German defense contractor Rheinmetall showed off its new Mission Master unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) platform at this year’s International Defence Industry Exhibition MSPO. The new platform includes Polish defense systems company WB Group’s WARMATE Loitering Munition, a multi-mission unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
#MSPO2019: #Rheinmetall Unveils #MissionMaster #UGV Armed with #WARMATE Loitering Munition System. #WBGroup https://t.co/krHQdKrs7U pic.twitter.com/Thy5sQzZSY
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WARMATE has a flight time of 50 minutes and can perform reconnaissance and combat missions, utilizing various warhead installations for different purposes.
Using a variety of modular payloads, The Mission Master UGV can perform multiple tasks, including acting as a mule, force protection, and surveillance. The UGV can also support troops for more than 72 hours, and it has a modular system with small generators which increase its level of autonomy to 9 days.
One of the most innovative systems on display at this year’s MSPO exhibition is the latest version of the Mission Master UGV from Rheinmetall, armed with the WARMATE Loitering Munition System. Rheinmetall has partnered with WB GROUP, Poland’s foremost defence contractor in the field of advanced technologies, to provide dismounted troops with high-precision strike capabilities.
As with other versions of Rheinmetall’s flagship autonomous vehicle, this new Mission Master – Protection is based on an 8×8 all-terrain platform capable of performing dangerous missions in hostile weather conditions, with the specific purpose of enhancing combat effectiveness. The integrated WARMATE micro combat unmanned air vehicle (UAV) opens up a range of new offensive and observation capabilities. It is capable of scanning the battlefield, detecting and determining exact enemy positions and, when the decision is made, engaging them. When an attack is aborted, the WARMATE can be recalled, can continue loitering, or be directed at another target.
Even more exciting, the new Mission Master – Protection features the first ever tube-launched system equipped with several WARMATE UAVs for performing surgical swarm attacks. This dramatically increases the unit’s combat power, while simultaneously augmenting the safety of dismounted troops in close combat operations as the whole system can operate out of the line-of-sight. “The use of micro combat UAVs on our Mission Master UGVs is an incredible opportunity for ground commanders” says Alain Tremblay, Rheinmetall Canada’s vice-president for business development. “Being able to observe hidden targets and conduct precise identification before initiating a surgical strike with minimal collateral damage is a real tactical advantage on today’s battlefield. And since both the Mission Master and the WARMATE are able to conduct certain autonomous operations, it reduces the number of military personal required and lets troops focus on mission success”, explains Tremblay.
Operators can command both the UGV and UAV from a mobile ground control station; a modern soldier system such as Rheinmetall Argus; or with Rheinmetall Command and Control Software installed in any user’s battle management system.
Source: Rheinmetall