Posted 11/3/2006
The Marine Corps is engaged in an acquisition program to
develop a Tactical Unmanned Ground Vehicle in order to
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 to Marines
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
function of the Gladiator will be to provide the Ground
Combat Element (GCE) with unmanned scouting and
reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition
(RSTA). Operating forward of GCE units, the Gladiator
will perform scouting and reconnaissance tasks while
permitting the operator to remain covered and concealed
some distance away. Additional functions of the
Gladiator system will be to utilize a modular configuration
capable of employing the Anti-Personnel/Obstacle
Breaching System (APOBS), M240G/M249 Machine
Guns, and currently fielded chemical detection systems.
With the development of future Mission Payload Modules
(MPM), projected operational capabilities include:
obscurant delivery; direct fire (lethal and non-lethal);
communications relay; tactical deception (electronic and
acoustic); combat resupply; casualty evacuation, or
counter sniper employment. These modules will allow
commanders to increase their operational capability by
tailoring the capabilities of the Gladiator to best meet their
mission requirements.