British company North Defence Group says its new unmanned ground vehicle worked this week at ALPEX 2026, an exercise in Switzerland. Founder and chief executive Oliver North said on social media on Thursday that he had seen the vehicle in operation alongside other European defence technology companies.
According to North, the Swiss Armed Forces Logistics Organisation organised the exercise together with the Swiss Armed Forces and the European Defence Agency. In May the agency announced a second round of field tests this year at the Bure military area in the Jura region, for unmanned systems that carry military supplies.
According to the company, the electric or hybrid vehicle can carry more than 1,000 kg and is under 3 metres long, so two fit in a standard shipping container. It can trail a soldier or a lead vehicle, travel between waypoints on its own and, the company says, still find its way when GPS is jammed. An armoured compartment along its length can hold extra batteries or a wounded soldier.
North Defence first showed the vehicle on 9 October at the opening of its new factory in Elland, Yorkshire, and expects a full market launch later this winter. The company says the vehicle was engineered in Luxembourg, where it has a European headquarters and factory.
Background
North Defence Group
Defence company
A British maker of unmanned ground vehicles that started as North Fire, a maker of firefighting vehicles.
Oliver North
Chief executive of North Defence Group
The founder and chief executive of North Defence Group and a former British Army Royal Engineer.
ALPEX 2026
Military exercise
ALPEX 2026 is an international military exercise held at the Bure training ground in Switzerland.
