In the last week of August, ARX Robotics – a German manufacturer of scalable dual-use robotic systems and ground-autonomous solutions – announced the successful deployment of parts of the Gereon UGS fleet of the German Armed Forces as part of the NATO-exercise “Grand Eagle II” in Lithuania. According to the company, the successful participation “underlines the tactical value of unmanned systems and autonomous capabilities in the areas of surveillance, reconnaissance and logistics”.
During the large-scale “Grand Eagle II” exercise on NATO’s eastern flank with the German and Lithuanian armed forces, the GEREON systems were tested for the second time this year in this strategically important region. The focus was on the demonstration of robotic space surveillance and autonomous battlefield logistics, CASEVAC missions and the rapid reconfiguration of the systems and their modules during deployment to adapt to new situations and tasks of the armed forces. For the first time, the unmanned systems of the smaller weight class, such as the Gereon 3 system, were tested in combination with some new capabilities – ground radar, increased reconnaissance capabilities and integration of the Starlink communication module. https://militaeraktuell.at/bundeswehr-erhaelt-teleskopsystem/ During the exercise, groups of unmanned ground systems were deployed for seamless and automated surveillance of terrain sections on the eastern flank for observation, reconnaissance or artillery support. By using these systems, which are equipped with multispectral reconnaissance capabilities, sections of terrain can be monitored in real time with minimal human resources, enabling continuous situation monitoring and the effective use of low-altitude fire. Another use of the systems during the exercise was the autonomous and dynamic resupply of positions and units, demonstrating the ability of the unmanned systems to operate independently in unknown terrain without relying on local infrastructure. Such logistical challenges are among the main difficulties faced by troops in the field.
The Gereon systems are designed not to impose additional logistical or technical burdens on highly mobile forces, but to enhance their capabilities. As Marc Wieceld, founder and CEO of ARX Robotics, emphasized, “Unmanned ground systems can only compete with military vehicles in certain segments and must not become a hindrance to our armed forces. There is no rail or flatbed truck transportation to the trenches, and our highly mobile troops don’t go into battle with a trailer attached to their combat vehicle – our Gereon systems are designed from the outset to be transportable.”
Click here for more news about ARX Robotics.
