Jammer resistant drone designs spark search for countermeasures
The Russia-Ukraine conflict has driven another stage of evolution for drones and the counter measures to defend against them.
Latest Mission Master variant performs dual role
Armed UGV collects intelligence while also adding frontline fire support
Rheinmetall has added a new member to its Mission Master eight-wheeled UGV family, to collect tactical intelligence and add frontline fire support.
Mission Master – Armed Reconnaissance is fitted with long-range EO/IR sensors, a surveillance radar, a 360° full-ring camera, a laser rangefinder and a laser designator, as well as the Rheinmetall Fieldranger Light RCWS with 7.62mm machine gun.
Autonomous functions are enabled by the Rheinmetall PATH autonomous kit.
However, Rheinmetall emphasised: ‘Engagement of targets is remote-controlled, never autonomous.’
The reconnaissance payload is installed on a 3.5m expandable mast with a tilting mechanism. This allows for increased and safe transportability on any platform, ‘even a CH-53 or CH-47 Chinook’, Rheinmetall added.
Power is provided to all eight wheels by an electric motor. This can propel the vehicle to a maximum speed of 30kph, notes Shephard Defence Insight. Although the Mission Master has an endurance of 72 hours in its standard configuration, this can be extended to nine days of continuous operation with extra battery pack modules.
Rheinmetall envisages the Armed Reconnaissance UGV operating alongside other Mission Master vehicles in a ‘Wolf Pack’ to accomplish a variety of missions, such as zone surveillance, reconnaissance, target position transfer and slew-to-cue.
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