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Updated May 18, 2022
The Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) Program
Background
Figure 2. Example of an RCV-M Prototype
The RCV is a vehicle being developed as part of the
Army’s Next Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV) family
of vehicles. The Army plans to develop three RCV variants:
Light, Medium, and Heavy. The Army reportedly envisions
employing RCVs as “scouts” and “escorts” for manned
fighting vehicles to deter ambushes and to guard the flanks
of mechanized formations. As originally planned, RCVs are
to be controlled by operators riding in NGCVs, but the
Army hopes that improved ground navigation technology
and artificial intelligence (AI) might eventually permit a
single operator to control multiple RCVs or for RCVs to
operate in a more autonomous mode.
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:
Source: https://www.defensedaily.com/textron-team-readying-
RCV Light (RCV-L)
delivery-first-rcv-m-prototypes-received-deal-electric-variant/army/,
The RCV-L (Figure 1) is to weigh no more than 10 tons,
accessed July 12, 2021.
with dimensions (length, width, height) of no more than
224 x 88 x 94 inches. In terms of transportability, a single
RCV Heavy (RCV-H)
RCV-L would be transported by rotary wing aircraft. The
The RCV-H (Figure 3) is to weigh between 20 and 30 tons,
RCV-L would also have limited on-board lethality such as
with dimensions (length, width, height) of no more than
self-defense systems, anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs),
350 x 144 x 142 inches. In terms of transportability, two
or recoilless weapons. The RCV-L is considered an
RCV-Hs would be transported by a C-17 transport aircraft.
expendable weapon system, meaning its destruction in
The RCV-H is to have on-board direct fire weapon systems
combat is expected and acceptable.
capable of defeating all known enemy armored vehicles.
The RCV-H is considered a nonexpendable weapon system,
Figure 1. Example of an RCV-L Prototype
meaning that it should be as survivable as a crewed system.
Figure 3. Example of an RCV-H Prototype
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
to defeat light- to medium-armored threats. The RCV-M is
Source: https://sites.breakingmedia.com/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/
considered “durable” by the Army, meaning the Army
ALAS-Turret-front-close-IMG_0174.jpg, accessed July 12, 2021.
would like the RCV-M to be more survivable than the
RCV-L.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
The Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) Program
Status of RCV Effort
Source: Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Estimates,
According to an August 2020 Government Accountability
Army Justification Book Volume 2b of 2, Research, Development,
Office (GAO) report:
Test & Evaluation, RDT&E − Volume II, Budget Activity 5a, April
2022, p. 189.
The Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) effort is
Notes: RDT&E = Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation; $M
currently employing other transaction agreements
= U.S. Dollars in Mil ions; Qty = FY2023 Procurement Quantities.
(OTA) to conduct experiments to determine the
availability and maturity of technologies and the
Reportedly, the RCV-L is to be included in the Army’s
validity of operating concepts. The outcome of
five-year rapid prototyping plan with an open competition
these experiments will be used to determine
selecting up to five companies in the fourth quarter FY2023
whether an acquisition program is feasible, with
to build two RCV-L full systems prototypes for each
plans for three vehicle variants—a light, a medium,
company. Testing is then planned for the prototypes
and a heavy variant. As RCV is not yet a program
continuing through the third quarter FY2024. After testing,
of record, no acquisition approach has been
a single company would be awarded a contract to develop
selected.
additional RCV-L prototypes for testing in FY2026.
On January 10, 2020, the Army announced it would award
Potential Issues for Congress
an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) to QinetiQ North
America (Virginia—main headquarters is in the United
What is the Army’s current “concept of operation” for
Kingdom) to build four RCV-Ls and Textron (Rhode
employing RCVs in combat? What are the perceived
Island) to build four RCV-Ms.
benefits and drawbacks of RCVs?
Other Transaction Authority or Agreement (OTA)
If adopted for use, will RCVs require changes to the
refers to the authority (10 U.S.C. §2371b) of the Department
Army’s current command and control systems and
of Defense (DOD) to carry out certain prototypes, research,
procedures?
and production projects. Other Transaction (OT) authorities
were created to give DOD the flexibility necessary to adopt
How many RCVs by variant, would the Army procure if
and incorporate business practices that reflect commercial
RCVs become a program of record?
industry standards and best practices into its award
instruments. As of the 2016 National Defense Authorization
What are the planned per unit costs of the “expendable”
Act (NDAA; P.L. 114-92) Section 845, the DOD currently has
RCV-L and the “durable” RCV-M? How affordable are
permanent authority to award OT under 10 U.S.C., §2371, for
these less survivable systems as opposed to crewed
research, prototype, and production purposes.
systems that they are intended to replace/supplement?
RCV Testing
What are the autonomous ground navigation and
In March 2021, the Army reportedly stated it would
artificial intelligence (AI) technological challenges
conduct operational experiments for Light and Medium
affecting the development of autonomous RCVs?
RCVs from June to August 2022 at Ft. Hood, TX. General
Dynamics Land Systems will also reportedly provide four
Are there plans to develop fully autonomous RCV
RCV-M prototypes for the Army to test at Ft. Hood. The
variants?
Army noted it plans to decide in FY2023 whether to
The Army’s
proceed to the Engineering and Manufacturing
2022 RCV prototype testing focuses almost
Development (EMD) phase for the RCV-L, and to make a
exclusively on the RCV-L and RCV-M variants. What is
the Army’s current thinking regarding the way ahead for
similar decision in FY2024 for the RCV-M.
the RCV-H?
Budgetary Information
Given the Army’s plans for the RCV-H to be able to
Table 1. FY2023 RCV Budget Request
defeat all known enemy armored threats, what is the
Total
potential for the RCV-H to eventually replace the M-1
Total Request
Request
Abrams tank?
Funding Category
($M)
(Qty)
RDT&E
$115.986
—
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
IF11876
https://crsreports.congress.gov
The Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) Program
Disclaimer
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11876 · VERSION 5 · UPDATED