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54-481: The MGV program was set in motion in 1999 by Army Chief of Staff Eric Shinseki . The MGVs were based on a common tracked vehicle chassis. The lead vehicle, and the only one to be produced as a prototype, was the Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon . Seven other vehicle variants were to follow. The MGV vehicles were conceived to be exceptionally lightweight (initially capped at 18 tons base weight) to meet

108-453: A Cave automatic virtual environment . This concept used a crew of three. The Picatinny Arsenal XM360 tank gun had been selected by September 2006. tank gun underwent test firing at Aberdeen Proving Ground beginning in March 2008. General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products was awarded a $ 14 million contract in 2007 to develop the ammunition handling system. In January 2008, Raytheon

162-548: A smoke screen ) or by disrupting their guidance with radiation (for example, with a dazzler ). Some systems use laser dazzlers to blind the operator or sensors of semi-automatic command to line of sight (SACLOS) anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), such as the JD-3 of the Type 99 tank . Others use powerful infrared emitters to mask the IR tracking flare present on many SACLOS ATGMs, such as

216-574: A $ 2 billion MGV design contract from Boeing. Per the contract, GDLS would produce 8 Mounted Combat Systems, 6 command and control vehicles, and 4 reconnaissance and surveillance vehicle prototypes. In March 2005, the Army's acquisition chief Claude Bolton told the House Armed Services subcommittee that getting the MGV's weight to under 19-tons was proving difficult. In 2005 the Army relented on

270-696: A boy, Shinseki learned that three of his uncles had served in the 442nd Infantry Regiment , a unit of Japanese Americans that became one of the most decorated fighting units in United States history. Motivated by his uncles' example, he attended the United States Military Academy and graduated in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission as a second lieutenant . He earned a Master of Arts degree in English Literature from Duke University in 1974. He

324-521: A common chassis was to reduce the need for specialized training of personnel and allow for faster fielding of repairs. The MGV platform utilized a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system. The MGV also employed numerous weight-saving features, including composite armor, composite and titanium structural elements, and continuous band tracks. The 30 mm Mk44 Bushmaster II chain gun on the reconnaissance and surveillance vehicle and infantry carrier vehicle provided greater firepower, yet weighed 25% less than

378-602: A director for several corporations: Honeywell International and Ducommun , military contractors; Grove Farm Corporation; First Hawaiian Bank ; and Guardian Life Insurance Company of America . He is a member of the Advisory Boards at the Center for Public Leadership , John F. Kennedy School of Government , Harvard University , and to the U.S. Comptroller General . He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations ,

432-657: A kinetic countermeasure designed to minimize collateral damage. The Russian Afganit active protection system of the Armata AFVs features a millimeter-wavelength radar to detect and track incoming anti-tank munitions. It can reportedly intercept armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot kinetic energy penetrators in addition to high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) munitions. Mountains and neighboring vehicles reflect radio waves , thus creating radar clutter , which adversely affects radar-detection and radar-lock performance. The trajectories of top attack ATGMs like

486-454: A mast-mounted, long-range optoelectronic infrared sensor, an emitter mapping sensor for radio frequency interception and direction finding , chemical sensor and a multifunction radio frequency sensor. The RSV also features the onboard capability to conduct automatic target detection , aided target recognition and level-one sensor fusion . To further enhance the scout capabilities, the RSV

540-587: A program he designed, Future Combat Systems . One other controversial plan that Shinseki implemented was the wearing of the black beret for all army personnel. Prior to Shinseki implementing this policy, only the United States Army Rangers could wear the black beret . When the black beret was given to all soldiers and officers, the Rangers moved to the tan beret . Shinseki publicly clashed with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld during

594-500: Is the highest-ranked Japanese American to have served in the United States Armed Forces. During his tenure as Army Chief of Staff, Shinseki initiated an innovative but controversial plan to make the army more strategically deployable and mobile in urban terrain by creating Stryker Interim-Force Brigade Combat Teams . He conceived a long-term strategic plan for the army dubbed "Objective Force", which included

