US firm unveils mini ‘tank-killer’ robot built to hunt heavy armor

US robotics company Swarmbotics AI has introduced FireAnt, a new lightweight, ground-based autonomous unmanned vehicle designed to operate in coordinated swarms for anti-tank missions. FireAnt is built to detect, track, and engage heavy armored targets such as tanks, functioning semi-independently within swarms controlled by a single human operator. The system emphasizes swarm autonomy, enabling robots to share targeting data, adapt to battlefield changes in real-time, and accelerate the kill chain process. FireAnt is ruggedized to IP67 standards, resistant to dust, water immersion, heat, vibration, and shock, making it suitable for diverse combat environments. The FireAnt platform is modular and interoperable, supporting quick payload changes for various missions including reconnaissance, mapping, data relay, and anti-armor tasks. It integrates with common robotic software architectures like ROS 2 and JAUS, facilitating connection to broader defense networks. Swarmbotics co-founder Drew Watson likens FireAnt’s approach to the successful use