Two military technologies saving Soldiers lives on today’s battlefields were designed by the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) and are among 10 innovations recognized as 2008 Army’s Greatest Inventions. The awards were presented by U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC) Deputy Commanding General (CG) LTG James H. Pillsbury and U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) CG MG Paul S. Izzo Sept. 21 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, VA.
“Both of these inventions embody what we do at TARDEC every day,” said TARDEC Director Dr. Grace M. Bochenek. “They are innovative, quickly-achieved solutions to problems being faced by warfighters in the field. The most rewarding part of this recognition is realizing our work made a difference for the Soldiers.”
The Army-wide awards program is dedicated to recognizing the best technology solutions for soldiers. The TARDEC technologies selected were:
· One System Remote Video Terminal (OSRVT) A-Kit – The OSRVT is an enhancement of the Air Force’s Remote Optical Video Enhanced Receiver III, which allows warfighers to receive imagery directly from manned and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Soldiers with OSRVT access have higher situational awareness and can use the data and video to better plan missions and respond to enemy activity.
· Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicle Expedient Armor Program (MEAP) Add-on-Armor (AoA) Kit – In March 2008, an urgent request to increase MRAP armor was sent by Army leaders to TARDEC. By June 2008, a total of 550 kits were fielded in Operation Iraqi Freedom to protect American warfighters from improvised explosive devices and other types of land mines.
Headquartered at the Detroit Arsenal in Warren, MI, TARDEC is the Nation’s laboratory for advanced military automotive technology and serves as the Ground Systems Integrator for all Department of Defense (DOD) manned and unmanned ground vehicle systems. With roots dating back to the World War II era, TARDEC is a full life-cycle systems engineering support provider-of-first-choice for all DOD ground combat and combat support weapons, equipment and vehicle systems. TARDEC develops and integrates the right technology solutions to improve Current Force effectiveness and provide superior capabilities for Future Force integration. TARDEC’s technical, scientific and engineering staff lead cutting-edge research and development in Ground Systems Survivability; Power and Mobility; Intelligent Ground Systems; Force Projection; and Vehicle Electronics and Architecture.
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