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.’
More from Land Warfare
-
![First UK-made British Army Boxer rolled out]()
First UK-made British Army Boxer rolled out
The first batch of 623 Boxer ordered were built in Germany with the majority of the work now done in West Midlands and North-East Wales.
-
![Bidders for the British Army Land Mobility Programme stir as the process begins]()
Bidders for the British Army Land Mobility Programme stir as the process begins
The UK’s Land Mobility Programme (LMP) is seen as vital for both the British Army and local industry as it is worth billions-of-dollars for thousands of vehicles.
-
![UK confirms launch of Joint Programme Office to support Poland’s air defence project]()
UK confirms launch of Joint Programme Office to support Poland’s air defence project
The establishment of the office, which will be based in Bristol, UK, will work to support NAREW, Poland's Ground Based Air Defence Programme.
-
![South Korea to develop long-range interceptor for Iron Dome by 2028]()
South Korea to develop long-range interceptor for Iron Dome by 2028
Around US$329 million will be spent on the development of the interceptor which will work to protect national and military facilities from the threat of North Korean artillery.
-
![Kongsberg Defence Australia to supply control stations to Poland under $12 million deal]()
Kongsberg Defence Australia to supply control stations to Poland under $12 million deal
The Naval Strike Missile (NSM) Coastal Defence System (CDS) command and control (C2) console is derived from the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System air defence console currently in service with the Australian Army,
