Posted on 06/27/2011 4:39:18 AM PDT by James C. Bennett
When Local Motors won DARPA's XC2V private "crowd-sourced" competition about 14 weeks ago, they secured the right to build a prototype that could eventually serve as a next-gen military vehicle for U.S. armed forces. Not a lot of time!
As you can see, however, they delivered. The fruits of their labor are on display above.
Now, while a new kick-ass military vehicle is cool, the true goal of DARPA's competition was to see how much faster a crowd-sourced project could go from concept to prototype than traditional means.
Turns out the answer was "much faster," with Local Motors completing their task before schedule (the 14 weeks). Even if they had completed it exactly on deadline the process would have still been about five times faster than a traditional build.
The beast is named FANG, by the way (Fast Adaptable Next-Generation Ground Combat Vehicle) and it could represent a much more privatized future for the U.S. military.
This proves that if you get away from the unions and bloated gold-plated contracts of the defense industry giants, small entrepreneurs can produce an equal or better product, on schedule and under budget.
Cool! Does it come in red? :)
What or who is the crowd?
Doesn’t look like a functional military vehicle
Re-inventing the wheel. The problem was solved 30 years ago.
The good guys always win, even in the eighties.
Almost reminiscent of the story of the development of the Jeep - in which a tiny, unknown, manufacturer (Willys?), came up with the quintissential military light vehicle in weeks, when the big ‘usual suspect’ military contractors had struggled - and failed - for years....
CC
That is a concept vehicle, it is not the real thing, nothing more than a fiberglass shell set on a dune buggy frame.
Its an ATV with a cabin?
Bastard spawn of somethin and a Pontiac Aztec
“Doesn’t look like a functional military vehicle”
Agreed. Once you start jamming all the electronic gear, weapons systems, etc. that sleek little thing will be a pig.
Nope.
As one poster noted, “Megaforce”.
The military moves troops and supplies and THAT vehicle does neither. Meanwhile, the logistician in me drove past a convoy of FMTVs this weekend, smiling at a vehicle that was first proposed over 20 years ago and is only now filling out reserve and National Guard motor pools.
The American Bantam Car Co. originated the Jeep. It was a subsidiary of the British Austin car company. The feds loved it, but were concerned that ABC couldn’t turn them out in sufficient numbers, and awarded contracts to Ford and Willys. The rest, as they say, is history.
” Purists would say Bantam. “
Yes.. Thank you... ;)
I was out at the 9th Infantry (Motorized) Division in 1986 and saw all the “Fast Attack” stuff they were experimenting with. The original FAV sure captured everybody’s imagination, until they rolled over constantly with the .50cal mounted so high. Same with the HMMWVs with TOWs and those launcher/tracker units were EXPENSIVE.
Everybody wants to build a hella-kewl “military” vehicle prototype just to remind the public (and the DOD) that they’re still alive.
I agree. It looks like some prop in a futuristic movie. The engine is exposed to the elements. I don't see snorkels for operating in rivers and wetlands. It doesn't look bullet resistant, let alone IED resistant.
You make a good point. But a word of caution: DARPA does innovative and cool very well. But I would wager that there’s a lot more engineering and testing to do before the vehicle is reliable, maintainable, suitable, and effective. JMHO, to be sure.
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