Latest news with #RoboticCombatVehicle
Business Insider
4 days ago
- Business Insider
Operators say Ukraine's ground robots are great combat tools — just not for scouting in the grass
Ukraine is increasingly using ground robots to fight against Russia's invasion. One function is to gather intelligence, but an operator said they don't excel at this. The camera can be easily blocked by things like grass. Ukrainian troops sometimes use ground robots to scout out Russian forces, but an operator says terrain and vegetation can end up making them more trouble than they're worth, especially when flying drones are available. Ukraine is increasingly using robots for roles like firing on Russian targets, evacuating wounded soldiers, and blowing up nearby Russian positions. Another function is gathering intelligence through the onboard cameras on where Russian troops and equipment are. much like the drones buzzing overhead do. Oleksandr Yabchanka, the head of the robotic systems for Ukraine's Da Vinci Wolves Battalion, told Business Insider that the ground drones play a less significant role in intelligence-gathering compared to the airborne drones. Drones in the sky have a bigger, wider perspective, and they are often far above the ground, allowing them to better avoid obstacles. The ground robots' cameras let a user see the battlefield as well, but it's from the perspective of something that might only be a couple of feet off the ground. The problem is that "once you get into the grass, you can't see anything," Yabchanka said. Tall grass, overgrown fields, and other vegetation aren't the only challenges, though. Ukraine's winters are harsh, and grass is often be replaced by mud and snow that can leave its ground robots, like other vehicles, exposed to Russia's eyes in the sky and potential drone strikes. The US Army recently opted to abandon its Robotic Combat Vehicle program amid some of these concerns. Yabchanka described the role that ground robots can play in gathering intelligence as "just kind of a crummy, very, very tiny role." He said that the robots can sometimes spot Russian assets that are hidden in the trees and can't be easily seen by drones in the sky. But he called cases like those "an exception." A growing robot army The ground robots that Ukraine is using range from huge machines that can carry humans to smaller ones that can sneak up on Russian positions. They offer Ukraine's smaller army options as it battles Russia's invasion. Like other uncrewed systems, though, there are limitations. When ground robots are used to evacuate wounded soldiers, for example, these systems can sometimes get disconnected due to a fault or Russian jamming, creating "an even worse situation" for the soldier that may have been holed up somewhere. Now they're exposed, Yabchanka said. Instead of being with any of their comrades, "they are in the middle of a field." The drawbacks aside, these drones bring real benefits as well. Yabchanka said that they are good at carrying heavy gear. For attacks, they can carry far more explosives than the airborne drones, they carry heavy weaponry for combat, and they can also lay mines faster and safer than a human can. The small ones, in particular, can infiltrate Russian bunkers and other positions, accessing places other equipment and humans simply can't reach. They can be equipped with weapons like grenades and machine guns for fire on Russian targets while Ukraine's soldiers stay safe. And in carrying out these missions, the ground robots can still collect intelligence, even if that's not the primary function. An improving technology Battlefield utility for ground robots could improve further as the tech continues growing and adapting. Iterative development is moving quickly as the tech is tested in the field. Many Ukrainian and Western companies are making ground combat robots for the fight, innovating constantly based on how they are performing in battle. Yabchanka said consistent innovation is necessary for this fight, as "what was up to date and relevant half a year ago is not up to date and relevant anymore." He said things move so fast that soldiers themselves are upgrading the robots on the front lines, making changes to how the robots are set up or attaching new types of weaponry or talking to the manufacturers by phone to make requests for future changes to the robots. Ukraine's soldiers are increasingly finding new ways to use the robots, even in ways that surprise manufacturers. More and more of these drones are entering the fight, with the ground beginning to mirror the situation in the sky. Aerial drones are being used far more in this war than in any other conflict in history, and most of Russia's front-line losses are caused by drones. There are often so many drones in the sky that soldiers cannot tell which side any belong to. And now drone warfare is expanding. Ground robots are not entirely new to warfare, but the scale and variety of uses in Ukraine is marking a new era for the machines. Many of the robots use AI, allowing Ukrainian soldiers to stay in safer positions while the robots, to a certain extent, operate with a degree of autonomy. Western militaries and industries are also developing ground robots for their own arsenals, with many countries watching the war for lessons in modern warfare amid the growing warnings Russia could attack beyond Ukraine. Russia, too, is developing ground combat robots and using the systems in Ukraine. Yabchanka said that he wanted European industry to work closely with Ukraine, given its firsthand experience. He said that "whatever is required on our end is at your service." He said that while Ukraine has experience, Europe has "more resources than Russia," so deepening cooperation is a win-win. He urged European industry and leaders to further deepen their increasing collaboration with Ukraine. "The manufacturers, developers, and military personnel all stand ready for cooperation. Just come along; we'll deliver training and whatever else is necessary."
