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1 1 (January 10, 2023)

handle is hein.crs/govekdi0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Conressional Research Service ~ In form ing th legislative debate since 1914 Updated January 10, 2023 The Army's Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) Program Background 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. 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: RCV Light (RCV-L) The RCV-L (Figure 1) is to weigh no more than 10 tons, with dimensions (length, width, height) of no more than 224 x 88 x 94 inches. In terms of transportability, a single RCV-L would be transported by rotary wing aircraft. The RCV-L would also have limited on-board lethality such as self-defense systems, anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), or recoilless weapons. The RCV-L is considered an expendable weapon system, meaning its destruction in combat is expected and acceptable. Figure I. Example of an RCV-L Prototype Figure 2. Example of an RCV-M Prototype Source: https://www.defensedaily.com/textron-team-readying- delivery-first-rcv-m-prototypes-received-deal-electric-variant/army/, accessed July 12, 2021. RCV Heavy (RCV-H) The RCV-H (Figure 3) is to weigh between 20 and 30 tons, with dimensions (length, width, height) of no more than 350 x 144 x 142 inches. In terms of transportability, two RCV-Hs would be transported by a C-17 transport aircraft. The RCV-H is to have on-board direct fire weapon systems capable of defeating all known enemy armored vehicles. The RCV-H is considered a nonexpendable weapon system, meaning that it should be as survivable as a crewed system. Figure 3. Examnle of an RCV-H Prototvne 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 considered durable by the Army, meaning the Army would like the RCV-M to be more survivable than the RCV-L. Source: https://sites.breakingmedia.com/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/ ALAS-Turret-front-close-IMG_0174.jpg, accessed July 12, 2021. https://crsreports~cori

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