The XM30, the U.S. Army’s first ground combat vehicle designed using modern digital engineering tools, is down to two competing designs, with one looking to optimise its CAE program using Esteco Volta’s tools.
The new XM30, formerly known as Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV), is intended to replace the current U.S. Army Bradley and is expected to introduce a wide range of new capabilities.
With a modular design and open architecture, the Army is looking to tailor the XM30 to meet specific missions or threats, evolving to adapt to future requirements. These features also significantly reduce the training and logistics burden, leading to greater operational readiness.
Competing against General Dynamics, Team Lynx – which includes Textron Systems, Raytheon, L3Harris Technologies, Allison Transmission and Anduril Industries – will build between 7 and 11 prototypes of the XM30 for Army evaluation in a contract worth in excess of $700m.
For the digital development phase, American Rheinmetall Vehicles is using Esteco Volta as a vendor agnostic framework, to help integrate and automate all third-party simulation tools, and effectively manage all simulation data.
Using this approach, American Rheinmetall Vehicles says it will be able to deliver version-controlled models to the U.S. Army at every stage of the development cycle.
Volta’s API will also allow a digital thread to be built for the program by integrating simulation workflows with other enterprise systems such as their architecture and PLM environments. The Army has placed emphasis on digital engineering to help future proof the design so that new technologies can be quickly installed when available.
Team Lynx is designing and will manufacture the XM30 Combat Vehicle in the United States, partnering with suppliers across the USA to expand engineering and manufacturing jobs.
“American Rheinmetall Vehicles has brought together remarkable companies, ideas, technologies, and approaches to deliver a truly next-generation, lethal, survivable, and enduring infantry fighting vehicle concept,” said retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General Bill Mayville, a member of the ARV board of directors. “This team is delivering on the Army’s highest and most ambitious priorities and I am confident it will continue to bring exceptional solutions as part of this important modernisation effort.”
Roel Van De Velde, VP aerospace & defence at Esteco, added: “Digitally designing a vehicle generates a lot of simulation data, and this data needs to be properly stored, managed, shared and version controlled from a single, authoritative source of truth. Using Volta, this data subsequently can be used in multidisciplinary design optimisation studies, and analysed in real time for trade studies and data-driven decision making among all stakeholders. We’re very much looking forward to supporting American Rheinmetall Vehicles in their XM30 development.”
