Milrem Robotics Introduce New Combat UGV with Leonardo RWS
Estonian manufacturer Milrem Robotics has unveiled a new UGV (Unmanned Ground Vehicle). Which utilizes their THeMIS UGV along with the HITROLE Light Remote Weapon Station, developed by Italian aerospace, defense, and security manufacturer Leonardo.
A recent Milrem press release details the configuration of the new UGV, noting it’s role is to provide direct fire support for manoeuvre units and act as a force multiplier. The HITROLE Light Remote Weapon System (RWS) can be fitted with either a 7.62x51mm or a 12.7mm machine gun or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher. Targeting of the RWS is assisted by AI functions for ‘acquisition, recognition prioritization and tracking’. Milrem explain that the UGV can “provide the capability to perform multi-role tasks like surveillance, patrolling, border security, counter-sniper and asymmetric missions,” but stressed that “engagement of the target is always done by a human operator.”
Kuldar Vääsri, CEO of Milrem, further described the deal between the two companies:
‘The THeMIS has proven to be the most popular and suitable robotic mobility platform for RWS integrations. Our cooperation with Leonardo and the integration of HITROLE® represent the next crucial steps in this journey. Together with Leonardo, we can offer a highly capable robotic combat system to the Italian Army and customers worldwide. This will significantly enhance warfighting capabilities and, even more importantly, contribute to troop safety’
The Leonardo HITROLE is the latest in a long line of weapon systems to be integrated with the THeMIS. Other armed THeMIS configurations include a variant armed with the ADDER RWS from Singapore Engineering Land Systems, the PROTECTOR RWS from KONGSBERG, the deFNder from FN Herstal, the GUARDIAN 2.0 by Escribano Mechanical & Engineering, the loitering munition launcher Hero-120 by UVision and the heavy 30mm autocannon R400S-MK2-D-HD from EOS.
UGVs allow its users to increase their force protection and stand-off distance by putting less troops on the ground in the face of enemy fire. The THeMIS UGV is a multi-role unmanned system that is already in use in various configurations by 16 countries across the globe which includes 8 NATO member nations, including the UK, India, and Estonia. In November 2022, 14 unarmed variants of the UGV were also sent to Ukraine in a deal between Milrem and German defence company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann. However, so far the UGVs have not been seen in use during the conflict.