Armed Land Robots Program Continues
United Defense L.P. of Santa Clara, CA (soon to be part of BAE Systems), received a $3 million increment as part of a $30.9 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for research and development of an armed robotic vehicle (ARV) platform. The ARV is an unmanned, 5-ton vehicle controlled remotely by a dismounted operator or by one located in a Manned Ground Vehicle. The ARV-RSTA variant will provide Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition for the FCS Units of Action, while the ARV-Assault variant will provide direct and indirect fires under remote control in support of mounted and dismounted operations. Both are part of the Army’s Future Combat System (FCS) program. In this initial phase, United Defense is maturing the ARV system concept, conducting performance modeling and configuration trade studies, and conducting cost as an independent variable (CAIV) analysis.
The Work will be performed in Santa Clara, CA (60%), and Westminster, MD (40%), and is expected to be completed by March 30, 2010. There were an unknown number of bids solicited via the Internet, and two bids were received. The U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command, Warren, Mich., issued the contract (W56HZV-05-C-0239).
