Persistent Systems completes first phase of US Army RCV programme

Communications technology company Persistent Systems has completed the first phase of the US Army Robotic Combat Vehicles (RCV) programme.

The programme seeks to demonstrate the effectiveness of manned-unmanned teaming using a future optionally manned fighting vehicle (OMFV) capable of controlling multiple RCV ‘wingmen’ in battlefields.

In Phase I, Persistent Systems used modified M113 tracked armoured personnel carrier as an RCV surrogate.

A modified Bradley infantry vehicle called the Mission Enabling Technologies-Demonstrator (MET-D) participated in the programme as a substitute of a yet-to-be-built OMFV.

Persistent Systems Government Relations & Business Strategy vice-president Brian Soles said: “We successfully networked the surrogate platforms in a point-to-point fashion with our Wave Relay MANET.

“That means enabling the cameras, sensors and software, as well as the command-and-control interface for control of the RCV and its gun systems.”

The company is currently preparing to commence the third phase of the programme.

It is also reviewing the Phase I outcomes with other stakeholders including the Next Generation Combat Vehicles – Cross Functional Team and Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Ground Vehicle Systems Center and C5ISR Center.

Soles added: “We are really looking forward to Phase III of the army RCV programme because it’ll be a complex, RF-contested and -congested environment with multiple air, ground, and dismounted units, and that’s where Wave Relay’s scalability, resiliency and spectrum efficiency will shine.”

Headquartered in New York City, Persistent Systems develops mobile ad hoc network (MANET) solutions. Its portfolio includes Wave Relay solution that can enable data exchange under the most difficult conditions.

Earlier this year, the company introduced L-Band Integrated Sector Antenna for high-bandwidth network users.