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.
Fering Pioneer X moves towards production
Fering Technologies Pioneer X long-range vehicle with roof-mounted 12.7mm machine gun (MG), side pintle mounted 7.62mm MG, and banks of four grenade launchers front and rear. (Photo: author)
The Pioneer X long-range vehicle has a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 3,500kg, of which 1,850kg is payload and the lightweight carbon chassis can be fitted with various top modules to suit requirements. In addition, there is the potential for a 6x6 version with increased volume and payload.
Fering Technologies expects to begin producing its Pioneer X (4x4) long-range ultra-high mobility vehicle in 2026 with chief technology officer Ben Scott-Geddes telling Shephard that there was already a contract in place.
Scott-Geddes was speaking at Defence IQ’s International Armoured Vehicle conference this week and said the design “pulls through from the team’s extensive experience and has been designed to operate in remote and hostile terrain”.
The Pioneer X displayed at the conference was aimed at special forces users and bristled with weapons and systems.
Weapon fit would be customised by the end user but a typical armament installation, as displayed,
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