British Army explores Amazon-style delivery model
The Viking autonomous vehicle from HORIBA-MIRA is involved in Project Theseus. (Photo: HORIBA-MIRA)
Autonomous systems could meet future 'last-mile' logistics requirements for the British Army, with developments ongoing under Project Theseus.
The UK MoD has issued contracts worth £3 million ($4 million) apiece to three SMEs for work on Project Theseus to develop autonomous solutions for supplying frontline British Army troops as an ‘Amazon-style delivery service’.
Having considered proposals from more than 50 companies, and following initial work by the Defence and Security Accelerator and Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, the Future Capability Group (FCG) at MoD Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) selected UK companies HORIBA-MIRA and Marlborough Comms, as well as Israeli firm Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
These three companies will ‘accelerate the development of their systems to try and meet further challenges set by FCG and the British Army’, DE&S noted in a 25 January announcement.
Project Theseus envisages the use of self-driving air or ground platforms to deliver supplies — including ammunition, clothes, food and fuel — thereby reducing the need for personnel to risk their life ‘by entering into what are typically hostile environments’, DE&S noted.
It added that the desired ultimate outcome will be an end-to-end highly automated ground and air resupply network, enabled by a logistic information system and operating as an ‘Amazon-style delivery service’.
Project Theseus has already seen the British Army explore the use of robotic “dogs” to navigate rough terrain, help deliver supplies in war zones and investigate potential IEDs.
Maj Matt McGarvey-Miles, SO2C Robotic and Autonomous Systems for Future Force Development, said: ‘Robotic and Autonomous System capabilities will play an increasing role in delivering deployed sustainment in the near-future; doing so will increase combat power through increasing mass and tempo of resupply… leading to an increased probability of mission success.’
You may also like
More from Land Warfare
-
![New Zealand receives first Bushmaster protected vehicles]()
New Zealand receives first Bushmaster protected vehicles
New Zealand has 43 Bushmaster vehicles from Australia on order, comprised of five different variants.
-
![Norwegian defence report hints at new CV90 armoured vehicle order]()
Norwegian defence report hints at new CV90 armoured vehicle order
Norway's May 2023 publication Future Acquisitions for the Norwegian Defence Sector 2023-2030 identifies a requirement for additional infantry fighting vehicles, with the BAE Systems Hägglunds CV90 being the logical choice.
-
![Czech Republic sets seal on CV90 armoured vehicle procurement]()
Czech Republic sets seal on CV90 armoured vehicle procurement
The Czech government has finalised a $2.2 billion contract to procure 246 CV90 Mk IV infantry fighting vehicles from BAE Systems Hägglunds.
-
![UK plays host to inaugural AUKUS Pillar 2 AI and autonomy trial]()
UK plays host to inaugural AUKUS Pillar 2 AI and autonomy trial
While for most part AUKUS is about submarines, under its Advanced Capabilities Pillar, known as Pillar 2, the UK, US and Australia are collaborating on other leading-edge technologies.
-
![Estonia, Latvia kick off joint procurement of Iris-T air defence missiles]()
Estonia, Latvia kick off joint procurement of Iris-T air defence missiles
Estonia and Latvia have selected the Diehl IRIS-T as their preferred solution for the joint procurement of a medium-range air defence system.
-
![Elbit to supply surveillance radars to UK armed forces]()
Elbit to supply surveillance radars to UK armed forces
The 90 portable Ground-Based Suveillance Radar units will feature capture software to monitor operator performance.
