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.
Vision Industries Corp., producers of zero emission electric/hydrogen hybrid trucks, is pleased to announce that it has signed a letter of intent with Burtek, Inc. to enter into a teaming agreement regarding Burtek’s representation and/or production of Vision’s hydrogen fuel cell-related products for the US defense market. The Vision products under consideration for this teaming agreement include Class 8 hydrogen fuel cell trucks; its mobile synthetic hydrogen fuel generation system; and platform, trailer and other vehicle platforms with hydrogen fuel cell power trains as they are made commercially available by Vision.
“Consider the fact that a full 80 percent of all United States Marine Corps fatalities occur in convoys; 40 percent of which are primarily involved in the transport of both water and fossil fuels,” said Dr. James I. Finley, President and Chief Executive Officer of Burtek. “Reducing or eliminating the need to transport fossil fuels and water further entrenches the value of the hydrogen-fuel solution in saving American lives.”
Of the agreement, Martin Schuermann, President and CEO of Vision stated, “We are excited about the prospect of working with a company that has proven itself to be very successful in the military marketplace. The US Marine Corps Systems Command is currently soliciting demonstration projects for its experimental, forward operating base exhibit at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, VA. Burtek will secure a two-week exhibit of our hydrogen fuel generation and class 8 truck at Quantico and related exhibits in the Washington, DC area this fall.”
Source: Vision Industries Corp
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.