GDLS exec: New loitering munitions platform to be delivered to Army by end of month

WASHINGTON — An updated version of General Dynamics Land Systems’ (GDLS) loitering munitions platform are set to be delivered to the Army by the end of the month, a company executive told Breaking Defense this week. 

The platforms are the second iteration of the company’s Precision Effects & Reconnaissance-Canister-Housed, or PERCH system. The kit integrates on Abrams tanks and Stryker vehicles to provide beyond line-of-sight surveillance and is outfitted with AeroVironment’s (AV) Switchblade loitering munitions.

Four PERCH 2.0 prototypes will be delivered to Fort Hood’s 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division by the end of October, where soldiers will integrate them into Abrams tanks for experimentation, Scott Taylor, GDLS’ director of US growth, said.

The company developed the first PERCH iteration with internal research and development (IRAD) funding in response to reporting about the war in Ukraine, feedback from field commanders in Europe and discussions with senior leaders in III Armored Corps, Taylor said.

“So it’s sort of a rapid development, trying to meet the Army’s needs where they are,” he added. 

After GDLS demonstrated its first PERCH iteration, which it debuted at last year’s AUSA, the Army provided feedback to GDLS. The company applied the Army’s comments to create the first prototype of PERCH 2.0, once again using IRAD funds. 

Part of that initial feedback, Taylor explained, was to incorporate enhanced beyond line-of-sight technology, make reloads easier, increase storage space — which the company did by switching out AV’s SB600 for the SB300 — and create a system that can fire without soldiers having to open hatches

After evaluating the second version, Taylor said the Army found the design “compelling” and wanted a total of four prototypes.

“We said, ‘Well, can you get some skin in the game?”’ Taylor recounted. The Army subsequently purchased three prototypes under the Abrams System Technical Support (STS) contract, which is updated periodically, with the PERCH 2.0 purchases added to the contract in August.

A spokesperson from GDLS later told Breaking Defense that “doing it that way allows us to move quickly to meet emerging needs.” 

The Army has shown increased interest in mounting loitering munitions onto its armored vehicles. Apart from the Abrams tank, the service is looking to implement loitering munitions onto its replacement for the Bradley Infantry Vehicle, dubbed the XM30.

As Breaking Defense previously reported, the two models the Army is currently choosing from — American Rheinmetall’s Lynx and GDLS’ Wolf — are both outfitted with options to attach loitering munitions. However, Taylor did not comment on what kinds of loitering munitions could be attached to the Wolf.