BANGKOK – The Defense Technology Institute of Thailand (DTI) announced today it will be evaluating the THeMIS robotics combat vehicle next year to determine its suitability for the country’s armed forces.
The company said the Royal Thai Army will conduct tests of the vehicle. The tests are designed to evaluate the vehicle’s capabilities in the harsh terrain and climate conditions where local armed forces operate. Milrem was demonstrating the vehicle last week during the Asian Defense & Security Exhibition in Bangkok. The system was presented to the country’s deputy prime minister and deputy minister of defense, as well as other officials.
Testing different tasks
The DTI said it will be looking at how the THeMIS RCV can assist armed forces as a supply transport, but also as an unmanned remotely operated weapon platform. This will be done in cooperation with Electro Optic Systems (EOS), with whom a development project is underway, Milrem said. The final product, named D-Iron, features the THeMIS RCV with the R400S-MK2 remote weapon station by EOS.
“We are very pleased to collaborate with Milrem Robotics and Electro Optic Systems with the THEMIS RCV and the R400-MK2 30mm M230LF Remote Weapon Station, to enhance the capabilities of the Royal Thai Armed Forces with effective unmanned systems,” said ACM Preecha Pradabmook, director general of DTI. “We will be conducting tests with various users in 2020 for other applications besides the weaponized Robotic Combat Vehicle.”
The THeMIS is a modular robotics combat vehicle that can be equipped with various payloads, including large and small caliber weapons, and utilized as an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platform, supply transport and an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) system. Milrem said the vehicle can carry a maximum payload of 1,200 kg, and move at speeds up to 25 km/hour. It can be equipped with an autonomy kit that allows independent point-to-point navigation, or follow a motorized convoy or dismounted unit.
“It’s a great honor for us to collaborate with DTI and Royal Thai Army during this evaluation,” said Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics. “The TheMIS has proven itself as a most capable RCV for very harsh conditions and environments. Milrem Robotics is determined to provide the Royal Thai Army the new capabilities that robotic warfare systems will bring to the battlefield.”
