The US Army has awarded Oshkosh subsidiary Pratt Miller Defense a multi-year production contract for the fielding of its Trackless Moving Target (TMT) robotics-based marksmanship training technology, the company announced on 27 November 2024.
Trackless Moving Targets “offer a more realistic live-fire marksmanship training experience than anything previously offered, revolutionising the way live-fire marksmanship training is conducted”, the company stated in a press release.
The solution combines a highly mobile armoured platform with GPS-based path-following technology and a zone-based hit detection system for reactive behaviour scenarios and hit scoring.
The contract is valued at USD 22.5 million (EUR 21.4 million) for two years of procurement.
Pratt Miller Defense’s family of TMT platforms include the TMT-Infantry (TMT-I), which carries a target representative of an individual combatant and travels up to 19 km/h, and the TMT-Vehicle (TMT-V), which represents a vehicular target and can reach speeds of 48 km/h. Both the TMT-I and TMT-V feature a fully electric driveline and have a 10-hour run time at typical training cadences, a three-hour constant drive time and ballistic protection to withstand repeated hits from 7.62 mm and .50 cal ammunition. They operate over local cellular or wi-fi networks and provide real-time mission feedback. Because they use GPS for navigation, they do not carry expensive or vulnerable sensors.
The TMT-I and TMT-V can be deployed in groups or individually to maximise the training experience and, given their portable nature, installations can use them at multiple ranges while reducing the costs of have to install a greater quantity of fixed targets.
While traditional training systems are limited to stationary or linear target movement at constant speeds, offering only basic 2D representations, Pratt Miller Defense’s TMTs, developed over 12 years through a US Army Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programme, overcome these limitations with 360-degree engagement, variable speeds and realistic reactive behaviours, thus enhancing training value.
The TMTs were also designed to ensure effective soldier operation and maintainability, eliminating the need for external operations and sustainment support. This increases flexibility and reduces lifecycle costs, meeting the army’s self-sufficiency goals.
“It has been an honour to collaborate closely with the US Army on developing the Trackless Moving Target training systems,” Jim Fontaine, executive director of robotics at Pratt Miller Defense, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “What began as a Small Business Innovation Research effort 12 years ago has evolved into a programme shaped by the army’s steadfast commitment to refining requirements in accordance with soldier feedback. This dedication has ensured the product meets their specific training needs while prioritising safety, seamless integration with the army’s range software and long-term durability. The rapid improvements in training effectiveness have been met with enthusiasm and gratitude from soldiers, and it’s a privilege to contribute to their preparedness.”
US Army and National Guard training centres will begin receiving TMTs in the summer of 2025.
