• Digital Battlespace

  US programme to beat adversary's ‘formidable’ capabilities

  17th March 2019

  A US government agency will award $45.5 million for development of new technologies able to coordinate a future autonomous army of unmanned air and ground …

• Digital Battlespace

  Persistent Systems expands Fort Collins facility

  13th March 2019

  Persistent Systems has completed a major expansion of its Fort Collins office in Colorado to increase support for its customers with mobile ad hoc networking …

• Digital Battlespace

  BAE Systems extends DARPA Air C2 deal

  20th March 2019

  BAE Systems has won a deal with the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to further develop autonomous software for air mission planning, with …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  UK MoD opts for high-risk robot acquisition strategy

  5th March 2019

  Autonomous kit will be deployed by the UK MoD in Iraq, Afghanistan and during Operation Cabrit in Estonia before the end of 2019, heralding a …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  TDK, Qualcomm team up

  27th February 2019

  TDK’s InvenSense is working with Qualcomm Technologies to create a product portfolio of MEMS motion and audio sensor solutions for the new Qualcomm Robotics RB3 …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Rostec touts the KUB-BLA loitering weapon for the Russian MoD

  12th March 2019

  Russia’s Kalashnikov company and the Russian MoD are set to begin negotiations on the possible delivery of the KUB-BLA expendable unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV). …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Kaman to develop next-gen K-Max

  8th March 2019

  Kaman Aerospace is developing a next generation K-Max that will allow operators to fly either manned or unmanned missions, the company announced on 5 March. …

• Military Logistics

  US services refine autonomous aerial resupply needs

  27th February 2019

  The US Army and marine corps have announced plans for a three-day industry event during which the two services will exchange data with industry regarding …

• Defence Notes

  Trump seeks $33 billion hike in US DoD budget

  12th March 2019

  The US DoD would receive $718 billion in FY2020, a $33 billion or 5% increase from the FY2019 enacted level, under the Trump administration’s newly …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Marine Advanced Robotics to deliver MARV II

  27th February 2019

  Marine Advanced Robotics is set to deliver the next generation Multifunctional Assessment Reconnaissance Vessel II (MARV II) to the US Army’s Engineer Research and Development …

• Defence Notes

  IDEX 2019: China's presence, UGV overload and new vehicles (video)

  17th February 2019

  As IDEX 2019 gets started the Shephard News team takes a look at some of the platforms and programmes that will be highlighted throughout the …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Avalon 2019: Kelpie chases service role in Australia

  26th February 2019

  The Kelpie multirole UGV, unveiled on 25 February at the Avalon Air Show, is expected to reach production standard in 2020. It will be developed …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  Aeryon’s Skyranger receives TAA certification

  27th February 2019

  Aeryon’s SkyRanger small UAS has received ‘safe to operate’ certification from the UK’s Type Airworthiness Authority (TAA), Marlborough Communications (MCL) announced on 22 February.   …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  FLIR Systems to acquire Endeavor Robotics

  15th February 2019

  FLIR Systems is set to acquire Endeavor Robotics, a developer of tactical UGVs for global military, public safety and critical infrastructure markets, from Arlington Capital …

• Military Logistics

  Leonardo, Northrop Grumman Australia sign MoU

  1st March 2019

  Leonardo and Northrop Grumman Australia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for C-27J through-life support services in New Zealand, Leonardo announced on 26 February. …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Medium UGVs

  Mission Master (RPV Sprial 2) [UK]

  Programme Background First announced in April 2017 and referred to in early MOD documents as the ‘last mile resupply’ initiative, the British Army is reportedly ...

• Medium UGVs

  Mission Master (RPV Sprial 3) [UK]

  Programme Background First announced in April 2017 and referred to in early MOD documents as the ‘last mile resupply’ initiative, the British Army is reportedly ...

• Medium UGVs

  Medium Modular Equipment Transport Trailer (M-METT) [USA]

  Background Whilst there are many medium UGV programmes developing concepts for last-mile resupply problems, the US Army's M-METT programme aims to provide an uncrewed logistics ...

• Medium UGVs

  THeMIS [Netherlands and Estonia]

  Programme Background The Estonian Armed Forces had already been operating the THeMIS UGV in Mali for a year at the time the programme was announced ...

• Medium UGVs

  THeMIS [Spain]

  Programme Background In taking delivery of the THeMIS UGV Spain became the 13th user of the system. Like many of the other customers it was ...

• Medium UGVs

  THeMIS (Ukraine Aid) [Netherlands]

  Programme Background The programme will be managed by Milrem Robotics Netherlands in co-operation with VDL Defentec, which is establishing an assembly line at its Born ...

• Medium UGVs

  THeMIS [United Kingdom]

  Programme Background Milrem's THeMIS UGV is one of the most successful UGVs on the international market and like many militaries the British Army is looking ...

