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21 Feb 25. Milrem Robotics Partners with SteerAI to Power Unmanned Vehicles for UAE Land Forces Trial Program. Milrem Robotics, the world’s leading robotics and autonomous systems developer, has partnered with SteerAI to power a fleet of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) as part of a program designed to integrate autonomous capabilities into the UAE land forces and better meet the needs of modern warfare.
SteerAI, an Abu Dhabi-based autonomous technology company powered by the Technology Innovation Institute, will equip 20 of Milrem’s THeMIS UGVs with its advanced, AI-powered autonomy kit, called CoreX. The partnership agreement was signed this week at IDEX 2025, the Middle East’s largest defence exhibition.
SteerAI’s CoreX makes existing fleets autonomous using AI, advanced perception sensors, cameras, and Lidar. Capabilities are further enhanced with an advanced fleet management system. Platforms using CoreX can navigate complex and challenging terrains autonomously, respond to threats in hostile environments, and provide real-time intelligence to remote operators—while keeping troops out of harm’s way.
“Milrem Robotics knows very well how challenging it is to develop reliable autonomous navigation for military purposes,” said Kuldar Väärsi, the CEO of Milrem Robotics. “TII and SteerAI have done excellent work with such development, and it’s great to integrate their solution into our vehicles for UAE customers.”
“By combining our technological and industry expertise with Milrem Robotics’ cutting-edge robotic platforms, we are delivering next-generation mission execution capabilities that will ensure troops can be agile, precise, and efficient while staying safe,” said Michael Sonderby, the Acting CEO of SteerAI. “We’re looking forward to working with partners throughout the country to further position the UAE on the leading edge of defence technology.”
The UAE program, led by Milrem Robotics, is specifically designed to evaluate and integrate unmanned capabilities into the armed forces, aligning with modern warfare needs.
In this program, Milrem Robotics will integrate THeMIS UGVs, VECTOR RCVs and different unmanned aerial platforms and manned vehicles into a combined functioning combat system through Milrem’s robotics command and control suite.
20 Feb 25. Moldova receives Humvees. On 18 February the Moldovan National Army’s Military Camp 142 received a batch of 29 Humvee vehicles donated by the US government, the Moldovan Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced later the same day. The ministry said the vehicles were produced in 2024 and delivered to the Moldovan National Army in January under an USD8.9m donation through the US Foreign Military Financing programme.
The Humvees will equip the Fulger (Lightning) Special Forces Battalion in order to increase interoperability with other armies in training and exercises, according to the Moldovan MoD.
The US has donated USD90 million to modernise the Moldovan National Army over the last five years.
Meanwhile, the Swedish government proposed on 30 January to donate AT4 anti-tank weapons to Moldova, the Swedish MoD and Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on their websites on 7 February after a visit by Moldovan Minister of Defense Anatolie Nosatîi to Sweden three days before. (Source: Janes)
20 Feb 25. Milrem Robotics and Vegvisir Sign MoU to Advance UGV XR-based Situational Awareness Systems. Milrem Robotics, the world’s leading robotics and autonomous systems developer, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Vegvisir, a mixed-reality situational awareness solutions pioneer. The MoU will enhance the integration of Vegvisir systems with Milrem’s cutting-edge unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). Through this agreement, the two companies will collaborate on new projects, conduct testing and experimentation, and develop innovative use cases for their respective products and services. This partnership aims to strengthen their technical capabilities and ensure seamless compatibility between Milrem’s autonomous ground platforms and Vegvisir’s advanced vision systems.
“This partnership marks an important step in advancing the capabilities of unmanned ground vehicles and situational awareness technology,” said Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics. “By working with Vegvisir, we are reinforcing our commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions that enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness in complex environments,” he added.
Ingvar Pärnamäe, CEO of Vegvisir, expanded, “Collaborating with Milrem Robotics enables us to further develop and integrate our vision systems into industry-leading UGVs, enhancing their operational effectiveness. Our goal is to empower operators with the capability to manage everything from individual machines to entire fleets. We look forward to driving innovation and delivering next-generation solutions to global markets.
The MoU, signed on Wednesday at IDEX 2025 in Abu Dhabi, sets the stage for long-term cooperation between the two companies. It will foster innovation and technological advancements in unmanned ground systems and vision-based situational awareness.
