The D-Iron RCV (Robotic Combat Vehicle) is an unmanned tactical combat vehicle developed by Thailand's Defence Technology Institute (DTI) in collaboration with partners. It represents the future weapon system for the Royal Thai Army and has entered combat for the first time against Cambodia. Based on the THeMIS UGV platform from Milrem Robotics, it can be equipped with heavy weapons such as a 30mm cannon, intended to conduct combat operations in high-risk areas, thus reducing soldiers' exposure to danger. Key features of the D-Iron RCV include its design as an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV). Developed by DTI along with allied agencies, it builds upon Milrem Robotics' THeMIS UGV from Estonia to replace soldiers in tactical combat and close-range heavy weapon assaults, reducing personnel losses. The D-Iron RCV is armed with an automatic 30mm cannon designed for target engagement, developed and tested for use by the Thai military.
The Defence Technology Institute of Thailand and the Royal Thai Army jointly tested the D-Iron RCV's capabilities in traversing steep slopes, water fording, and navigation across terrain in Sa Kaeo province in late September 2023. The autonomous combat vehicle also underwent live-fire tests during both day and night as part of an evaluation by the Ministry of Defence's Armaments Standards Committee. The unmanned D-Iron RCV is built on Milrem Robotics' THeMIS Combat UGV platform, first unveiled by DTI at the end of 2019. It is currently fitted with the R400S-Mk2 remote weapon station from Australia's Electro Optic Systems and a 30mm M230LF cannon from Northrop Grumman. It also has the capability to be equipped with anti-tank guided missiles.
D-IRON is a tactical robot developed by DTI in cooperation with the Royal Thai Army. It is an armed unmanned vehicle that enhances safety by conducting operations autonomously with remote control. Its quiet operation makes it suitable for patrol, surveillance, and precision target destruction missions. Designed as a tracked vehicle, it performs well across various terrains and operates effectively both day and night.
D-IRON integrates the small-sized THeMIS UGV (Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System Unmanned Ground Vehicle) from Estonia's Milrem Robotics as a platform, equipped with the lightweight EOS R400 Mk2 remote weapon station from Australia's Electro Optic Systems. It mounts the 30mm M230LF Chain Gun from Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems of the United States, with a 150-round ammunition capacity. This configuration makes it a powerful robotic combat vehicle capable of destroying reinforced bunkers, eliminating personnel, and effectively engaging combat vehicles, including lightly armored vehicles and tanks, with precision and efficiency.
The EOS R400 Mk2 weapon station is equipped with a daylight camera with a detection range of 12,000 meters, a thermal imager with a 13,700-meter detection range, and a laser range finder with a 4,000-meter range. It has a line-of-sight operational radius of 1.5 kilometers, matching the effective firing range of the 30mm cannon, which can shoot up to 4,000 meters. The entire system weighs 455 kilograms.
The tactical RCV measures 240 cm in length, 200 cm in width, and 115 cm in height. It has an empty weight of 1,630 kg and a maximum payload capacity of 1,200 kg. It can reach speeds of 25-30 km/h and operates for extended periods with a hybrid powertrain: 15 hours running on fuel and 1.5 hours in silent electric mode. It can ford water up to 60 cm deep. Its radio control operational range is 1,200 meters in terrain and 2,000 meters in open areas. The vehicle is operated by a crew of two: one controlling movement and one managing weapon firing. Each unit costs between 60 and 70 million baht.
Source: Sompong Nondhasa
The D-Iron RCV is an attack robot optimized for border surveillance, patrolling, counterinsurgency, anti-tank operations, and logistics transport. Previously, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the research and development of unmanned aerial vehicle and counter-UAV systems. Thailand's interest in armed unmanned ground vehicles aligns with similar technological developments in the United States and Europe. Earlier, the U.S. Department of Defense issued a request for rapid prototype robotic combat vehicles (RCVs) to meet the U.S. Army's needs for lightweight, easily transportable RCVs, with prototype deliveries planned for the first quarter of 2025 and production and deployment by 2030.
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AAG_th Daily Reporthttps://aagth1.blogspot.com/2022/02/milrem-robotics-themis-d-iron-ugv-dti.html