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.
US Marine Corps (USMC) officials have described future efforts to optimise the combat effectiveness of the base ‘Squad’ formation, reflecting on lessons learned more than a decade operating in Afghanistan.
According to Mark Richter, director Marine Expeditionary Rifle Squad (MERS), USMC, the latest Initial Capability Document (ICD) will be launched within months outlining enhanced training, equipment and tactical objectives.
Speaking to the Soldier Technology 2015 event in London on 25 June, Richter explained how the Marine Corps squad should be viewed as its own ‘system’ with the MERS organisation concentrating on everything ‘worn, carried and consumed’ by squad members.
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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.