Next generation uncrewed ground vehicle unveiled

BAE Systems Australia has today unveiled a cutting-edge uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV) that gives military commanders an added tactical option while keeping soldiers out of harm’s way.

The Autonomous Tactical Light Armour System (ATLAS) Collaborative Combat Variant (CCV) is a new, cost effective, modular, 8×8 UGV built leveraging BAE Systems’ expertise in autonomous technology and armoured vehicles.

The Managing Director, Defence Delivery at BAE Systems Australia Andrew Gresham said: “We’ve developed the ATLAS vehicle to give soldiers the advantage on the modern battlefield.

“This has resulted in an autonomous platform that will deliver the dull, dirty, and dangerous tasks expected in a combat environment.

“ATLAS will…help the soldier outpace, out-manoeuvre and out-think conventional and unconventional threats.”

BAE Systems has worked with partners including Supacat in the UK and Australia, Valhalla Turrets in Slovenia, and Victorian manufacturer Marand to deliver ATLAS CCV.

The future battlefield will involve a mix of autonomous, semi-autonomous and human machine teams, generating combat mass and removing soldiers from many of the most dangerous tasks, according to BAE Systems.

ATLAS CCV will operate using high levels of autonomy both on and off-road, complementing crewed counterparts such as infantry fighting vehicles and main battle tanks, at a lower cost.

BAE Systems autonomy system at the core of the ATLAS CCV will ‘drive’ the vehicle, avoid obstacles, route plan, and make tactical decisions.

Gresham said: “We have proven expertise in autonomous technologies, built on more than 30 years of complex autonomous projects.”

ATLAS CCV is armed with a new, lightweight, affordable, highly automated medium calibre turret system called ‘VANTAGE ATSTM’, designed for use on uncrewed platforms. The turret is designed with a ‘human in-the-loop’ targeting system.

ATLAS CCV is easily transportable, designed to fit into a standard 20-foot ISO container or 20-foot ISO flat rack.

Picture: BAE Systems Australia