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Milrem Type-X Is a Battle Tank’s Best Autonomous Friend, Passes Mobility Tests

Now that America is the leader of the world when it comes to military prowess, it’s easy to forget that some of the most capable war machines were once made in Europe. Sure, imagination was kind of forced into overdrive by the war that was devastating the continent, but still…
Milrem Type-X 4 photos
Photo: Milrem
Milrem Type-XMilrem Type-XMilrem Type-X
It’s not that often nowadays that we hear of something interesting on the military front coming from Europe. Until late last week, that is, when one of the region’s most prominent robotics and autonomous systems company, Milrem Robotics, announced a major milestone was passed in the development of something called Type-X: the completion of the mobility tests.

The project was first presented last year as an autonomous, tracked platform meant to be deployed in support of mechanized units. It’s main purpose is to accompany battle tanks and light infantry vehicles in a bid to provide support, not unlike the way current army robots support operations of the infantry.

As seen in the video below, the Type-X is just that, an empty platform, but on top of it, a variety of armaments can be fitted, from anti-tank missiles to cannons up to 50 mm. When using a smaller offensive weapon, a 30-mm cannon, the Type-X can also be airdropped right into combat.

The 12-ton (24,000-lbs) machine has a height of 2.2 meters (7.2 ft) and uses a hybrid engine, meaning it gives out very low visual and heat signatures. But being hard to spot doesn’t mean it’s hard for it to see: the thing can be packed with cameras and sensors.

As for how exactly it is supposed to work, programming is the key. The autonomous war machine will be capable of performing autonomous functions that include follow-me, waypoint navigation, and obstacle detection.

“The Type-X will provide equal or overmatching firepower and tactical usage to a unit equipped with Infantry Fighting vehicles. It provides means to breach enemy defensive positions with minimal risk for own troops and replacing a lost RCV is purely a logistical nuance,” said in a statement Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics.

The company did not say when it expects the machine to be ready for combat, but it did inform the platform has been already ordered by ten countries, seven of which are NATO members.

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About the author: Daniel Patrascu
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Daniel loves writing (or so he claims), and he uses this skill to offer readers a "behind the scenes" look at the automotive industry. He also enjoys talking about space exploration and robots, because in his view the only way forward for humanity is away from this planet, in metal bodies.
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