American Rheinmetall Vehicles has signed a Master Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center (DEVCOM AC). This CRADA allows the DEVCOM AC and American Rheinmetall Vehicles to collaborate on a regular basis to develop integrated combat vehicle weapon, fire control, and ammunition technologies.
Among other research and development tasks, the CRADA provides a conduit for the team to explore integration of the U.S. Army’s XM913 50mm cannon on platforms that are potential candidates for the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) program. American Rheinmetall Vehicles has submitted a proposal in the Army’s Phase II of the OMFV program.
American Rheinmetall Vehicles and DEVCOM AC will leverage their respective expertise to develop armaments solutions which may also be applicable to future weapons systems for other military services, international military markets, and further spin-off applications. The effort may include, but is not limited to, digital engineering, modeling and simulation, and prototyping throughout the design, development, and testing of direct fire armaments systems, cannon mounts, vehicle/armament system interfacing, active/reactive protection systems, programmable munition lethality, ammunition handling, fire control, secondary armaments, robotics, logistics, power management, and manufacturing science.
“This Master CRADA creates a tremendous opportunity to research, develop, and integrate the newest technologies into a modern fire control system for combat vehicles,” said Mike Milner, American Rheinmetall Vehicles Director for Business Development and Strategy. “Specifically, efforts on integration of the XM913 50mm cannon will provide transformational capability and overmatch for our future Soldiers.”