Project: Defence UGV Development
Client: Australian DoD
The Warfighter UGV was a codevelopment under a Defence Innovation Hub project with BIA5 and supported by Electro Optics Systems with Cyborg providing the vehicle control, autonomy and systems integration.
Scope: Concept → Low Run Production
The project involved the full systems engineering lifecycle taking the product from TRL 5 to TRL 8 over 18 months, with operational testing from Special Operations, Dismounted Combat and 1 Armoured Regiment.
The original BIA5 platform was a much smaller, lower speed system, which was made wider to support additional battery capacity, payload, new gearboxes and motors, and an autonomy pack.
The platform was developed to carry 50% of a sections stores and operate for 72 hours under standard infantry operations, whilst able to operate infantry and crew served weapons.
This resulted in a very lightweight platform relative to the payload, able to traverse extensive terrain and fully modular for payload attachment.
Full environmental testing was performed before handover of multiple systems to the Australian Defence Force. A number of these systems are still used in development units within defence.
Program evolution
Warfighter UGV Timeline
From early development to multi-platform deployments. Select a milestone to explore the journey.
Development of the Warfighter unmanned ground vehicle program begins, establishing the foundation for a field-ready robotic capability.
The program reaches its first live-fire milestone, moving the Warfighter UGV from development into practical demonstration.
A partnership with the Australian Defence Force aligns continued development with dismounted combat requirements and operator needs.
Warfighter systems are delivered to the Australian Defence Force, marking a major transition from development to operational evaluation.
The platform completes a major live-fire certification milestone, validating its progress through a demanding program phase.
The program advances to PCC5 multi-platform activity, demonstrating the continuing expansion of its platform capability.
Warfighter capability is deployed during Talisman Sabre, placing the system in a large-scale exercise environment.
The journey continues internationally through the US Department of War Project FlyTrap, opening the program's next chapter.