Share Raytheon Rheinmetall Land Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems have submitted bids for the US Army’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle competition.
Earlier this year BAE Systems announced it would not be offering a vehicle for the programme, which was originally developed under the name Next-Generation Combat Vehicle .
The army made the change to widen the net of what vehicles could be submitted.
Raytheon and Rheinmetall announced the formation of the joint-venture last week, saying they would offer the Lynx Infantry Fighting Vehicle to the army.
General Dynamics Land Systems has yet to announce the vehicle it submitted, however in the run-up to the deadline it was expected it would submit the Griffin III, a vehicle based on the company’s AJAX programme in development for the British Army.
The US Army is looking for an OMFV to replace the in-service BAE Systems Bradley Fighting Vehicle which has been a mainstay of the army since 1981.
Raytheon Rheinmetall Land Systems said in a press release: »Lynx is a next-generation, tracked armoured fighting vehicle designed to address the critical challenges of the future battlefield.
The vehicle provides ample growth capacity to support new technologies over its lifetime, and features lower life-cycle costs.
Raytheon Land Warfare Systems vice president Sam Deneke said: US Army soldiers deserve the best possible fighting vehicle when they go into battle and that’s exactly what this team is offering.Lynx provides unparalleled troop protection and features advanced technology that will keep our men and women in uniform ahead of the threat.
If either bid is accepted the US Army could field the new vehicle by 2026. «This next-generation combat vehicle will help save lives on the battlefield and further bolster the US industrial base – now that’s a win-win.
The Lynx vehicle offered to the army features Raytheon made Active Protection Systems and a supporting Coyote unmanned aerial system . The UAS acts as an ISR platform for the vehicle, while also identifying enemy UAS and destroying them, giving the vehicle protection from non-conventional threats.
Raytheon is also making its tube-launched, optically-tracked, wireless-guided missile available for the platform to increase anti-vehicle firepower.
According to congressional documents the OMFV programme has nine main requirements for the vehicle including for it be optionally manned, carry at least six troops, fit in a C-17 Globemaster, have two separately operating weapons for urban engagements, feature ‘contemporary’ protection systems, have room for future development, have an embedded training system, and feature increased range and fuel efficiency.
