featuring a streamlined engine change-out process.
    "With our Army at War, our Soldiers face daily threats and challenges most
Americans would find hard to comprehend," said Dr. Richard McClelland,
Director of TARDEC.  "In the spirit of being 'Relevant and Ready,' TARDEC is
ensuring that our brave men and women are equipped with the best vehicle
technology available."
    The Concept HMMWV, built in partnership with the Program Executive Office,
Combat Support/Combat Service Support (PEO CS/CSS) and Carlson Technologies,
was designed with the goal of reducing engine change to the absolute minimum.
The HMMWV redesign reduces engine change time from 5-10 hours to 20 minutes or
less, getting the much needed HMMWV back into the field faster while saving
the Army significant time and money.  Benefiting the Soldier, the concept
HMMWV offers extended range, enhanced safety features and increased space for
more leg room and extra gear.  In addition, the HMMWV is equipped with a 5-10
kW Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), micro-climate cooling and beltless engine.
    Leading the Army's Survivability Integrated Product Team (IPT), TARDEC
works with the Army Research Lab (ARL) and industry partners to assess
requirements, develop armor solutions and seek out lighter, more durable
composite materials for current and Future Force vehicle structures.  The work
of the Survivability IPT is helping Soldiers counter Integrated Explosive
Device (IED) and Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) events as they are deployed in
support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF).
TARDEC has performed ballistic research and integrated design of the HMMWV
Armor Survivability Kits to armor vehicles fielded in OIF/OEF.  TARDEC will
also display a motorized gun ring, which provides the M1114 HMMWV gunner
increased flexibility in target selection.
    Michael D. Brown, First Sergeant, First Calvary Division, U.S. Army, has
been stationed in Iraq since March 2004.  In August, Brown's HMMWV was
outfitted with the TARDEC/ARL developed Armor Survivability Kit for an added
layer of protection while patrolling the streets of Baghdad.  During a mission
later that month, Brown's convoy was ambushed with heavy small arms fire, IEDs
and RPGs.  While sustaining several direct hits to his vehicle, Brown claimed
that the Armor Survivability Kit helped save his life.
    "The protection of the armored doors and ballistic glass windows that all
the companies worked so hard to design, develop and install is a great
achievement that speaks volumes to the industry and the hard work you do to
contributing to our ongoing fight against terrorism," said Brown.
    Some of the other technologies TARDEC will showcase include a fuel cell-
battery hybrid Alternative Mobility Vehicle (AMV), a next-generation Personal
Transport Vehicle (PTV) and the Stryker Battle Command on the Move.

    Alternative Mobility Vehicle (AMV)
    The NAC has partnered with Quantum Technologies to build a fuel cell-
battery hybrid AMV that gives our Soldiers better acceleration, more speed and
the ability to maneuver in stealth mode when operating on battery power alone.
The AMV couples a 10 kW proton exchange membrane fuel cell to an Energy
Conversion Device (ECD) nickel metal hybrid battery pack, and runs on
compressed hydrogen stored at 5,000 psi in Quantum's proprietary type IV
carbon fiber tanks.

    Personal Transport Vehicle (PTV)
    A component of the NAC's Personal Soldier Mobility Program, the American
Chariot PTV is designed to provide dynamic, efficient personal Soldier
transportation options for the armed services.  Potential applications for the
PTV include moving personnel around large military bases, airfields, warehouse
and supply facilities and large naval vessels.  The PTV can also be used for
military law enforcement to increase productivity and enhance crowd control.
The vehicle's speed, maneuverability, accessibility, range and zero down time
needed for recharging make it ideally suited for today's mobile military.

    Stryker Battle Command on the Move
    The prototype Battle Command on the Move Stryker combines the mission
equipment package from PM Battle Command on the Move (PM BCOTM) with TARDEC's
fabrication and systems integration capabilities to create a powerful mobile
battle command center.  The upgraded, Soldier-friendly, mobile command post is
equipped with the latest radios, computers and network components to give
Soldiers unprecedented battlefield situational awareness and survivability
capabilities.

    TARDEC, headquartered at the Detroit Arsenal, Warren, Michigan, is
responsible for developing and maintaining vehicles for all U.S. Armed Forces,
many federal agencies and more than 60 foreign countries.  TARDEC's National
Automotive Center is the Army's official link to commercial industry, academia
and government in developing new dual-use automotive technologies that meet
the needs of both defense and commercial industries.  Together, they lead the
way in providing our Soldiers with vehicles and vehicle technologies that will
increase survivability and ensure mobility on the battlefield while reducing
design, manufacturing, operations and maintenance costs.

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