Latest news with #BrunoBaratz
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
France Wants to Roll Out Robot Army by 2040
Though armed conflict is becoming increasingly rare as the decades go by, global military spending is rising sharply with each passing year, reaching unprecedented numbers in the history of warfare. Much of that spending is fueled by the rise of the military tech industry. Between 2021 and 2023, venture capital firms pumped $100 billion into military tech startups in the US alone, hoping to snag lucrative contracts for everything from high-powered counter-UAV systems to deadly drone swarms. With so many startups and defense conglomerates pitching all kinds of buzzy hardware, it's getting pretty difficult to predict what the future of warfare is going to look like. That isn't stopping countries like France from taking a guess, however. General Bruno Baratz, commander of future combat programs for the French Army, recently announced the country's intent to deploy robot warriors to the front lines as soon as 2028. "We hope to have something fairly evolved within three years, with the first ground robot capabilities ready to equip our forces," Baratz said at a military robotics exercise near Paris. Baratz added that the French government anticipates "deploying evolved systems with practical utility to our combat elements well ahead of 2040," referencing a target date for robot deployment set back in 2021. That decision was part of a call by French military leaders to prepare for "high-intensity warfare" by upgrading equipment, increasing army reserves, outsourcing to private contractors, and investing in high-tech drone and robotics programs. At the military robotics trials, Barrons reports that unmanned units sporting legs, treads, and wheels navigated obstacles and dodged traps meant to emulate battlefield conditions. The French army anticipates deploying the robo-units for a range of tasks, from surveillance to remote repair work to mine clearing. "Now we need to prove [the robots] can be more effective when they come into contact with an adversary," said French general Tony Maffeis, head of the army's technical branch. "The robot must facilitate combat, not hold it back." Though France points to the Russian-Ukraine war as a reason to embrace high-tech hardware, president Emmanuel Macron recently affirmed that France would not be sending troops to the conflict — raising the important question of what, exactly, its robot army will be used for. The European superpower is currently withdrawing troops from deployments in formerly colonized African countries like Chad, Niger, and Burkina Faso, which some critics warn is a smokescreen for France to return to the kinds of covert schemes its military has come to be known for across the continent. France has previously employed tactics like economic warfare in Guinea, drone espionage in the Central African Republic, and high-tech arms transfers to the oil-rich nation of Guyana, to name a few. It's anyone's guess how France will deploy its cutting-edge military tech going forward, but it's hard to imagine it'll be sitting in a warehouse gathering dust. More on military robots: Senior Pentagon Official: New Plan Is to Invest in "Autonomous Killer Robots"
Local France
07-05-2025
- Business
- Local France
French army hopes for combat-ready robots by 2040
'We hope to have something fairly evolved within three years, with the first ground robot capabilities ready to equip our forces,' said the army's commander of future combat, General Bruno Baratz. At the recent competition event over several weeks – the third such exercise since the armed forces set the 2040 target four years ago – robots fitted with legs, wheels, and treads navigated obstacles and evaded traps at a base west of Paris to test their ability to hold ground against enemy forces. From surveillance to mine clearing, robots are 'already very useful for protecting our units', said General Tony Maffeis, the head of the army's technical branch, during the Collaboration-Man-Machine (CoHoMa) challenge. 'Now we need to prove they can be more effective when they come into contact with an adversary,' he said. 'The robot must facilitate combat, not hold it back,' Maffeis added, underscoring the challenges that still stand in the way of deploying robots into the field, especially navigating rough terrain. A competition like this 'allows us to get out of the lab and tackle a realistic mission,' said Baptiste Lepelletier, one of the participants. The French army has explored the use of ground robots since 2021, but the war in Ukraine, where drones – cheaper and more abundant – are reshaping warfare, has enormously accelerated their evolution. 'Ground robotics is booming in Ukraine, but it's still complex and less developed, so it's important to explore what practical uses they could have,' said army chief of staff General Pierre Schill. Advertisement One problem is that they cannot operate effectively without aerial drones to guide them. French defence firm Thales brought one robot that features a launch pad for a drone that scouts for obstacles and maps a route. The military said it has already incorporated some developments from two previous CoHoMa challenges but sees even bigger changes in the next few years. But before they are used in combat, the first applications will be in logistics, with drone convoys or robotic mules carrying gear.
