Latest news with #MilremRobotics
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
France to purchase and send robotic mine clearance systems to Ukraine
Ukraine will soon receive new robotic equipment for mine clearance, financed by France. The French company CNIM Systèmes Industriels, in cooperation with the Estonian company Milrem Robotics, will deliver six ROCUS uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs) based on the THeMIS platform to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. Source: Oboronka, a project of Mezha Media, a technology and IT news platform within Ukrainska Pravda's holding company, citing a press release by Milrem Robotics Quote from Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics: "We are proud to continue to support Ukraine through the contract with CNIM Systèmes Industriels. THeMIS UGVs have already proven their versatility and reliability in various operational scenarios in Ukraine and elsewhere." Details: The French ROCUS system integrates a special CNIM demining module on the Estonian THeMIS platform, which is a tracked autonomous ground vehicle. Due to the remote control, operators can clear areas of explosive items without putting themselves at risk. Technologically, the THeMIS platform is equipped with sensors and cameras to detect landmines and other threats, while the demining module allows for their safe neutralisation. The system is capable of operating in difficult conditions, such as rough terrain or rubble, making it indispensable for infrastructure restoration. Stock Photo Ukraine has received 15 THeMIS platforms, including the first seven ROCUS units delivered in 2022. The new vehicles will help ensure safe access to roads and agricultural land and contribute to the recovery of areas affected by the combat actions. Ukraine's State Emergency Service will be the main operator of these systems, using them for humanitarian mine clearance and recovery of territories. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Zawya
22-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Thales, Milrem Robotics and EM&E Group sign a MoU for strategic cooperation in the United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi, UAE: Milrem Robotics, the world's leading robotics and autonomous systems developer, EM&E Group, a prominent defence technology provider, and Thales in Belgium, a subsidiary of Thales a global tech leader in defence, aerospace and cyber have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly address commercial cooperation in the United Arab Emirates. This MoU provides a framework that focuses on joint innovation and robotics capability integration projects. One of the main goals of this partnership is to integrate EM&E Group's SECUTOR Remote Weapon Station together with Thales in Belgium's 70mm rocket systems into Milrem Robotics' THeMIS modular unmanned ground vehicle. This integration will enhance the operational capabilities of this platform, making it more versatile and suited to meet the specific needs of the UAE, particularly in terms of drones countermeasures (C-UAS). This system will be displayed by the EDGE Group at IDEX 2025, which will be held in Abu Dhabi from 17-21 February. The agreement also outlines opportunities for further collaborative development projects that combine the expertise of all three parties to advance cutting-edge defence solutions. 'Milrem Robotics, EM&E Group, and Thales in Belgium share a vision of leveraging our combined technological strengths to address the evolving needs for robotic systems and to build efficient defence capabilities. Through this partnership, we aim to drive innovation, strengthen regional security, and contribute to the UAE's defence and technological capabilities', said Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics. 'We are excited to enter into this strategic partnership, bringing together cutting-edge technologies to meet defence needs in a rapidly evolving landscape. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to advancing security and technological excellence, in keeping with the UAE's vision for innovation in defence', said Alain Quevrin, CEO of Thales in Belgium. 'It is an honour to participate in this strategic project, which will bring together the capabilities and technologies necessary for the development of a cutting-edge system such as the Secutor Rocket. This agreement reflects our shared commitment to respond to the needs of the ever-changing Defence sector', said Javier Escribano, President of EM&E Group. About THALES Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies specialized in three business domains: Defence & Security, Aeronautics & Space, and Cybersecurity & Digital identity. It develops products and solutions that help make the world safer, greener and more inclusive. The Group invests close to €4 billion a year in Research & Development, particularly in key innovation areas such as AI, cybersecurity, quantum technologies, cloud technologies and 6G. Thales has close to 81,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2023, the Group generated sales of €18.4 billion. Contacts Thales, Regional Communications & Government Relations Director Tarek Solimane
The National
17-02-2025
- Automotive
- The National
Glimpse of a future robotic battlefield at Idex defence expo
At the Idex defence fair in Abu Dhabi, a massive range of robotic ground military systems was on display, from tiny buggies that drop off supplies or offload a single mine to full-scale armoured vehicles capable of autonomous driving with no crew. For industry professionals, fully robotic wars are here – clashes with few soldiers in sight – despite challenges in fielding autonomous ground systems. Experts say a major draw for the systems is the high casualty rates seen in modern warfare, which could be lessened by advancing robotic systems soaking up enemy fire, forcing enemy troops to expose their positions by shooting at ground drones. An unnerving twist to such an attack, recently seen in Ukraine, could involve simultaneous aerial attacks by drones, some of which can already pick out targets using computer vision. Ground systems are also highly versatile and often modular, meaning that we could soon see everything from unmanned vehicles firing massive anti-ship missiles, like the US Rogue Fires JLTV made by Oshkosh, to small systems dropping off medical supplies. 