US Army plans to select robotic combat vehicle vendor by spring

The US Army intends to choose a single vendor next spring for its Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) program, according to Major General Glenn Dean, the program executive officer for ground combat systems.

Last year, the Army selected four companies—McQ, Textron Systems, General Dynamics Land Systems, and Oshkosh Defense—to design and build prototypes for the RCV, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The Army has shifted its approach to focus on a single RCV size that can operate alongside crewed combat vehicles, equipping it with various mission payloads for specific battlefield roles. Each vendor submitted two prototypes in August, which are now being evaluated at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.

Dean confirmed the Army is on track to narrow down the selection to one vendor around March, which will then produce eight prototypes for the next phase, incorporating additional requirements in subsequent versions.

Budget constraints have necessitated the selection of only one vendor, as Dean noted that while retaining multiple vendors is preferable, funding limits have made it impractical.

The Army has identified the Armored Multipurpose Vehicle (AMPV) as the control vehicle for the RCVs, ensuring it can keep pace with the platoon set to receive the robots. Col. Kevin Bradley, overseeing next-gen combat vehicle modernization, explained that the control vehicle's compatibility with existing formations is crucial to avoid making it an easy target in operations.

The initial deployment of the RCV is anticipated for fiscal year 2028, requiring the control vehicle to be under contract by FY25 due to a two-year production timeline. Integration work will occur from FY27 to FY28.

While progress is being made on the RCV platform and control vehicle, the Army faces challenges in developing off-road autonomy software. A recent assessment revealed that the industry is lagging in off-road capabilities, necessitating ongoing development. Another evaluation is scheduled for December, with three companies—Forterra, Kodiak Robotics, and Overland AI—collaborating on autonomy features.

Current evaluations have focused on unimproved road conditions rather than true off-road scenarios, revealing difficulties in navigating complex terrains. Dean noted that the robots sometimes require excessive human intervention, although this is preferable to constant teleoperation, which can lead to latency issues.

Despite the challenges, there have been observed benefits of robotic systems in reconnaissance and security roles, particularly during a major training event at Fort Irwin, California. The Army continues to address trade-offs between power, range, and decision-making capabilities to optimize the effectiveness of the RCVs.

By Vafa Guliyeva