Will Robots be the Soldiers of the Future?

Israel Defense Forces - May 28, 2015

When looking a decade ahead, the direction is clear for our ground forces – unmanned vehicles. The induction of these vehicles and robots into the battlefield will dramatically change the future of urban warfare, leading modern day combat into new and unexpected directions. 
In recent years, the very best minds of the IDF and the Defense Ministry have dedicated themselves to the development of advanced technology that may turn the tide in future conflicts. By improving technologies used by the IAF and the Israel Navy, in the next decade unmanned vehicles may become as common as drones.

Though there is still a long way to go before unmanned vehicles can be used on the battlefield, the first unmanned vehicle by the IDF has been patrolling borders for the last 6 years. The primary model, “Guardium,” is used mainly for observation. Its successor, “Border Protector”, expected to come into use this year (2015), will have the ability to patrol borders and deliver weapons and other paramount items to soldiers in the battlefield.

“Border Protector” is based off a modified Ford 350 vehicle and will be remote controlled. “It will be able to load more equipment, such as weapons and observation devices, than the previous model,” explains Maj. Lior Trabelsi, the Head of the Robotics Desk in the Weaponry Department of the Ground Forces.

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