BAE Systems, the manufacturer of the CV90, was asked by its six client nations to analyze the economic impact of equipping the CV90 with rubber tracks. Combat vehicles in this weight class are traditionally equipped with steel tracks, but it is now possible to equip them with rubber tracks, greatly reducing vibration and noise inside as well as outside the vehicle.
BAE Systems asked Systecon to participate in the project comparing the life cycle costs of the two track options. A cost structure was constructed including and summing all costs related to the two track options for the entire life cycle of the vehicle. Replacing the steel tracks with rubber tracks has a cost of course, but also results in long-term savings in terms of reduced vehicle component failure rate, because of the reduced vibration. Quantifying indirect parameters – such as the negative impact on the crew due to the vibrations – presents a major challenge in the analysis.
The analysis was performed in collaboration with experts from BAE Systems. Data processing and analysis were done using the optimization tool OPUS10 and simulation tool SIMLOX, and the results were analyzed using the cost analysis program CATLOC.