Kuldar Väärsi: We have seen a huge change: at DSEI 2015, THeMIS was the only combat UGV on display – today there are multiple solutions at exhibitions and in experiments. There has been a change in mentality – combat UGVs are no longer perceived as killer robots, but as tools to keep troops safe. We are not proposing handing control over weapons to AI – weapons will always remain fully under human control. AI merely supports the UGV’s autonomous mobility. I believe Milrem Robotics is currently the most experienced developer of combat UGVs. We are part of multiple assessment programmes around the globe – the common factor is the extent of the surprise when armies realise just how much they increase unit capability – especially for small units. The benefits come from higher firepower and mobility and, most of all, through changing tactics. UGVs are not just another gadget – they actually enhance tactics. The demand for UGVs for military applications is influenced by current technology trends, as well as the increasing attention paid to unmanned assets in the most recent conflicts, including Mali and Ukraine. MilTech recently had the opportunity to gain an insight into the market in an interview with Kuldar Väärsi, founder and CEO of Milrem Robotics. MilTech: How do you view the European market for UGVs? Will the current trend impact demand? Kuldar Väärsi: It certainly will. In the coming years, the European UGV market will move from experimentation to deployment phase – so quantities will grow significantly. We might expect batches of 100-500 to be deployed, depending on the size of the army. The current global security situation supports that very clearly. First, nobody wants the numbers of casualties we are seeing in Ukraine: UGVs offer the best solution for avoiding casualties. Second, we have seen the efficiency of UAVs in Ukraine – how they have been integrated into tactics in a very sophisticated manner. UGVs will offer similar capabilities in near future. MilTech: From your experience promoting THeMIS and Type-X – is the attitude to UGVs in future warfare changing? Marco Giulio Barone The Continuing Evolutions of UGVs Interview with Milrem Robotics (Photo: Milrem) 76 · MT 3/2022 Interview The THeMIS UGV was extensively tested in the harsh conditions of operations in Mali. (Photo: Milrem)
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM5Mjg=