Записки эстонского Бандеровца

Estonian defence company Milrem will be unveiling the prototype of the first hybrid unmanned multi-mission tracked vehicle in the world at this year’s leading defence and security event DSEI.

The unmanned vehicle developed by Milrem is intended to assist or take the place of humans in life-threatening situations such as war, crisis situations, high risk working environments as well as places that are difficult to access.

Compared to other UGV platforms, the innovation behind Milrem’s UGV lies in the track system where all the necessary components are placed inside the track system, leaving the middle platform free for different applications. This enables using the platform for multi-mission superstructures.

Weighing only 750 kg with a payload of 500 kg, the UGV can be used as a remote weapon station, remote observation and sensor vehicle, transport platform for the wounded and many other functions that can pass through any terrain imaginable, be it snow, sand or swamp.

The vehicle will be developed to be operated remotely or autonomously.

“Most of the unmanned solutions created so far are intended to perform one specific task, i.e. small bomb robots. The UGV concept that Milrem has developed is universal and will effectively supplement defence capabilities on a battalion level,” said Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem. “Unmanned ground vehicles will be a big part of the modernisation of military capabilities in the next 5 to 10 years,” he added.

The UGV has been developed in cooperation with the Estonian Ministry Of Defence and the Estonian Defence Forces. Milrem is also cooperating with different universities and companies in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, including Tallinn University of Technology, University of Tartu, Estonian National Defence College and Lithuanian Center for Physical Sciences and Technology. Milrem is a member of the Estonian Defence Industry Association.