German defence startup ARX Robotics is working with General Dynamics Land Systems UK to integrate autonomous ground vehicles with the British Army’s Ajax fleet, creating robotic “wingmen” that could scout ahead of crewed armoured vehicles and take on higher-risk missions.
Initial work will focus on connecting ARX’s Hector uncrewed ground vehicle with Ajax and examining its use in reconnaissance, surveillance, protection and combat missions.
The idea is to allow soldiers inside Ajax to command robotic vehicles operating around them. Those systems could push sensors farther ahead of the crewed vehicle, carry equipment or other payloads and enter areas where commanders may not want to risk soldiers.
The project is still at an early stage. For General Dynamics, the partnership is also a way to expand what Ajax can do.
The British Army programme dates back to 2014 and has suffered years of delays and technical problems. Most recently, use of the vehicles was halted following reports of health problems among soldiers. Ajax vehicles are now being returned to Army users in phases following changes to the vehicles and an investigation into the problems.
Adding autonomous systems would move Ajax toward the British Army’s growing focus on crewed and uncrewed teams. Rather than treating an armoured vehicle as a single platform, Ajax could become the centre of a small network of vehicles, sensors and weapons spread across the battlefield.
The Munich company, founded in 2022, develops autonomous ground vehicles as well as Mithra OS, software intended to add autonomous functions to both new and existing military vehicles. ARX has raised €42 million and says its technology could eventually be fitted to more than 50,000 NATO vehicles.
ARX is also building out its manufacturing and support network across Europe. The company recently announced plans to invest tens of millions of euros in Poland, where it is establishing a local company, headquarters, training operations and maintenance facilities. Poland becomes its fourth European market.
That expansion follows the creation of ARX Industries, a joint venture with Ukrainian robotics company Roboneers announced in June. The venture plans to manufacture several thousand Rys Pro unmanned ground vehicles during its first year before increasing production toward tens of thousands annually.
The Ajax partnership brings the same model to one of Britain’s biggest land programmes.
If the concept moves beyond the demonstration stage, a vehicle programme conceived more than a decade ago could find itself with a very different job: commanding robots.
