One of the U.S. Army’s top priorities is ensuring the right information is available in any environment down to the lowest tactical level on the battlefield. Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation, is demonstrating its C4 and systems integration capabilities to connect soldiers to the network on its MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) this week at the ongoing Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) 2013 Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C.

Unlike a third-party aftermarket integration approach, which requires vehicle disassembly and a trial-and-error design approach, Oshkosh Defense integrates C4 equipment and a full range of weapons and other systems in the initial vehicle design process to reduce potential system conflicts or interference. Complete assembly line installation and quality control processes also eliminate the cost and quality issues related to tearing apart and reassembling the vehicle to run wiring harnesses and connectors.

“Oshkosh’s ‘first pass’ systems integration approach optimizes the overall vehicle and C4 package design to deliver a fully integrated solution that puts the network at the soldiers’ fingertips to support their missions,” said John Urias, Executive Vice President of Oshkosh Corporation and President of Oshkosh Defense.

“This integrated approach, which we utilized for our JLTV EMD vehicles, offers greater value for our military customer, a more ergonomic design for the soldier and enables rapid fielding of vehicles with integrated C4ISR suites,” he added.

For its Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) solution, Oshkosh Defense developed multiple JLTV mission package configurations. The 22 JLTV prototypes that Oshkosh delivered to the government in August for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase were fully integrated and tested by Oshkosh.

Responding to an urgent need in Afghanistan for the MRAP All-Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) in 2009, Oshkosh Defense delivered its M-ATVs pre-wired and ready for C4 equipment. This contributed to the life-saving vehicles being designed, produced and delivered at a rate of more than 1,000 per month, all in less than one year’s time.

Oshkosh Defense has a dedicated team of C4 and integration specialists who are knowledgeable of the entire range of vehicle systems and requirements. The company considers the impact of the systems and other equipment in the vehicle’s 3D modeling and design process, and systems are designed for future growth, enabling vehicles to accept expanded or updated C4 systems without intrusive effects on the vehicle itself. Oshkosh Defense can also install the C4 and other systems in-house, eliminating the need for a third-party integrator.

A fully integrated Oshkosh M-ATV is on display at the Oshkosh Defense AUSA booth. Oshkosh Defense representatives are also on hand to discuss the company’s advanced integration capabilities.