LIGHTER 84MM
HEADS UP
ROBOTIC FUTURE?
Carrying an 84mm Carl-Gustaf will become easier with the introduction of the new M4 variant. Weighing 7.4kg and 99.9cm long, the new weapon is 2.6kg lighter and 6.6cm shorter than the M3 variant it will replace. The M4 84mm also features an adjustable shoulder rest and grip, along with a ‘transport safety’ position for the cocking lever, enabling it to be carried more safely while loaded. It can be fired via iron, telescopic or thermal sights or fitted with a high-tech fire control system. The first of 600 new M4s were delivered in January with the remainder to roll out over five years.
Brigadier Jason Blain examines an armed autonomous robot at the Army Robotics Expo at the Brisbane Convention Centre. Photo by Private Jacob Hilton.
Autonomous armoured vehicles might seem like the stuff of scifi and brain-controlled robots the stuff of nightmares, but they were among some cutting-edge technologies on display at the Army Robotics Expo in Brisbane in April. The expo was an opportunity for industry to show what they had available and for Army to see what might be worth pursuing. With themes outlined in the Army Robotic and Autonomous Systems Strategy – such as lightening soldier loads, efficiency and decision making – 55 companies took the opportunity to attend. With responsiblities for Army’s robotics and autonomous systems Colonel Robin Smith said the Army couldn’t afford to let technology move away from it. “We can’t control the rate of change so we need to stay abreast of it,” Colonel Smith said. Other technologies on display included remote-controlled underwater submersibles, autonomous multi-role vehicles, electric all-terrain vehicles and a hybrid rotary/fixed-wing drone.
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Support functions were also represented, with autonomous plant equipment and logistic robots that automatically move pallets, all displayed. An in-service MAN truck fitted with autonomous controls was demonstrated, which could potentially allow unmanned vehicles to form a convoy. Numerous flying drones, augmented and virtual-reality systems were also demonstrated. Colonel Smith said the expo was not a competition but a collaboration. “It’s for us to understand the state of technology, where it is, what it could do for us, where industry is moving, and to have the conversations with junior and senior leaders,” he said. “We’re looking for what appears to be useful to us. “There are opportunities in autonomy, but war is a human endeavour. “There will simply be more and smarter tools available to soldiers in the future to be more lethal and present on a future battlefield.”
Sergeants Anthony Martin (right) and Bryan De-Vall man a new Carl-Gustaf M4. Photo by Corporal Shane Kelly.
SUPPRESSORS FOR INFANTRY Infantry scouts forced to open fire could be a lot harder to locate following rollout of EF88 suppressors. Regular infantry battalions will be issued 500 suppressor kits to help Army develop doctrine and procedures for their use. Weighing just 270g and measuring 160mm long, the suppressors are designed to reduce the EF88’s audible and visible signatures, making it harder for an enemy to identify where shots are coming from. A suppressor manufactured by New Zealand’s Oceania Defence was chosen for its performance and weight. Receiving units are expected to develop their own tactics, techniques and procedures, which may influence a wider rollout.
