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The FFG Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft mbH (FFG) and its cooperation partner IAI – Israel Aerospace Industries/ELTA Systems Ltd. (IAI/ELTA) - took part together in the third part of the Bundeswehr's practical testing of unmanned ground vehicles with its Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) REX, as FFG announced today.

Participation took place as part of the R&T study “Unmanned Ground Vehicles to Support Dismounted Forces”, also known as the Cargo Mule. In the project, the Bundeswehr is testing different systems available on the market in changing operational scenarios. The field tests carried out over the past two weeks at the Jägerbrück military training area in Torgelow represent the third and final part of the test series, following tests in Hammelburg and Lehnin in previous years. The highlight of the tests in Torgelow was the participation of the UGVs in a combat shooting event.

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The Bundeswehr wants to equip the heavy trains with unmanned ground vehicles for the transport of weapons and material and is testing several systems available on the market. Photo: FFG

The Bundeswehr intends to equip the heavy trains with unmanned ground vehicles for the transport of weapons and material and is testing several systems available on the market in changing operational scenarios. The study examines the extent to which UGVs currently available on the market can provide significant support services for the infantry. “The intention and goal of the company was also to gain information about the off-road mobility of the UGVs, to carry out distance tests and to find out how challenging it is to switch between teleoperated and autonomous use,” writes FFG in its press release.

Auch der dritte Cargo-Mule-Erprobungsdurchgang wurde durch Soldaten der 6. Kompanie des Wachbataillons durchgeführt, die Leitung erfolgte durch Vertreter des Amtes für Heeresentwicklung sowie des Bundesamtes für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr in wissenschaftlicher Begleitung durch das Fraunhofer-Institut für Kommunikation, Informationsverarbeitung und Ergonomie FKIE. Industrieseitig haben sich neben FFG/IAI zum wiederholten Male UGVs von Elbit Systems, Diehl Defence/Henschel und KMW/Milrem Robotics den anspruchsvollen Tests der Bundeswehr gestellt.

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The REX can carry more than a ton of weight. Photo: FFG

FFG and IAI took part in the Bundeswehr testing in Torgelow for the first time. According to FFG, the hybrid/electric vehicle REX “proved itself to be a particularly versatile and robust UGV that was able to provide targeted relief and support to deployed soldiers when carrying out their missions and even increase their performance.”

The REX has a payload of more than one ton and enables dismounted forces to teleoperate or autonomously move their equipment and weapons into positions and to quickly rescue the wounded, writes FFG. According to the company, with the help of the REX and its sensors, the soldiers were able to observe the battlefield from a covered position in order to reconnaissance of enemy forces.

Editorial office / due to