Unmanned Ground Vehicles

The U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) will employ three classes of unmanned ground vehicles that will provide new capability to soldiers in Future Force units of action (UAs).

The armed robotic vehicle (ARV), the multifunction utility/logistics and equipment vehicle (MULE) and the small unmanned ground vehicle (SUGV) are in development now and will be key elements in the FCS system of systems, providing greatly enhanced operational capability in the FCS-equipped UAs-the Army's future tactical warfighting echelon.

The armed robotic vehicle, in development at United Defense L.P. in Santa Clara, Calif., will provide the Army with the ability to see and strike the enemy first, while offering soldiers unprecedented protection and survivability.

The semiautonomous ARV is the largest unmanned ground vehicle in the Army's Future Combat Systems program and will be an integral platform within platoons and companies in the FCS-equipped units of action. The ARV will be about the size of a large pickup truck and will be highly deployable, either two at a time on C-130 airplanes or individually with CH-47 helicopters. The ARV will offer the battlefield commander new and unmatched capabilities for reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition, as well as assault firepower.

A key capability for the ARV is the reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition (RSTA) sensor suite, providing long-range standard and thermal imagery, as well as laser targeting capability. The RSTA suite will be mounted on a telescoping mast incorporated in the two variants of the ARV in development. The two variants will share a common chassis.

The ARV reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition variant (ARV-R) will be assigned to FCS platoons equipped with mounted combat systems and reconnaissance and surveillance manned ground vehicles. The ARV-R will feature a RSTA mast that will extend up to five meters, carry a...