20 Feb 25. Milrem Robotics, the world’s leading robotics and autonomous systems developer, EM&E Group, a prominent defence technology provider, and Thales in Belgium, a subsidiary of Thales a global tech leader in defence, aerospace and cyber have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly address commercial cooperation in the United Arab Emirates. This MoU provides a framework that focuses on joint innovation and robotics capability integration projects. One of the main goals of this partnership is to integrate EM&E Group’s SECUTOR Remote Weapon Station together with Thales in Belgium’s 70mm rocket systems into Milrem Robotics’ THeMIS modular unmanned ground vehicle. This integration will enhance the operational capabilities of this platform, making it more versatile and suited to meet the specific needs of the UAE, particularly in terms of drones countermeasures (C-UAS). This system will be displayed by the EDGE Group at IDEX 2025, which will be held in Abu Dhabi from 17-21 February.
The agreement also outlines opportunities for further collaborative development projects that combine the expertise of all three parties to advance cutting-edge defence solutions.
“Milrem Robotics, EM&E Group, and Thales in Belgium share a vision of leveraging our combined technological strengths to address the evolving needs for robotic systems and to build efficient defence capabilities. Through this partnership, we aim to drive innovation, strengthen regional security, and contribute to the UAE’s defence and technological capabilities,” said Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics.
“We are excited to enter into this strategic partnership, bringing together cutting-edge technologies to meet defence needs in a rapidly evolving landscape. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to advancing security and technological excellence, in keeping with the UAE’s vision for innovation in defence,” said Alain Quevrin, CEO of Thales in Belgium
“It is an honour to participate in this strategic project, which will bring together the capabilities and technologies necessary for the development of a cutting-edge system such as the Secutor Rocket. This agreement reflects our shared commitment to respond to the needs of the ever-changing Defence sector”, said Javier Escribano, President of EM&E Group.
19 Feb 25. IDEX 2025: Flyer Defense relaunches smaller special forces vehicle. The US company Flyer Defense unveiled its Flyer 60-6 ultralight tactical vehicle at the International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX) 2025 held in Abu Dhabi from 17 to 21 February. The vehicle is an improved version of the company’s Flyer 60. The most obvious difference is that it can seat up to six people, which is reflected in its name. Flyer Defense says the 60-6 has enhanced engineering and modularity as the vehicle can be rapidly converted between troop carrier, light strike, casualty evacuation, and utility roles. It retains the 60 inch (152 cm)-wide chassis, enabling it to fit inside a V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, but the new version is listed as having a 5,000 lb (2,268 kg) curb weight, which is 500 lb heavier than the original. Its gross vehicle weight is listed as 8,500 lb, 100 lb less than the original, so its payload has been reduced from 4,100 lb to 3,500 lb. Flyer Defense also displayed the Beast mobile fire-support variant of its larger Flyer 72 HD vehicle at IDEX 2025. This is fitted with the 120 mm Alakran mortar system made by the Spanish company NTGS, which uses a pneumatic system to deploy its tube from the back of the vehicle to give it a very short ‘shoot-and-scoot’ time. The Beast can carry up to 50 120 mm mortar rounds or 80 rounds when fitted with the 81 mm variant of the Alakran. (Source: Janes)
19 Feb 25. Milrem Robotics and Electro Optic Systems Sign Agreement to Advance Combat UGS Solutions. Milrem Robotics, the world’s leading robotics and autonomous systems developer, and Electro Optic Systems (EOS), a global technology leader in remote weapon systems and optical technologies, have entered into a cooperation agreement to jointly develop and integrate advanced unmanned ground systems (UGS) and payloads for military applications. This agreement, signed today at IDEX 2025 in Abu Dhabi, signifies a shared commitment to innovation. By fostering close collaboration, both companies seek to implement new projects, test and experiment with emerging use cases, and enhance the capabilities of their respective products. Both companies seek to provide cutting-edge solutions for defence forces worldwide. Key areas of focus include a mature integration and productization of EOS’ R400 remote weapon system and Milrem Robotics’ THeMIS unmanned ground vehicle, specifically for a program in the United Arab Emirates, but also its possible deployment in Ukraine and NATO countries.
