Assured Operational Mobility Across Gaps for the Future Combat Systems/Future Force) FCS/FF

Assured mobility is the critical element of Future Combat Systems (FCS). Gaps, both naturally occurring and intentionally created by the enemy, impede the momentum of assault. Current gap crossing equipment, necessarily requires soldiers to launch/retrieve the bridge in hostile environment, potentially placing them in harms way. Current equipment are also not transportable in a C-130 aircraft, which is one of the key parameters of the FCS/FF. In Phase II we propose to demonstrate through the means of simulation and a scaled demonstration model the robotic gap crossing achieved by the innovative GDT solution designed in Phase I. The Gap Defeat Technology (GDT)will be capable of automated launch, retrieval and packaging to fit inside the C-130 cargo bay and be carried by a Launch-Rack on the back of the Common Bridge Transport (CBT).