BAE Systems, our hometown defense contractor in West Manchester Township, demonstrated the first hybrid electric drive system today for ground combat vehicles as part of the U.S. Army’s Future Combat Systems (FCS) program.
The hybrid drive system will be used in a family of 8 ground combat vehicles and is scheduled to go into production in 2008.
The system should lower fuel and maintenance costs over current production vehicles as well reduce the need for external generators by making enough electricity to power 300 typical homes. It also offers better low speed maneuverability, and can prowl in stealthy, quiet attack mode.
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