“This strategic cooperation highlights Milrem Robotics’ and EOS’ commitment to advancing unmanned combat technologies and delivering superior solutions for modern battlefield operations,” said Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics. “Through continuous development and integration, both companies aim to shape the future of autonomous and remotely operated ground systems for global defence markets,” Väärsi added.
Dr Andreas Schwer, CEO of EOS, said: “EOS remains dedicated to pushing the boundaries of innovation, delivering state-of-the-art remote weapon systems that enhance the effectiveness and safety of UGV operations. Our collaboration with Milrem Robotics brings together proven capabilities, integrating the EOS R400 with the Milrem THeMIS to provide a powerful, field-ready solution. By working together, we strengthen our commitment to supporting key defence initiatives in the UAE and other strategic markets.”
The companies will include monitoring market opportunities for combat UGS across different size categories and collaboratively establishing a joint product roadmap for these systems.
ABOUT ELECTRO OPTIC SYSTEMS (ASX: EOS; OTC: EOPSY)
EOS operates in two divisions – Defence Systems and Space Systems:
- EOS Defence Systems specialises in technology for weapon systems optimisation and integration, as well as ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) and C4 systems for land warfare. Its key products include next-generation remote weapon systems, vehicle turrets, high-energy laser weapons (directed energy), as well as fully integrated and modular counter-UAS and C4 systems.
- EOS Space Systems specialises in applying EOS-developed optical sensors and effectors to detect, track and characterise objects in space. It includes capabilities in the domain of space control.
18 Feb 25. IDEX 2025: Russia pushes T-90MS main battle tank. This export variant has been upgraded, Rostec states, taking into account the range of anti-tank weapons used in Ukraine. Russia’s defence trade intermediary, Rosonboronexport, is displaying the exportable T-90MS main battle tank (MBT) at the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX 2025) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The platform, built by the Rostec subsidiary Uralvagonzavod, takes centre stage in the Russia pavilion of the exhibition. Moscow’s weary war economy will try again to tap into the Middle East as a base for its foreign military sales. Russia has already attempted to coax the UAE into its market: most notably in 2021, when Sukhoi presented a prototype of the fifth-generation Su-57 Chekmate in Dubai. Likewise, the British government’s estimates of global defence exports indicate that Russia did make the top seven exporters since 2017. However, it should be noted there is no available data for the country in the last two years. The UK expect the figures to be limited due to the invasion of Ukraine and economic sanctions.
This is not the first time that the Eurasian power has showcased the T-90MS at IDEX either, having displayed the platform in Abu Dhabi back in 2013. Now, more than a decade later, Rostec assert that the model has grown more robust in recent years:
“It is protected, taking into account the combat experience of countering the entire range of modern anti-tank weapons,” said a press release from the Russian defence exporter, referring to the invasion of Ukraine which approaches its third anniversary towards the end of this month.
Russian lessons from Ukraine
According to the open source intelligence website, Oryx, 179 T-90 MBTs (A, AK, S, and M variants) have been lost in the war.
Notably, the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies indicated the possibility that the export-build programme has been repurposed for Russia’s own conflict.
T-90s intended for the export market appear to have been diverted to be deployed in Ukraine. The Indian Army, an importer that currently operates 1,650 T-90s in 21 regiments, is waiting on the production of 400 more hulls according to GlobalData intelligence in a 2024 Indian Defence Market report.
A new design for greater protection
The MBT is visibly heavily protected: the MBT now includes explosive reactive armour; add-on slat armour; and electronic warfare equipment to jam enemy uncrewed aerial systems (UAS).
T-90MS is also equipped with a new digital fire control system, integrated command information systems, as well as increased firepower using APFSDS – air-bursting fragmentation projectiles and guided missiles.
“The general idea of our exhibit is to show Russia’s comprehensive approach to developing and upgrading all types of weapons, taking into account the experience of modern combat operations. This factor has already enabled us to sign contracts worth more than $4.5bn with 15 friendly countries in 2025,” suggested the organisation’s director, General Alexander Mikheev.
