Robots To 'Replace Soldiers In Near Future'
During the next dozen years smart unmanned ground systems (UGS) will start to replace soldiers on the battlefield, a new study says.
James Rogers, one of the authors of the study's first book and the Director of the Department of Political and Strategic Studies at the Baltic Defence College, writes:
"UGSs can promise greater effectiveness and efficiencies as they do not need sleep and cannot experience the horror of war, with its inevitable emotional impact."
Published by the Estonian defence solutions provider Milrem, as well as academics from several countries, the Digital Infantry Battlefield Solution (DIBS) analyses how UGSs will affect future warfare.
The unmanned ground vehicle THeMIS (also shown above in Milrem's video - above)
The first book of this study, concentrating on background analysis, was published this week.
It was started up by Milrem, the developer of the first fully modular hybrid unmanned ground vehicle, THeMIS.
The aim of DIBS is to gain a better understanding of the possible ways UGSs can be used on the battlefield and which solutions should be used while developing THeMIS.
Milrem has been working on an unmanned platform that can be used for different applications, starting from simple transportation tasks to reconnaissance and fire support missions.
Its unmanned ground system, THeMIS, can carry a payload up to 750 kg and can be outfitted with small and large calibre weapons, as well as different sensors, EOD devices and so on.
And the different payloads can be easily changed via a simple 'plug and play' system.
Combat robots have long been a staple of science fiction (image: Star Wars droid by Kory Westerhold).
Dr. Janis Berzins, Director of the Centre for Security and Strategic Research at the National Defence Academy of Latvia, writes:
"The continued development and fielding of UGSs, especially armed and automated UGSs connected to a network and capable of operating in a synchronised fashion, will radically transform the future of warfare."
Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem says:
"Target acquisition and detection systems in combination with seamless data transfer and weaponised robotic systems will create a very efficient and powerful combat unit, while reducing the risks to the soldiers."
Milrem has already successfully tested the THeMIS as an unmanned weapons platform together with the Estonian Defence Forces and ST Kinetics, an Asian land systems company.
The DIBS study will be continued over the coming years. As a next phase, virtual and real life exercises will be conducted in order to analyse the suitability of UGSs in different warfare scenarios.
Cover image: 'Terminator 2' - Dick Thomas Johnson
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