Army pushes battlefield robotics as autonomous UGVs reshape frontline ops

The British Army has awarded a contract to ARX Robotics UK to manufacture autonomous ground systems in the UK, as it looks to grow its adoption of robotic and autonomous capabilities.

ARX Robotics' systems are widely deployed in Ukraine and have been integrated into Nato and Joint Expeditionary Force exercises.

The uncrewed and autonomous systems can support reconnaissance, logistics, force protection, route clearance, and casualty evacuation in contested environments. 

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Modernising the UK's land forces 

The contract, which was given through task force Rapstone, will see the firm deliver an initial order of UK-manufactured Gereon uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs) equipped with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance payloads, alongside technical support to enhance the Army's recce-strike experimentation activity. 

"The British Army's adoption of autonomous ground systems is a clear signal that the UK is serious about modernising its land forces and staying ahead of our adversaries," Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard said. 

"ARX Robotics' decision to begin manufacturing in the UK is exactly the kind of investment we want to see."

The British Army and the European robotics firm have been working together for months, during which the UGVs were put to the test in trials and operational experiments. 

The trials in Kenya and the Baltics saw the UGVs demonstrate how they can keep soldiers out of danger, improve situational awareness and speed up decision-making in difficult operations. 

Uncrewed systems increasingly important to land warfare

The robots are designed to combine with existing military systems and can be integrated with several mission payloads supporting systems for combat, electronic warfare, and counter-UAS. 

"As Armed Forces across Nato seek to increase mass, survivability and operational tempo, uncrewed systems are becoming an increasingly important component of modern land warfare," David Roberts, ARX Robotics UK's chief executive officer, said.

"Uncrewed systems can deliver significant operational value at lower cost than traditional crewed platforms, while reducing risk to personnel and enabling rapid upgrades as technology evolves.

"The rapid delivery of UK-manufactured platforms also demonstrates how new defence technology companies can work alongside the Army to bring capability into service faster."

The company has invested in the UK to help build up to 1,800 robotic vehicles each year.

ARX Robotics is a defence technology company that creates software-defined UGVs, and its technology is already in use in several unnamed European armed forces. 

Task force Rapstone is a British Army initiative intended to accelerate the delivery of new equipment and technology.