IDV USA has been selected as one of four industrial participants in the US Army’s Engineer Autonomous Breaching Capability programme, which seeks to develop an unmanned vehicle capable of clearing minefields and other battlefield obstacles. The Leonardo company is proposing its VIKING uncrewed ground vehicle for the initiative. The VIKING can be operated remotely or autonomously and is designed to carry different mission payloads. Its autonomy software allows mission equipment to be integrated rapidly while supporting navigation in contested environments and areas where GNSS availability is degraded or denied. IDV describes the vehicle as a flexible platform for future engineering and manoeuvre missions. US Army Autonomous Breaching RequirementThe Army currently uses several systems for obstacle and minefield breaching, including the M1150 Assault Breacher Vehicle, mine plows, the MICLIC line-charge system and conventional demolition methods. However, the service has identified limitations in existing route-planning and breaching techniques. It has also stated that legacy systems such as MICLIC can be time-consuming to deploy and may be less effective against evolving adversary technologies. The EABC programme is intended to provide a faster autonomous method for overcoming complex obstacles and minefields while reducing the exposure of soldiers to danger during breaching operations. Other companies participating in the programme include Caterpillar, Forterra and Overland AI. Overland AI received a $20 million contract for the initiative during the previous week. The programme will move through demonstrations and technical assessments before a Transformation in Contact unit assessment planned for early 2027. Results from that evaluation will support the Army’s eventual production decision for next-generation autonomous engineering systems. VIKING UGV SpecificationsThe VIKING is a 6×6 uncrewed ground vehicle capable of carrying a 750-kilogram (1,653-pound) payload. Its payload area can be configured to accommodate different mission equipment and systems. A series-hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system provides up to 30 kilometres (19 miles) of electric-only operation and more than 300 kilometres (186 miles) when operating in hybrid mode. Maximum speed is 45 kilometres per hour (28 mph). The vehicle uses independent suspension and has 300-millimetre ground clearance. It can negotiate steps up to 350 millimetres and climb slopes of up to 60 percent. Its MACE autonomy system supports remote operation, teleoperation and autonomous missions. Functions include route following, reconnaissance, surveying and obstacle avoidance.
