Articles tagged with "battlefield-technology"
China jumps ahead of US in race to field lighter battlefield tanks
China has unveiled its new Type 100 main battle tank, marking a significant shift towards lighter, unmanned, and intelligence-driven armored warfare. Unlike traditional tanks, the Type 100 emphasizes advanced technological integration over heavy armor, featuring a diesel-electric hybrid engine for improved mobility and stealth. It is equipped with a 105mm main gun and an unmanned turret controlled by an advanced fire control system. The tank incorporates radars, infrared, and laser warning systems capable of detecting threats and deploying countermeasures such as interceptor rockets and jamming devices. Additionally, AI enhances situational awareness and networked firepower coordination, while a deployable reconnaissance drone provides aerial surveillance. The crew benefits from augmented reality helmets offering a 360-degree, video game-like view of the battlefield, and the tank can operate both with and without a crew. In response, the U.S. military is developing the M1E3 Abrams tank, which similarly focuses on lighter weight, hybrid electric propulsion, and data-centric defensive systems
robotunmanned-vehicleshybrid-power-systemAI-systemsbattlefield-technologymilitary-dronesaugmented-realityReal Star Wars battle droid? Phantom MK-1 robot brings sci-fi to war
The Phantom MK-1, developed by San Francisco-based robotics company Foundation, is potentially the world’s first humanoid robot explicitly designed for military use. Standing 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing 175 pounds, it can carry loads up to 44 pounds and is intended primarily for ground operations such as reconnaissance and bomb disposal. Unlike many robotics firms that avoid weaponizing their technology, Foundation aims to produce 10,000 units by next year, with the robots operating under human supervision to maintain ethical control over critical decisions like firing weapons. The company emphasizes durability and ruggedness to ensure the robot can withstand harsh battlefield conditions. This development marks a new frontier in military robotics, moving beyond the current widespread use of AI-enabled drones and automated systems for target acquisition and strike support, as seen in conflicts like the Russia–Ukraine war. Foundation’s CEO, Sankaet Pathak, envisions a future where humanoid robots are the first deployed on battlefields, with humans following if necessary. The
robothumanoid-robotmilitary-roboticsAI-in-defenseautonomous-systemsbattlefield-technologyrobotic-soldier1,360-pound NUMO ground robot deployed by Ukraine to support troops
The Ukrainian defense ministry has approved the domestically developed NUMO ground robot for operational use, marking a significant advancement in frontline logistics and troop support. Created by Lviv-based company Tank Bureau, NUMO is a versatile, modular unmanned ground vehicle weighing 1,367 pounds when fully loaded and capable of carrying up to 661 pounds of cargo. Designed to reduce risks to soldiers, it can be equipped with various attachments such as turrets, relay masts, wire cutters, and mine-clearing tools. The robot can navigate difficult terrains like forests and wetlands, deploy rapidly within 10 minutes, and travel up to 28 miles on four batteries at speeds of 4 mph. NUMO supports multiple communication systems, including Wi-Fi, Starlink, LTE, and others, with a control range of about 4,921 feet, and features the “Droid Box” module for enhanced communication capabilities. It also serves as the base for the Droid TW reconnaissance and assault system, which is armed
robotunmanned-ground-vehiclemilitary-roboticsautonomous-systemsbattlefield-technologycommunication-systemsdefense-technologyMini tank-like hydrogen robot runs 20 hours on single charge
The article introduces Hermione, a hydrogen-powered unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) developed jointly by Polish firm P.H.U. Lechmar and French company H2X-Defense, unveiled at the 2025 International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO) in Kielce. Hermione is designed as a modular, versatile platform capable of carrying payloads up to two tons and performing various battlefield roles, including drone transport, logistics support, reconnaissance, and combat when equipped with remote weapon stations or advanced sensors. The demonstrator model shown carried a 300-kilogram payload, measured approximately 11 feet long, and weighed around 700 kilograms. It features all-wheel drive, a top speed of 24 mph, and is built to operate in tough environments. At the core of Hermione is a hydrogen propulsion system powered by fuel cells housed in TPED-certified cylinders, driving eight 8 kW hub-mounted electric motors, supplemented by a 25 kWh battery pack. This combination enables the UGV to
robothydrogen-powerunmanned-ground-vehicleenergy-storagefuel-cellsclean-energybattlefield-technologyRussia turns Soviet tanks into remote-controlled battlefield robots
