M1074 Joint Assault Bridge System
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| M1074 Joint Assault Bridge System | |
|---|---|
| File:Joint Assault Bridge.jpg M1074 Joint Assault Bridge System | |
| Type | Armored vehicle-launched bridge |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2016 - present |
| Used by | United States Army and United States Marine Corps |
| Production history | |
| Designer | United States Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) |
| Designed | 2012 |
| Manufacturer | Leonardo DRS Technologies West Plains, Missouri < /br>Anniston Army Depot (final assembly)[1] |
| Unit cost | $1.87 millon USD with MCL95 bridge (2018)[2] |
| Produced | in production as of 2016 |
| No. built | 337 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 68.7 short tons (62.3 t)[3] |
| Length | [convert: invalid number] with bridge |
| length | MLC95 folding scissors bridge 11.7 meters. Bridge weight 15 short tons (14 t)[4] |
| Width | 12 ft (3.66 m) |
| Height | Hull: 5.6 ft (1.71 m) with bridge: 10.1 ft (3.08 m) |
| Crew | 2 enlisted |
| Armor | Burlington composite armor[5] |
Main armament | None |
Secondary armament | None |
| Engine | Honeywell AGT1500C multi-fuel turbine engine 1,500 shp (1,120 kW) |
| Power/weight | 23.8 hp/t (17.74 kW/t) |
| Payload capacity | 1× scissors-type folding bridge MLC85 |
| Transmission | Allison DDA X-1100-3B (4 foward 2 reverse gears) |
| Suspension | High-hardness-steel torsion bars with rotary shock absorbers |
| Ground clearance | 0.48 m (1 ft 7 in) |
| Fuel capacity | 500 US gallons (1,900 L; 420 imp gal) |
Operational range | 260 miles |
| Maximum speed | Road 45 mph (72 km/h) (governed); Off-road: 30 mph (48 km/h)[6] M1A2: Road 42 mph (67 km/h) (governed); Off-road: 25 mph (40 km/h) |
The M1074 Joint Assault Bridge Systems (JABS) is an armored military engineering vehicle based on the Abrams M1A1 main battle tank created by Leonardo DRS Technologies, designed to provide deployable bridge capability for units engaged in military operations. It utilizes the Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge in the Military Load Class 95 Scissor Bridge category, for fast placement of bridge sections that can handle any current U.S. military vehicle.[1]
Development
The JABS was conceived as a compromise between the M104 Wolverine that was deemed too expensive to operate and the aging M60 AVLB which could not adequately support the Abrams and Bradley vehicles. The vehicle provides the Army Mobility Augmentation Companies supporting Armored Brigade Combat Teams with a survivable, deployable and sustainable heavy-assault-bridging capability. Prototype development began in May 2012 when The U.S. Army Contracting Command awarded General Dynamics Land Systems and Leonardo DRS a $26 million dollar contract to build two Joint Assault Bridge Systems (JABS) prototypes.[7] The contract supported the JAB engineering and manufacturing development phase, with the GDLS prototype being built in in Sterling Heights, Michigan and the Leonardo prototype built in West Plains, Missouri. The prototypes were ready in 2014.[8] They were delivered to Anniston Army Depot (ANAD) where they underwent testing and evaluation through 2016. In November 2018 Leonardo DRS was awarded a production contract for up to 337 JAB systems plus related testing and support equipment.[1] The company is partnered with Anniston Army Depot and Israel Military Industries (IMI). DRS has a public-private partnership with Anniston Army Depot in Alabama to manage the chassis assembly and worked with Israel Military Industries Systems (IMI) on the design and engineering of the bridge system, according to a DRS statement. The Army wanted the winner of the contract to include Anniston Army Depot’s organic industrial base experience in the JAB’s production. The JAB is currently in a low-rate production phase. ANAD produced 10 in fiscal year 2016, 14 in 2017 and an additional 27 planned for 2018. The first JABs are at Aberdeen Test Center undergoing exploitation and fire survivability testing. These tests will approve the current configuration for full rate production or create some configuration changes in the design for crew protection. Full-rate production is scheduled to start in 2019 and expected to be completed by May 2024.[7]
Description
The M1074 Joint Assault Bridge System (JABS) is based on the hull of the M1A version of the Abrams Main Battle Tank with an upgraded suspension system from the M1A2 integrated with Embedded Diagnostics (ED) as well as a new hydraulic bridge launcher system and upgraded with the Total InterGrated Engine Revitalization (TIGER). This is projected to lower maintenance costs as well as increased availability and unit readiness with commonality of parts with the Abrams chassis. Survivability is enhanced with components of the Tank Urban Survivability Kit (TUSK) including Abrams Reactive Armor Tile (ARAT1), Rear Viewer Sensor System (RVSS) and Tank-Infantry Phone (TIP). Additionally it can employ the AUTOFLUG Driver’s Seat and Abrams Lightweight Underbody Kit for situational use.[9]
The Bridge Launcher Mechanism (BLM) was designed by Israel Military Industries in conjunction with Leonardo DRS. The bridging controls are a basic push-button system, while the computer assembles the bridge and deploys it. The bridge is that extended its span vertically instead of horizontally as the M104. It can deploy an MLC95 bridge with a gap crossing of 11 meters in approximately 3 minutes.
Future Plans
The M1074 JABS will replace the M60 AVLB and M104 Wolverine on a one-for-one basis in the US Army, Army National Guard and the US Marines Corps. The Army has placed an initial order for 168 vehicles and the Marines for 29.[10]
See Also
References
- ^ a b c "Army looks to DRS for Joint Assault Bridge armored bridging units". UPI.
- ^ "M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank". Federation of American Scientists.
- ^ "XM104 Wolverine Heavy Assault Bridge System H82510". Federation of American Scientists.
- ^ Affairs, This story was written by Darrell E. Waller, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Public. "Navy Engineers Develop New Composite Joint Assault Bridge". www.navy.mil.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Zaloga & Sarson 1993, p. 6
- ^ Pike, John E. "M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 25 October 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b Judson, Jen (8 August 2017). "Army, DRS Set To Integrate New Bridging System on Tanks". Defense News.
- ^ "General Dynamics Awarded $26 Million to Develop Joint Assault Bridge Prototypes". 9 May 2012.
- ^ "Joint Assault Bridge (JAB)" (PDF). www.armyengineer.com.
- ^ "ANAD assists with JAB". DVIDS.