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The companies have agreed to collaborate on the development of advanced autonomous capabilities.
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BAE Systems Australia has entered into a technical partnership with EPE, aimed at demonstrating autonomous capabilities via BAE Systems’ Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) program.
The program, which commenced this year, is focused on integrating BAE Systems’ advanced vehicle management systems into UGVs.
As part of the collaboration with EPE, announced during Land Forces 2022 in Brisbane, the companies are expected to jointly develop soldier support systems for the Australian Army.
EPE was initially tasked with providing platform, integration and engineering support ahead of Australia’s transition to HDT Hunter WOLF (Wheeled Offload Logistics Follower) UGV platforms — leveraging its UGV test and evaluation facilities in South-East Queensland.
Ultimately, the program aims to enable prototyping capable of developing certifiable mission systems.
BAE Systems Australia managing director for defence delivery, Andrew Gresham, said the collaboration would help grow sovereign autonomous capability.
“It’s critical for businesses like ours to collaborate with the Australian industry so we can successfully support the ADF and, working with companies such as EPE provides opportunities to work as one team, creating an environment that fosters innovation,” Gresham said.
“Having access to the EPE’s unmanned ground vehicle platform and magnificent test facilities here in South-East Queensland has helped us make significant advances in ground autonomy technology, and we look forward to furthering this work together.”
EPE’s director innovation and commercialisation, Ben Sorensen, welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with BAE Systems Australia — the land domain lead at the Trusted Autonomous Systems Defence Cooperative Research Centre.
“It’s been an extremely positive experience working with BAE Systems on a shared pursuit of a multi-domain, collaborative and autonomous robotics for Defence at our MILTECS test and assurance facility,” he said.
“Our technical teams are working collaboratively, both virtually and face-to-face, to advance the technology, enhance capability and significantly de-risk future Defence programs.”
[Related: BAE Systems teams up with academia to drive shipbuilding R&D ]
