Optionally crewed ASCOD variant demonstrates minefield clearance capabilities
The ASCOD Autonomous Platform was demonstrated on 10 October in Spain. (Photo: GDELS-SBS)
The developers of the ASCOD Autonomous Platform say it opens up remote and autonomous operations in a secure environment.
Spanish partners General Dynamics European Land Systems-Santa Bárbara Sistemas (GDELS-SBS) and SENER Aeroespacial demonstrated their optionally crewed ASCOD Autonomous Platform on 10 October to the Spanish Army at the 2E+I Forum innovation event in Toledo.
In the demonstration, the ASCOD vehicle on rubber tracks was operated via a remote handheld multifunction driver display to breach a minefield.
Featuring a driver assistance system plus remote and autonomous supervised driving modes, the new variant of ASCOD offers a ‘competitive advantage for remote and autonomous operations in a secure environment’, GDELS claimed on 11 October.
SENER Aeroespacial developed the autonomous vehicle’s real-time onboard navigation system under an agreement it signed with GDELS-SBS in 2021.
Add-on autonomous capabilities for ASCOD could be applied to newly designed vehicles or ‘transform conventional manned platforms into optionally unmanned platforms’, the company added.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![UK artillery factory opens as defence review inches forward]()
UK artillery factory opens as defence review inches forward
The new artillery and howitzer factory pre-dates the emphasis on this capability from this month’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR). The first joint industry-government meeting outlined in the review took place this week.
-
![Precision Strike Missile engine successfully tested from M270A2 launcher]()
Precision Strike Missile engine successfully tested from M270A2 launcher
Lockheed Martin’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) is a next-generation surface-to-surface missile with the solid rocket motor (SRM) provided by Northrop Grumman. The company is working to boost its SRM production capability.
-
![CV90 user group signs agreement to improve procurement and commonality]()
CV90 user group signs agreement to improve procurement and commonality
The CV90 is in service with or ordered by ten countries. The agreement between six of these countries is designed to create commonality to provide economies of scale and a reduced training burden.
