American Rheinmetall has secured a $31 million contract from the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) to develop and demonstrate forward repair technologies for battle-damaged Bradley infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) used by U.S. and Ukrainian forces. The 18-month program aims to establish a Rapid Damage Assessment and Repair Team (RDART) capable of deploying near combat zones to restore vehicles quickly, bridging the gap between frontline damage and depot-level maintenance. The initiative will validate advanced diagnostic tools, additive-manufacturing techniques, and streamlined logistics to accelerate the repair cycle. By testing the concept using Bradley platforms as surrogates, Rheinmetall seeks to deliver a field-ready, scalable model for dispersed maintenance operations. The RDART concept integrates predictive analytics and modular toolkits designed to function in austere or contested environments, ensuring mission continuity. According to NCMS, this capability will reduce downtime, enhance readiness, and improve the sustainability of critical armored assets. Once proven, the framework could extend to other platforms, including next-generation combat vehicles. The project reflects growing U.S. Army interest in distributed sustainment to support high-tempo operations and battlefield resilience.