This goes for other systems in Russia’s arsenal, including the Pantsir-SMD-E air defence system with its new surface-to-air missiles. This system is designed to protected strategically valuable fixed installations from UAS. (Source: army-technology.com)
18 Feb 25. IDEX 2025: Calidus launches lighter 8×8 armoured vehicle. The Emirati company Calidus unveiled its new 8×8 light infantry fighting vehicle (LIFV) during the International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX) 2025 held in Abu Dhabi from 17 to 21 February. Petar Radulović, the director of engineering at Calidus Land Systems, told Janes that the LIFV has “huge commonality” with the Wahash 8×8 wheeled IFV that the company unveiled at IDEX 2019, although it has a significantly smaller profile, including the same engine and transmission. The LIFV does not have the IFV’s amphibious propulsion system but has the overpressure system for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) protection. Unlike the Wahash, which was designed from the outset to accommodate the two-person turret from the BMP-3 IFV, the LIFV can only be fitted with an unmanned weapon station, ensuring the smaller vehicle still has space for up to 10 soldiers in addition to a crew of three. The prototype displayed at IDEX 2025 had eight passenger seats and was fitted with the Turkish company Aselsan’s Nefer unmanned turret, which can be armed with a 25 or 30 mm main gun, a co-axial 12.7 or 7.62 mm machine gun, and optional anti-tank missiles. Radulović said the LIFV has a combat weight of 27 tonnes with the Nefer, but its gross vehicle weight (GVW) can be as high as 34 tonnes. (Source: Janes)
18 Feb 25. IDEX 2025: Updated T-90MS makes its debut with offers of licenced-production. Russian armoured vehicle manufacturer Uralvagonzavod (UVZ) debuted an updated T-90MS main battle tank (MBT) at the International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX) 2025 held in Abu Dhabi from 17 to 21 February. UVZ said the T-90MS, an export variant of the T-90M MBT, has been updated in response to feedback from the T-90M’s operational use in Ukraine. UVZ pitched licenced-production of the T-90MS as an incentive to prospective customers. It was clear from both first impressions and UVZ’s press conference that increased survivability was the main marketing focus of the updated T-90MS. The upgrades were inspired by the domestic T-90M upgrade that was first publicly seen at the Russian Armiya 2023 exhibition outside Moscow. The T-90M model at Armiya 2023 featured extensive applications of additional armour and passive defence measures. UVZ said in an IDEX 2025 press conference address that the traditional concept whereby tank protection is greatest on its frontal arc, followed by its sides, and lastly with the rear having the least priority for protection is no longer valid on today’s battlefield. As threats are increasingly able to accurately target a vehicle’s more vulnerable side and rear sections, an increase in a vehicle’s survivability hinges on addressing such vulnerabilities, the company said. (Source: Janes)
18 Feb 25. U.S. Army Tank Crew Wins International Competition for First Time. A four-man Army tank crew from the 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade, 1st Armored Division, defeated teams from four other countries over the past week to achieve the first American victory in the U.S. Army Europe and Africa International Tank Challenge. Taking place in Grafenwoehr, Germany, the competition — which first ran from 2016 to 2018 before being paused due to other competitions and the COVID-19 pandemic — comprises 10 graded events designed to measure a tank crew’s physical fitness, marksmanship and mental acuity.
“It still hasn’t fully set in for me, yet, that we managed to win this competition in the manner that it happened,” said Army Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Greene, the winning crew’s tank commander.
“The other crews that were behind and chasing … are really talented crews, and the fact that we’re the first American team to [win] on this stage is incredible,” he added.
Sponsored by the 7th Army Training Command, this year’s tank challenge hosted two teams from the U.S., as well as teams from Italy, Denmark, Slovenia and Switzerland.
Upon learning of the competition, the “Death Dealers” of 1-67 AR — who have been mobilized to Poland from Fort Bliss, Texas since last fall — took a somewhat unconventional path to build their team.
Rather than assembling a “dream team” from the battalion’s various tank crews and then making it their sole job to train for the competition, leaders looked across the battalion, searching for the most well-rounded crew, according to Army Command Sgt. Maj. John Jean, the battalion’s most senior enlisted leader.
“We looked across the entire battalion and … had a couple [of crews] in contention to go and compete, but ultimately Greene and his crew were the [most] well-rounded in terms of technical and tactical competency,” he said.
Jean said those competencies were proven by the fact that Greene and his crew went from fifth to first place in the final hours of the competition.
