The US Army is investing $107.8 million to manufacture and deploy modern protection systems for its tracked vehicles, increasing the fleet’s survivability through cutting-edge technologies.This project was filed under the Weapons and Tracked Combat Vehicles category of a US Department of Defense budget estimate for fiscal 2026.It incorporates three packages for the ground platforms, including modular laser-enabled active protection systems, a signature management technology, and top-attack protection kits.Multiple M1 Abrams tanks wait to be moved from a rail car to the staging area at the Powidz APS-2 Worksite, Powidz, Photo: Capt. Michael Mastrangelo/US ArmyAccording to the paper, the framework will encompass more than 380 vehicles across active and reserve components of the army.Covered platforms are all commissioned for defense missions, local disaster response, and civil authority support.It said that the initiative will bolster early warning against enemy threats, decrease the chances of thermal detection, and provide passive add-on armor to reinforce compartments and hatches against infiltration from overhead attacks.Multiple sources reported that no funds were allocated for the packages mentioned in 2024 or 2025, suggesting the effort is centered on adapting to evolving enemy capabilities in modern warfare.The document did not disclose specific industry partners for production, integration, or supply.Currently, the army employs approximately 4,000 tracked vehicles, including M1 Abrams tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, Paladin howitzers, as well as their armored bridge layers, recovery vehicles, and engineering vehicle subvariants.An M992A2 Field Artillery Ammunition Supply Vehicle resupplies an M109A6 Paladin howitzer in South Korea, March 28, 2017. Image: Capt. Jonathan CamireThe post US Army Invests in Next-Gen Vehicle Protection Systems appeared first on The Defense Post.