DSEi 2011: Aero Sekur reveals plans for new UGV
Aero Sekur is developing a 'quad bike' UGV, the company announced at the DSEi exhibition in London on 14 September.
Mark Butler, CEO of the company, told Shephard that the ‘Midi UGV' is realistically 12 months away from completion, and has been developed alongside the Italian MoD.
The system is 'like a quad bike with sensor arrays and cameras' that will be used for threat search, and with a 25 mile range can be sent ahead of a manned vehicle to search the area.
The UGV goes as quickly as a manned vehicle, which Butler explained is in response to the 'robots' currently used in these operations that 'slow the convoy down'.
With the distance the vehicle will be able to cover, it gives troops the 'time to take precautions or avoid it [the threat]', he said.
Butler emphasised the need for a disposable system that avoids putting a soldier at risk. The system is still being tested and is at a development contract stage with the MoD.
Meanwhile, the company is also undergoing final qualification testing on its Precision Airdrop System (PAS), and it is expected to be completed within the next three years.
The PAS uses an autonomous control system that guides a load undamaged and into a guided space.
A contract on the system is expected in 'the next few months' with an undisclosed European customer, although it has received interest from forces in four different continents, Butler said.
The company also provides UAV recovery systems for medium-sized platforms and this product has been in service with an undisclosed customer for some five years.
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
Leonardo showcases new AWHero developments at SeaFuture 2023
At SeaFuture 2023 in La Spezia, Italy, Leonardo showcased new AWHero rotary-wing UAS (RWUAS) developments, touting its maritime operations capabilities.
-
Third order for German 2-in-1 drone for Ukraine
On 31 May, Quantum Systems announced that the Ukrainian MoD had ordered 300 additional Vector drones under a third order that the German government is funding.
-
US Army moves forward on future tactical UAS without AeroVironment
AeroVironment has been dropped from the hunt to provide the US Army with a Future Tactical UAS (FTUAS), leaving Griffon Aerospace, Northrop Grumman, Sierra Nevada and Textron Systems in the running.
-
Navantia, SAES and Perseo to jointly develop line of uncrewed underwater vehicles
At FEINDEF in Madrid, Navantia, SAES and Perseo announced an intention to develop a line of uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs).
-
British Army eyes new small armed UAS capability
The UK MoD has released a request for information on small armed UAS which could be used by the British Army.
-
General Atomics delivers first new build extended range MQ-9A to US Marine Corps
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) has delivered the first new build MQ-9 Extended Range (ER) to the US Marine Corps (USMC).