[Yang Nak-gyu's Defense Club] Unmanned Ground Vehicles Introduced by the British Army

[Researcher Byung-ho Park, Mobile Firepower Research Team 2, Defense Agency for Technology and Quality] The British Army is introducing unmanned ground vehicles. The UK Ministry of Defence has ordered four MAPS (Mission Adaptable Platform System) unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) worth 1.5 million pounds (1.9 million dollars) from Cohort.

The UK Ministry of Defence is conducting a Remote Patrol Vehicle (RPV) project. This project proceeds in two phases. The first phase involves a 90-day trial performing missions such as evacuating one medic and two casualties and transporting a generator across various terrains and environments. The second phase will focus on missions including intelligence gathering, surveillance, target acquisition, reconnaissance, and the installation of armed payloads.

The contract includes the provision of the platform and training materials to operate the UGV in rough terrain and to understand the system’s capability limits. The MAPS UGV, announced in 2016, is a medium-sized 6×6 skid steer vehicle weighing 950 kg. It can reach speeds of 8 km/h. It operates with lithium batteries coupled to three-cylinder diesel generators. The diesel generators charge the lithium batteries, supplying the power needed to support onboard electronic equipment. The batteries can be fully charged using 4 liters of fuel. The vehicle carries 100 liters of diesel fuel internally, enabling operation for 20 days. Even if the battery is depleted, the generator can be started and recharged.

It can also be equipped with ground communication devices, mobile charging units, and sensors for intelligence gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Its protection level is Level 1 blast protection against physical threats, grenades, small mine explosions, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

The Executive Director of MCL said, "The MAPS UGV has operational capabilities to support various missions. The vehicle’s chassis is designed for robust operation, and it can operate cooperatively with other unmanned ground vehicles using a sophisticated digital control system. This conceptual design can enhance mission efficiency and operational resilience in the field."