Estonian manufacturer Milrem Robotics is highlighting its fifth-generation Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System (THeMIS) unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) at UMEX 2020 being held in Abu Dhabi on 23–25 February.
The UGV has been specially designed for use in hot climates and has undergone extensive use in the French-led operation `Barkhane’, which began in 2019 and during which the system traversed distances of more than 1,000 km in challenging terrain – including sand and rocky surfaces – and operated in temperatures exceeding 50˚C.
The fifth-generation THeMIS UGV on display at UMEX 2020. (Jane’s/Melanie Rovery)
“Just a few years ago we tested the prototype of our unmanned vehicle for durability in hot conditions,” stated Kuldar Väärsi, chief executive officer of Milrem Robotics. “Today we are presenting a mature and robust product that has proven itself in extreme hot climates.”
Gert Hankewitz, export director at Milrem Robotics, told Jane’s that the improvements to optimise the UGV for hot climate operations included larger radiators with improved airflow and heat dissipation. “We’ve also improved the efficiency of the vehicle so to generate less heat,” said Hankewitz.
THeMIS is a tracked, hybrid system designed to be able to carry a range of payloads for a variety of functions. Milrem Robotics has partnered with over a dozen defence manufacturers to integrate a variety of payloads, including remote weapon stations (RWSs), tethered unmanned aircraft systems (UASs), electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors, counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) systems, and missiles.
The UGV is also being offered by Thailand’s Defence Technology Institute (DTI) and integrated with Australian manufacturer EOS’s R400S-Mk2 Direct Drive-Heavy Duty (D-HD) RWS, with the complete system called the D-Iron UGV.
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