Straits Times
07-05-2025
- Straits Times
French army hopes for combat-ready robots by 2040
A French Army soldier wearing a "Ronin" testing helmet trains with an HK416 assault rifle, during the CoHoMa challenge in Beynes, west of Paris, on May 7. PHOTO: AFP BEYNES, France - France's armed forces are on schedule to develop battle-ready robots by 2040, according to participants in a test bringing together the military with engineers, researchers and defence contractors. 'We hope to have something fairly evolved within three years, with the first ground robot capabilities ready to equip our forces,' said the army's commander of future combat, General Bruno Baratz. At the recent competition event over several weeks – the third such exercise since the armed forces set the 2040 target four years ago – robots fitted with legs, wheels, and treads navigated obstacles and evaded traps at a base west of Paris to test their ability to hold ground against enemy forces. From surveillance to mine clearing, robots are 'already very useful for protecting our units', said General Tony Maffeis, the head of the army's technical branch, during the Collaboration-Man-Machine (CoHoMa) challenge. 'Now we need to prove they can be more effective when they come into contact with an adversary,' he said. 'The robot must facilitate combat, not hold it back,' Gen Maffeis added, underscoring the challenges that still stand in the way of deploying robots into the field - especially when it comes to navigating rough terrain. A competition like this 'allows us to get out of the lab and tackle a realistic mission,' said Mr Baptiste Lepelletier, one of the participants. Robotics 'booming' in Ukraine The French army has explored the use of ground robots since 2021, but the war in Ukraine, where drones – cheaper and more abundant – are reshaping warfare, has enormously accelerated their evolution. 'Ground robotics is booming in Ukraine, but it's still complex and less developed, so it's important to explore what practical uses they could have,' said army chief of staff Pierre Schill. A CoHoMa participant giving a demonstration of an experimental combat robot. PHOTO: AFP One problem is that they cannot operate effectively without aerial drones to guide them. French defence firm Thales brought one robot that features a launch pad for a drone that scouts for obstacles and maps a route. The military said it has already incorporated some developments from two previous CoHoMa challenges but sees even bigger changes in the next few years. But before they are used in combat, the first applications will be in logistics, with drone convoys or robotic mules carrying gear. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
For military staff across Europe, wargaming is all the rage
Once dismissed as frivolous, wargames have emerged as crucial strategic tools amid rising global tensions. A recent simulation at Paris's École Militaire, where 500 participants played out high-intensity conflict scenarios, reflects a growing international trend toward gamified military preparedness. Every person in the packed conference hall stands up as two French soldiers greet each other onstage with a military salute. Major General Bruno Baratz approaches the lectern and speaks into the microphones. 'We are running five minutes behind schedule,' he says with a grin. 'There was a queue to get in.' On the podium from which he speaks are the words 'Jeu de guerre' (Wargame), with the theme of the day written below. It is the year 2035 and France is on the brink of war. A handful of young participants sit at a table in the middle of the stage. A map of central and eastern Europe is splayed across the top, littered with green and red markers. Sliding scales at the bottom of the map represent France's economic, diplomatic, military power and political stability. Then, a fictional news bulletin plays on the projector overhead, upping the stakes. Russian troops have reached the borders of Poland and the Baltic States. China is about to invade Taiwan. And while Europe holds its breath, France enters defence stage three – two steps below full-blown war. The event – organised by Future Combat Command (CCF), a branch of the French Armed Forces tasked with responding to new military threats, alongside two youth organisations – was a hit. France has only recently embraced the use of wargames as a serious military tool. Read more on FRANCE 24 EnglishRead also:Twenty-four hours in Ukraine's Kharkiv, where life goes on despite the warBaltic region prepares for war as Russia and US debate Ukraine's fate