Battalion commander Army Lt. Col. Robert Humphrey attributes the victory to resiliency and the crew’s never-quit attitude.
“They never quit,” Humphrey said. “At 56 hours out, they were middle of the pack, and they could have just glided it out, but that wasn’t their mentality — that’s not the ‘Death Dealer’ mentality. They [were] going to finish it, and they [were] going to finish it strong.”
Greene acknowledged that his team initially got off to a slow start because it had not had much time to prepare physically after having just returned from three weeks of field exercises.
“We started off kind of slow in the first few tasks we had to accomplish, but when it came to actually getting onto the tank and doing what [the] job is — and that’s being lethal — that’s where my guys were thriving,” Greene said. Lethality is one of five focus points that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth underscored in his Jan. 25, 2025, message to the force (the others being meritocracy, accountability, standards and readiness).
“Being a combat arms guy, especially on tanks my whole career, that’s always one of our foundations: being as lethal as we can, and I think this competition attested to that ability,” Greene said.
He added that the competition demonstrated the overall readiness of tank crews like his.
“If we [have] to send troops forward again and these tanks have to go into battle, the crews are in the right mindset to be as lethal as possible, using that ‘one shot, one kill’ mindset,” he said.
As a result of their victory at the competition, Greene and his team — which also included gunner Army Sgt. Graham Parker, loader Army Spc. Donovan Lavery and driver Army Pfc. Nicolae Lawson — received Army Commendation Medals and initiation into the U.S. Cavalry and Armor Association’s Honorable Order of St. George for armored excellence. (Source: U.S. DoD)
19 Feb 25. With new MoU, GM Defense and EDGE Group’s team-up gets more ‘meat on the bone.’ GM Defense President Steve duMont told Breaking Defense the company has “been looking at this vehicle for application in the Middle East region, which is very important region for us.” American contractor GM Defense and Emirati defense conglomerate EDGE Group have announced a new agreement to explore “light tactical vehicle”-focused projects, in a move that came as the two firms put on display what one such team-up could look like: a GM Defense ride boasting an EDGE drone launcher.
“Under terms of the memorandum of understanding GM Defense, a General Motors subsidiary, would work with NIMR Automotive, an arm of EDGE, on potential opportunities,” GM Defense said in statement Tuesday, adding that it was eyeing customers in the Middle East, Africa, Malaysia and Indonesia, specifically.
“By uniting EDGE’s regional insight, operational excellence, and established infrastructure with GM Defense’s technical expertise and industry leadership, we aim to create a powerful synergy that will drive innovative projects and elevate operational capabilities across key markets,” said Khaled Al Zaabi, the president of Platforms & Systems at EDGE.
GM Defense’s exhibit at IDEX included what it calls its Next Generation Tactical Vehicle (NGTV) but with EDGE’s Hunter SP loitering munition launchers nestled in the back — the first such set-up viewed in a public setting.
In an interview with Breaking Defense, GM Defense President Steve duMont said that the MoU is “not just to bring [the NGTV] to the UAE as a product, but to bring it there as a vehicle to be produced in the region for the region’s needs, using an Emirati and regional supply chain to help us reduce the amount of transportation, bring jobs into the region, bring technology into the region.”
He highlighted that the MoU is the initial step. “We’ve had some really good discussions with UAE senior leadership for the past couple years,” he said. “This signing of the MoU kind of puts a little bit more a little bit more meat on the bone.” (Last IDEX, in 2023, GM Defense signed an MoU with the Emirati government’s Tawazun Council in an effort to expand the firm’s footprint in the region.)
Today other GM Defense representatives told Breaking Defense they expect the NGTV, which made its solo debut at the Association of the US Army conference in Washington, DC, last year, to be tested in the UAE.
“GM has plans for summer trials for this vehicle, probably won’t be in 2025, but we’re targeting probably a 2026 time frame,” Bradley Watters, vice president of international business development, told Breaking Defense. The NGTV already participated in an exercise earlier this month in Germany, which was “the first time that it had really been in a tactical environment.”
Additional trials in the Gulf will be by the “invite from the UAE [Ministry of Defense] and their general maintenance corps. But there’s a lot of interest coming from the Emirates, as well as others in that region.”
