Page 22 - ADT NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2022 Online Magazine
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        THE EMERGENCE OF                             utility of armed UGVs on the battlefield is the Royal Netherlands
        ARMED UGVS COULD                             Army, which began trials using Milrem Robotics tracked hybrid mod-
                                                     ular infantry system (THeMIS) UGVs in October. Chinese armoured
        TRANSFORM INFANTRY                           units have been conducting high-altitude exercises with unmanned

        CAPABILITIES IN THE                          systems since 2019 such as remotely operated mine clearing robots.
        FUTURE BATTLEFIELD                           The Royal Netherlands Army’s Robot and Autonomous Systems (RAS)
                                                     Unit of the 13th Light Brigade had taken delivery of two THeMIS UGVs
                                                     in April 2019 for their concept development and experimentation
         ATUL CHANDRA                               project. The project was tasked with looking into how to exploit the
                                                     possibilities new unmanned platforms provide for increasing combat
        The design and development of Unmanned       power and decreasing risk to soldiers. These unarmed THeMIS UGVs
        Ground Vehicles (UGV) is now being undertaken
        by all modern militaries. The utility of UGVs on   were delivered in transport configuration together with initial spare
        the battlefield is unquestionable due to their   parts and accessories. “The THeMIS UGVs were chosen for their
        ability to undertake a wide range of missions,   superior terrain skills – this 1.5 tonne robot can effortlessly negotiate
        thereby safeguarding soldiers from harm. UGV’s   30 degree slopes while carrying a payload of at least 750 kg with
        are already being configured for different roles,   ease,” Lieutenant Colonel Jules den Ouden, Commander of the RAS
        including reconnaissance, observation, target   unit had said at the time of announcement.
        acquisition,  communications  relay,  logistics
        support  platform,  rescue,  fire-fighting,  and   Milrem Robotics had displayed its THeMIS Combat UGV for the first
        medical  evacuation  (MEDEVAC).  However,    time at Eurosatory 2022. The combat UGV was fitted with a French
        the emergence of armed UGVs will transform   Hornet new generation remote weapon system. THeMIS Combat
        them into combat capable machines capable    UGVs are equipped with MIFIK (Milrem’s Intelligent Functions Kit)
        of changing the outcome of an attack on the   offering follow-me, return home, and point-to-point navigation func-
        battlefield. Amongst the first military UGVs, was  tionalities that considerably enhance the fighting capability of units.
        the U.S. Army’s Gladiator tactical UGV. It made  The Hornet RCWS offers unique features for UGV applications, such
        its debut in 2004 and was designed to support  as a specific cleaning system for its optronics along with the ability
        dismounted marines across a range of military  to flip down the sensors to protect them from dirt and damage. The
        operations                                   Hornet RCWS also features a protected ammunition feed. These are
                                                     crucial aspects for an unmanned vehicle operated from a distance.
        TRANSFORMATION UNDERWAY                      Milrem Robotics along with MSI-Defence Systems Limited (MSI-DSL)
                                                     has also jointly developed a THeMIS UGV integrated with MSI-DSL’s
        The first European military to start trials on the  Remote Weapon System and Electrical Optical Sensor System for
        22 | NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2022                                                         WWW.GBP.COM.SG/ADT
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