10 Unmanned Ground Vehicles Being Developed and Tested Around the World

April 1, 2024

Unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), robot combat vehicles or autonomous vehicles, no matter what you call them, are increasingly being developed, prototyped and tested for future use in autonomous and teaming operations or scenarios with manned vehicles. In the U.S., the Army has expressed growing interest in UGVs, after recently selecting four companies to develop robotic combat vehicle prototypes for a variety of future use cases.

Interest in new UGV technology is also growing around the world. Last year, the U.K. Ministry of Defense (MOD) held its first ever trial of heavy UGVs, Estonia hosted a large international test of UGVs and Australia ended the year with several weeks of a major robotic combat vehicle exercise. This article provides updates on some of the latest prototyping, development, purchasing and deployment of 10 new military UGVs.

General Dynamics Land Systems

TRX SHORAD

General Dynamics first unveiled the Tracked Robot 10-ton (TRX) Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD) variant in March 2023, prior to the Army selecting them as one of four companies/teams competing to win its Robot Combat Vehicle (RCV) contract that seeks to deploy UGVs teamed with manned vehicle units by 2028. The variant unveiled in March 2023 adds increased counter UAS (C-UAS) capability to the demonstrator that GDLS previously launched in October 2020. TRX SHORAD is also capable of autonomously launching and receiving small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The original non-SHORAD version of the TRX was selected for the first phase of the Army’s RCV program, and GDLS is currently designing and building two prototypes of the modular TRX. GDLS describes the UGV as featuring “lightweight materials and a hybrid-electric propulsion system” that is being developed for several different use cases including indirect fire, autonomous resupply, complex obstacle breaching, C-UAS, and electronic warfare (EW) among others.

HDT Global

WOLF-X

WOLF-X is the prototype UGV from a team that includes HDT Global as the lead vehicle developer, BAE Systems as the armament and situational awareness provider, and McQ Inc. — a Virginia-based defense electronics manufacturer — as the prime contractor. The 8×8 wheeled UGV is capable of being transported in a CH-47F. Powered by a hybrid diesel-electric system, WOLF-X also features a lithium ion battery and can be configured with an MK44 30 mm chain gun and enhanced armor. Team HDT is one of the four developers selected to participate in the Army’s RCV program, with a WOLF-X prototype scheduled for delivery to the Army for test and evaluation this year.

Textron Systems Corp.

RIPSAW M3

Textron Systems is the lead developer of the RIPSAW M3, and also one of the four prototype vehicles selected for the Army’s RCV program. The company partnered with Howe & Howe and Teledyne FLIR on the development of M3, a variant of the RIPSAW M5 system first launched by Textron in 2019. The Army has completed over 2,000 miles durability testing with the RIPSAW family since 2020, and describes all RIPSAW variants as featuring a basic flat-top deck configuration with an open architecture design and common chassis. RIPSAW is also designed with a size that fits inside of a CH-47F, and has 85 feet of deck space for payload configuration, and a 1,200-horsepower hybrid electric powertrain according to details released by Textron Systems. During AUSA 2023, Textron exhibited a version of the M3 demonstrator featuring a Kongsberg RS6 weapons system and a Javelin missile launching system. The company is developing a RIPSAW prototype for delivery to the Army later this year.

Oshkosh Defense, LLC

Oshkosh RCV

Oshkosh Defense is collaborating with Pratt Miller Defense and QinetiQ on the development of two different prototype robotic combat vehicles as part of the Army’s RCV program. The company displayed both variants during the 2023 AUSA Conference. One of the variants was equipped with a Kongsberg RS6 remote weapon station, L3 Smoke Obscuration Module, LW 30x113 mm cannon, and a Switchblade 300 loitering munitions/UAS launcher system from AeroVironment. The second variant featured the Kongsberg CROWS-J equipped with an M2 .50 caliber machine gun and the Hoverfly Tethered Unmanned Aerial System (TeUAS). Oshkosh is on track to deliver two prototypes for testing to the Army in August.

