By 2023, the Israeli MOD Will Test Its New Robotic Combat Vehicle

Aerospace and Defense Review | Monday, July 18, 2022

The robotic combat vehicle will be revealed at Elbit Systems’ pavilion at the Eurosatory Defense & Security Exhibition.

FREMONT, CA: The Israel Ministry of Defense will start testing an unmanned robotic vehicle (M-RCV Medium Robotic Combat Vehicle), developed by the Ministry’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D), the Tank and APC Directorate, and the Israeli security industries.

The robotic combat vehicle will be revealed at Elbit Systems’ pavilion at the Eurosatory Defense & Security Exhibition. The vehicle comprises a new robotic platform type BLR-2 made by BL, a 30 mm autonomous turret developed by the Tank and APC Directorate for the “Eitan” APC, Elbit’s “Iron Fist” Active Protection System, fire control and mission management systems, and autonomous robotic kit, besides situation awareness systems. The vehicle also aspects a capsuled drone for forwarding reconnaissance and modern guard missions and a passive sensing kit created by Elbit Systems and Foresight.

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The technological demonstrator, headed by the Ministry of Defense’s DDR&D and the Tank and APC Directorate, integrates several cutting-edge technologies, including advanced manoeuvring capabilities, the ability to carry heavy and varied mission loads, and a built-in system for transporting and receiving UAVs.

The M-RCV is on display at the Eurosatory 2022 exhibition.

The vehicle includes sights, an IAI missile launcher, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems’ “Spike” missiles. The M-RCV’s qualifications include a highly autonomous solution for advanced guard and controlled lethality in all-terrain conditions. It is operational day and night in all-weather scenarios while highlighting operational effectiveness, simplicity, least operator intervention, and integration into heterogeneous unmanned arrays.

The system was cultivated as part of the autonomous battlefield concept led in the DDR&D in collaboration with the Tank and APC Directorate while implementing an open architecture for integrating future capabilities and the robot beside other tools and capabilities. The system is a common product of many years of investment by the DDR&D and the Tank and APC Directorate and is expected to start field tests during 2023 in representative scenarios.

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