Helicopter Carried Vehicles – Part 7 (Uncrewed) 

The variety of uncrewed floor automobiles (UGV) that may match inside a helicopter is critical.

Most are small, designed for EOD and different specialist roles, however within the final a number of years their measurement has elevated and the vary of capabilities likewise.

The British Military is engaged in an lively sequence of trials and improvement programmes for these bigger automobiles, some that might match, and a few that might not.

Small, such because the DCE X Sequence

And positively chunky, just like the Elbit Robotic Autonomous Sense and Strike (ROBUST), based mostly on BL Mk2 automobile.

For this put up, I’ll focus on those we’re actively testing and a handful of different examples we’d contemplate, and that match.

REEK

Within the ATV a part of the sequence, I described a hybrid electrical modular ATV/UTV

Its modular development permits the drive unit to be transformed rapidly to an uncrewed provider.

This appears early stage on the minute however enticing from a commonality perspective used within the ATV and UTV configuration.

Rheinmetall Mission Grasp Silent Associate (SP)

Primarily based on a Canadian Argo XT, the Mission Grasp SP is a comparatively well-developed product

Along with appearing as a load-carrying robotic platoon automobile, it has additionally been seen as geared up with 70mm Thales rockets, automated cannons, and C-UAS sensors.

It’s 2.95m lengthy, 1.55m huge (with out exterior stowage body), and 1.33m excessive (payloads could improve this), and weighs 1,100kg.

The utmost payload is 600kg, and it may be towed at as much as 60kph. Most velocity is 30kph and endurance is 8 hours in its base configuration.

Extra batteries might be carried, however they would cut back payload.

Rheinmetall Canada (Provectus Robotics) developed the Path-A robotic management software program that can be utilized with different automobiles, the Polaris MRZR for instance, delivered to the UK as a part of Mission Theseus 2.2

Hippo HAWC and RAPTOR

As described within the Multi-Axle part, Hippo Multipower, Pardus Defence, and Canadensys are providing the HAWC and RAPTOR.

The HAWC is the optionally crewed variant, with a 1,000kg that’s inclusive of the crew.

and the Raptor, totally uncrewed, with a 1,000kg payload

Their hybrid energy system allows silent operation, energy export, and a 150km most vary.

The highest velocity is 35kph and it will possibly tow 2,000 tonnes, kerb weight is 1,700kg.

IDV Viking

Developed by MIRA, the Viking (previously Centaur) was acquired by Iveco Defence Autos (IDV) in 2023, now branded because the IDV Robotics Viking.

IDV additionally acquired the MACE software program suite that allows autonomous operation and integration, MACE itself can also be a mature product, used within the Afghanistan operations Snatch Panama automobile as a part of the counter IED Talisman suite.

The entrance and rear steering Viking is 3m lengthy, 1.8m huge and 0.9m excessive to the load mattress, 1.924m with antennas in deployed place.

Kerb weight is 1.3 tonnes, and the payload is 700kg on a 1.74m lengthy x 1.8m huge load mattress, for a most weight of two tonnes.

The hybrid energy system allows a most velocity (restricted by software program) of 45kph and a most vary at 20 levels C is 250km (20km electrical solely)

QinetiQ/Milrem Themis

Marketed by QinetiQ as Titan, the Milrem Themis is arguably one of many extra mature UGVs and is being utilized in Ukraine.

Not like these above, it’s tracked.

It matches inside a Chinook, however the width could be an issue for Merlin.

Unladen weight is 1,650kg and it has a rated payload of 750kg, though Milrem additionally paperwork a most payload of 1,200kg.

The teleoperated vary is 10km, it has a towing velocity of 80kph and an endurance of 15h hours in hybrid mode.

Milrem has additionally constructed a formidable ecosystem of companions and the platform has a wide selection of capabilities.

Marlborough MAPS

Marlborough Communications partnered with Praesidium World in Australia to ship the Mission Adaptable Platform System (MAPS) to trials for the British Military, though its present standing is unclear.

Supacat ATMP

The Supacat ATMP and eATMP have additionally been proven with teleoperation and autonomy, with some idea work achieved on these.

Aardvark RANG-R

One system that has not but been included in British Military trials is the UK-designed and constructed Aardvark RANG-R.

The Aardvark Distant Autonomous Subsequent Technology-Rover (RANG-R) is a tracked UGV that’s constructed from their teleoperated demining expertise. On this regard, it’s totally different from others in that it’s designed with safety in thoughts, survivable towards a blast from a close-by 8.8lkg explosive cost.

Further blast and ballistic safety, as much as Degree IV, might be added.

The autonomy methods have been developed along side Evolve Dynamics

The bottom automobile has a most velocity of 100kph, a kerb weight of two,650kg and a most payload of three,850kg (2x max weight NATO pallets)

It may additionally tow a trailer as much as 3,500kg.

The automobile is 2.659m lengthy, 1.58m huge, and 1.09m excessive. Heigh is elevated if attachments corresponding to cranes or sensor masts are fitted.

The hybrid diesel/battery powerplant offers a variety with out refuel of roughly 100km over combined terrain.

Movex

The French firm Movex produce a small tracked provider known as the Observe-O Cross-Nation, though it appears extra tilted to onsite development and industrial duties than defence.

It has a a lot shorter run-time of solely 2.5 hours however can carry 1,039kg on a flat floor.

One may see this getting used for particular functions when teleoperated corresponding to short-distance medical evacuation and resupply.

Its low profile is useful.

There are fairly a number of of a lot of these small crawler carriers now, more and more used within the development sector.

AVT Trident 35

AVT has been working with Digital Idea Engineering and Babcock on a number of teleoperated and autonomous tasks, together with demonstrating them on the British Military Battle Lab.

The one which seems most related (and promising) to this utility is the Trident 35, nonetheless in early improvement and testing.

Knowledge Desk

Load Diagrams

Merlin

Chinook

Associated