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.
Cohort company Marlborough Communications (MCL) has received a contract from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to supply and support hearing protection systems and communication ancillaries for specialist land, maritime and air applications, the company announced on 22 March.
The four-year contract has an initial order value of £9.9 million, and includes options for a one-year extension and a complete mid-life enhancement of the capability.
The contract follows previous MoD contract awards for hearing protection awarded in 2015 - an in-ear hearing protection system used with radio communications sytems that offers prevention of hearing damage and improved situational awareness for the user.
Andy Thomis, chief executive of Cohort, said: ‘This is another great success for MCL, and its partner INVISIO, in the area of hearing protection. We are delighted to be providing a system that has such a significant impact on both operational effectiveness and the long term health of our armed forces personnel. This and other recent contract awards enhance the visibility of future group revenue.’
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.