Will the Army Go All-In on the Oshkosh Defense RCV?

For most people, the name Oshkosh might bring to mind a famous air show or children’s clothing from the 1980s, but for those in the military, Oshkosh Defense is a name that commands respect.

The company has built some of the most reliable and effective wheeled vehicles in U.S. military history, including the Marine Corps’ Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR), the Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected truck (MRAP), and the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV).

The Army also relies on Oshkosh for its Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT). Now, the company is taking a bold step into the future with the development of a new, autonomous combat platform: the Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV).

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After years of success with unmanned aerial drones on the battlefield, the military has turned its attention to ground vehicles with similar capabilities.

In 2023, the U.S. Army selected four companies to compete in Phase I testing for the RCV program. The contenders include Oshkosh Defense, General Dynamics Land Systems, McQ, and Textron Systems.

Maj. Gen. Glenn Dean, program executive officer for ground combat systems, underscored the importance of looking beyond traditional solutions when developing new military technology.

“The Army of 2030 and beyond will rely on systems with advanced technology and growth potential,” he stated. “These are often developed by traditional and non-traditional business.”

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The competition among these companies is fierce, as the final selection will determine which company secures a lucrative contract worth more than $24 million, according to an Army release. Testing for all prototypes is scheduled to take place in the fall of 2024, with the first operational vehicles expected in fiscal year 2028.

Oshkosh Defense’s approach to the RCV program incorporates expertise from its subsidiary, Pratt Miller Defense, and partnerships with technology firms like QinetiQ. The result is a vehicle that integrates state-of-the-art powertrains, autonomous capabilities, cyberwarfare defenses, and conventional weapons systems into one highly adaptable platform.

The foundation of Oshkosh’s RCV is a tracked platform derived from Pratt Miller Defense’s Expeditionary Modular Autonomous Vehicle (EMAV), which was introduced in 2017.

This innovative hybrid-electric vehicle boasts a top speed exceeding 50 mph and a range of more than 200 miles without requiring refueling or recharging.

The EMAV can carry up to 6,000 pounds and is compact enough to fit inside a CH-47 Chinook helicopter, making it highly transportable for rapid deployment.

Image Credit: Oshkosh Defense

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the Oshkosh RCV is its modular design, allowing it to be easily reconfigured for different battlefield roles. From the start, Oshkosh Defense has demonstrated a range of potential configurations, including mounting the Kongsberg CROWS-J Javelin missile launcher, an M2 .50-caliber machine gun, an M230 30-millimeter cannon, a UAV launchpad, and even a smokescreen system. These capabilities provide an adaptable solution for a wide variety of combat scenarios.

Pat Williams, chief programs officer for Oshkosh Defense, emphasized the company’s commitment to innovation and battlefield readiness.

“The Oshkosh RCV is an evolution of a decade of innovation, development, and testing — and it shows,” Williams said.

“Our solution is optimized to exceed the performance requirements and is ready now to meet the demanding program schedule.”

While drones have been a fixture in modern warfare for decades, the emergence of unmanned ground vehicles is still relatively new. The success of RCVs will depend not only on their technological capabilities but also on how they perform alongside human forces in real-world scenarios.

The U.S. Army recognizes this and has designed rigorous field testing for the prototypes.

To ensure effectiveness, all RCV contenders will be tested against active-duty military units. Soldiers at Fort Stewart, Georgia, will challenge the vehicles’ operational capabilities, while a separate exercise at Fort Riley, Kansas, will simulate combat scenarios where the RCVs fight alongside soldiers against an opposing force.

This hands-on evaluation will provide invaluable insights into how unmanned combat vehicles integrate into modern battlefield tactics.

Image Credit: Oshkosh Defense

Brig. Gen. Geoffrey Norman, director of the Army’s Next Generation Combat Vehicles Cross-Functional Team, highlighted the importance of human-machine collaboration in future warfare.

“Human-machine integrated teams are the future of successful ground combat in the land domain,” Norman stated. “Bringing RCVs into our formations will give our soldiers new capabilities to fight and win with the changing character of war.”

The competition among the four RCV prototypes is a crucial step in the evolution of military ground vehicles. While drones have already revolutionized aerial combat, robotic ground vehicles represent an entirely new domain that requires extensive testing and adaptation.

From what we know so far, all four prototypes in contention bring unique strengths to the table. The Army’s extensive field testing will help determine which vehicle best meets the demands of modern combat.

As the military navigates this uncharted territory, the Oshkosh Defense RCV stands out as a formidable contender, backed by years of expertise and a strong track record in military vehicle production.

As testing moves forward and evaluations are conducted, the Army is expected to announce its selection later in 2024. The winning vehicle will not only secure a significant contract but will also set the standard for future unmanned ground combat systems.

Whether or not Oshkosh Defense claims the prize, one thing is clear: the battlefield of the future will look very different from today, and robotic combat vehicles will play a key role in shaping military strategy for years to come.

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