BAE Systems demonstrate Common Modular Power System for tactical wheeled vehicles

BAE Systems are demonstrating a prototype Common Modular Power System (CMPS) at the Power and Energy Symposium currently being held at Troy, Michigan. This is in response to a need expressed by the United States Department of Defense for a power system that is able to provide 400amps of 28-volt DC power across the full rev range of a High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV or Humvee ).

Such a power source is a perceived requirement for 21st century warfighting and is employed for such applications as electronic warfare, situational awareness, communications and vehicle diagnostics and prognostics. At present, the power supply of the HMMWV is not sufficient for the theater self protection suites and improvised explosive device (IED) defeat technology that the Department of Defence wants to see fitted.

BAE has explored several options for such a CMPS, such as a belt driven unit, but has focused on the development of a unit that is attached to the front of the vehicle's engine and driven directly by the crankshaft. There are several benefits to this, notably a consistent supply of mechanical energy and the ease of ‘retrofitting’ existing HMMWV’s in the field.

This configuration has the advantage of being able to power vehicle systems that are conventionally belt-driven (such as power steering pumps, air conditioning, engine water pumps and cooling fans), thus increasing the performance, efficiency and reliability of the engine itself.

The BAE power system has the added advantage of being able to be employed to be driven by the Power Take-Off (PTO) drive of an armored truck such as an RG 31. These, and HMMWV’s, fit into the broader category of Tactical Wheeled Vehicles (TWV).The system easily addresses the specified DC power requirements and a version intended as an optional extra can provide an additional 30KV of clean 230-volt AC power.