TARDEC Active Protection System Compliance Plan

Abstract : Active Protection Systems (APS) have been in the design and development stages since the early 1950s, but none have successfully made the transition from development to integration on a platform. A contributing factor of this lengthy development period is the lack of common standards, APS requirements or a fielded system that can be followed as a template. Although lacking firm APS requirements, an APS should be developed for and tested in a relevant environment that mirrors the operational environment of its intended host vehicle. Since APS is a new technology, there has been no logical process to follow. The Tank Automotive Research Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) has developed an APS Compliance Plan to serve as a developmental roadmap and a TRL estimation tool. Using this plan one may determine specific tasks or tests necessary to advance to a higher TRL, as well as assess the risk involved with transitioning an APS at its current technology state. Further, TARDEC will use a configuration management process to increase the likelihood of APS transition to a program of record. This paper will introduce the TARDEC APS Compliance Plan and describe how it can be used focus APS development and transition. TARDEC plans to assist development and transition minded efforts with a System Integration Laboratory (SIL) validation process as well as present the vision for how the Compliance Plan will operate in the future.