Future Armor Rearm System (FARS)
 
 
To provide a safer, more efficient method of resupplying main-gun ammunition to battle tanks in the future, Oak Ridge helped the U.S. Army build the Future Armor Rearm System (FARS) prototype. At present, tank crews must open up the tank and load 60 to 80 lb shells into the vehicle by hand. FARS has been designed to enable automated loading of ammunition for the M1A1 Abrams and the next generation battle tank--without exposing the tank crew to nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons or enemy fire. 
 
FARS, which consists of a supply vehicle built on a tracked vehicle chassis, makes extensive use of robotics technology. FARS features an armored, sealable cab to protect the crew and a compartment housing multiple carousels containing a combination of 120mm and 140mm shells for various missions. Modifications to the M1A1 tank enable FARS to align with and attach to the tank under a wide variety of situations and terrain conditions. The tank commander selects the proper ammunition for the mission, and the FARS transfer mechanism accomplishes the resupply. FARS can carry enough ammunition to resupply several tanks.
 
In developing FARS, Oak Ridge:  
  • modified the supply vehicle, which was built on a rocket carrier chassis;
  • developed and built the mission module containing carousels, lift table, and transfer mechanism--which includes joy stick controls and video camera that allows the operator to see the connection processing; and
  • designed the interface modifications performed by the Army to the M1A1 tank.
 
Development of FARS began in 1989, and the first full demonstration took place in 1992 when the engineers performed automated ammunition selection, carousel pass through, regular breakaway, and emergency breakaway with the proof-of-principle FARS and the modified M1A1. This marked the first demonstration anywhere of fully automated ammunition resupply. 

The Army's Program Manager for Ammunition Logistics awarded the Oak Ridge FARS team a Certificate of Achievement for "an extremely successful completion of the FARS project on time and within budget." Because of changing priorities, the Army has placed this resupply technology on hold for possible application in the future.
 
In recognition of the Y-12 National Security Complex's diverse, integrated capabilities and its commitment  
to succeeding with high-risk projects, the U.S. Congress in 1997 designated Y-12   
as the National Prototype Center.  

For information, phone 1-800-356-4USA or visit our web site: http://orcmt.oakridge.org/npc.html