Skip to main content

British soldiers use remote 4x4s in military first

Published on: 24 Nov 2017

British soldiers have been using remotely driven all-terrain vehicles in a joint training exercise with their US counterparts in what has been lauded as a military first.

The Ministry of Defence's Science and Technology Laboratory and organisations from the US Army's Research, Development and Engineering Command took part in the week-long training course in the state of Michigan.

As part of the test, they used adapted Xbox-style controllers to remotely drive 4x4s in convoy, with a British Army MAN SV 6-tonne truck leading the pack and two US Light Medium Tactical Vehicle trucks following it.

The vehicles were able to drive at up to 25mph and utilise integrated robotics to make decisions about steering and speed.

It is hoped that this new approach will eventually be widely used to deliver food, fuel or ammunition to front-line troops, reducing the risk to human life while still covering the all-important 'last mile' up to battlefields that is typically heavily guarded.

Defence minister Harriett Baldwin said: "This exercise has proven the success of our ongoing investment in science and technology as we see concepts becoming reality. Delivering crucial food, fuel and ammo remotely will help save soldiers' lives."

The news comes after new defence secretary Gavin Williamson said in an interview with the Sun newspaper that he believes British-born fighters for the so-called Islamic State should be remotely killed by drone in Iraq and Syria.