DuMont said the company has “been looking at this vehicle for application in the Middle East region, which is very important region for us, and I think there’s a lot of applications in this vehicle.”
NGTV uses diesel fuel to power a generator which then charges a battery, and “then that battery gives it that silent drive capability,” duMont said. He said this makes the vehicle quiet enough that it has the “ability to sneak up behind soldiers, and the soldiers didn’t even know there was a big truck behind them.” (Source: Breaking Defense.com)
18 Feb 25. BAE ACV is Making its Debut in the UAE. This marks a significant milestone, as the program aims at international expansion. The versatile platform is designed to operate in the most rugged and challenging terrain, making it an ideal solution for militaries around the world. “The ACV is a trailblazer for amphibious warfare, designed to have significant growth potential and the flexibility to meet mission roles of military forces around the world,” said Rebecca McGrane, vice president of Amphibious Programs, BAE Systems. “The 8×8 platform is a unique mix of true open-ocean amphibious capability and land mobility in the most challenging terrain, and we are confident we can enhance operational effectiveness for our allies.” BAE Systems leveraged its expertise and long-standing partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps to design and deliver the ACV to meet the unique requirements of modern expeditionary warfare. (Source: ASD Network)
18 Feb 25. L3Harris Robots Strike the Right Balance of Strength, Reach and Precision. Both L3Harris T7 and T4 robot arms are powerful enough to lift heavy items while maintaining the dexterity and precision to complete intricate, complex tasks during challenging missions. It’s called the Goldilocks principle – striking the perfect balance as the namesake did with porridge temperature in the children’s tale. It’s widely used in science, medicine, design, economics and even astrobiology to denote ideal measures or outcomes.
With robotic systems, that balance is between strength and reach versus precision and dexterity. And the L3Harris T7 and T4 robots are the Goldilocks of robotics systems, achieving the right balance of powerful lift strength, unmatched dexterity, precision and reach. The large T7’s manipulator arm is able to lift up to 249-pound (113-kilogram) payloads with ease, with a vertical reach that extends as far as 9.8 feet (3 meters).
Built to enable big robot capability in a compact footprint, the medium-sized T4 provides the best available lift strength and reach for its weight class, lifting up to 121 pounds (55 kilograms) and reaching 8.2 feet (2.5 meters) vertically. The T4’s unique omni-directional and self-righting stabilizers further bolster this capability by enabling lateral stability for tasks that require heavy lifting.
Functional Strength Through Unrivalled Dexterity
In addition to their powerful lift and reach capabilities, T7 and T4 also provide functional strength with exceptional, human-like dexterity made possible by L3Harris’ unique intuitive haptic controller. The precision and versatility enabled by this controller is especially important for complex explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) missions, not only ensuring operators can pick up heavy explosive threats but gain access to and defeat these threats in hard-to-reach places.
Capable of lifting a 110-pound (50-kilogram) drum from a car trunk or retrieving unexploded artillery rounds, T7 can also easily move its manipulator arm through car windows to reach concealed threats. In addition to navigating narrow spaces such as trains and buses with ease, T4’s sizeable reach enables it to fire disruptors at devices stowed away on high shelves or luggage racks. T4’s manipulator arm is also agile enough to access low places such as the underside of cars or drainage pipes underneath roads to check for explosive threats.
Getting to Grips with Haptic Force Feedback
What really sets the T7 and T4’s manipulator arms apart are their unique force-sensing grippers. Exceedingly strong and robustly designed, the gripper can withstand a lot of abuse while still remaining incredibly adept. It provides high fidelity measurements of the contract forces encountered by the fingers, enabling haptic force feedback to the operator controlling it, allowing them to “feel” what the robot is feeling as it tackles different tasks. Depending on the need, the manipulator arm and gripper can act as anything from a highly dextrous scalpel to a powerful sledgehammer.
