Future Scout and Cavalry System/TRACER

At this meeting, officials decided a future scout and main battle tank would be the centerpiece of the Army's armor modernization plan.

The Armor Center also suggested the Army consider a joint project with the Marine Corps, which was drafting requirements for the Future Light Combat Vehicle.

[9] In January 1999, the UK awarded SIKA International (a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems) and LANCER (a consortium led by GEC Marconi), each a $147 million contract for the 42-month-long advanced technology demonstration (ATD) phase of the project.

[10] In February, the U.S. Army began working with the UK to revise the requirements of the joint program to resolve the OSD's concerns.

[12] In October, U.S. Army Chief of Staff Eric Shinseki laid out his vision for a lighter, more transportable armored force.

In December 1999 the Army said it would end its participation in the joint program after the completion of the advanced technology demonstration (ATD) phase.

[14] Congress, believing that continued development of the program was unnecessary given the Army's disinterest, deleted funding for completing the ATD phase.