ARLINGTON, Virginia -- BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman today announced they have added iRobot Corp. to their Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) team in their bid for the U.S. Army's GCV competition.

"The addition of iRobot to our team strengthens and promotes the unmanned components of the GCV program," said Mark Signorelli, BAE Systems vice president and general manager of Ground Combat Vehicle. "Collectively we bring the proven experience, the latest technology and cultures of innovation and service to the Army's GCV program."

iRobot Corporation will serve as the unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) integrator and enhance the capability to detect pedestrians and obstacles of interest with growth towards an autonomous driving capability for the GCV. iRobot will also be responsible for integration of the U.S. Army's Brigade Combat Team modernization program Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle (SUGV) robotic platform so that it can be operated from inside the GCV.

"We are very pleased to be a member of the BAE Systems-Northrop Grumman GCV team," said Robert Moses, president of iRobot's Government and Industrial Robots division. "Together we offer extensive experience in combat platform production and robotics integration capabilities to the GCV program. The GCV is an extremely important program for the Army and today's soldier. We are proud to be part of a team that looks to develop the U.S. Army's next generation combat vehicle."

BAE Systems is the prime contractor for the team. It is the world's largest producer of combat vehicles, having fielded more than any other company in the world. The company is the top supplier to the U.S. Army's Heavy Brigades, one of the largest suppliers to the U.S. Department of Defense and the second largest defense company in the world.

The GCV program is a development effort headed by the U.S. Army and is designed to develop the next generation Infantry Fighting Vehicle.

BAE Systems
26.10.2010