To truly gain the benefit of full, end-to-end robotic capability, it’s important to ensure systems achieve the right combination of strength, reach and dexterity aligned with mission requirements. L3Harris’ cutting-edge capability received a lot of interest and proved a significant talking point at Vanguard 2024, an annual capstone experiment hosted in the Arizona desert by the U.S. Army. Learn more about why our T7 and T4 robotic systems are trusted by world-leading EOD experts all over the globe. (Source: ASD Network)
18 Feb 25. Foxhound can resist IEDs and mines – but no planned date to leave Army service. Troop protection vehicles have been around for many years and advances in technology and better design have meant they can go further, faster and more places than ever before. The Foxhound was brought into service as a replacement for the Snatch Land Rover used in Northern Ireland and Iraq – after many servicemen and women lost their lives in what troops nicknamed the “mobile coffin”. Composite materials inspired by those used in Formula One were used to make the Foxhound’s protective pod, and the whole production line was modelled on the highly flexible ones used in racing – where to beat opposition teams, new developments need to be designed and implemented quickly. The Foxhound is similar to the Jackal in that it is a four-wheeled vehicle with protection against IEDs and resistance to mines, although its protection is in part a function of its unique V-shaped hull that deflects the force of any blast away from the vehicle. Also known as the Force Protection Ocelot, it is a kind of MRAP, or Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle. Foxhound has an attached GPMG and can carry six soldiers – a crew of two as well as four passengers – within its rear pod. These pods are modular and can be rotated in and out based on the mission requirements, just like a Boxer. The Foxhound’s pods are designed for utility, weapons carrying, command and logistics roles. Classed by the British Army as an LPPV, or Light Protected Patrol Vehicle, it is designed to provide better protection against mines and Improvised explosive devises (IEDs), and it first appeared in Afghanistan in 2012. Each vehicle weighs 7,500 kg and costs around £900,000. Additionally, the vehicle can be mounted with an L7A2 General Purpose Machine Gun, or GPMG, allowing the Foxhound to provide fire support when required. As well as patrolling in Afghanistan, the Foxhound has been fully integrated into British Army service and has proven itself to be a reliable vehicle. It has been seen on the road in Kosovo, off road with 3 Rifles and away on exercises like Steadfast Defender and Steadfast Dart. However, some of the military’s hardware, including the Foxhound, has been earmarked for the scrapheap. Up to 19 different British military vehicle variants are set to be scrapped, according to the Ministry of Defence. Responding to written questions in February 2024, the then-Defence Procurement Minister, James Cartlidge, said the Army vehicles and aircraft would be removed from service by 2030. (Source: forces.net)
18 Feb 25. Hanwha Aerospace and Milrem Robotics Sign MoU to Advance Global Ground Robotics Initiatives. Milrem Robotics, the world’s leading developer of robotics and autonomous systems, and Hanwha Aerospace Co., Ltd, a leading, global aerospace and defence company, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the development and global marketing of Robotic Combat Vehicles (RCV) and other ground robotic systems. As part of this strategic partnership, Milrem Robotics and Hanwha Aerospace will cooperate to develop tracked RCVs to meet the performance requirements of initial customers. By combining their expertise, the two companies aim to enhance the vehicle’s capabilities to support mechanized units effectively. Additionally, Milrem Robotics and Hanwha Aerospace will jointly execute global marketing campaigns to promote the RCV and other ground robotics solutions. By leveraging their respective networks and market knowledge, both companies will work to expand the reach and adoption of their advanced robotic solutions across international markets.
“Our collaboration with Hanwha aims to accelerate the development of cutting-edge robotic solutions that meet the evolving needs of modern armed forces, combining Milrem Robotics’ innovative technologies with Hanwha’s extensive experience in defence systems,” said Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics.
“As Hanwha grows internationally, we seek to bring our technology, speed, and industrial strengths and partner with innovative companies to rapidly address emergent requirements. This collaboration on robotic and autonomous combat systems leverages the expertise and capabilities from Milrem and Hanwha Aerospace,” said Michael Coulter, President & CEO (nominee) of Hanwha Global Defense, overseeing international aerospace and defence businesses for Hanwha Aerospace and other affiliates. “Through this collaboration, we intend to bring new capability and capacity to address rapidly evolving combat environments.”
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TEK Military Seating Limited
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From its inception ProTEK seats have been designed around a family of innovative seat frames onto which tested and certified modules can be fitted to create a bespoke solution for the user. These include Blast protection to Stanag 4569 standards, vibration reduction, head and body protection, seat risers and turntables, fore & aft adjustment, and seat back rake along with viable seat dimensions without the need for additional tooling costs.
Contact: Paul Fleming
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