The Role Of Analytical Simulation in The U.S. Army Military Vehicle Acquisition Process

THIS PAPER BEGINS with the description of a comprehensive cross-country mobility model called the NATO Reference Mobility Model (NRMM), which has long been used for the determination of quantitative mobility specifications for Requests for Proposals whenever the Tank-Automotive Command Initiates a new vehicle acquisition action. The model is later used for the evaluation of competing bids. Next, an advanced high resolution three dimensional vehicle dynamics model is discussed which is called Dynamic Analysis and Design System or DADS. Several examples are presented demonstrating actual cases where NRMM and DADS was used in the procurement arena and for the determination of safe operational limits for certain vehicles and trailers experiencing stability problems in the field. The paper also discusses future plans for expanding the number and types of models to be used in the acquisition of Army vehicles to include life cycle prediction and aspects of combat vehicle performance, such as vehicle signature.