Page 23 - ADT NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2022 Online Magazine

countering mini-UAVs, loitering munitions or other small difficult to kit developed by Elbit Systems and Foresight.
detect airborne targets. The UGV can carry payloads from 7.62 to The M-RCV will also incorporate sights, an Israeli
30 mm including the Northrop Grumman M230 cannon and Thales Aerospace Industries (IAI) missile launcher, and
LMM missiles. Rafael Advanced Defence Systems’ “Spike”
anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM). The M-RCV
“The THeMIS UGVs were chosen for their superior terrain skills – this will offer deployed troops a highly autono-
1.5 tonne robot can effortlessly negotiate 30 degree slopes while mous solution for forward reconnaissance, and
carrying a payload of at least 750 kg with ease,” Lieutenant Colonel controlled lethality in all-terrain conditions. It
Jules den Ouden, Commander of the Royal Netherlands Army’s will be able to operate in day and night and
Robot and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Unit in all-weather scenarios, while emphasizing
operational effectiveness, simplicity, minimum
operator intervention, and integration into het-
ISRAEL FORGES AHEAD erogeneous unmanned arrays, Israel’s MoD said.

In June, Israel’s Ministry of Defence (IMOD) announced that it would Elbit Systems and Roboteam had also launched
begin testing a robotic unmanned vehicle known as the Medium a multi-payload military 6X6 UGV called ROOK
Robotic Combat Vehicle (M-RCV), developed by the Ministry’s in November 2021. The 1.2 tonne UGV has a
Directorate of Defence Research and Development (DDR&D), the low center of gravity and ground clearance
Tank and APC Directorate, and Israeli security industries. of 24cm. It is capable of carrying up to 1.2
tonne of payloads while maintaining superior
The M-RCV was unveiled at the Eurosatory Defence and Security manoeuvrability and transferability. The ROOK
Exhibition at the Elbit Systems’ pavilion. The development of the UGV was developed based on the operational
technology demonstrator was led by the Israeli MoD’s DDR&D and experience accumulated through fielding of the
the Tank and APC Directorate. The system was developed as part 4×4 PROBOT UGV systems in several countries
of the autonomous battlefield concept led in the DDR&D in collab- including the U.S., France, Israel and the UK. It
oration with the Tank and APC Directorate while implementing an was designed from scratch as a robotic UGV
open architecture for integrating future capabilities and integrating platform in compliance with applicable military
the robot alongside other tools and capabilities. standards and its built-in TORCH-X robotic and
autonomous (RAS) application, provides ROOK
The system is slated to start field tests during 2023 in representative with full autonomy and the capability to effi-
scenarios and integrates a number of cutting-edge technologies ciently navigating rough terrain, during both day
including advanced manoeuvring capabilities, the ability to carry and night to deliver supplies, evacuate casu-
heavy and varied mission loads, and a built-in system for transport- alties, perform intelligence gathering missions
ing and receiving UAVs. The M-RCV includes a new robotic platform (including by dispatching on-board VTOLs),
type BLR-2 made by BL, a 30 mm autonomous turret developed by and operate as a remote weapon system. The
the Tank and APC Directorate for the “Eitan” armoured personnel new UGV makes use of modular hybrid energy
carrier (APC), Elbit’s “Iron Fist” Active Protection System, fire control configuration of batteries and optional internal
and mission management systems, and robotic autonomous kit, in generator, to deliver an operational endurance
addition to situation awareness systems. It also features a capsuled of up to eight drive hours and a speed of 30km
drone for forward reconnaissance missions, and a passive sensing per hour.

TURKEY MAKES PROGRESS

Turkey is also well advanced in the devel-
opment of UGVs and Turkish defence firm
Havelsan’s Barkan UGV is thought to have com-
pleted field trials, furthering company’s “digital
troop” concept. Barkan has been developed to
undertake armed reconnaissance and surveil-
lance missions for the Turkish military. Havelsan
has been conducting research and develop-
ment (R&D) studies in robotics and autonomous
technologies since 2019 and these efforts picked
up the pace after the company had underwent
a change in vision, aiming for “autonomy in
military and civilian land, air, sea, and space
vehicles.”

© Milrem Robotics Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Muhittin Solmaz
ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2022 | 23