The Italian Armed Forces are launching a five-year project to introduce robotics into military service. Yesterday, January 28, Nexter's press service announced that the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), together with Milrem (the general contractor of the program), selected Nexter robotics as part of the evaluation of ground and airborne robotic platforms for the Italian army.
As part of the five-year program, Italian troops should evaluate the available robotic systems, learn how to use them as efficiently as possible, and, if necessary, give suggestions on adapting the systems to their needs. Light and heavy ground platforms weighing up to 5 tons, including those equipped with airborne aerial drones, will be tested.
Ground robot ULTRO-600
Image source: nexter-group.fr
The NSPA does not specify the models of the tested equipment. At the same time, it is known that Nexter produces combat ground platforms of the X20 line (OPTIO-X20), as well as ULTRO multi-purpose platforms capable, depending on equipment, of performing reconnaissance, transport or evacuation tasks.
Many countries are engaged in the creation of combat robots and are trying to introduce them into combat units. So, in the United States, robot dogs have already entered the service, robotanki, robot porters are being tested. In addition, ground-based weapon carrier platforms are being actively developed. In addition, new opportunities are emerging for modern drones.