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648-795: The Atlantic Council of the United States, and the Association of the United States Army . On December 7, 2008, then- President-elect Barack Obama announced at a press conference in Chicago that he would nominate Shinseki to become the Secretary of Veterans Affairs . Shinseki was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate on January 20, 2009, and sworn in the next day. In May 2014, Shinseki

702-474: The Cabinet of the United States . In an interview with retired General Peter W. Chiarelli , journalist Robert Siegel described the situation as "a case of a very, very good man who's run up against some pretty terrible problems in his job," to which Chiarelli responded, "I don't look up to any man more than I look up to Eric Shinseki." Shinseki is married to his high school sweetheart , Patricia; they are

756-590: The M242 Bushmaster it would replace. Weight at full combat capability (FCC) was raised to 24 tons in June 2006, then to 27.4 tons in January. According to a former program official, MGV chassis weights entered a "death spiral," as any weight growth to the subsystems cascaded to the whole system (e.g. heavier armor required a stronger suspension to carry it). FCC weight was eventually raised to 30 tons. TRADOC

810-504: The NLOS-Cannon . The XM1205 Field Recovery and Maintenance Vehicle (FRMV) was the armoured recovery vehicle and maintenance system for employment within both the unit of action (UA) and unit of employment (UE). Eric Shinseki Eric Ken Shinseki ( / ʃ ɪ n ˈ s ɛ k i / ; Japanese : 新関 健 , romanized :  Shinseki Ken , born November 28, 1942) is a retired United States Army general who served as

864-498: The Shtora-1 . Soft-kill measures can be divided into on-board countermeasures, such as dazzlers, which are fixed to the platform and expendable countermeasures, such as smoke grenades, which are ejected upon use. Soft-kill measures may be used preemptively, but are more commonly employed in reaction to detected threats. Hard-kill measures kinetically attack threatening missiles or other munitions, usually at very close range to

918-506: The Vietnam War . During one of those tours while serving as a forward artillery observer, he stepped on a land mine , which blew the front off one of his feet; after spending almost a year recovering from his injuries, he returned to active duty in 1971. Shinseki has served at Schofield Barracks, Hawai'i , with Headquarters, United States Army Hawaii , and Fort Shafter with Headquarters, United States Army Pacific . He has taught at

972-705: The Army chose Boeing and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) to serve as the "lead systems integrators" to oversee the development and eventual production of the FCS’ 18 systems. In October 2002 United Defense (UD) and Boeing/SAIC signed a memorandum of understanding to bring the Objective Force Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon under the FCS umbrella. In January 2003, Boeing and SAIC reached an agreement with General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) and United Defense LP (UDLP) to develop

1026-553: The Army's intra-theatre air mobility requirements. The vehicles that the Army sought to replace with the MGVs ranged from 30 to 70 tons. In order to reduce weight, the Army substituted armor with passive and active protection systems . The FCS program was terminated in 2009 due to concerns about the program's affordability and technology readiness. The MGV program was succeeded by the Ground Combat Vehicle program, which

1080-480: The MCS was to have had a crew of two and to be armed with an autoloaded 120 mm main gun, a 12.7 mm (.50) caliber machine gun, and a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher . The MCS was intended to deliver precision fire at a rapid rate, in order to destroy multiple targets at standoff ranges quickly, and would complement the other systems in the unit of action. It would be capable of providing direct support to

1134-625: The MGVs. UDLP was responsible for leading development of five of the vehicles (including the NLOS-C) while GDLS took responsibility for leading development of the other three. In May 2003 the Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) approved the FCS’ next acquisition phase, and in August 2004 Boeing and SAIC awarded contracts to 21 companies to design and build its various platforms and hardware and software. In December 2003, GDLS received

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1188-729: The NLOS-C as a separate initiative. The Pentagon directed the Army to cancel the NLOS-C in December. The XM1204 Non-Line-of-Sight Mortar (NLOS-M) was a turreted mortar carrier with a crew of four. The NLOS-M had a breech-loading, gun-mortar that fired 120 mm munitions including the Precision Guided Mortar Munition (PGMM). It had a fully automated firing control system and a manually assisted, semi-automated ammunition loading system. The NLOS-M would carry an 81 mm mortar for dismounted operations away from

