Trends in Development of Military Vehicles Capabilities Based on Advanced Technologies

Abstract

This paper presents the challenges and perspectives regarding the technologization of military vehicles designed to be used in combat operations or in combat support. The technological progress registered in the production of batteries for the commercial automotive field has generated more and more interest in the hybridization or electrification of military vehicles, but also in the utilization of UGVs on the battlefield. In terms of survivability, either discussing about tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, armoured personnel carriers, or light tactical vehicles, in addition to the armor protection offered to the crew, the emphasis is increasingly on the implementation of active protection systems designed to remove or diminish the effects of enemy strikes. Moreover, as UAVs are more and more present in combat operations, the concept of 360 degrees of protection of vehicles has changed now to a hemispherical need of protection, considering the highly effective threats from above. Another actual trend to be considered is the multi-platform concept with distributed capabilities rather than all-in-one platforms, introducing the collaborative combat approach. Nevertheless, considering the complexity of these advanced systems, their high costs when acquiring or maintaining them, and their impact on logistic support, the implementation of such technologies in military vehicles is not that accelerated.