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July 14, 2021
The Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) Program
Background
to defeat light- to medium-armored threats. The RCV-M is
The RCV is a vehicle being developed as part of the
considered “durable” by the Army, meaning the Army
Army’s Next Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV) family
would like the RCV-M to be more survivable than the
of vehicles, which also includes the Optionally Manned
RCV-L.
Fighting Vehicle (OMFV), Mobile Protected Firepower
(MPF), and the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV).
Figure 2. Example of an RCV-M Prototype
As part of the NGCV program, the Army plans to develop
three RCV variants: Light, Medium, and Heavy. The Army
reportedly envisions employing RCVs as “scouts” and
“escorts” for manned OMFVs, where they could precede
OMFVs into battle to deter ambushes and to guard the
flanks of OMFV formations. As originally planned, RCVs
would be controlled by operators riding in NGCVs, but the
Army hopes that improved ground navigation technology
and artificial intelligence (AI) will eventually permit a
single operator to control multiple RCVs or for RCVs to
operate in a more operator-independent manner.
Three RCV Variants
According to the Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle
Campaign Plan, January 16, 2019, obtained by CRS, the
Army plans to develop three RCV variants:
RCV Light (RCV-L)
Source: https://www.defensedaily.com/textron-team-readying-
The RCV-L (Figure 1) is to weigh no more than 10 tons,
delivery-first-rcv-m-prototypes-received-deal-electric-variant/army/,
with dimensions (length, width, height) of no more than
accessed July 12, 2021.
224 x 88 x 94 inches. In terms of transportability, a single
RCV-L would be transported by rotary wing aircraft. The
RCV Heavy (RCV-H)
RCV-L would also have limited on-board lethality such as
The RCV-H (Figure 3) is to weigh between 20 and 30 tons,
self-defense systems, anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs),
with dimensions (length, width, height) of no more than
or recoilless weapons. The RCV-L is considered an
350 x 144 x 142 inches. In terms of transportability, two
expendable weapon system, meaning its destruction in
RCV-Hs would be transported by a C-17 transport aircraft.
combat is expected and acceptable.
The RCV-H is to have on-board direct fire weapon systems
capable of defeating all known enemy armored vehicles.
Figure 1. Example of an RCV-L Prototype
The RCV-H is considered a nonexpendable weapon system,
meaning that it should be as survivable as a crewed system.
Source: https://www.qinetiq.com/en/news/first-robotic-combat-
vehicle-light, accessed July 12, 2021.
RCV Medium (RCV-M)
The RCV-M (Figure 2) is to weigh between 10 and 20
tons, with dimensions (length, width, height) of no more
than 230 x 107 x 94 inches. In terms of transportability, a
single RCV-M is to be transported by a C-130 transport
aircraft. The RCV-M is to have increased onboard lethality
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The Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) Program
Figure 3. Example of an RCV-H Prototype
In March 2021, the Army reportedly stated it would
conduct operational experiments for Light and Medium
RCVs from June to August 2022 at Ft. Hood, TX. The
Army noted it plans to decide in FY2023 whether to
proceed to the Engineering and Manufacturing
Development (EMD) phase for the RCV-L, and to make a
similar decision in FY2024 for the RCV-M.
FY2022 RCV Budget Request
The Army requested $84.45 million in Research,
Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) funding for
the RCV in its FY2022 budget request. FY2022 plans call
for integrating a variety of RCV modules on prototype
Light and Medium RCVs. These modules include the
Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS)
with a Javelin anti-tank missile. Other modules to be
integrated are the XM813 Bushmaster chain gun, as well as
smoke obscuration measures, amphibious kits, electronic
warfare (EW) modules, counter Unmanned Aerial System
Source: https://sites.breakingmedia.com/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/
ALAS-Turret-front-close-IMG_0174.jpg, accessed July 12, 2021.
(UAS) systems, and nuclear, radiological, biological, and
chemical sensors.
Status of RCV Effort
According to an August 2020 Government Accountability
Potential Issues for Congress
Office (GAO) report:
What is the Army’s current “concept of operation” for
employing RCVs in combat? What are the perceived
The Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) effort is
benefits and drawbacks of RCVs?
currently employing other transaction agreements
(OTA) to conduct experiments to determine the
If adopted for use, will RCVs require changes to the
availability and maturity of technologies and the
Army’s current command and control systems and
validity of operating concepts. The outcome of
procedures?
these experiments will be used to determine
whether an acquisition program is feasible, with
How many RCVs by variant, would the Army procure if
plans for three vehicle variants—a light, a medium,
RCVs become a program of record?
and a heavy variant. As RCV is not yet a program
of record, no acquisition approach has been
What are the planned per unit costs of the “expendable”
selected.
RCV-L and the “durable” RCV-M? How affordable are
these less survivable systems as opposed to crewed
On January 10, 2020, the Army announced that it would
systems that they are intended to replace/supplement?
award an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) to QinetiQ
North America (Virginia—main headquarters is in the
What are the autonomous ground navigation and
United Kingdom) to build four RCV-Ls and Textron
artificial intelligence (AI) technological challenges
(Rhode Island) to build four RCV-Ms. The Light and
affecting the development of autonomous RCVs?
Medium RCVs were planned to be used to conduct a
company-level experiment at the end of 2021. The results
Are there plans to develop fully autonomous RCV
of that experiment and several virtual experiments are to
variants?
inform a decision on how to proceed with the RCV effort in
2023.
The Army’s 2019 Robotic Combat Vehicle Campaign
Other Transaction Authority or Agreement (OTA)
Plan and ongoing prototype testing focuses almost
exclusively on the RCV-L and RCV-M variants. What is
refers to the authority (10 U.S.C. §2371b) of the Department
the Army’s current thinking regarding the way ahead for
of Defense (DOD) to carry out certain prototypes, research,
and production projects. Other Transaction (OT) authorities
the RCV-H?
were created to give DOD the flexibility necessary to adopt
Given the Army’s plans for the RCV-H to be able to
and incorporate business practices that reflect commercial
defeat all known enemy armored threats, what is the
industry standards and best practices into its award
instruments. As of the 2016 National Defense Authorization
potential for the RCV-H to eventually replace the M-1
Act (NDAA; P.L. 114-92) Section 845, the DOD currently has
Abrams tank?
permanent authority to award OT under 10 U.S.C., §2371, for
research, prototype, and production purposes.
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
IF11876
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The Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) Program
Disclaimer
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