1242-458: The NLOS-M fire control system to conduct semi- to autonomous computation of technical fire direction, automatic gun lay, preparation of the ammunition for firing, and mortar round firing. In January 2003 United Defense, now part of BAE Systems , was selected by the Army and the FCS lead systems integrators ( Boeing and SAIC ) to develop and build the NLOS-M. The NLOS-M had high commonality with

1296-681: The U.S. Military Academy's Department of English. During duty with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Bliss , Texas , he served as the regimental adjutant and as the executive officer of its 1st Squadron. Shinseki's ten-plus years of service in Europe included assignments as Commander, 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry , 3rd Infantry Division ( Schweinfurt ); Commander, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division ( Kitzingen ); Assistant Chief of Staff, G3, 3rd Infantry Division (Operations, Plans and Training) (Würzburg); and Assistant Division Commander for Maneuver, 3rd Infantry Division (Schweinfurt). The 3rd Division

1350-449: The beginning on manned ground vehicles. The program's heavier successor, the Ground Combat Vehicle , was cancelled in 2014. In order to reduce weight, the Army substituted armor with passive and active protection systems . This was hoped to provide a level of protection similar to the legacy armored vehicles being replaced. Most vehicles were protected with hard-kill active protection systems capable of defeating most threats. The armor

1404-570: The cancellation of the FCS Manned Ground Vehicles family. The Army issued a stop-work order for MGV and NLOS-C efforts in June. In July the army terminated the MGV, but not the NLOS-C. In the news release the Army said cancelation would "negatively impact" NLOS-C development but said it was seeking a "viable path forward" for the NLOS-C. The DoD determined that the proposed FCS vehicle designs would not provide sufficient protection against IEDs . The Army planned to restart from

1458-427: The cannon fires a sequence of several rounds at different trajectories such that the rounds all hit the same target at the same time. The system had the ability to switch shell types quickly on a one-by-one basis. Improvements in the refueling arrangements and automation of ammunition reloading reduced the amount of time spent on resupply and during which the gun would be unavailable for combat support. This also allowed

1512-444: The carrier. The NLOS-M provides fires on-demand to engage complex and simultaneous target sets. As part of an NLOS-M battery, individual NLOS-M vehicles would have provided precision-guided rounds to destroy high-value targets, protective fires to suppress and obscure the enemy, and illumination fires. The FCS command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance ( C4ISR ) network would have enabled

1566-411: The dismounted infantry in an assault, defeating bunkers , and breaching walls during tactical assaults. It was also intended to be highly mobile, in order to maneuver out of contact and into positions of advantage; given the vehicle's light weight, this was especially important. In May 2003 Army officials revealed a computer model of the MCS, allowing reporters to view the inside of the vehicle through

1620-620: The figure being proposed by Secretary Rumsfeld in his invasion plan, and it was rejected in strong language by both Rumsfeld and his Deputy Secretary of Defense , Paul Wolfowitz , who was another chief planner of the invasion and occupation. From then on, Shinseki's influence on the Joint Chiefs of Staff reportedly waned. Critics of the Bush administration alleged that Shinseki was forced into early retirement as Army Chief of Staff because of his comments on troop levels; however, his retirement

1674-407: The front. This requirement was changed later that year to 14.5 mm protection with add-on armor . In 2008, the Army added a requirement for an add-on V-hull kit. The XM1201 Reconnaissance and Surveillance Vehicle (RSV) featured a suite of advanced sensors to detect, locate, track, classify and automatically identify targets under all climatic conditions , day or night. The suite included

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1728-425: The guidance of an incoming guided missile threat are designated soft-kill active protection measures. Countermeasures that physically strike an incoming threat to damage or destroy it and thereby limit its ability to penetrate armor are designated hard-kill active protection measures. Soft-kill measures are designed to defeat guided weapons either by concealing the protected vehicle from them (for example, with

1782-404: The lack of integrity among some leaders in veterans healthcare facilities: "That breach of integrity is irresponsible, it is indefensible, and unacceptable to me." He said he could not defend what happened because it was indefensible, but he could take responsibility for it and he would. Shinseki's resignation meant that 2014 was the first time since 2000 that there had not been an Asian American in

