The American Future Scout and Cavalry System (FSCS) and British Tactical Reconnaissance Armoured Combat Equipment Requirement (TRACER) were a joint U.S.–British reconnaissance vehicle program.
The program was begun to replace the UK's Sabre and Scimitar reconnaissance vehicles.[1] The U.S. joined later and sought to replace their M3 Bradley.
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The future scout concept was conceived at a November 1995 meeting of senior armor officials. At this meeting, officials decided a future scout and main battle tank would be the centerpiece of the Army's armor modernization plan.[2]
In March 1996, the Army Armor Center at Fort Knox recommended that the Army develop a future scout vehicle to be ready for production around 2004 to 2006. The Army considered the M8 Armored Gun System and the M113 as the basis for the chassis. The group projected that the future scout program would cost $1 billion.[2] The Armor Center recommended that the Army forgo the M3A3 Bradley upgrade, and instead upgrade 278 M3A2s with Operation Desert Storm fixes. The Armor Center concluded the Bradley was approaching its design limit and had many disadvantages as a scout—namely, it lacked stealth and its 25 mm cannon lacked "growth potential against future threats." The Armor Center also suggested the Army consider a joint project with the Marine Corps, which was drafting requirements for the Future Light Combat Vehicle.[3]
In October 1996 the U.S. and British armies signed a letter of intent to jointly work on a future scout vehicle.[4] Developing the program with British cooperation was expected to save the U.S. Army 30 percent to 40 percent through the engineering and manufacturing development phase.[5]
The UK was given contracting authority for phase one (called the project definition phase in the UK, and the advanced technology demonstration phase in the U.S.).[6] Phase two (engineering and manufacturing development in the U.S. and full-scale development in the UK) would proceed with the phase one participants. One contractor would be downselected for low-rate production.[7]
In November 1996, the U.S. Army updated its future scout mission need statement.[8]
As of January 1998, the U.S. Army sought to acquire 1095 of the vehicles, and the British Army sought 235.[9]
In January 1999, the UK awarded SIKA International (a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems) and LANCER (a consortium led by GEC Marconi), each a $147 million contract for the 42-month-long advanced technology demonstration (ATD) phase of the project.[6]
- ^ Baumgardner, Neil (8 June 2001). "Britain Seeking Information On Off-The-Shelf Vehicles For FRES Program". Defense Daily International. ProQuest 217294908. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
- ^ a b "New Scout Vehicle Could Cost $1 Billion: Armor Center: Price Tag for Developing New Tank Could Reach $4 Billion". Inside the Army. Vol. 8, no. 11. Inside Washington Publishers. 18 March 1996. pp. 1, 7. JSTOR 43978982. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- ^ "Ft. Knox Plan Carries $40 Million Bill: Armor, Infantry Leaders to Take Future Scout Vehicle Ideas to TRADOC". Inside the Army. Vol. 8, no. 32. Inside Washington Publishers. 12 August 1996. pp. 1, 11–12. JSTOR 43979368. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ "U.S., U.K. Sign Letter of Intent for Work on Future Scout Vehicle". Inside the Army. Vol. 8, no. 42. Inside Washington Publishers. 21 October 1996. p. 5. JSTOR 43979553. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- ^ "U.S. Cost Avoidance of $140m Possible: Top Pentagon Official Approves Plans for Cooperative FSCS Development". Inside the Army. Vol. 9, no. 8. Inside Washington Publishers. 24 February 1997. pp. 1, 8–9. JSTOR 43979850. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- ^ a b Winograd, Erin Q. (8 February 1999). "42-month Tech Demo Kicks Off After Delay: Army Awards Two Contracts for Future Scout and Cavalry System". Inside the Army. Vol. 11, no. 5. Inside Washington Publishers. JSTOR 43983454. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
- ^ Daniel, G. Dupont (12 May 1997). "U.S., U.K. Officials Gather in Michigan to Discuss Future Scout System". Inside the Army. Vol. 9, no. 19. Inside Washington Publishers. p. 12. JSTOR 43980063. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
- ^ "Critical Intelligence". Inside the Pentagon. Vol. 12, no. 47. Inside Washington Publishers. 21 November 1996. p. 8. JSTOR 43992681. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
- ^ George Cahlink; H. Diehl McKalle (12 January 1998). "U.S. Wants 1.095 Systems. U.K. Seeks 335: Congress Told of Plans for $987 Million Future Scout System Effort". Inside the Army. Vol. 10, no. 1. Inside Washington Publishers. JSTOR 43980696. Retrieved 8 February 2022.