According to what was published on April 25 by the American company Oshkosh Defense, A new contract has been signed to provide more Remotely Operated Ground Unit for Expeditionary Fires (ROGUE-Fires) vehicles to the United States Marine Corps. (USMC). This is an order for around 40 million dollars, and will complement the contract signed in 2023 for an amount close to US4 39.5 million for the acquisition of these vehicles.
In this regard, Oshkosh Defense program director Pat Williams made the following statements: “Today’s award underscores the continued success of the ROGUE-Fires program and Oshkosh’s unwavering commitment to working hand-in-hand with the Marine Corps, understanding their mission requirements, and equipping our Marines with unparalleled combat capabilities (…) The versatile ROGUE-Fires platform that we showcased at Modern Day Marine for the first time leverages cutting-edge technologies and facilitates the seamless integration of a multitude of weapons systems. This platform will meet diverse mission needs for many years to come“.
Regarding the number of vehicles acquired, there is no specific number, however, it is known what their destination will be: the Navy and Marine Corps Expeditionary Ship Interdiction systems (NMESIS). In this way, the USMC becomes an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), with high off-road mobility thanks to the fact that it uses the design line of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), and to which the know-how is added of Oshkosh on land-based anti-ship missile launch systems.
For its part, the program that gave rise to the ROGUE vehicles has its origins in 2021, with the aim of providing the US Navy and the USMC with anti-ship capabilities with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy. In this sense, the cooperation of Raytheon and Kongsberg, with its NSM anti-ship missile, and the aforementioned Oshkosh, which provides its JLTV platform, was necessary. At that time, a total of $64 million was budgeted for the United States Navy, and development began based on the Marine Corps’ High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).
It should be noted that the company that produces ROGUE vehicles, Oshkosh Defense, will have a booth (no. 1915) at the Modern Day Marine event that will take place in Washington DC between April 30 and May 2, in which They will showcase the capabilities of the aforementioned UGV along with other high-tech systems.
Image credits: USMC, Oshkosh Defense
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