ARMOR AND SYSTEM WEIGHT IMPACTS TO PROCUREMENT, TRAINING, AND SUSTAINMENT COSTS

In monolithic protection materials, a threat increase correlates to an increased material thickness. This is evident in V50 armor material specifications, such as Rolled Homogeneous Armor (RHA) MIL-DTL-12560K. This relationship translates to combat system level weight; the higher the performance, the higher the material weight, the higher the system weight. For ground combat systems, the total platform weight indicates relative protection. Hence, the M1 Abrams weight and protection level is greater than the Bradley Family of Vehicles, and the Bradley weight and protection level is greater than the M113. The weight procurement dollarization impacts are known during developmental efforts, but weight relationships also impact training and sustainment costs. Thus armor based weight changes have at least three cost relationships: procurement, training, and sustainment. These cost relationships are useful to understand in the context of the Army’s annual budget cycle.

Citation: RA Howell, “ARMOR AND SYSTEM WEIGHT IMPACTS TO PROCUREMENT, TRAINING, AND SUSTAINMENT COSTS,” In Proceedings of the Ground Vehicle Systems Engineering and Technology Symposium (GVSETS), NDIA, Novi, MI, Aug. 11-13, 2020.