Exercise Autonomous Warrior set to be a game-changer
Army test out future tech on Salisbury Plain
It is a bright and crisp day on Salisbury Plain - one of the better days that the Exercise Autonomous Warrior team has encountered during the month-long exercise. Amidst the horizontal rain, sleet, light snow showers and the occasional gale-force winds, they have been busy - hard at work on the biggest military robot exercise in British history.
Almost 70 different types of robotic and autonomous systems were being put through their paces by over 200 multi-national, cross-service personnel during the month. Data crunchers, industry partners and academia alongside the US Army, Royal Marines, RAF and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) were taking a closer look at futuristic technology including enhanced surveillance drones and unmanned vehicles.
The idea was to identify technology that would complement and amplify the work of soldiers of tomorrow on the battlefield, ultimately saving lives.
There has been good reason for the Army to carry out such an exercise too. As Brigadier Kevin Copsey, Head Future Force Development, Directorate of Capability puts it:
“Conflict now is going to be contested not just in the physical domain, but in the virtual domain.
So, we have to protect ourselves from that potential eventuality.”
From the pocket-sized Black Hornet nano UAV to the Polaris MRZR X, a light four-wheeled off-road vehicle and ultimately to the unmanned Warrior tracked armoured vehicle, members of the Royal Tank Regiment Battle Group from 1 Armoured Infantry Brigade have tested some of the world’s most versatile reconnaissance tactical robotic systems.
Technology is being stress-tested to see if it can hold its own during different stages of conflict including surveillance, targeting, re-supply as well as situational awareness and engagement. So innovative technology that secures supply routes, can save lives so human beings are only put into situations when absolutely necessary.
The Defence Innovation Fund with £800 million is to help with ventures exactly like this one, with the aim to transforming both defence and British industry.
As the Defence Secretary put it as the exercise was being wound up:
‘The focus of Exercise Autonomous Warrior has been all-out innovation. The British Army has worked very closely with industry and our US partners to test cutting-edge technology in real-life situations.
From securing our resupply routes to improving communication between troops on the ground, we have tested all kinds of prototype unmanned or autonomous vehicles designed that will protect soldiers during combat, ensuring they are ready to respond to the threats of today and tomorrow.’
