Military

DARPA awards Ground X-Vehicle Technology contracts as it swaps agility for armor

DARPA awards Ground X-Vehicle Technology contracts as it swaps agility for armor
Artist's concept of the GVT-X concept vehicles
Artist's concept of the GVT-X concept vehicles
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Artist's concept of the GVT-X concept vehicles
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Artist's concept of the GVT-X concept vehicles

The days of tanks as giant steel behemoths may be numbered with DARPA awarding eight development contracts for its Ground X-Vehicle Technology (GXV-T) program. The awards to Carnegie Mellon University, Honeywell International, Leido, Pratt & Miller, QinetiQ, Raytheon BBN, Southwest Research Institute and SRI International are aimed at creating a smarter, faster generation of armored vehicle that replaces steel with speed and agility.

DARPA says the latests contracts focus on developing technology in four areas for the wheeled combat machine: radically enhanced mobility, survivability through agility, crew augmentation, and signature management.

The idea is that the completed GXV-T vehicle will replace tons of armor with the ability to move over 92 percent of available terrain, from flat plains to steep slopes, by means of a new wheel/track system. Additional "capabilities of interest" include the ability to reposition armor and the agility to avoid threats without harming its occupants.

The contract will also cover making the GVX-T smarter with improved sensors for better situational awareness and threat detection, as well as providing a full-circle view from a control cabin similar to that of an airplane cockpit. It will also provide semi-autonomous driver assistance and the augmentation of key functions. While the vehicle will see better, it will also be harder to see thanks to infrared, acoustic, and electromagnetic stealth capabilities.

"We're exploring a variety of potentially groundbreaking technologies, all of which are designed to improve vehicle mobility, vehicle survivability and crew safety and performance without piling on armor," says Major Christopher Orlowski, DARPA program manager. "DARPA's performers for GXV-T are helping defy the 'more armor equals better protection' axiom that has constrained armored ground vehicle design for the past 100 years, and are paving the way toward innovative, disruptive vehicles for the 21st Century and beyond."

DARPA says that the US Army and US Marines are interested in the GXV-T technology.

The video below shows off some of the GCV-T's capabilities.

Source: DARPA

GXV-T Mobility Video

9 comments
9 comments
Erg
Megaforce. Great film
Mel Tisdale
The dune buggy lives again!
Neil Farbstein
They are nuts if they think a well placed grenade or mortar round cant blow a wheel off and disable those go carts. The enemy will quickly develop a strategy to destroy those little jokes.
Bob Flint
Not a war planner by any means, but wasn't the point to engage, take out, & to clear a path for passage of ground troops in regular vehicles? A tank can be carried by one of those choppers, at least a half-dozen of these fleas should be able to be dropped...
Mr. Hensley Garlington
The older videos give the impression that these lighter armored vehicles will be able to adjust their height and have high tech countermeasures to avoid getting hit by missiles, RPGs, grenades, and mortars. The unique suspension allowing them to not only move swiftly, but to raise and lower to literally dodge explosive munitions. I'm sure they will also be made to run as quietly as possible and by the time the program is ready, probably incorporate some sort of impressive camouflage system.
Stephen N Russell
Apps for Security, firefighting, Rescue, SAR, Intel, Recon, Scout, VIP escort duty, Gun platform.
unklmurray
I want the electric version......It sure looks like fun , but it is just someones video you kant tell if the vehicle exists because they are only being driven in a computer world........somebody spent 20 minutes playing with their "Photo Shop" on their computer......It is a Great fantasy!!......LOL :-)
DavidKenesie
Looks like a vehicle from HALO is the Scorpion Tank next?
digritz
Is this an example of DARPA hard? It's become quite apparent that the only qualifications required to score funding is sub-par CGI programing abilities. God help us when the gaming industry bubble bursts.