Remote control firepower on land and from the air was tested by the Australian Army at recent wargames across northern Australia.
The Army used Talisman Sabre to test the Modular Robotic Vehicle (MRV) with remote weapon stations, and first-person view drones (FPVD), for the first time in a combat field environment.
Officer Commanding Major Tom Fisher said the MRV currently used an armoured Personnel Carrier as a “test bed”, with 50-calibre machine guns or M23D minigun remote weapon stations attached.
Major Fisher said the technology allowed soldiers to control the vehicle and weapon station using a remote control from up to a kilometre away.
He said the FPVDs were operated the same way, using a headset and hand controller.
“These drones can travel up to 20 kilometres from the operator, reaching speeds of up to 70km/h with the ability to provide a strike function when weaponised with a payload.
“It allows the warfighter to strike targets at range without placing themselves at risk.”
Major Fisher said the new equipment was tested in a range of tactical scenarios, providing commanders with new opportunities on the battlefield.
“Being able to implement the MRV and FPVD into a battlegroup, conducting tactical actions and seeing how other people would utilise the equipment is really exciting,” he said.
“The capability is quite early on, but looking to the future, this kind of capability can bring a heavy amount of firepower to bear without putting soldiers in harm’s way.”
