The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) has ordered two configurations of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) as part of its Robotic Platoon Vehicles (RPV) programme.
The RPV programme is a three-phase experiment to determine the extent to which unmanned vehicles can boost the combat effectiveness and capabilities of dismounted troops at platoon level. For Spiral 3, the programme’s final phase, the MOD chose to work with Rheinmetall Canada for the third time.
The British Army ordered four Rheinmetall Mission Master SP – Surveillance Autonomous Unmanned Ground Vehicles (A-UGV) in an Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) configuration and three Rheinmetall Mission Master SP – Cargo vehicles. The MOD had procured a total of eight Mission Master vehicles in previous phases of the programme.
The Mission Master SP is a low-profile A-UGV designed to stealthily follow soldiers anywhere. Agile and highly transportable, the Mission Master SP has a low-signature electric motor, silent drive mode, and compact profile to escape detection under threat. Like all members of the Mission Master family of A-UGVs, the Mission Master SP is powered by the PATH autonomy kit (A-kit).
Additionally, the Mission Master SP – Surveillance comes equipped with an ISTAR payload. This module supports forward and last-mile resupply missions, performs silent watch operations, and carries payloads. Built to optimise situational awareness, the ISTAR module’s sensors can be easily swapped depending on mission objectives. These sensors provide target detection, recognition, and identification at long ranges, regardless of weather and lighting conditions. The sensors also facilitate early warning and identification of chemical threats in the event of a chemical warfare.
The Mission Master SP – Cargo is designed to reduce soldiers’ combat load, improving mobility and efficiency. The A-UGV can transport supplies, tactical kits, and medical equipment either independently, in follow-me mode, or in convoy mode with other Mission Master vehicles.
The new order is scheduled to be fully delivered by the end of August of this year. It includes training, support services, and spare parts. While, the delivery of Spiral 3 will mark the end of the RPV Programme, Rheinmetall Canada said it intends to continue its involvement in the UK’s experimentation with robotic vehicles at the newly formed Expeditionary Robotic Centre of Expertise (ERCoE).