• Medium UGVs

  THeMIS [Sweden]

  Programme Background Many countries have been acquiring small numbers of Milrem's THeMIS UGV since its success in the hands of Estonian Forces in Mali. The ...

• Medium UGVs

  New Zealand Experimental UGV

  Programme Background In March 2026 New Zealand company SYOS announced that it had been contracted to supply the New Zealand Defence Forces with uncrewed land, ...

• Medium UGVs

  Mission Master [Norway]

  Programme Background Developed by Rheinmetall Canada in 2021, the Mission Master XT is designed to tackle ice and snow, as well as sandy, rocky and ...

• Medium UGVs

  DSTL Medium UGV [UK]

  Programme Background This programme was established to determine the future use of medium UGVs for logistical purposes in the British Army, although it was run ...

• Medium UGVs

  Mission Master SP [Japan]

  Programme Background Japanese budget documentation from 2024 had pictured a medium-UGV similar in outline to the Mission Master SP, and in the 2025 budget ¥1.4 billion ...

• Medium UGVs

  Ripsaw M3 [Sweden]

  Programme Background This is the first sale for the Ripsaw in Europe, which has otherwise favoured the Estonian THeMIS UGV, one of which Sweden ordered ...

• Medium UGVs

  THeMIS (Ukraine Aid) [Germany]

  Programme Background Of the 14 vehicles, seven will be configured for casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) and were scheduled to be delivered by the end 2022. The ...

• Medium UGVs

  Last Tactical Mile Sustainment and Casualty Evacuation UGV [USA]

  Background As part of the Army Transformation Initiative (ATI), the US Army is accelerating its procurement of UGVs. As part of this effort, it has launched ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Medium UGVs

  Rook

  The Rook is a 6x6 multipurpose UGV developed by Elbit in partnership with Roboteam. Conceived to carry heavy payloads in a wide range of environments, the ...

• Medium UGVs

  Arion-SMET

  The Arion-SMET is a fully electric 6x6 multipurpose UGV developed and produced by Hanwha Defense. With a payload of 550kg, the UGV can travel for up ...

• Medium UGVs

  Rex Mk II

  The Rex Mk II is a UGV manufactured by Isreal Aerospace Industries (IAI). It is a multimission system designed to provide direct support to manoeuvring infantry ...

• Heavy UGVs

  Mission Master CXT

  Part of Rheinmetall's Mission Master family, The Mission Mater Compact Extreme Terrain, or Mission Master CXT, is a rugged UGV designed to transport heavy payloads ...

• Light UGVs

  Oto-TRP7-HS

  The Oto-TRP7-HS (Homeland Security) is a semi-autonomous, electric-powered, tracked UGV. It is designed to undertake a number of homeland security missions. 

• Heavy UGVs

  Shadow Rider

  Unveiled for the first time at IDEF 2019 and showcased with improvements at IDEF 2021, the Shadow Rider is a UGV developed and built by ...

• Medium UGVs

  Ermine UGV

  At Eurosatory 2024, Rheinmetall presented the Ermine family of tactical vehicles. The modular Ermine family currently consists of a UGV, a side-by-side buggy and a ...

• Medium UGVs

  Barkan

  The Barkan, or Barkan-2, is a Turkish UGV manufactured by Havelsan. A fully electric propulsion system powers the tracked, modular vehicle, which can be armed with a 7.62mm ...

• Medium UGVs

  Marker

  The Marker is a Russian UGV manufactured by Androidnaya Tekhnika. Development started in 2018, and the three-tonne UGV is now capable of supporting anti-tank missile systems, coaxial ...

• Medium UGVs

  Centurio

  At Eurosatory 2024, KNDS unveiled the Centurio family of 4x4 UGVs. Based on the Phobos UGV by SOGECLAIR, Centurio has been developed in the 2024-30 ...

• Medium UGVs

  Viking

  The Viking is a high-mobility 6x6 multipurpose UGV developed and produced by IDV Robotics. The UGV can be configured to perform different missions, from logistic ...

• Heavy UGVs

  Oshkosh Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV)

  The Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) is a tracked UGV developed by Oshkoshl in partnership with Pratt & Miller and QinetiQ. In September 2023, as part of ...

• Medium UGVs

  Titan UGV

  The Titan large UGV is a hybrid system built on the Milrem Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System (THeMIS) combined with QinetiQ North America's Tactical Robot Controller ...

• Heavy UGVs

  Valkyrie

  The Valkyrie is a 6x6 UGV developed by the Spanish company SASCorp. It was unveiled for the first time at FINDEF 2021. The platform has reportedly ...

• Light UGVs

  Quator/Quator XL

  Quator is a scout, observation, inspection and detection robot suitable for rapid-response scenarios. Quator XL builds on the transportation capabilities of the smaller version, weighing ...