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.
Electro Optic Systems (EOS), based in Australia, has announced receipt of a contract from Hyundai WIA in South Korea to supply advanced military subsystems and components.
The deal will provide 12 months of workshare to EOS beginning in the third quarter of 2015.
Details of what the A$9.3 million ($7.5 million) contract covers were not specified. However, CEO Dr Ben Greene’s comments hint at surveillance and force protection equipment.
‘Systems deployed for armed surveillance to protect troops operating close to, but not involved in, an active conflict must operate on high alert, and with superior weapon safety to avoid unintended
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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.