Team Lynx

XM30

Team Lynx is led by American Rheinmetall Vehicles (ARV), and includes Alison Transmission, Anduril Industries, L3 Harris, Raytheon and Textron Systems. The group was selected to design in July 2023 the prototype XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle to serve as the U.S. Army’s Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle. XM30 will replace the M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle and is the Army’s first ground combat vehicle designed using new digital engineering tools and techniques. XM30 is not expected to be operational as a fully unmanned vehicle in its initial deployment, according to a June 2023 media briefing given by Army acquisition leader Doug Bush. According to details about the XM30 released by Raytheon, the vehicle is being designed to be operated with two crew members and a third “virtual crew member, who will scan an area, identify potential threats and notify the crew.” The Army is now in the third phase of prototyping for the XM30 program and estimates its first unit could be equipped with a field-ready XM30 by 2029.

Milrem Robotics

THeMIS

Established in 2013, Milrem Robotics is a Tallinn, Estonia-based robotics supplier that first introduced its THeMIS UGV in 2019, when the prototype was subsequently acquired for testing by Thailand’s Army and Defence Technology Institute. THeMIS is eight feet long and has a height of three feet with a chassis that can carry up to 1.3 tons. Milrem’s power options for THeMIS include a diesel engine and electric generator as well as a lead acid or lithium-ion battery. Its run time on electric power is up to 1.5 hours, and Milrem has developed logistics, combat, ISR and EOD configurations of THeMIS. The U.S. is one of 16 total countries that have acquired the THeMIS UGV for testing and evaluation purposes. The company has also delivered 15 THeMIS UGVs to Ukraine to support logistics, casualty evacuation and route clearance operations.

Israel Aerospace Industries

Rex MK II

First unveiled by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) subsidiary ELTA Systems Ltd. (ELTA) in September 2021, REX MK II is an all-wheel drive hybrid electric powered UGV that can carry up to 1.3 tons. According to IAI, Rex MK II also features remotely controlled weapons systems, including a 7.62 mm machine gun and a .50 caliber heavy machine gun. The multi-mission vehicle can operate completely autonomously with command and control or remotely controlled by an operator. IAI also notes that two Rex vehicles can be transported inside of a single V-22 Osprey. One of the most recent updates around Rex MK II came when it demonstrated manned-unmanned teaming capability in an exercise with BAE Systems last year. The U.K.’s MOD is one of several international customers that has purchased the Rex MK II.

Elbit Systems

ROBUST

Jointly developed as a technology demonstrator by Elbit Systems and the Israel Ministry of Defense, the Robotic Autonomous Sense and Strike (ROBUST) UGV was first unveiled in October 2022. The 6×6 vehicle is equipped with a 30 mm autonomous turret, an active protection system, a robotic autonomy kit, and a built-in robotic arm for receiving and launching drones. Last year, ROBUST began testing and demonstration exercises including a trial organized by the U.K. MOD’s Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) division for UGVs weighing over 5.5 tons. The vehicle can be remotely controlled and has a turret equipped with a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun and pintle-mounted 7.62 mm machine gun, according to details released by Elbit. No timeline has been provided by Elbit for when ROBUST will be ready for deployment and operation.

Rheinmetall

Autonomous Combat Warrior Wiesel

German aerospace and defense manufacturer Rheinmetall unveiled the Autonomous Combat Warrior variant of its Wiesel ground vehicle in December 2021. The vehicle can be remotely controlled by a tablet, and the company added the unmanned capability to its Wiesel family of ground vehicles using its “PATH A-Kit.” According to Rheinmetall, the A-Kit is a navigation system that enables full autonomous navigation through a combination of advanced sensors, algorithms, and real-time data analysis. The vehicle’s autonomous mode is enabled by programming waypoints for it to navigate between on a tablet. Rheinmetall has released very few details about the robotic vehicle since its 2021 launch, although it did participate in the U.K.’s 2023 heavy UGV trial.

Hanwha

Arion-SMET

Korean aerospace and defense manufacturer Hanwha’s Autonomous and Robotic Systems for Intelligence Off-road Navigation – Small Multi-purpose Equipment Transport (Arion-SMET) is a six-wheeled all-electric vehicle that can drive up to 62 miles and carry up to 1,200 pounds in payload. Hanwha developed Arion-SMET to support infantry operations, such as ammunition transport, medical evacuation, reconnaissance, and fire support. In December 2023, the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, and Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Korea participated in a Foreign Comparative Test (FCT) to evaluate the Arion-SMET’s ability to navigate over a variety of terrains, heavy equipment transportation, soldier following and remote-controlled driving. The Marine Corps has not yet fielded a UGV, and is currently defining its requirements for the technology.

This article was written by Woodrow Bellamy, Senior Editor, SAE Media Group, (New York, NY).