Army selects four companies for Robotic Combat Vehicle

Four companies will design and build Robotic Combat Vehicle prototypes for the Army, the service announced Wednesday.

McQ, Textron, General Dynamics Land Systems and Oshkosh received contracts for an approximate combined value of $24.72 million to build and deliver two prototypes by August 2024 in the first phase of the Army Robotic Combat Vehicles program, the announcement reads.

The Army will then select one of the four contractors for Phase II in 2025 to build and deliver nine prototypes in 2026 with fielding expected in 2028, the announcement states.

RCVs are a family of tracked and wheeled combat vehicles designed to be operated remotely and will accompany manned combat vehicles as scouts or escorts.

The vehicles will come in light, medium and heavy variants with the ability to carry modular payloads for electronic warfare and counter-unmanned aerial systems, according to the Congressional Research Service.

In 2023, the Army decided to prioritize development of the light variant, CRS said.

Previously, the Army suggested the RCVs could share parts with the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle, now called the XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle.

The RCVs are part of the Army’s Next Generation Combat Vehicle program, which includes replacements of the Abrams main battle tank and the Bradley Fighting Vehicle as well as the adoption of the M10 Booker Mobile Protected Firepower and the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle.