- The Marine Corps Systems Command awarded a nearly $30 million contract to Oshkosh Defense for the Remotely Operated Ground Unit for Expeditionary Fires (ROGUE-Fires), an autonomous vehicle designed to help Marines seize and defend key maritime terrain. The vehicle is based on Oshkosh’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle and can carry up to a 6,000-pound payload autonomously.
- The ROGUE-Fires can be operated using multiple methods, including a leader-follower approach and a video handheld controller.
- The Marine Corps plans to use the ROGUE-Fires for both short-range and long-range fire weapons platforms, including the Naval Strike missile, Tomahawk missile and HIMARS applications.
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The Marine Corps Systems Command has awarded a nearly $30 million contract to Oshkosh Defense. The contract is for the Remotely Operated Ground Unit for Expeditionary Fires, known as the ROGUE-Fires.
This next-gen autonomous technology aims to help the Marines seize and defend key maritime terrain in future conflicts and that’s why it’s the weapon of the week.
What is the ROGUE-Fires?
The ROGUE-Fires is based on Oshkosh’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle. It is rugged, mobile and can carry up to a 6,000-pound payload autonomously.
Janet Keech, senior director of program management at Oshkosh Defense, highlighted the vehicle’s unique design.
“There’s no cab, no place for a driver to sit. This vehicle is controlled in ways that protect the marine or soldier, reducing the need for manpower,” Keech said.
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Keech explained that troops can operate the ROGUE-Fires using multiple methods. One method is the leader-follower approach, where one leader vehicle guides multiple follower vehicles in a convoy. Another method involves using a video handheld controller from about a kilometer away, depending on the line of sight and terrain.
“It’s easier to teach young Marines and soldiers to use a video controller than to drive a truck,” Keech noted.
What is ROGUE-Fires meant to accomplish?
The technology aims to reduce reliance on human drivers in high-risk situations, enhancing battlefield effectiveness, especially in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
Keech mentioned that the ROGUE-Fires can serve as a weapons platform and play a role in logistics plans.
“It’s versatile for different types of weapons platforms and can be used for logistics resupply,” she said.
The Marine Corps plans to use the ROGUE-Fires for both short-range and long-range fire weapons platforms. The vehicle currently features the Naval Strike missile.
“It keeps personnel away from the platform while firing and allows rapid redeployment to safety,” Keech added.
The Marine Corps also plans to use the ROGUE-Fires for long-range fires, including the Tomahawk missile and shorter-range HIMARS applications. Oshkosh has partnered with Forterra to integrate its AutoDrive system into the vehicle. Deliveries are expected to start this year.
What makes ROGUE-Fires different?
The ROGUE-Fires represents a significant advancement in military technology. Its autonomous capabilities reduce the need for human drivers, which is crucial in high-risk combat zones. This allows Marines to focus on strategic operations without the added risk of driving in dangerous areas.
Oshkosh Defense has a history of providing reliable and innovative solutions for the military. The ROGUE-Fires is another example of its commitment to enhancing the capabilities of the armed forces. The vehicle’s ability to operate autonomously and carry heavy payloads makes it a valuable asset for the Marine Corps.
In addition to its military applications, the ROGUE-Fires could have potential uses in other areas. Its autonomous technology and rugged design make it suitable for various logistical and operational tasks.
This versatility ensures that the vehicle can adapt to different mission requirements, providing the Marines with a flexible and reliable tool.
What’s next for ROGUE-Fires?
The partnership between Oshkosh and Forterra highlights the importance of collaboration in developing advanced military technologies. By combining its expertise, they have created a vehicle that meets the needs of modern warfare. The ROGUE-Fires is a testament to the innovative spirit of both companies and its dedication to supporting the armed forces.
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As the Marine Corps continues to invest in autonomous technology, the ROUGE-Fires will play a crucial role in future operations. Its ability to operate in challenging environments and carry out complex tasks autonomously will enhance the effectiveness of the Marines. The vehicle’s deployment marks a significant step forward in the evolution of military technology.
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[RYAN]
WE’VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE EXPLOSIVE GROWTH OF AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES IN THE MILITARY, IT’S A TREND THAT SHOWS NO SIGN OF SLOWING. ONE OF THE LATEST EXAMPLES COMES FROM THE MARINES CORPS SYSTEMS COMMAND AND THEIR RECENT AWARDING OF A NEARLY $30 MILLION CONTRACT TO OSHKOSH DEFENSE FOR THE ROGUE-FIRES, THAT’S WHY IT’S OUR WEAPON OF THE WEEK.
