British Army explores Amazon-style delivery model
The Viking autonomous vehicle from HORIBA-MIRA is involved in Project Theseus. (Photo: HORIBA-MIRA)
Autonomous systems could meet future 'last-mile' logistics requirements for the British Army, with developments ongoing under Project Theseus.
The UK MoD has issued contracts worth £3 million ($4 million) apiece to three SMEs for work on Project Theseus to develop autonomous solutions for supplying frontline British Army troops as an ‘Amazon-style delivery service’.
Having considered proposals from more than 50 companies, and following initial work by the Defence and Security Accelerator and Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, the Future Capability Group (FCG) at MoD Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) selected UK companies HORIBA-MIRA and Marlborough Comms, as well as Israeli firm Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
These three companies will ‘accelerate the development of their systems to try and meet further challenges set by FCG and the British Army’, DE&S noted in a 25 January announcement.
Project Theseus envisages the use of self-driving air or ground platforms to deliver supplies — including ammunition, clothes, food and fuel — thereby reducing the need for personnel to risk their life ‘by entering into what are typically hostile environments’, DE&S noted.
It added that the desired ultimate outcome will be an end-to-end highly automated ground and air resupply network, enabled by a logistic information system and operating as an ‘Amazon-style delivery service’.
Project Theseus has already seen the British Army explore the use of robotic “dogs” to navigate rough terrain, help deliver supplies in war zones and investigate potential IEDs.
Maj Matt McGarvey-Miles, SO2C Robotic and Autonomous Systems for Future Force Development, said: ‘Robotic and Autonomous System capabilities will play an increasing role in delivering deployed sustainment in the near-future; doing so will increase combat power through increasing mass and tempo of resupply… leading to an increased probability of mission success.’
You may also like
More from Land Warfare
-
![Australia and Singapore open expanded training area in Queensland]()
Australia and Singapore open expanded training area in Queensland
Australia and Singapore have expanded Queensland’s Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA), adding advanced facilities and technologies to support larger, longer joint military exercises under their ongoing strategic partnership.
-
![Canada places $231 million order for 85 Rheinmetall HX trucks]()
Canada places $231 million order for 85 Rheinmetall HX trucks
Canada has become the 21st country to have ordered or operate HX trucks, of which more than 10,000 platforms have been sold in 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8 configurations worldwide.
-
![Lockheed Martin to increase PAC-3 MSE production by 70%]()
Lockheed Martin to increase PAC-3 MSE production by 70%
The company manufactured 380 missiles in 2023 and plans to build 650 missiles per year from 2027.
-
![Latvia enters talks to buy GDELS ASCOD IFV]()
Latvia enters talks to buy GDELS ASCOD IFV
The ASCOD is in service with, or has been ordered by, five countries. In the UK it forms the basis of the British Army’s Ajax and for the US it is the chassis for the M10 Booker.
-
![Latvia orders more Patria 6x6 vehicles]()
Latvia orders more Patria 6x6 vehicles
The first Latvian-made Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) 6x6 armoured personnel carrier was delivered to the Latvian National Armed Forces (NAF) in August, and more than 200 vehicles are expected to be delivered by 2029.
-
![Canadian tech firm makes promise to increase precision and longevity of weapons]()
Canadian tech firm makes promise to increase precision and longevity of weapons
Supplied by Paradigm Shift, EPVD technology has undergone trials with the US and Canadian services.
