link to page 1 link to page 1 link to page 1 
Updated June 13, 2024
The Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) Program
Background
Figure 2. Example of an RCV-M Prototype
The RCV is being developed as part of the Army’s Next
Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV) family of vehicles. As
originally planned, the Army intended to develop three
RCV variants: Light, Medium, and Heavy. The Army
reportedly envisioned employing RCVs as “scouts” and
“escorts” for manned fighting vehicles to deter ambushes
and to guard the flanks of mechanized formations. RCVs
are intended 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.
Original Three RCV Variants
According to the Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle
Campaign Plan, January 16, 2019, obtained by CRS, the
Army planned 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) was 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) was to weigh between 20 and 30
RCV-L would also have limited on-board lethality such as
tons, with dimensions (length, width, height) of no more
self-defense systems, anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs),
than 350 x 144 x 142 inches. In terms of transportability,
or recoilless weapons. The RCV-L was considered an
two RCV-Hs would be transported by a C-17 transport
expendable weapon system, meaning its destruction in
aircraft. The RCV-H was to have on-board direct fire
combat is expected and acceptable.
weapon systems capable of defeating all known enemy
armored vehicles. The RCV-H was considered a
Figure 1. Example of an RCV-L Prototype
nonexpendable weapon system, 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) was 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 was to be transported by a C-130 transport
aircraft. The RCV-M was to have increased onboard
lethality to defeat light- to medium-armored threats. The
RCV-M was considered “durable” by the Army, meaning
Source: https://sites.breakingmedia.com/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/
the Army would like the RCV-M to be more survivable
ALAS-Turret-front-close-IMG_0174.jpg, accessed July 12, 2021.
than the RCV-L.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
The Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) Program
Status of RCV Effort
maturation, Capabilities Development Document
According to an August 2020 Government Accountability
(CDD) development, acquisition and integration of
Office (GAO) report
secure
advanced
autonomy
and
artificial
intelligence algorithms, force design updates,
The Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) effort is
robotic and autonomous systems (RAS) doctrine
currently employing other transaction agreements
development, and follow-on production and
(OTA) to conduct experiments to determine the
availability and maturity of technologies and the
fielding decisions.
validity of operating concepts. The outcome of
Ongoing RCV Testing and Timeline
these experiments will be used to determine
Reportedly, the Army plans to receive prototypes during the
whether an acquisition program is feasible, with
summer of 2024 from the four teams competing to build the
plans for three vehicle variants—a light, a medium,
RCV: McQ, Textron Systems, General Dynamics Land
and a heavy variant. As RCV is not yet a program
Systems, and Oshkosh Defense. The Army then plans to
of record, no acquisition approach has been
initiate a competition and “pick the best of breed” for
selected.
eventual production. The Army intends to field to the first
On January 10, 2020, the Army announced it would award
unit in FY2028 following a production decision scheduled
an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) to QinetiQ North
for FY2027.
America (Virginia—main headquarters is in the United
During the summer of 2024, the Army also reportedly plans
Kingdom) to build four RCV-Ls and Textron (Rhode
to conduct two training rotations at the National Training
Island) to build four RCV-Ms.
Center (NTC) with on-hand RCV prototypes. A unit out of
Fort Stewart, GA, is to go up against a RCV platoon
Other Transaction Authority or Agreement (OTA)
attached to an opposing force (OPFOR). During the second
refers to the authority (10 U.S.C. §2371b) of the Department
NTC rotation, a unit out of Fort Riley, KS, is to utilize the
of Defense (DOD) to carry out certain prototypes, research,
same RCV platoon for simulated combat against the
and production projects. Other Transaction (OT) authorities
OPFOR.
were created to give DOD the flexibility necessary to adopt
and incorporate business practices that reflect commercial
FY2025 RCV Budgetary Information
industry standards and best practices into its award
instruments. As of the 2016 National Defense Authorization
Table 1. FY2025 RCV Budget Request
Act (NDAA; P.L. 114-92) Section 845, the DOD currently has
permanent authority to award OT under 10 U.S.C. §2371, for
Total
research, prototype, and production purposes.
Total Request
Request
Funding Category
($M)
(Qty.)
RDT&E
$92.540
—
Army Decides to Focus Efforts on RCV-L
Reportedly, in August 2023, the Assistant Secretary of the
Source: Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Estimates,
Army for Acquisitions, Logistics, and Technology (ASA
Army Justification Book Volume 2b of 2, Research, Development, Test &
[ALT]) stated
Evaluation, RDT&E − Volume II, Budget Activity 5a, March 2024, p. 178.
Notes: RDT&E = Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation; $M
The Army is still broadly, of course, interested in
= U.S. dollars in mil ions; Qty. = FY2025 procurement quantities.
robots of many different sizes. But we’re focusing
on RCV-L because we think that’s a necessary first
Considerations for Congress
step before going to larger platforms.
Oversight considerations for Congress could include the
following:
The ASA (ALT) reportedly noted the Army had plans to
“defer RCV-M for the time being.”
• What variants are under consideration as part of the
common chassis approach? Are there size and weight
RCV Program Transitions
limitations associated with the new development effort?
According to FY2025 Army budget documents submitted
• Are there planned per unit cost limitations for new RCV
in March 2024
variants? Are RCVs still planned to have various
The Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) has
degrees of expendability?
transitioned from a family of light, medium, and
• Are there plans to develop fully autonomous RCV
heavy variants to a single vehicle approach with a
variants?
common chassis. The Army has decided to field a
common platform that will pair elements of the
• What are the autonomous ground navigation and
previous RCV medium concept with the RCV
artificial intelligence (AI) challenges affecting RCV
common chassis. The development programs,
development?
which include a RCV Middle-Tier Acquisition
• Are there lessons learned about RCV use by Russia and
Rapid Prototyping (MTA-RP) and a RCV Software
Ukraine in the ongoing conflict that are being factored
Acquisition Pathway (SWP) program, will produce
into future Army RCV development?
unmanned ground combat vehicle prototypes to
inform Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) and
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTP)
IF11876
https://crsreports.congress.gov
The Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) Program
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be
reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include
copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you
wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11876 · VERSION 11 · UPDATED
