Defense News has posted a new article titled “What is the Next-Gen Combat Vehicle?” which reports on recent statements from US Army officials concerning future AFV development.  The article can be read here, but for those in a hurry, allow us to summarize.

The Army has no idea what the NGCV (Next-Gen Combat Vehicle) will look like and will need four years of analysis before any ideas “begin to take shape.”  This analysis will include “conceptualizing the NGCV” through the “prism” of the movement and maneuver functional concept for the brigade combat teams.  According to the article, there is a “roadmap to show where potential decision-making points could exist to bring a NGCV to life.”  However, this roadmap is in no way “set in stone.”  Don’t worry, the Army does not intend to repeat the mistakes it made in the FCS (Future Combat Systems) program.  In fact, the Army “will make conscious decisions about what NGCV will or will not be and what capabilities and technologies it will have based on our assessments of technology and where it is.”

Or to summarize even further:

The Army wants something better than what it has right now but they have no idea what it might be.