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The US Army's done with Humvees and the Robotic Combat Vehicles. Here's what leaders want instead.
The US Army is taking a hard look at what systems and platforms it doesn't need for future conflicts. The Army secretary and a top general gave BI some insight into this process. The service is undergoing a major transformation initiative after a directive earlier this year. US Army leaders say Humvees and Robotic Combat Vehicles aren't useful for future fights, but the Infantry Squad Vehicle is. Ongoing decisions about what stays and what goes are part of a larger transformation initiative that has the Army reviewing its force structure and cutting certain programs it deems no longer necessary for the kinds of wars the US military wants to be ready to fight should worse come to worst. Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll and Gen. James Rainey, the commanding general overseeing Army Futures Command, talked to Business Insider about some of what is getting axed and why. Driscoll pointed to the Robotic Combat Vehicle, or RCV, program, which launched in 2019 with the goal of integrating autonomous and remotely operated capabilities into the Army's ground systems. Three versions were initially planned — an expendable light variant, a durable medium variant, and a lethal heavy variant designed for combat against an enemy armored vehicle. But the development of the RCV hit snags. "We know we need autonomy, we know that we need the ability to move things in a way that is not controlled by human beings," Driscoll said. But the requirements the Army put together for it ended up making it just this "incredibly large, incredibly heavy, incredibly expensive, relatively exquisite tool," he said. By the time the Army went to purchase them, the threats to the RCV, like small, hostile drones, had grown substantially. In Ukraine, slow, heavy, expensive vehicles have been prime targets for cheap exploding drones. "It might have been there in the beginning and we got it wrong from the very beginning," he said, "but at a minimum, by the time it came due for us actually purchase a lot of these and get them into formations, it just no longer made sense anymore." He called the move to end the program "a hard decision." The Humvee, or High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, is also being phased out. "It's 40 years old. It was useful in its time," Rainey said. "If you look at the ubiquitous sensing drones just in Ukraine and Russia, the survivability of a wheeled vehicle is very low." The Army also recently ended the M10 Booker Mobile Protected Firepower program just before it was set to go into full-rate production and after spending well over a billion dollars on the project. The decision was made in response to ongoing global conflicts "and in support of the strategic objectives outlined in the Army Transformation Initiative," according to a memo issued by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth earlier this year. The memo outlined the focal points, timelines, and priorities of the Army going forward, including reducing and restructuring attack helicopter formations and augmenting them with unmanned aircraft, putting thousands of drones into the hands of soldiers, and focusing on the Indo-Pacific theater and China. The efforts in the directive are estimated to cost around $36 billion over the next five years and represent one of the largest Army overhauls since the end of the Cold War. Army officials have said it's designed to increase lethality and readiness in the service and is focused on the needs of individual warfighters. In the interview with BI, Driscoll and Rainey identified one platform that represents what it wants more of. "We have a requirements and acquisitions success story with the Infantry Squad Vehicles," Rainey said. The relatively new M1301 Infantry Squad Vehicle entered service in 2020. Rainey said that the platform was designed well and requirements were useful and thoughtful. "We went fast, but we iterated with soldiers continually through the process. We ended up with a very useful vehicle," he said. Driscoll said that in conversations with soldiers, the Army learned that they wanted a vehicle to prioritize speed and all-terrain driving over protection. It speaks to, the service secretary said, the Army "trying to build a menu of offensive and defensive solutions." For some missions, something like the Infantry Squad Vehicle will be more effective. And for others, a heavier, more armored platform could still be valuable and available. Much of what Driscoll and others say they're focused on comes out of efforts to be smarter and more cost-effective in Army purchases. "We feel a large enough existential threat, and it is important enough that we can no longer make decisions simply based off where jobs might exist or what private companies may benefit from our decisions," he said. "Instead, we have to optimize for soldier lethality in the fight ahead." Lethality is a guiding principle for the US Department of Defense under Hegseth and the Trump administration. It was a core objective for the Biden administration and first Trump one, as well as past administrations, though the interpretations were different. Generally, it serves as a subjective measuring stick for DoD programs and projects, the aim being to be able to effectively defeat an enemy. Right now, that long-standing Pentagon buzzword is the deciding factor for what the Army and other services prioritize. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
04-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
The US Army's done with Humvees and the Robotic Combat Vehicles. Here's what leaders want instead.
