Europe Military Unmanned Vehicles Market - Growth, Trends, Covid-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

Europe Military Unmanned Vehicles Market - Growth, Trends, Covid-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

The European Military Unmanned Vehicles Market is expected to witness a CAGR of over 7% during the forecast period, 2022 - 2031.

The impact of COVID-19 on the European military unmanned vehicles market was negligible, as the majority of the countries in Europe continued with their procurement and development plans. Several projects on semi-autonomous surface ships and submarines, next-generation small drones, and advanced UGVs of various sizes and capabilities are being developed through partnerships among EU countries.

Countries located in Eastern Europe have increased their investments in the procurement of military drones and UGVs in the past few years due to the growing militarization of the region by Russia. Due to the ongoing tension between United Kingdomraine and Russia, it is expected that the defense spending by the European countries will further increase in the coming years. Also, the changing nature of warfare will result in countries investing significantly in unmanned systems to protect their soldiers.

Manufacturers of military unmanned vehicles in Europe are also targeting the Asia-Pacific market, which has huge growth potential during the forecast period.

The first truly autonomous vehicle came into existence in the mid-1980s. Since then, various research and development efforts have been undertaken, giving rise to several advanced UGV prototypes. Artificial Intelligence (AI), which has established its presence across myriad fields, has gained significant popularity for defense and security over the past decade. The integration of AI is bringing more autonomy to military applications, particularly in unmanned machines and robots. These range from autonomous aerial vehicles to unmanned ground vehicles that can function with the help of environmental sensors and AI with little to no human intervention. Autonomous unmanned ground vehicles comprise several technologies that allow the machine to be self-acting and self-regulating, sans human intervention. The technology was initially developed to support ground forces in the transfer of heavy equipment. However, the technology has witnessed significant evolution over the years, giving rise to more tactical vehicles designed to assist in surveillance or IED search-and-destroy missions.

Unmanned ground vehicles possess several benefits in terms of their size and affordability, in addition to high survivability, which makes them ideal for defense applications across the world as security threats continue to become increasingly more unconventional. In 2020, Estonia and the Netherlands signed a joint procurement agreement for seven Milrem Robotics THeMIS uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs) through the Estonian Centre for Defense Investment (ECDI). Under the agreement, Milrem will deliver four THeMIS UGVs to the Royal Netherlands Army and three to the Estonian Defense Forces (EDF). Russia announced its plan to conduct large-scale tests of the Uran-9 armed unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) in 2022. Russia has been experimenting with different combat platforms, from smaller, less expensive vehicles like Nerekhta and Platforma to larger expensive ones like Uran-9. Similar developments and procurement plans are visible even in other European countries, which will drive the growth of this segment during the forecast period.

In recent years, United Kingdom has increased its defense budget and spending to strengthen its armed forces and fill the gaps in military equipment. In April 2020, the United Kingdom armed forces placed an order for four Mission Master-Cargo unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) from Rheinmetall Canada for its Robotic Platoon Vehicle (RPV) program. The Mission Master UGV is an all-terrain, multi-purpose vehicle based on an 8×8 platform and has a top speed of 40 km/h and is ruggedized and fully amphibious, with the option of being fitted with tracks or chains for additional mobility. The basic platform is 2.95 m long, weighs approximately 750 kg, and can carry a 600 kg payload (400 kg during amphibious operations). The cargo version can carry payloads for missions, including logistic transport, surveillance, protection, medical evacuation, fire suppression, chemical, biological and nuclear detection, and communication relay. The United Kingdom MoD’s Defense, Science, and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has also initiated a study on future UGVs for the British Army. The consortium led by Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) is exploring new approaches to UGVs as part of its wider Mounted Combat Systems research project. The study also aims to demonstrate how UGV capabilities can be integrated with other crewed platforms in maneuver warfare, providing an insight into what the British Army’s future force may look like. The program is also creating potential export opportunities for the United Kingdom.

The United Kingdom government is also modernizing its UAV fleet. In November 2021, the United Kingdom received a new General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) MQ-9A Reaper UAV. This additional Reaper was purchased to ensure sufficient overall fleet hours are available to continue supporting operations and provide resilience for a seamless transition from Reaper to Protector in 2024. The RAF is due to receive 16 Protectors, although the US government has approved the sale of 26. The United Kingdom has also placed an order for nano drones that can provide the soldiers with the required intelligence regarding the threat of enemies from a distance. The United Kingdom Royal Navy is also incorporating unmanned underwater systems to conduct covert missions. Britain’s Ministry of Defense is exploring options for the development of an Extra Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV) to conduct missions at distances of up to ranges of 3,000 nautical miles for three months at a time for the Royal Navy. Such developments are likely to drive the growth of the military unmanned vehicles market in the United Kingdom over the next decade.

The unmanned vehicle market in Europe is majorly dominated by OEMs based in Europe, United States, Turkey, and Israel. Some of the prominent players in the market include Thales Group, General Atomics, Rheinmetall AG, Milrem AS, and Safran. Europe offers a huge potential for new orders in the coming years as the countries look to strengthen their armed forces by incorporating unmanned systems within their fleet. Countries are also gradually developing local capabilities for unmanned vehicles through extensive research and partnerships. Competitive product pricing and innovation will play an important role for the companies in securing long-term contracts from the armed forces. Also, government support to local companies will help them to expand their research and develop new advanced unmanned systems.

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