British Army picks DCE for first operational UGV fleet

Digital Concepts Engineering has been selected to supply its X-series uncrewed ground vehicles to the British Army following a competitive procurement, in what the company describes as the British Army’s first operational UGV capability, according to the company.

Under the contract, the Leicestershire-based manufacturer will initially deliver fifteen X-series Universal Carrier platforms. DCE describes the order as the UK Ministry of Defence’s biggest to date for uncrewed ground vehicles. The company said production was underway and that the first vehicles were already in the hands of the British Army, deployed on Exercise Rhino Storm in Germany.

The X-series is designed to carry out a range of tasks including load carrying, casualty evacuation and surveillance. DCE said it would open what it called the UK’s first dedicated UGV factory at Hinckley, near Coventry, this summer, expanding its design, engineering and production work on robotic systems in the UK.

Mike McGinty, managing director of Digital Concepts Engineering, said the award marked a significant milestone for the firm and a step in the Army’s adoption of autonomous capability. “It reflects the strength of UK innovation and the exceptional work of our engineers, designers and manufacturing teams,” he said.

He added that the X-series had been developed with a focus on operational utility, survivability and scalability, and that platforms of its kind would become a more important part of future land capability as militaries integrated autonomy into front-line operations.

Uncrewed ground vehicles have moved up the British Army’s agenda as commanders look to reduce the exposure of soldiers to fire and to ease the physical burden of carrying supplies and equipment over difficult terrain. Roles such as resupply, the recovery of casualties under fire and forward reconnaissance are among those most often cited for the technology, since each places people in danger or under heavy load in ways a remotely operated or autonomous vehicle can take on. The war in Ukraine has accelerated interest across NATO armies, where small uncrewed systems have been used for logistics, surveillance and the evacuation of wounded personnel.

The procurement also fits a wider government emphasis on sovereign defence manufacturing, under which ministers have sought to direct equipment work to UK-based design and production.