MEET THE REMOTELY OPERATED GROUND UNIT FOR EXPEDITIONARY FIRES, AKA THE ROGUE-FIRES. BUILT BY OSHKOSH DEFENSE, IT’S NEXT-GEN AUTONOMOUS TECHNOLOGY THE MARINES ARE INVESTING IN TO SEIZE AND DEFEND KEY MARITIME TERRAIN IN POTENTIAL FUTURE CONFLICTS.
BASED ON OSHKOSH’S JOINT LIGHT TACTICAL VEHICLE, THEY SAY IT’S EXTREMELY RUGGED AND MOBILE, WITH THE ABILITY TO CARRY UP TO A 6,000 POUND PAYLOAD AUTONOMOUSLY.
[Janet Keech, Senior Dir. of Prog. Management, Oshkosh Defense]
“You can see, looking at the vehicle, that there’s no cab, there’s no place for a driver to sit. So this vehicle is controlled in a variety of ways that take the marine or the soldier out of the picture, so that they’re protected. There’s less there’s less need for a lot of manpower. Manpower is a critical resource these days, so it gives a lot of flexibility to the services and how they use it.”
[RYAN]
JANE KEETCH, A SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM MANAGEMENT FOR OSHKOSH, TELLS US THERE ARE MULTIPLE WAYS FOR TROOPS IN THE FIELD TO PUT THE ROGUE-FIRES TO WORK.
[Janet Keech, Senior Dir. of Prog. Management, Oshkosh Defense]
“The first one is a leader follower method, where you have one leader vehicle and you can have multiple follower vehicles behind it, following along in a convoy type of situation, or you can do it using like a video handheld controller that you can do from about a kilometer away, depending on line of sight and the terrain. And honestly, it’s a much easier way for our young Marines and soldiers, most of them are used to playing video games, and our customers even told us that in some cases, it’s easier to teach them to use a video controller than it is to teach them to drive a truck. So it’s definitely technology that they’re very familiar with,
[RYAN]
ITS TECHNOLOGY BUILT TO LESSEN THE RELIANCE ON HUMAN DRIVERS IN HIGH-RISK SITUATIONS, MAKING IT EASIER FOR MARINES TO ACHIEVE BATTLEFIELD EFFECTIVENESS, SPECIFICALLY IN THE U.S. INDO-PACIFIC COMMAND.
DESIGNED WITH FUNCTIONALITY IN MIND, KEECH SAYS IT CAN BE USED AS A WEAPONS PLATFORM AS WELL AS PLAY A ROLE IN ANY UNIT’S LOGISTICS PLANS.
[Janet Keech, Senior Dir. of Prog. Management, Oshkosh Defense]
“It’s very versatile to be used for multiple different types of weapons platforms as well as you can take the weapons platform off and use it as a logistics resupply, autonomous resupply vehicle. So the Marine Corps has intentions of using it for both short-range all the way to long range fire weapons platforms. And this is the Naval Strike missile that’s on it now. So it’s it’s the first one out of the gate for the Marine Corps. In terms of safety, if you’re firing a weapon system off a vehicle, you don’t want your people right there with it when that signature is there. So it keeps them away from the platform while it’s being fired, and then it lets them rapidly redeploy it back to safety.”
[RYAN]
OF COURSE, THIS WEAPONS OF THE WEEK, AND THE ROUGE FIRES, DELIVERS ON THAT FRONT IN A BIG WAY.
[Janet Keech, Senior Dir. of Prog. Management, Oshkosh Defense]
“The Marine Corps is also planning on using it for long range fires, that includes the Tomahawk missile, and then there’s shorter range HIMARS, types of applications for that as well. But then you can take this across to the army and use it for really the rogue platform itself. You can integrate it with anything that’s capable the payload is capable of holding, carrying.”
[RYAN]
WHILE IT DEFINITELY HAS LOTS OF BRAWN, IT BRINGS THE BRAINS AS WELL. OSHKOSH HAS PARTNERED WITH FORTERRA TO PUT THEIR AUTODRIVE SYSTEM BEHIND THE WHEEL.
A RELEASE FROM OSHKOSH TOUTING THE DEAL SAYS DELIVERIES WILL START SOMETIME THIS YEAR.
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