Russia has developed the “Shturm” robotic assault platform, converting Soviet-era T-72 and T-90 tank chassis into remotely operated combat vehicles designed for high-risk, particularly urban, battlefields. Created by Uralvagonzavod under the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Shturm system features a shortened 125mm main gun for maneuverability, a bulldozer blade for obstacle clearing, and enhanced armor protection. While intended for remote operation, some vehicles were observed with crews during trials, indicating that fully autonomous control is still under development. The system aims to breach fortified positions and conduct frontline operations without risking personnel. A key component of the Shturm system is a mobile command-and-control vehicle capable of directing a platoon of 20 to 50 robotic tanks within a 3-kilometer radius. Multiple combat variants have been tested, including versions armed with 125mm or potentially 152mm guns, thermobaric rocket launchers, automatic cannons, and
robotautonomous-vehiclesmilitary-roboticsremote-controlbattlefield-technologyrobotic-tanksdefense-technologyUK’s war brain tech cuts strike decision time from hours to minutes
The UK Army has introduced ASGARD (Autonomous Strike Guidance and Reconnaissance Device), a cutting-edge digital targeting system designed to drastically reduce strike decision times from hours to minutes and enhance battlefield lethality by tenfold. Developed in response to operational lessons from the Ukraine conflict, ASGARD integrates artificial intelligence, sensor fusion, and secure digital networks to create a real-time battlefield web. This system enables commanders to detect, decide, and engage targets rapidly across dispersed forces, effectively doubling the lethality of British troops. ASGARD has already undergone successful field tests with NATO forces in Estonia and is a key component of the UK’s broader Strategic Defence Review aimed at modernizing combat capabilities by 2027. ASGARD’s rapid development—from contract signing in January 2025 to a working prototype deployed within four months—demonstrates a shift toward faster procurement and modular, digital-first military technology acquisition. The system connects sensors, shooters, and decision-makers across land, sea, air, and
IoTmilitary-technologyartificial-intelligencesensor-fusiondigital-networksautonomous-systemsbattlefield-technologyElectra wins $1.9M Army deal for battlefield-ready electric aircraft
Electra.aero has secured a $1.9 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract from the U.S. Army to advance its hybrid-electric powertrain and propulsion systems, focusing on the development of the EL9 aircraft. Building on the successful EL2 demonstrator—which demonstrated ultra-short takeoff and landing (Ultra-STOL) capabilities in under 150 feet—the EL9 is a nine-passenger aircraft designed for operation from short, rugged airstrips in austere environments. The hybrid-electric technology aims to reduce fuel dependency, enable quieter operations, enhance mobility, and provide mobile power generation, all critical for contested logistics and battlefield scenarios. Under the 18-month agreement, Electra will conduct technology maturation, risk reduction, flight tests, modeling, and operational analysis to evaluate the tactical benefits and fuel savings of hybrid-electric propulsion. The EL9 combines fixed-wing efficiency with vertical-like access, offering operational flexibility for military and commercial applications. This contract marks the sixth awarded by the Army to
energyhybrid-electric-aircraftmilitary-aviationelectric-propulsionbattlefield-technologyaviation-modernizationultra-short-takeoff-and-landingCanada’s new battle tech spots laser weapons before they strike
Canadian defense firm KWESST Micro Systems has secured a prototype order for its next-generation Battlefield Laser Detection System (BLDS) from a major North American armored vehicle program. The BLDS is designed to detect and alert operators to invisible laser threats such as laser range finders, target designators, and beam-riding munitions, providing earlier warning and enhancing battlefield survivability. This order marks KWESST’s first formal procurement of the updated BLDS and will support performance evaluations in diverse operational environments. The system is compact, cost-effective, scalable for both vehicle-mounted and soldier-worn applications, and optimized for future networked deployment to improve situational awareness across the battlespace. The increasing use of laser-guided weapon systems in modern conflicts, notably in Ukraine, has made laser threats a critical concern, as these systems are silent, invisible, and instantaneous, enabling enemies to designate targets without warning. KWESST’s BLDS addresses this vulnerability by giving warfighters crucial seconds of advance notice,
robotIoTdefense-technologylaser-detection-systembattlefield-technologynetworked-deploymenttactical-situational-awareness