Eurosatory 2022: Nexter plans armed variant of Ultro UGV by year end

Nexter's Ultro UGV displayed in logistics configuration at Eurosatory 2022. (Janes/Alexander Stronell)

Nexter plans to test a remote weapon station (RWS) on its Ultro unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), a company representative told Janes .

“It should certainly be a 50 cal turret,” the representative told Janes on 17 June at the Eurosatory 2022 defence exhibition in Paris. “We plan to do it in the short future … by the end of this year,” he added.

It is understood that the armed Ultro platform is envisioned as a fire-support variant intended to operate alongside dismounted infantry.

Commenting on Nexter's plans, the representative said, “In France, and especially at Nexter, we consider weaponised UGVs as controlled by humans, even if we can put some autonomy in the mobility. So [there will be] autonomy for the mobility and the fire-[control] system will be controlled by a man.”

When asked which weapons system Nexter intended to test, the representative said that no decisions had yet been made. “It's not fixed yet, and we have many discussions [ahead],” he told Janes .

Nexter exhibited two configurations of its Ultro UGV at Eurosatory 2022. The first was a standard logistics configuration similar to those seen in 2021. The second was intended as a concept platform to demonstrate multiple possible mission systems, and integrated with a Nexter Demeter explosive ordnance disposal system; a robotic arm for deployment of mini-UGVs; an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) mast with an observation system; and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launcher system.