https://crsreports.congress.gov
Updated May 18, 2022
The Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) Program
Background
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:
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 1. Example of an RCV-L 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
considered “durable” by the Army, meaning the Army
would like the RCV-M to be more survivable than the
RCV-L.
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. Example of an RCV-H Prototype
Source: https://sites.breakingmedia.com/uploads/sites/3/2020/10/
ALAS-Turret-front-close-IMG_0174.jpg, accessed July 12, 2021.
