Alcoa (NYSE:AA) announced today that it has been appointed by the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) to collaborate on the Army's Fuel-Efficient Ground Vehicle Demonstrator (FED) project. In partnership with Ricardo Inc., Alcoa Defense will produce a tactical wheeled vehicle structure that significantly improves fuel efficiency while also maintaining survivability, performance and payload capability.
"We are honored to be selected by TARDEC for our specialized expertise in structures engineering that maximizes the use of light alloys, such as aluminum and titanium," said Dave Dobson, president, Alcoa Defense. "This is a great opportunity to showcase the many ways that we can make military vehicles lighter, faster and stronger when we partner with defense original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)."
TARDEC is embarking on the FED project to help achieve the Army's long-term goal of reducing fuel consumption on the battlefield, which will also reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil. The innovative solutions featured in the FED vehicle may become widely adopted by industry to enhance fuel efficiency in the next generation of tactical wheeled vehicles.
Alcoa Defense will design and build the vehicle's chassis and cab structures. The finished prototype is expected to debut in the Alcoa Defense booth at the October 2010 Association of the United States Army (AUSA) show in Washington, D.C.