1836-420: The last Vietnam War veteran to hold the post. Shinseki retired on June 11, 2003, at the end of his four-year term. His Farewell Memo contained some of his ideas regarding the future of the military. At that time, General Shinseki retired from the Army after 38 years of military service. As of 2009 , Shinseki was the highest-ranked Asian American in the history of the United States. Additionally, as of 2004, he

1890-417: The parents of two children, Lori and Ken. He also has seven grandchildren. Shinseki was awarded the following medals, ribbons, badges, and tabs: # denotes acting secretary Active protection system An active protection system ( APS ) is a system designed to actively prevent certain anti-tank weapons from destroying a vehicle. Countermeasures that either conceal the vehicle from, or disrupt

1944-550: The planning of the war in Iraq over how many troops the United States would need to keep in Iraq for the postwar occupation of that country. As Army Chief of Staff, Shinseki testified to the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services on February 25, 2003, that "something in the order of several hundred thousand soldiers" would probably be required for postwar Iraq. This was an estimate far higher than

1998-406: The protected vehicle. Explosively formed penetrators (EFPs) or high explosive fragmentation countermeasures are typically used. The exact mechanism of many APSs has not been published. The action of these countermeasures may lead to: There are many examples of hard kill countermeasures. The Russian Arena system utilizes a Doppler radar to detect incoming threats and fires munition to eliminate

2052-404: The seventh United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs (2009–2014) and the 34th Chief of Staff of the Army (1999–2003). Shinseki is a veteran of two tours of combat in the Vietnam War , in which he was awarded three Bronze Star Medals for valor and two Purple Hearts . He was the first Asian-American four-star general , and the first Asian-American Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Shinseki

2106-617: The system to use a crew of two instead of five. The NLOS-C had a high commonality with the NLOS-Mortar vehicle. The first NLOS-C prototype was rolled out in May 2008. Eight prototypes were delivered to the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona by 2009. Although Defense Secretary Robert Gates ended the MGV program in April 2009, Congress had directed that the Army continue working on

2160-452: The threat. The Israeli Trophy system fires a multiple explosively formed penetrator (MEFP) to destroy the threat. An American system known as Quick Kill detects incoming threats using an Active Electronically Scanned Array , which assesses the threat, and deploys a smaller rocket countermeasure. Another American system, known as Iron Curtain , utilizes two sensors to reduce false alarms and defeat threats inches from their target by firing

2214-461: The vehicle's requirement for roll-off C-130 transportability. Relaxing the C-130 requirement to allow vehicles to be transported in a stripped-down configuration allowed the weight cap to be increased from 18 tons per vehicle to 24 tons. In August 2005, GDLS selected Detroit Diesel 's 5L890 to power the eight variants. The Department of Defense announced budget cuts in April 2009, which resulted in

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2268-590: Was a 155 mm self-propelled howitzer to succeed the M109 howitzer . This was the lead vehicle effort, and most far along when the program was terminated in 2009. The NLOS-C used technology from the canceled XM2001 Crusader project. The NLOS-C incorporated the autoloader from the Crusader project. The NLOS-C featured an improved fire rate over the M109. It was capable of multiple rounds simultaneous impact (MRSI), where

2322-587: Was a unique secret matrix that may be utilized by industry in the Ground Combat Vehicle program. The common MGV chassis was required to provide full protection from 30 mm and 45 mm cannon fire in a 60-degree arc opening towards the front of the vehicle. 360-degree protection from small arms fire up to 14.5 mm heavy machine gun and 155 mm artillery shell air-bursts was planned. Protection from higher caliber rounds as well as anti-tank guided missiles would be provided by an active protection system manufactured by Raytheon known as " Quick Kill ". Use of

2376-871: Was also educated at the Armor Officer Advanced Course, the United States Army Command and General Staff College , and the National War College of National Defense University . Shinseki served in a variety of command and staff assignments in the Continental United States and overseas, including two combat tours with the 9th and 25th Infantry Divisions in the Republic of Vietnam as an artillery forward observer and as commander of Troop A, 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry Regiment during

