ARMAMENTS

The Armenian company Isatech Robotics built the first local Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) “Scorpion IS15”, with remarkable prospects for further development. 

The Scorpion is a small UGV weighing 370 kg. It features an accelerometer and operates with rudimentary artificial intelligence (AI) based on the principle of swarm intelligence. 

The main control of the platform is remotely performed and the movements of the operator controlling the console are synchronized with the movements of the platform itself. For example, the rotation of the operator’s head causes the camera to rotate accordingly. 

Disadvantages of the system, however, include partial autonomy in decision-making with AI; however, the program is still under development and any weaknesses are expected to be overcome. 

Also read: The unmanned ground vehicle “Small Milos” in the service of the Serbian Armed Forces | Infographics – VIDEO

The Armenian UGV prototype develops a speed of up to 40 kilometers per hour on uneven ground with a range of up to 25 kilometers, while its accumulators last up to 5 days. The said UGV is able to overcome water obstacles up to 1 meter deep and its dimensions are 120 cm (length) x 70 cm (width). 

The Scorpion, according to its manufacturers, also withstands anti-personnel mine explosions. The system can also operate both indoors and outdoors, conduct defence operations as a mobile point of fire support as well as reconnaissance operations in enemy territory.

According to local media, the platform is equipped with a 40 mm grenade launcher and a light machine gun. Strengths of the program include the fact that the engineers used the principle of open architecture, which allows the vehicle to be equipped with new types of weapons – for example, MANPADS and/or flamethrowers.

Also read: DSEI 2021 | IAI unveils Rex MK II UGV

Due to the fact that the main components are produced locally, the cost of the vehicle will be low, which will inevitably be beneficial to its future commercial price. It is noted that it took about 5 years to develop this vehicle.

Scorpion engineers are in negotiations with the Armenian Ministry of Defence regarding the production and use of the Scorpion UGV in the Armed Forces. 

The solutions offered by ground unmanned combat systems could potentially be considered by the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus with the support of the efforts made by domestic Research and Innovation companies. These systems (small UGVs in basic configurations) are relatively low-cost technologies that can offer several operational-level solutions with local-manufacturing prospects. 

We also witnessed a prototype of a small unmanned ground vehicle manufactured by the Cypriot company CYRIC at the DEFEA exhibition held in Greece last July. You can find out more about this at the link below.

Also read: First Responder | The micro unmanned ground vehicle of CYRIC at DEFEA – Photos & VIDEO