Unmanned Ground Vehicles to Be Deployed by the British Army in Combat

[Researcher Byung-ho Park, Mobile Firepower Research Team 2, Defense Technology Quality Institute] 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, a subsidiary of MCL (Marlborough Communications Limited·photo).

This system is part of the UK Ministry of Defence's Remote Patrol Vehicle (RPV) project. In the first phase of testing, the vehicle will perform missions such as evacuating one medic and two casualties and transporting a generator over 90 days 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 platform itself and the provision of training materials to operate the UGV in rugged terrain and to understand the system’s capability limits.

Announced in 2016, the MAPS UGV is a medium-sized 6×6 skid-steer vehicle weighing 950 kg. It can travel at speeds of up to 8 km/h and is powered by lithium batteries coupled with a three-cylinder diesel generator. The diesel generator charges the lithium batteries, providing the necessary power 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, and the generator can be started and recharged even if the batteries are depleted.

Additionally, it can 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 stated, "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."