The Arion-SMET is a state-of-the-art 6×6 unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) developed by South Korean company Hanwha Defense. The UGV is designed to support infantry soldiers in the battlefield in different situations, as it featuring a range of futuristic capabilities including autonomous driving; remote-controlled maneuvers; tether follow sensor; and manned and unmanned teaming (MUM-T) operations. Hanwha Defense has previously showcased an intelligence UGV (I-UGV), a four-wheeled 2-ton electric vehicle that can move at a top speed of 30 kilometers per hour on paved roads.
The South Korean defense contractor said in a statement that the field demonstration of an I-UGV began at an army infantry division to test various abilities such as remote control, GPS-based autonomous driving, and remote-controlled weapon system (RCWS). I-UGV will be remotely controlled or autonomously operated in battlefields for reconnaissance missions. The I-UGV can carry out missions such as reconnaissance, communication relay, logistics transport, casualty transport, and close combat. Hanwha Defense’s RCWS is an artificial intelligence-based weapon turret system. It can detect the sound of gunfire and fire back in the direction of the origin of the sound.
The remote-controllable six-wheeled I-UGV will try to reestablish its communication link with the control tower when it loses the radio signal. If it fails to re-link with the control tower, the I-UGV will autonomously return to its starting point. I-MPUGV will offer increased speed and range on a single battery charge compared with the MPUGV. The new vehicle will be capable of travelling at road and cross-country speeds of up to 40 km/h and 20 km/h, respectively, and will have a range of 100 km on a single charge. It also offers a payload capacity of 500 kg, which is more than twice that of the MPUGV, which can carry up to 200 kg of stores and equipment.
Hanwha Defense is a leading defense company in South Korea with multiple business branches around the globe. Hanwha Defense provides a wide range of advanced land defense systems from artillery systems, armored vehicles to air defense systems and unmanned ground systems. Hanwha’s reach back into the larger Hanwha will allow the company to pursue opportunities in every defence Domain. Hanwha Group is a large business conglomerate (chaebol) in South Korea. Founded in 1952 as Korea Explosives Co., the group has grown into a large multi-profile business conglomerate, with diversified holdings stretching from explosives, their original business, to retail and financial services.
