Electrification Technology for US Army Ground Combat Vehicles

Allison Transmission is accelerating the development of electrification technology for integration into the U.S. Army’s ground combat vehicle fleet, including tracked Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) and the Main Battle Tank (MBT).

For the Next Generation Electrified Transmission, Allison will design, develop and validate a motor/generator and inverter system to be coupled to a tracked vehicle transmission. Coordination with U.S. Army’s Ground Vehicle Systems Center is ongoing and Allison will begin work to accelerate the Next Generation Electrified Transmission program.

Electrifying vehicles will provide the army with silent mobility to reduce enemy detection and increased survivability, exportable power provisions for on-board and off-board systems, and flexible operational modes capable of balancing performance and fuel economy demands.

“Our Defense team leverages Allison’s investments for commercial products and applies them to defense applications,” said Dana Pittard, Vice President for Defense Programs at Allison Transmission. 

“The Next Generation Electrified Transmission is informed by Allison’s two decades of experience in electrified propulsion. Now we are focused on powering the U.S. Army’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) a tracked vehicle program that could be the Army’s largest vehicle procurement in over four decades, with a potential volume of nearly 4,000 vehicles. 

“Allison remains committed to working with our Defense partners and customers around the world to meet the demanding propulsion requirements of today, and developing solutions for the future.”

“Electrification to the Army represents a means to achieving many different capabilities that enhance soldiers’ effectiveness in multi domain operations. Specifically, it means the use of electric power to augment vehicle performance,” said Michael Cadiuex, Director of the U.S. Army’s Ground Vehicles Systems Center, in May 2021 during testimony to the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces.

“We work closely with commercial partners to foster collaboration and leverage industry’s investments in electrification technology development.”

The U.S. Army is also considering replacing its heavy wheeled vehicle fleets with a Common Tactical Truck, and is considering options for new main battle tanks – both options are likely to rely on electrification.