Hyundai Rotem to Develop Remote Unmanned Military Armored Vehicles and Self-Propelled Artillery

by Lee Dongwoo

Published 31 Dec.2020 08:46(KST)

Order Received for 15.2 Billion KRW Mobile Combat System Remote Unmanned Project

K1 tank manufactured by Hyundai Rotem

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] Hyundai Rotem is developing remote and unmanned operation technology for maneuver combat systems currently operated by the military.

On the 31st, Hyundai Rotem announced that it had won the first and second projects for the development of remote unmanned technology for maneuver combat systems commissioned by the Defense Industry Technology Support Center affiliated with the Agency for Defense Development. The total amount for the two projects is approximately 15.2 billion KRW.

The first project aims to develop common remote control and driving technologies that enable existing maneuver combat systems such as the K-series tanks, armored vehicles, and self-propelled artillery currently operated by the military to be operated remotely and unmanned according to battlefield conditions. The second project will secure remote unmanned application technology for the K1 tank by utilizing the technology developed in the first project. Both projects are scheduled to be completed by 2024.

This project is an important initiative to secure core technologies for future unmanned maneuver combat systems capable of responding to rapidly changing battlefield environments in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Once the common remote control architecture and remote autonomous driving technologies are developed through this project and demonstrated on the K1 tank, it is expected to minimize costs and lead times and reduce trial and error when applying remote unmanned technology to existing maneuver combat systems in the future.

Following the recent award of the rapid demonstration acquisition project for multipurpose unmanned vehicles last month, Hyundai Rotem has secured core technologies for unmanned systems and strengthened its competitiveness in related projects by also winning the maneuver combat system remote unmanned project. Through this, the company plans to actively participate in various unmanned system projects that will rapidly expand in the future and establish future growth engines.

Hyundai Rotem expects this project to serve as a foundation for securing unmanned system technology and expanding future business. To win this project, the company first focused on analyzing operational concepts centered on the K1 tank by leveraging its know-how as the developer and manufacturer of the K-series tanks and preparing competitive planning proposals.

Additionally, Hyundai Rotem concentrated on demonstrating its possession of advanced technological capabilities necessary for project execution, including applying Hyundai Motor Group’s advanced unmanned technologies.

Previously, Hyundai Rotem has won various unmanned system development projects commissioned by national institutions, including the outdoor fire suppression robot development project in 2005, multi-sensor-based autonomous driving experimental vehicle in 2007, the transport robot platform for manned and unmanned driving in 2009, bird deterrent robot platform in 2010, and light combat unmanned surveillance reconnaissance experimental platform in 2011. The company has also concurrently developed products through self-investment, such as the dual-use multipurpose unmanned vehicle ‘HR-Sherpa.’

In particular, the HR-Sherpa, based on excellent unmanned driving capabilities such as remote driving, dependent driving, and waypoint autonomous driving, successfully demonstrated its mission performance and autonomous driving capabilities at major events including the ‘2019 Korea-ASEAN Special Summit,’ the ‘72nd Armed Forces Day Commemoration,’ and the ‘2020 Korea Defense Industry Exhibition,’ earning recognition for its quality and technological prowess. Hyundai Rotem plans to supply two enhanced performance models of the HR-Sherpa to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration through the rapid demonstration acquisition project for multipurpose unmanned vehicles.

A Hyundai Rotem official stated, “Remote unmanned operation of existing maneuver combat systems will enable flexible operation switching between manned and unmanned modes depending on the situation, improving user survivability. We will continue research and development to lead future unmanned systems and expand our business areas.”