Dedicated drone munitions could unlock modular mission potential
Top attacks have proven effective against heavily armoured vehicles in Ukraine. A new family of uncrewed aerial system-delivered munitions is looking to press that advantage further.
The Ultra PCS Mounted/Dismounted Interface can connect up to four soldiers to a digital vehicle network. (Photo: Giles Ebbutt)
Ultra Precision Control Systems (PCS) has developed a MDI to support dismounted soldiers connecting to vehicle power and data sources. The product was showcased at SAE Media Group’s Future Soldier Technology Conference in London this March.
The device enables soldiers embarked in vehicles to maintain their situational awareness, monitor the tactical picture, access vehicle communications systems and charge their batteries.
Tony White, land strategy director at Ultra, told Shephard that connecting the digitised soldier with a digitised vehicle was not simple.
“You can’t just plug a soldier straight into a vehicle network,” he said. “Power and electronic quality standards differ
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Top attacks have proven effective against heavily armoured vehicles in Ukraine. A new family of uncrewed aerial system-delivered munitions is looking to press that advantage further.
The Israeli company hopes that producing its Sigma artillery system wholly in the US will help it win a key US Army contract, but it will be up against the popular CAESAR Mk II wheeled weapon and the K9 tracked.
Germany has ordered 84 RCH 155 self-propelled guns, as system incorporating Boxer 8×8 vehicles and the Artillery Gun Module, and 200 Puma Infantry Fighting Vehicles while the UK has committed to a single Early Capability Demonstrator RCH 155.
While integration of guided weapons on modern armoured vehicles usually takes the form of a podded launcher on the turret exterior, recent developments suggest the concept of firing missiles from a tank’s main gun could be seeing a revival.
The order is a further boost for the Common Armoured Vehicles System programme which has notched notable successes in the past 12 months. The first vehicle, made in Finland, will be delivered next year with local production expected to ramp up in 2027.
The French and German governments signed an agreement in June 2018 to cooperate on the development of a new main battle tank under the Main Ground Combat System programme but the effort has struggled. This new agreement may damage it further.