US Army leaders say Humvees and Robotic Combat Vehicles aren't useful for future fights, but the Infantry Squad Vehicle is. Ongoing decisions about what stays and what goes are part of a larger transformation initiative that has the Army reviewing its force structure and cutting certain programs it deems no longer necessary for the kinds of wars the US military wants to be ready to fight should worse come to worst. Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll and Gen. James Rainey, the commanding general overseeing Army Futures Command, talked to Business Insider about some of what is getting axed and why. Driscoll pointed to the Robotic Combat Vehicle, or RCV, program, which launched in 2019 with the goal of integrating autonomous and remotely operated capabilities into the Army's ground systems. Three versions were initially planned — an expendable light variant, a durable medium variant, and a lethal heavy variant designed for combat against an enemy armored vehicle. But the development of the RCV hit snags. "We know we need autonomy, we know that we need the ability to move things in a way that is not controlled by human beings," Driscoll said. But the requirements the Army put together for it ended up making it just this "incredibly large, incredibly heavy, incredibly expensive, relatively exquisite tool," he said. By the time the Army went to purchase them, the threats to the RCV, like small, hostile drones, had grown substantially. In Ukraine, slow, heavy, expensive vehicles have been prime targets for cheap exploding drones. "It might have been there in the beginning and we got it wrong from the very beginning," he said, "but at a minimum, by the time it came due for us actually purchase a lot of these and get them into formations, it just no longer made sense anymore." He called the move to end the program "a hard decision." The Humvee, or High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, is also being phased out. "It's 40 years old. It was useful in its time," Rainey said. "If you look at the ubiquitous sensing drones just in Ukraine and Russia, the survivability of a wheeled vehicle is very low." The Army also recently ended the M10 Booker Mobile Protected Firepower program just before it was set to go into full-rate production and after spending well over a billion dollars on the project. The decision was made in response to ongoing global conflicts "and in support of the strategic objectives outlined in the Army Transformation Initiative," according to a memo issued by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth earlier this year. The memo outlined the focal points, timelines, and priorities of the Army going forward, including reducing and restructuring attack helicopter formations and augmenting them with unmanned aircraft, putting thousands of drones into the hands of soldiers, and focusing on the Indo-Pacific theater and China. The efforts in the directive are estimated to cost around $36 billion over the next five years and represent one of the largest Army overhauls since the end of the Cold War. Army officials have said it's designed to increase lethality and readiness in the service and is focused on the needs of individual warfighters. In the interview with BI, Driscoll and Rainey identified one platform that represents what it wants more of. "We have a requirements and acquisitions success story with the Infantry Squad Vehicles," Rainey said. The relatively new M1301 Infantry Squad Vehicle entered service in 2020. Rainey said that the platform was designed well and requirements were useful and thoughtful. "We went fast, but we iterated with soldiers continually through the process. We ended up with a very useful vehicle," he said. Driscoll said that in conversations with soldiers, the Army learned that they wanted a vehicle to prioritize speed and all-terrain driving over protection. It speaks to, the service secretary said, the Army "trying to build a menu of offensive and defensive solutions." For some missions, something like the Infantry Squad Vehicle will be more effective. And for others, a heavier, more armored platform could still be valuable and available. Much of what Driscoll and others say they're focused on comes out of efforts to be smarter and more cost-effective in Army purchases. "We feel a large enough existential threat, and it is important enough that we can no longer make decisions simply based off where jobs might exist or what private companies may benefit from our decisions," he said. "Instead, we have to optimize for soldier lethality in the fight ahead." Lethality is a guiding principle for the US Department of Defense under Hegseth and the Trump administration. It was a core objective for the Biden administration and first Trump one, as well as past administrations, though the interpretations were different. Generally, it serves as a subjective measuring stick for DoD programs and projects, the aim being to be able to effectively defeat an enemy. Right now, that long-standing Pentagon buzzword is the deciding factor for what the Army and other services prioritize.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Army secretary says US can't keep pumping money into expensive weapons that can be taken out by an $800 Russian drone
