Clearer military requirements could unlock UGV market growth
Western armies continue to test uncrewed ground vehicles, but wider procurement will depend on turning ambitions for autonomy into defined operational roles and funded requirements.
S&T Motiv displayed several new small arms that it is currently developing – including a 5.56mm assault rifle, 7.62mm machine gun and 12.7mm anti-materiel rifle – at the Seoul ADEX 2017 exhibition from 17-22 October.
Shaun An, manager of public relations at S&T Motiv, said production of the K2C1 5.56mm assault rifle (pictured above) commenced last year for South Korea’s military. An evolution of the in-service K2C rifle, S&T Motiv will produce 60,000 of these 3.68kg rifles this year to fulfil a one-off order. A 3.3kg short-barrel version is also available.
Coming later on will be the K2C2 rifle, a
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
Western armies continue to test uncrewed ground vehicles, but wider procurement will depend on turning ambitions for autonomy into defined operational roles and funded requirements.
Framework contracts and leasing options aim to shorten acquisition timelines, while manufacturing partnerships could help suppliers scale production to meet allied demand.
The US is pursuing multiple UGV programmes, from commercial robotic platforms to new autonomy technologies. The combination of these efforts could prove key to turning ambition into operational capability.
NATO is looking to artificial intelligence to provide integration between different C2 systems to create a common operational picture, potentially offering a faster route to interoperability than the slow-moving processes of NATO standards committees.
The large-scale exercise in Latvia was the culmination of three experimentation initiatives to see how platforms, weapons and systems could fit into the alliance’s Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative. As well as forces, it brought together companies and equipment.
Canada plans to acquire at least 120 uncrewed aerial systems through two competitions with combined funding ceilings of C$32 million.