2430-613: Was also to be equipped with Unattended Ground Sensors , a Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle with various payloads and two unmanned aerial vehicles . It was to be armed with a 30 mm MK44 autocannon and a coaxial 7.62 mm M240 machine gun . The XM1202 Mounted Combat System (MCS) was planned as a successor to the M1 Abrams main battle tank . The MCS was to provide both direct and beyond-line-of-sight ('indirect') firepower capability and allowed for in-depth destruction of point targets up to 8 km (5.0 mi) away. As of 2009

2484-456: Was announced nearly a year before those comments. When the insurgency took hold in postwar Iraq, Shinseki's comments and their public rejection by the civilian leadership were often cited by those who felt the Bush administration deployed too few troops to Iraq. On November 15, 2006, in testimony before Congress, CENTCOM Commander General John Abizaid said that Shinseki had been correct that more troops were needed. Shinseki has served as

2538-478: Was awarded a $ 232 million contract to develop the XM1111 Mid-Range Munition . The munition had been test fired from an M1 Abrams as early as March 2007. The Army tested a 27-round magazine ammunition handling system at Aberdeen Proving Ground by July 2008. This was considered the most complex of the three vehicles GDLS was contracted to build. The XM1203 Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon (NLOS-C)

2592-508: Was born in Lihue , Kauaʻi , in the then Territory of Hawaii , to an American family of Japanese ancestry . His grandparents emigrated from Hiroshima to Hawaii in 1901. He grew up in a sugarcane plantation community on Kaua'i and graduated from Kaua'i High and Intermediate School in 1960. While attending Kaua'i he was active in the Boy Scouts and served as class president . As

2646-402: Was canceled in 2014. Initial Technology Demonstrator Vehicle by United Defense yielded both tracked and wheeled prototypes. Only the tracked variant was pursued further. FCS-Wheeled (FCS-W) was an early concept designed to demonstrate a hybrid-electric drive system and two-man cockpit workstations. A Technology Demonstrator Vehicle was built by United Defense and was unveiled in 2002. FCS-W

2700-513: Was designed to deliver a top road speed of 75 mph and a top cross-country speed of 40 mph. The vehicle's armor utilized armor similar to the tracked variant but was lighter. The vehicle would have also had some type of active protection system . The arrangement of the turbine and drive motor provided for a two-man, side-by-side cockpit and a sizable payload compartment. In May 2000, DARPA awarded four contracts to four industry teams to develop Future Combat Systems designs and in March 2002,

2754-627: Was embroiled in a scandal involving the Veterans Health Administration , which is a component of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Questions involving substandard timely care and false records covering up related timelines had come to light, involving treatment of veterans in a number of veterans hospitals. On May 30, 2014, President Obama announced that he had accepted Shinseki's resignation as Secretary. Shinseki said he could not explain

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2808-529: Was organized at that time as a heavy mechanized division. He also served as Assistant Chief of Staff, G3 (Operations, Plans, and Training), VII Corps ( Stuttgart ). Shinseki served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Support, Allied Land Forces Southern Europe ( Verona ), an element of the Allied Forces Southern Europe . From March 1994 to July 1995, Shinseki commanded the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood , Texas. In July 1996, he

2862-556: Was promoted to lieutenant general and became Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans, United States Army. In June 1997, Shinseki was appointed to the rank of general before assuming duties as Commanding General, Seventh United States Army ; Commander, Allied Land Forces Central Europe; and Commander, NATO Stabilization Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina . Shinseki became the Army's 28th Vice Chief of Staff on November 24, 1998, then became its 34th Chief of Staff on June 22, 1999,

2916-476: Was slow to update its expectations for the MGV. TRADOC recommended removing C-130 transportability requirements in 2007 and raising the weight limit to 27.4 tons in requirements drafted in 2007. However, TRADOC's essential combat configuration MGV weight remained capped at 38,000 pounds (19 tons) until the program's cancelation. MGVs in essential combat configuration were required to have all-around protection from 14.5 mm caliber ammunition, and 30 mm from

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