'We have 19 customers for Themis,' a representative from Milrem Robotics, an Estonian company specialising in unmanned ground equipment, told The National. Milrem, which is majority-owned by the UAE's Edge Group, has worked with the Emirati company on one of the world's largest unmanned ground system projects. Themis, a highly mobile tracked weapons system, can bristle with remotely fired guns, day or night sensors and even anti-aircraft missiles. Its quiet operation and low profile make it hard to spot on the battlefield, and its modular design allows it to take on different roles over several kilometres. That's well within typical gun-battle range and roles can include evacuating casualties or delivering supplies close to the front line, where supply lorries make for large, easy targets. With recent events in Ukraine, robots like Themis will be a common sight on the modern battlefield, as well as much larger combat vehicles like Milrem's eight-wheel drive, turreted Havoc, which is designed to be controlled from nearby armoured vehicles, an approach known as human-machine teaming also explored by the British and US armies. Havoc can also navigate using computer vision, or AI. It's a growing trend, from vehicles that drive and potentially fight autonomously, like Rheinmetall's Mission Master, to systems that help soldiers make quick decisions under fire. While radio-controlled systems sometimes have a range limited by hills and large buildings, Milrem's systems can be used with nearby dedicated control vehicles with radio links, including a dedicated NIMR mobile armoured control centre – made by the UAE company of the same name. That ensures they can stay operating right on the front line, keeping the enemy off balance, and follows a pattern of armies envisioning their unmanned systems controlled by troops in nearby armoured vehicles, or able to move autonomously. A low profile, the Milrem spokesman says, is good for "silent watch", where the vehicle switches off its engine to reduce noise and its visibility to thermal cameras, but keeps monitoring the battlefield using its sensors. Last month, defence analyst Tim Mak described what some believe may have been history's first fully semi-automated attack with unmanned ground vehicles and aerial drones working together. The assault took place in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine, and involved dozens of aerial and ground drones dislodging Russian forces from their positions. One account said the attack created panic among the enemy, although it still required a large number of soldiers to organise and control the machines. It appears to have been a long time in the making – although it's not the first time flying drones and ground robots have fought in the same clash. Ukraine is said to have tested around 100 different types of UGVs, using them to deliver mines, evacuate casualties and in some cases fire weapons remotely at the enemy. Both Russia and Ukraine had armed unmanned vehicles before Russia's 2022 invasion, but the war has spurred a race to innovate. Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umerov has said his country is planning entire units of unmanned ground vehicles, meaning that entirely unmanned attacks could be increasingly common. One defence industry expert on unmanned ground systems, who wasn't authorised to speak to the media, told The National at IDEX that manpower problems for countries like Ukraine are increasingly a challenge in modern war, amid worsening demographics in the industrialised world. Israel, which has struggled to maintain mobilisation of hundreds of thousands of soldiers in post-October 7 wars in Gaza and Lebanon, says its forces have mounted what they called 'robotic combat missions' using unmanned M113 armoured personnel carriers and flying drones in Gaza. The M113s, widely considered obsolete, were used to deliver equipment and in some cases, simply filled with bombs to demolish buildings, a tactic also seen in Ukraine. Using unmanned vehicles in urban environments and bomb-damaged landscapes is challenging, says Sam Cranny-Evans, an independent defence consultant and associate fellow at Rusi, a think tank. 'For a land platform, whether it's remotely controlled or autonomously navigating, it has to deal with the terrain,' he says. For automated or remotely controlled systems, Mr Cranny-Evans says it can be hard to assess areas of broken ground that could be craters that could trap the vehicle. Autonomous platforms also have 'trained' computer vision, navigating with onboard 3D maps of urban areas. 'If somebody flattens a building and you previously had 3D-mapped the area, that's no longer valid, right?' Mr Cranny-Evans says. Challenges like this are influencing how defence planners view the systems, from expendable and cheap unmanned systems that might only be able to travel 1-2km at best, to highly advanced, large and expensive systems with multiple all-weather, day-and-night sensors and robotic vision, which US firms such as General Dynamics are still working on. 'We have many solutions,' says a spokesman for LIG Nex1, a South Korean defence corporation currently working on unmanned systems. 'Through co-operation with the platform company, we believe we can develop a more customised solution for unmanned ground vehicles and manned-unmanned teaming operations. For example we are conducting a co-development and co-production project with the UAE,' he tells The National. The uses for unmanned ground systems keep expanding, suggesting they are here to stay. Parson Engineering, which has historically made equipment for clearing minefields or other man-made enemy obstacles, as well as rivers, has adapted its equipment to experimental, large-scale US combat robots. As with the advantage of keeping soldiers alive, the unmanned mine clearance robots can save on expensive, large systems like the Leopard 2R mine-clearing vehicle, which costs several million dollars. Many Leopard 2R's supplied to Ukraine were destroyed during mine-clearing operations, with crew killed or wounded. 'One way to reduce the impact of disabling a limited number of engineering assets is to disperse capability by equipping fighting vehicles with some level of capability that provides independent manoeuvre. Pearson Engineering has developed a range of equipment that achieves this without impacting the lethality or survivability of the combat vehicle,' a spokesperson for the company told The National. 'We're seeing clear interest in exploring the art of the possible with regards to integrating engineering capability with uncrewed vehicles. Minefield breaching is a particularly dangerous task and the ability to remove people from harm's way can only be a good thing.'
