Robotic combat vehicle winners chosen by U.S. Army
NewsJanuary 09, 2020
WASHINGTON. The U.S. Army has chosen two companies to winners to build base platforms for its light- and medium-class robotic combat vehicles (RCVs): According to a statement, the Army’s Combat Capabilities Development Command and the service’s Next Generation Combat Vehicle Cross-Functional Team intends -- pending successful negotiations -- to award a contract to QinetiQ North America to build four RCV-light prototypes and another contract to Textron to build four RCV-medium prototypes.
Army officials stated that the prototypes will be used to determine the feasibility of integrating unmanned vehicles into ground combat operations, with the light and medium RCVs used to conduct platoon-level, company-level, and several virtual experiments by the end of 2021.
“Robots have the potential to revolutionize the way we conduct ground combat operations,” said Brig. Gen. Ross Coffman, Director of the Next Generation Combat Vehicles Cross Functional Team. “Whether that’s giving increased firepower to a dismounted patrol, breaching an enemy fighting position, or providing CBRNE [chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosives] reconnaissance, we envision these vehicles providing commanders more time and space for decisions and reducing risk to soldiers.”