Cheap drones have been used to destroy expensive systems like tanks in the Ukraine war. US military leaders are watching this trend closely and evaluating the threat for future conflicts. The Army secretary said it's not worth it to buy expensive weapons if they're vulnerable to drones. The US can't keep building and buying expensive weapons that are vulnerable to drones that are produced at a fraction of the cost, the Army secretary said. "We keep creating and purchasing these exquisite machines that very cheap drones can take out," Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll said during an episode of the "War on the Rocks" podcast that aired Tuesday. "If the number is even remotely right, that Russia has manufactured 1 million drones in the last 12 months, that just makes us have to rethink the cost of what we're buying," he continued. "We are the wealthiest nation, perhaps in the history of the world, but even we can't sustain a couple-million-dollar piece of equipment that can be taken out with an $800 drone and munition," he said. Driscoll was responding to a question about whether the US military was walking away from the Robotic Combat Vehicle. He said that while the concept was valuable, the cost ratio didn't work. Cheap drones have been used to deliver precision strikes against expensive military equipment. Stringer/REUTERS The US military has been watching the war in Ukraine, where cheap drones packed with explosives are damaging or destroying expensive combat equipment like tanks, other armored vehicles, air defenses, and even warships, highlighting the vulnerability of larger and more prized weapons that are insufficiently defended. The proliferation of cheap drones — some of which cost as little as a few hundred dollars — has become a growing concern for the US military as it readies for the possibility of a large-scale confrontation between NATO and Russia in Europe or a fight with China in the Pacific. Moscow said it produced 1.5 million drones last year. A Ukrainian tank commander called Russian drones a major threat to his American-made M1 Abrams tank, which costs about $10 million. Ukraine has outfitted its Abrams tanks and other systems, including European-made tanks and American-made armored fighting vehicles, with additional armor to help protect the expensive equipment from drones, but it's not a perfect solution. Armored vehicle losses in this war have been high. Ukraine, for example, has lost more than 4,400 armored vehicles, while Russia has lost more than 12,600, according to Oryx, an open-source intelligence site that tracks military equipment losses on both sides. And drones aren't just a threat to land assets. Ukrainian naval drones packed with explosives have wreaked havoc on Russia's Black Sea Fleet. These drones have even been upgraded to launch missiles. Ukraine said one managed to take down two of Russia's $50 million Su-30 fighter jets over the weekend. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
07-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Army secretary says US can't keep pumping money into expensive weapons that can be taken out by an $800 Russian drone
The US can't keep building and buying expensive weapons that are vulnerable to cheap drones that are a fraction of the cost, the Army secretary said. "We keep creating and purchasing these exquisite machines that very cheap drones can take out," Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll said during an episode of the War on the Rocks podcast that aired on Tuesday. "If the number is even remotely right, that Russia has manufactured 1 million drones in the last 12 months, that just makes us have to rethink the cost of what we're buying," he continued. "We are the wealthiest nation, perhaps in the history of the world, but even we can't sustain a couple-million-dollar piece of equipment that can be taken out with an $800 drone and munition," he said. Driscoll was responding to a question about whether the US military is walking away from the Robotic Combat Vehicle. He said that while the concept was valuable, the actual cost ratio didn't work. Driscoll's remarks come as the US military has been watching the war in Ukraine, where cheap drones packed with explosives are damaging or destroying expensive combat equipment like tanks, armored vehicles, air defenses, and even warships, highlighting the vulnerability of larger and more prized weapons that are insufficiently defended. The proliferation of cheap drones — some of which cost as little as a few hundred dollars, significantly less than more sophisticated weaponry — has become a growing concern for the US military as it readies for a potential large-scale confrontation between NATO and Russia in Europe or a fight with China in the Pacific. Moscow said it produced 1.5 million drones last year. A Ukrainian tank commander said Russian drones are a major threat to his American-made M1 Abrams tank, which costs around $10 million. Ukraine has outfitted its Abrams tanks and other systems, including European-made tanks and American-made armored fighting vehicles, with additional armor to protect the expensive equipment from drones, but it's not a perfect solution. Armored vehicle losses in this war have been high. Ukraine, for example, has lost over 4,400 armored vehicles, while Russia has lost more than 12,600, according to Oryx, an open-source intelligence site that tracks military equipment losses on both sides. And drones aren't just a threat to land assets. Ukrainian naval drones packed with explosives have wreaked havoc on Russia's Black Sea Fleet. These drones have even been upgraded to launch missiles. One managed to take down two of Russia's $50 million Su-30 fighter jets over the weekend.
