Since the creation of the main battle tank during World War I, there has been a constant arms race between the development of anti-tank weapons and vehicle protection systems, however “Weapons’ ability to penetrate armor, however, has advanced faster than armor’s ability to withstand penetration”.
One of the technology militaries are racing to adopt is Active Protection Systems, or APS, to enhance the survivability. It uses sensors and radar, computer processing, fire control technology and interceptors to find, target and knock down or intercept incoming enemy fire such as RPGs and Anti-Tank Guided Missiles, or ATGMs.
Now another anti-tank weapon, a tank-killing unmanned ground vehicle is threatening to change the equation again. They are cheaper than manned platforms and weapons and can be lost without a human toll while packing deadly lethal power.
MBDA and Milrem Robotics have announced the debut of their unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), which is designed for anti-tank purposes. Claimed to be the world’s first anti-tank UGV, the system has been developed under a joint project between the companies in June.
Väärsi added: “Our unmanned land combat system under study together with MBDA will be very efficient in keeping our troops safe and significantly increasing the capability to fight main battle tanks, as well as any other ground target.”
The land combat warfare system features MBDA’s integrated MMP precision attack combat turret (IMPACT) system integrated onto Milrem Robotics’ THeMIS UGV.MBDA IMPACT is fitted with two MMP fifth-generation battlefield engagement missiles and a self-defence machine gun.
Milrem Robotics CEO Kuldar Väärsi said: “This combination of two of the most modern technologies in their field is a very good example how robotic warfare systems will bring disruption to the battlefield and make some traditional technologies obsolete.” This is another example of robotization of battlefield with robotic vehicles fighting robotic vehicles.
Video footage of Russia’s new combat-capable Marker unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) emerged in February 2019. The Marker UGV is a joint project between the Foundation for Advanced Studies (FPI), Russia’s equivalent to the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in conjunction with the NGO ‘Android Technology’. This latest development from Russia demonstrates its future focus on advancing artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and swarming technologies.
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