First Robotic Combat Vehicle-Light Delivered to Selfridge Air National Guard Base


Robotic Combat Vehicle-Light
The first Robotic Combat Vehicle-Light has been delivered to the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center. // Photo courtesy of QinetiQ Inc.

The first Robotic Combat Vehicle-Light (RCV-L) has been delivered to the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township.

The vehicle is a hybrid-electric unmanned ground combat vehicle integrating technology from QinetiQ Inc., which has its U.S. headquarters in Virginia, and Pratt Miller Defense in New Hudson. It is the first of four systems to be delivered and is the culmination of eight months of work.

“The delivery of the first RCV-L is an exciting result of numerous government organizations and industry working together to achieve our first combat-ready robotic vehicle,” says Michael Rose, branch chief for robotic combat platforms for Ground Vehicle Systems Center ground vehicle robotics.

“This unit is the first of four vehicles developed in support of the manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) soldier operational experiment, planned for 2022, and represents a significant milestone for the program. QinetiQ and Pratt Miller have successfully developed and delivered these systems within budget and on-schedule even in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The GVSC team now plans to add autonomous mobility as well as government furnished software for the tethered UAS multi-mission payload and CROWS-J lethality package.”

The development team hosted representatives from the center at Pratt Miller the week before delivery, demonstrating the system and sharing the progress of the follow-on vehicle builds.

“By building upon years of EMAV (expeditionary modular autonomous vehicle) development, testing, and experimentation with the United States Marine Corps, we were able to provide the Army with a mature low-risk system that exceeds the objective level speed, maneuverability, and payload requirements in a single system configuration,” says Brian Barr, product manager for Pratt Miller. “The EMAV platform’s modular flat deck architecture has been integrated with over 20 payloads and exemplifies the flexibility required to address current and future threats.”

The project was awarded to QinetiQ North America, now a wholly owned subsidiary of QinetiQ Inc., with major subcontractor Pratt Miller, in March 2020 through the National Advanced Mobility Consortium. The agreement includes the delivery and support of four RCV-L platforms with procurement options for up to 16 additional RCV-L systems.





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