Estonian robotics firm offers new variant to help in Ukraine

LONDON — As the war in Ukraine highlights the need for new technologies, Estonia’s Milrem Robotics has developed a revamped weapon system, a variant of its unmanned ground vehicle that comes fitted with a loitering ammunition launcher.

Gert Hankewitz, the director of marketing and export control at Milrem Robotics, told Defense News at the DSEI trade show here that the company’s latest product is based on its flagship tracked platform and that the firm now hopes to secure new export orders. The robotic vehicle is part of the manufacturer’s efforts to expand the company’s range, he said.

“The basic THeMIS variant is intended for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, while our new vehicle is designed for combat,” he said. “The war in Ukraine is behind the rising interest in loitering ammunition systems, and this is our response to the increasing demand for such solutions.”

THeMIS vehicles are used in Australia, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Thailand, the UK, Ukraine, and the United States, according to Milrem. With the new product, the firm hopes to expand its international presence, Hankewitz said.

Set up in 2013, Milrem Robotics is headquartered in Estonia’s capital Tallinn. The Emirati holding Edge Group holds a majority stake in the manufacturer.

Jaroslaw Adamowski is the Poland correspondent for Defense News.

伦敦——随着乌克兰战争凸显出对新技术的需求，爱沙尼亚的 Milrem Robotics 公司开发了一种改进的武器系统，这是其无人地面车辆的一个变型，配备了巡飞弹药发射器。

Milrem Robotics公司市场营销和出口管制总监格特·汉克维茨在DSEI防务展上告诉《防务新闻》，该公司最新产品基于其旗舰履带式平台打造，目前公司希望获得新的出口订单。他表示，这款机器人车辆是制造商拓展公司业务范围举措的一部分。

“基本型THeMIS主要用于情报、监视和侦察任务，而我们的新型车辆则专为作战而设计，”他说道。“乌克兰战争促使人们对巡飞弹系统越来越感兴趣，而这正是我们对日益增长的此类解决方案需求的响应。”

据Milrem公司称，MIS车辆已在澳大利亚、法国、德国、印度、印度尼西亚、意大利、荷兰、挪威、沙特阿拉伯、西班牙、泰国、英国、乌克兰和美国投入使用。Hankewitz表示，公司希望借助新产品扩大其国际市场份额。

Milrem Robotics成立于2013年，总部位于爱沙尼亚首都塔林。阿联酋控股公司Edge Group持有该公司的大部分股份。

Jaroslaw Adamowski 是《防务新闻》驻波兰记者。