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Thales Australia and 3ME Technology have unveiled a new BladeHAUL multi-mission extra-large uncrewed ground vehicle at the Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition today.
Trials for the autonomous uncrewed vehicle, based on the well-established Bushmaster vehicle, are expected to take place with the Australian Army in the new year, according to a public statement from Thales at the expo. In addition, the platform is envisioned to take part in the next edition of Exercise Talisman Sabre.
Thales VP of land and GWEO, Andrew Downes, confirmed that the uncrewed vehicle is designed for multi-mission deployment, including transport of logistics to the front lines, mobile energy supply, deployable command posts, field support, surveillance, C-UAS and maritime strike missions.
Featuring shipping container locks on its surface, the vehicle has the capability to carry a 20-foot shipping container and a maximum weight of 10 tonnes.
Downes confirmed that the Australian-built hybrid electric self-propelled heavy-duty off-road autonomous platform is powered by a 3ME 660v power system with a range of 600km plus. The battery capacity is 110kWh and the platform is controlled by remote control and autonomous. In addition, the system is air transportable by A400M, C-17 and C-130 aircraft. Thales has also confirmed that the platform can be made fully electric.
BladeHAUL is expected to be used for applications including counter uncrewed aerial systems, radar, coastal defence with a littorial version, air defence and mine clearance with front-mounted mine rollers or snow plough-type dozer blade.
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