The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has awarded a three-year contract to Iveco Defence Vehicles to spearhead concept development and field experimentation for robotic and autonomous systems (RAS). This initiative aims to enhance NATO’s operational edge by exploring the integration of unmanned platforms into military operations.
As part of the agreement, the Italian defense manufacturer will develop and test a combination of uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs) and uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) to demonstrate joint RAS capabilities under realistic combat conditions. The project seeks to validate the interoperability and effectiveness of these platforms in complex, multi-domain environments.
A central feature of the demonstration will be a unified, advanced command and control (C2) system. According to Iveco, this system will be distributed across designated network nodes, ensuring seamless coordination between the autonomous ground and air units during operations.
Importantly, end-users—such as military operators and decision-makers—will actively participate in shaping the system’s concept and application. Their involvement will ensure that the emerging technologies are aligned with actual battlefield needs and operational requirements.
