BAE Systems today announced successful trials for its Autonomous Tactical Light Armour System (ATLAS) Uncrewed Ground Vehicle (UGV). The trials are part of the ongoing development for a next generation modular autonomous land capability designed to support main battle tank or combat reconnaissance vehicle capabilities. Launched at Land Forces in September 2024, the ATLAS Collaborative Combat Variant (CCV) has been the focus of significant trial activities at all levels of autonomy – from teleoperation to waypoint-based navigation, to full ‘sense and avoid autonomy’ – and is a fully functional prototype demonstrator. ATLAS represents a true combat multiplier – a fighting vehicle that increases combat mass and reduces the soldier’s exposure to risk.
The cost effective, modular, 8×8 uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV) — the Autonomous Tactical Light Armour System (ATLAS) Collaborative Combat Variant (CCV). The future battlefield will involve a mix of autonomous, semi-autonomous and human machine teams, generating combat mass and removing soldiers from many of the most dangerous tasks. The prototype platform is manoeuvrable and fast, making it an ideal companion for both tracked and wheeled crewed combat vehicles across difficult terrain and in all weather and environmental conditions. ATLAS CCV will operate using high levels of autonomy both on and off-road, complementing crewed counterparts such as infantry fighting vehicles and main battle tanks, at a lower cost.
The brains within ATLAS CCV are provided by our proven autonomous uncrewed systems architecture, which has powered other uncrewed aircraft and vehicle systems and autonomous missile defence technology. The system is capable of uncrewed dynamic vehicle behaviours such as accepting real-time control from a user (akin to remote control), autonomous geometric path following (a string of waypoints defining a path the vehicle follows) and path generation to avoid obstacles and navigate complex environments such as bushland.An advanced sensor suite integrated with the autonomy system enables vehicle self and situational awareness. The ATLAS CCV can identify, classify and understand the complex real-world environment in real-time and formulate appropriate responses to execute its mission.
The ATLAS CCV can be delivered in multiple payload configurations. As shown in the assault configuration, the vehicle is armed with a new, lightweight, affordable, highly automated medium calibre turret system called ‘VANTAGE’, designed for use on uncrewed platforms. The VANTAGE turret integrates BAE Systems’ passive Multi-Spectral Automatic Target Detection, Tracking and Classification System (ATTCS), delivering high levels of automated operation, reducing operator cognitive load, enabling one-to-many operation and reducing the probability of detection and the time to target engagement.
