Sensor solutions firm McQ has said its team for the Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) includes BAE Systems
and HDT Expeditionary Systems, with the group set to deliver the WOLF-X platform for this system.
McQ, which is one in all 4 firms chosen for the primary phase of RCV, is the prime contractor for the trouble and said its providing “systems engineering for acoustic ISR, video processing, and safety critical systems on the vehicles,” while HDT is the lead vehicle developer and BAE Systems is delivering armament and situational awareness systems for WOLF-X.
“We’re excited that McQ, together with HDT and BAE have been chosen by the RCV program for phase I test and evaluation of WOLF-X,” McQ CEO Brian McQuiddy said in an announcement. “Our team is committed to providing modern solutions for our nation’s warfighters, and we stay up for delivering the WOLF-X RCV because the best possible capability for the U.S. Army.”
The Army on September 21 announced it had chosen McQ in addition to Textron Systems [TXT], General Dynamics Land Systems [GD] and Oshkosh Defense [OSK] for RCV Phase 1, with each tasked to deliver two prototype platforms by next August (Defense Each day, Sept. 21).
The 4 firms were awarded a combined total of $24.7 million for phase one in all the RCV program, with the Army planning to ultimately select one company in fiscal yr 2025 to deliver nine prototypes before making a production decision in FY ‘27.
Not much was publicly known on McQ’s bid for RCV prior to the small print offered on Sept. 28, with the Fredericksburg, Va.-based business describing itself as a “small agile business…spearheading the art of ground sensor and satellite communications systems, providing solutions for difficult distant monitoring and surveillance applications.”
A BAE Systems official had said in March the corporate was enthusiastic about the RCV program, telling reporters on the time it had “4 or five designs” it could respond with to the Army’s solicitation.
“We’re enthusiastic about all things autonomy and all things RCV. So the reply is yes, we’re very interested,” Jim Miller, the corporate’s vice chairman of business development, said on the time. “We’re pursuing. There’s a business decision that needs to be made.”
HDT described the WOLF-X system its working on with McQ and BAE Systems for RCV as “an 8×8 wheeled RCV with superior transportability and mobility that’s rugged, reliable, and straightforward to operate and maintain,” adding that it “matches inside a CH-47D [Chinook heavy-lift helicopter] in its base configuration and has enough power to hold an MK44 30mm chain gun and enhanced armor in its advanced configuration.”
“We’re delighted our WOLF-X RCV system was chosen for the RCV Program’s Phase I test and evaluation,” Kevin McSweeney, president and CEO of HDT Global, said in an announcement. “HDT’s industry leadership in the event of modern robotic solutions is greater than 12 years within the making and the WOLF-X illustrates our commitment to solving complex problems and overcoming the challenges our warfighters face on today’s modern battlefield. The WOLF-X is a singular and disruptive solution that delivers reliable cutting-edge technology with responsive and accurate battlefield lethality.”
Tom Van Doren, HDT Global’s chief technology officer, added WOLF-X “exceeds all RCV requirements with a complicated design that’s engineered for future growth.”