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USMC GLADIATOR Program |
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Background: The Marine Corps is participating in a joint ACAT III program with the U.S. Army to field the first system in a family of tactical unmanned ground vehicles. In 1993, the Marine Corps approved the Mission Need Statement (MNS) for the Tactical Unmanned Ground Vehicle (TUGV) and adopted the US Army Tactical Unmanned Vehicle (TUV) ORD in 1996. Changes in Marine Corps capability deficiencies and doctrine have necessitated revision of the TUGV ORD under the name GLADIATOR. |
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The GLADIATOR will provide the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) with a tele-operated/semi-autonomous ground vehicle for remoting combat tasks in order to reduce risk and neutralize threats. The GLADIATOR is designed principally to support dismounted infantry during the performance of their mission, across the spectrum of conflict and range of military operations. The primary functions of the Gladiator will be to provide the Ground Combat Element (GCE) with armed unmanned scouting and surveillance capabilities. With the development of future Mission Payload Modules (MPM), projected operational capabilities may include: reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition (RSTA); engineer reconnaissance; obscurant delivery; direct fire (lethal and non-lethal); communications relay; tactical deception (electronic and acoustic); combat re-supply; or counter sniper employment. These modules will be field installable, allowing commanders to increase their operational capability by tailoring the capabilities of the GLADIATOR to best meet their mission requirements. The GLADIATOR will be expeditionary in nature, inherently simple, survivable, durable, multi-functional, and easily transported and operated in the littoral battlespace. The system will utilize a modular configuration and will not increase the expeditionary embarkation footprint or manpower requirements of the MAGTF. The GLADIATOR will use designated operators and organic vehicles for transportation. |
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