Loc Performance and Milrem Robotics Collaborate on Bid for US Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle-Light (RCV-L) Program

Loc Performance and Milrem Robotics Collaborate on Bid for US Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle-Light (RCV-L) Program

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June 13, 2023 – Plymouth, Mich. -- Loc Performance (“Loc”), a leading provider of military vehicle systems, and Milrem Robotics (“Milrem”), the leading European developer of robotics and autonomous systems, recently collaborated to create a world class offering for the United States Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle-Light (RCV-L) Prototype Program.  The collaboration between Loc and Milrem brings together the specialized strength, experience, and technical expertise to create a ground-breaking modular-base Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV).

 

The RCV-L’s design is based on Milrem Robotics’ Type-X platform, the most advanced RCV of its kind. The Type-X vehicle is the first RCV conceived for unmanned operations and was developed to navigate the battlefield autonomously with a “human-in-the-loop” control system using artificial intelligence (AI) as an integral part of the operating algorithm.

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“RCV-L benefits from the experience gained from thorough tests of the Type-X that have demonstrated its superior capabilities and the continuous development of the subsystems and components in the Type-X family,” said Guy C. Enderle, Director of US Operation at Milrem Robotics.  “This helps to ensure reduced life cycle costs on the fleet level, high commonality, and optimal performance.”

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Building off lessons learned from the Type-X platform and utilizing intuitive and logical controls, RCV-L is reliable, safe, and versatile. Various payloads have been integrated with the Modular Base Platform (MBP) to provide a wide range of application support. Milrem Robotics has ten years of specialized experience with robotics and autonomous systems and its reliable and intelligent unmanned systems are currently operating in sixteen (16) countries, including eight (8) NATO member countries: USA, Estonia, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and United Kingdom. Moreover, Milrem Robotics is the only experienced RCV developer with vehicles operating in combat zones, to include Ukraine.

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“After 50 years of providing successful vehicle upgrade solutions as a military supplier, Loc is ready and excited to enter the vehicle market,” said Jason Atkinson, Loc’s President & CEO. “Witnessing the challenges, the military has faced and introducing new technology for the War Fighter, the Loc team is positioned to ensure the military receives a best-cost solution that meets the needs of our brave men and women of the armed forces."

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Over the past two decades, Loc has focused on expanding and maturing its design and manufacturing presence while maintaining an efficient and cost-effective corporate structure, making insourcing of offshore technology feasible. As a result, Loc’s unique business model has enabled significant year-over-year growth within the defense market.

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Currently, Loc operates four facilities covering 1,779,000 square feet of manufacturing space, with three (3) facilities located in Michigan and one (1) facility located in Ohio. Loc’s capabilities include designing, developing, and manufacturing complex critical systems necessary to produce a mature RCV-L platform vehicle. Specifically, Loc’s core products include mechanical systems, track systems, large fabricated structures (armor steel and/or aluminum), armor kits, and hardware vehicle integration for the U.S. Army’s portfolio of ground combat vehicle systems.

 

A video of the capabilities of the Type-X can be found here: https://youtu.be/WwTlp998RaE     

 

About Loc Performance

Loc Performance, headquartered in Plymouth, MI, provides track systems, mechanical systems, armor products, fabricated structures, and rubberized products for military, agricultural, and construction applications. With proven capabilities in product design and development through production, Loc offers comprehensive solutions and exceptional customer service to produce the highest quality products at competitive pricing. Loc has over 1,750,000 square feet of manufacturing space with facilities in Plymouth, Lansing, and Lapeer, Michigan, and St. Marys, Ohio with more than 980 total employees. Learn more at www.locperformance.com.

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About Milrem Robotics

Milrem Robotics is the leading European robotics and autonomous systems developer and systems integrator, with offices in Estonia, Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands and the US. The company is known for their THeMIS and Multiscope UGVs, the Type-X Robotic Combat Vehicle and the MIFIK autonomy kit.

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Milrem Robotics is the leader of the iMUGS consortium in charge of developing a European standardized unmanned ground system funded by the European Commission’s European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP).

 

Media Contacts

Tom McDonnell

VP, Sales & Marketing, Loc Performance
734-927-3840
tmcdonnell@locper.com

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Gert Hankewitz
Chief Marketing Officer, Milrem Robotics
gert.hankewitz@milrem.com