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Estonia's Milrem reveals first look at new war robot
MILAN — Estonia-based Milrem Robotics revealed a first look at its new 8x8 wheeled combat robot, which builds on the company's existing family of unmanned ground vehicles. A mockup of new hybrid-electric vehicle, dubbed Havoc, is on display here at the IDEX and NAVDEX trade shows that run Feb. 17-21. The platform shares commonalities with other of Milrem's platforms, including the tracked Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV), enabling reduced procurement and maintenance costs as well as streamlined logistics, according to a company press release. According to Milrem, the Havoc has a greater operational range and can move nearly silently, an advantage if deployed to congested combat zones. Milrem, which is owned by Emirati conglomerate Edge Group, appears interested in tapping into the Middle East market as the first potential customers for the ground vehicle, promoting its capabilities to operate in 'open deserts, urban combat zones to high-altitude mountain passes.' At the 2024 UMEX drone fair in Abu Dhabi, Milrem signed a contract with the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defense to provide Emirati forces with 20 tracked RCVs and 40 THeMIS unmanned ground vehicles. For several years, the THeMIS cargo, casualty-evacuation and route-clearance variants have been deployed by the Ukrainian military to provide transport and demining assistance. Lessons drawn from real-world operations such as these are reflected in the development of the Havoc, a Milrem spokesman told Defense News. 'One major takeaway has been the importance of seamless command and control integration – the Havoc has been designed to operate within a large ecosystem, integrating effectively with both manned and unmanned systems to increase combat efficiency,' spokesman Gert Hankewitz said. In one picture released of the vehicle, it is seen mounted with the French-made Pilar V acoustic detector produced by Metravib Defense, typically designed to protect heavy and light armored vehicles. When asked whether Milrem's Emirati owners provided specific elements for the design of the UGV, Hankewitz said that they were actively exploring ways to maximize synergies across platforms, including integrating existing Edge payloads.
Trade Arabia
17-02-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
EDGE unveils most advanced line-up defence tech
EDGE, one of the world's leading advanced technology and defence groups, is unveiling 46 new systems and solutions across its all-domain portfolio at the International Defence Exhibition & Conference 2025 (IDEX 2025) and the Naval Defence & Maritime Security Exhibition (Navdex), which opened in Abu Dhabi today. The launch of the new solutions boosts the group's diverse portfolio to 218 unique products, enabling it to strengthen national sovereignty over critical defence systems, and to pursue international growth through partnerships and exports, it said. EDGE continues to disrupt industry norms across air, land, sea, cyber, and space with greater speed, efficiency from development to delivery, at highly competitive price points; with world-class communications solutions, sovereign cryptography and post-quantum capabilities; and by leading the way in the development of innovative artificial intelligence -powered solutions adapted to the modern operational environments, it said. Hamad Al Marar, Managing Director & CEO of EDGE, said: 'This is by far our most advanced display to date, showcasing not only next-generation solutions but the critical technologies that power them. We have moved beyond delivering standalone systems to developing integrated, multi-domain capabilities that enhance mission effectiveness and operational superiority. From autonomous platforms and advanced sensing technologies to secure communications and counter-UAS solutions, every product we are unveiling at IDEX 2025 is designed to deliver real-world impact. By pushing the limits of technological innovation and driving synergies across our ecosystem, we are reinforcing EDGE's position as a global leader in delivering advanced defence and security capabilities.' Among several new solutions being launched in the air domain is the ANAVIA HT-750, a high-technology rotary-wing unmanned heavy-lift aircraft featuring intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and cargo delivery capabilities; and the P145i, an all-weather two-stroke, six-cylinder, 1.8-litre aeronautical piston engine manufactured through the recently launched EDGE entity Powertech. New solutions in the land domain include the Havoc Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV), produced by Estonia-based Milrem Robotics; and the NIMR Ajban MK2 series with three new multi-role armoured vehicle variants (AJBAN 441AE, AJBAN 432AU, AJBAN 452A). In the small arms category, new products include the Caracal Sniper Rifle Multi-Calibre (CSRM). In the naval domain, EDGE has launched its new 45-metre FA-400 offshore patrol vessel, designed with full IP ownership and constructed entirely in the UAE. EDGE is significantly expanding its secure communications, counter-UAS, and electronic warfare capabilities by showcasing the Katim X3M, a rugged, secure, and modular mission-critical communication device for battlefield communications; the SHADOW 3 portable and autonomous C-UAS; and the Border Shield surveillance system, among other high-tech solutions. EDGE's space technology arm, FADA, is unveiling Tactica, an AI-powered C4I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence) system, harnessing the power of AI and generative AI to revolutionise space intelligence. Designed to enhance real-time decision-making and mission effectiveness, Tactica stands as a testament to EDGE's technological leadership in AI-driven solutions, the company said. To accelerate technological advancement, EDGE is launching key programmes and unveiling its most advanced suite of electronic warfare, radar, and electro-optical systems to date. These cutting-edge solutions—including compact gimbals, high-precision electro-optical cameras from the Mirsad family, and next-generation radars from the Tawaq portfolio, recently tested in the UAE – are mission-critical for modern defence.
