Alcoa to lighten combat vehicles
Alcoa has received a five-year contract from the US Army for research and development (R&D) projects involving the development of lightweight solutions for ground combat vehicles, it announced on 3 March.
Alcoa Defense received the ‘Ground Vehicle Light-Weighting’ contract from the army's Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) to accelerate technology R&D and provide engineering solutions for military intelligent ground systems and ground vehicles.
The first work directive will see Alcoa advance its aluminium weld wire alloys - designed to increase the strength of welded joints while reducing corrosion of those welded joints on combat vehicles. Potential future work involves providing material research, development, testing, engineering and evaluation efforts related to ground vehicle light-weighting.
These R&D efforts will address various technologies associated with light-weighting such as aluminium forming technology, modelling and simulation, fastening and joining, armour development, material fabrication, material development, coating and corrosion technology and energy conservation.
Eric Roegner, president, Alcoa Defense, said: 'This agreement with TARDEC builds on Alcoa Defense’s decades-long partnership with the US Army to advance military ground vehicles. Alcoa’s lightweight solutions have improved troop protection while reducing vehicle weight and assembly time. We look forward to building on our successful track record to help develop the next generation combat vehicle.'
More from Land Warfare
-
![US DoD task force’s DroneHunter acquisition lays groundwork for Replicator 2 CUAS strategy]()
US DoD task force’s DroneHunter acquisition lays groundwork for Replicator 2 CUAS strategy
As the US Department of Defense looks to counter the growing threat of uncrewed aerial systems to improve homeland security, the DroneHunter acquisition could point to future commercial innovation.
-
![Norway opts for Hanwha’s Chunmoo for long-range fires under $2 billion deal]()
Norway opts for Hanwha’s Chunmoo for long-range fires under $2 billion deal
The selection of Hanwha’s K239 Chunmoo long-range precision fires system, with a contract expected to be signed on 30 January, makes Norway the second European country to choose the system. It is expected an operational system will be in service within four years.
-
![Layered protection: How air defence is adapting to rising drone and missile threats (podcast)]()
Layered protection: How air defence is adapting to rising drone and missile threats (podcast)
A surge in aerial threats – from advanced missiles to low-cost drones – is reshaping the way militaries approach air defence, driving demand for flexible, multi-layered solutions.
