The brief, as received

Subject: RE: RE: Havoc recon carrier downselect — need the package by the 30th

Team — the PM wants one recommendation for the Havoc reconnaissance carrier and one page on what would change it. Three candidates are still on the table: the 6x6 diesel from the light-medium line, the 8x8 diesel heavy variant, and the 6x6 hybrid with the big alternator. Objectives, as far as anyone has written them down: maximize crew protection, stated as a STANAG-4569-style level because nobody is claiming a tested rating. Minimize the fully equipped unit cost. Minimize months to first unit fielded. The sensor lead wants electrical power for the mast maximized. Mobility wants curb weight kept as low as we can for the air-transport case. Hard limits: gross vehicle weight must not exceed 63,000 lb, that is the rated chassis and there are no waivers. First unit fielded must be no later than 30 months after award. Soft target from the budget office: unit cost should stay under $550,000 fully equipped. We are assuming the level-4 kit weight is included in the hybrid's stated curb weight. We also assume the vendor base price excludes government-furnished equipment. Assume the 910-amp alternator holds its rating at idle until the load test says otherwise. Risks I know about: the hybrid battery pack is single-source and the supplier could slip. The 8x8 protection kit pushes gross weight over the chassis rating, we saw it on the scale. Cost growth on the hybrid drivetrain is a risk, the estimate is thin. Sorry for the wall of text. — R.