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US Army Begins Testing General Dynamics TRX Next Generation Modular Unmanned Ground Vehicle.
On October 2, 2024, General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS), a division of General Dynamics, delivered two TRX vehicle prototypes to the US Army as part of the competition for the Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) program. These deliveries were made on schedule and mark the beginning of platform mobility testing by the US Army, along with the evaluation of the vehicles during direct interactions with soldiers.
GDLS's TRX UGV Fitted With Brimstone missiles (Picture source: Army Recognition)
Selected in 2023 among four companies, GDLS developed an improved version of the TRX, a 10-ton robotic vehicle designed to be highly transportable and offering great flexibility in terms of modularity and interoperability. The TRX features a payload-to-chassis ratio of 1:1, allowing it to carry a wide variety of mission modules and payloads as needed.
The TRX vehicle has a modular architecture suited to both current and future needs of the Army. It is equipped with a hybrid-electric engine, contributing to the US Army’s strategy to reduce its carbon footprint while providing significant exportable power to support mission command operations.
According to Gordon Stein, vice president and general manager of US operations at GDLS, the TRX is a platform well-suited for human-machine integrated formations and for critical battlefield roles. It is designed to perform multiple missions such as reconnaissance, surveillance, direct and indirect fire, long-range loitering munitions deployment, short-range air defense, counter-drone operations, autonomous resupply, complex obstacle breaching, and electronic warfare.
The prototypes delivered will undergo intensive testing by the US Army to evaluate their performance in various operational conditions. These trials will help determine whether the TRX meets the Army's expectations as part of its strategy to modernize ground forces.
This development is part of the US Army’s efforts to integrate robotic technologies into its operations, with the goal of reducing risks to soldiers while increasing battlefield efficiency. The TRX, with its modular design and multi-mission capabilities, could play a key role in this technological transition.
The TRX utilizes the US Army's Robotic Technology Kernel (RTK) Warfighter Machine Interface (WMI) for both teleoperational and autonomous functions. It shares electronic architecture and control concepts with the MUTT (Multi-Utility Tactical Transport) framework, promoting commonality among unmanned ground vehicles. Additionally, the TRX can be equipped with a Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform (RIwP) from the American company Moog to address a wide range of remote turret-related missions.
The TRX from General Dynamics Land Systems is designed to accommodate a variety of adaptable modules based on operational needs. Among the modules that can be integrated is the SHORAD (Short-Range Air Defense) system, which allows the TRX to provide short-range air defense against threats such as drones and helicopters. This system has already been successfully tested on the platform, demonstrating its ability to quickly detect, track, and neutralize aerial targets. Additionally, the TRX can be equipped with long-range loitering munitions platforms, used to carry out precise strikes on distant targets. Other modules include electronic warfare capabilities to disrupt enemy communications, direct and indirect fire modules, as well as equipment for autonomous resupply and complex obstacle breaching. The modularity of the TRX enables it to evolve according to mission requirements, making it an extremely versatile asset on the modern battlefield.