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There are many trade-offs between tracked and wheeled vehicle classes

• Tracked vehicles have shown their advantages in off-road mobility, flexibility in weight growth, and ability to fight and survive on the battlefield.
• Wheeled vehicles have shown better on-road mobility, savings in maintenance, and reduced crew and squad fatigue.
• The distinctions between vehicle classes are blurring with the introduction of new technologies and systems.

The Australian government is making recapitalization decisions about its mechanized land forces. One of the main initiatives, Project LAND 400, involves updating the Australian military's close combat capability. To assist with this decision, the Defence Science and Technology Group asked RAND for help in assessing the range of trade-offs between tracked and wheeled combat vehicle classes, focusing on the infantry fighting vehicle component. This request entailed completing three tasks.

First, we examined the expected performance of tracked and wheeled vehicles as a way to assess lessons learned from conflicts around the world. The idea was to "connect the dots" between how combat vehicles were expected to perform and how they actually performed.

Second, we examined how advanced technologies could affect the performance of tracked and wheeled vehicles into the future. We examined several capabilities that could alter the mobility, protection, and firepower of future vehicles. Some technologies should be considered in any decision about the preference of one vehicle class versus another, because they could close the gap between tracked and wheeled vehicles. Others could improve the survivability and operational effectiveness of both classes over time.

Third, we assessed the implications of tracked and wheeled vehicles from a broader, system-level perspective. Previous research shows the importance of considering performance at the system or unit level in addition to side-by-side vehicle class performance. In the side-by-side comparison, the heavier vehicles are often preferred, but they come with an increasing operational cost, which shows up in the system or unit level assessment.

• Chapter One

  Introduction

• Chapter Two

  Task 1 Results: Lessons Learned About the Expected Performance of Tracked and Wheeled Vehicles in Combat

• Chapter Three

  Task 1 Results: Lessons Learned About Tracked and Wheeled Vehicles Meeting Expected Performance in Recent Conflicts

• Chapter Four

  Task 2 Results: The Impact of Advanced Technologies

• Chapter Five

  Task 3 Results: System-Level Implications

• Chapter Six

  What the Assessment Means for Project LAND 400 and the Path Ahead