Estonia deploys Milrem Robotics THeMIS UGV to Mali

Estonia forces deployed to Mali are taking along their Milrem Robotics Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System (THeMIS) unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) for the next five months.

Gert Hankewitz, the company’s export director, disclosed that the Milgems Robotics newest THeMIS UGV will “support dismounted troops by carrying their gear and enhancing situational awareness as its primary function. Knowledge gained during the mission will be used for further research and development.”

The THeMIS can be outfitted with small- or large-calibre weapon systems, but can also serve as an IED detection and disposal platform. The possible uses for the THeMIS are almost limitless.

Not only but also, for enhanced situational awareness, the Threod Systems’ KX4-LE Titan unmanned quadcopter can be carried. The Threod Systems’ KX4-LE Titan unmanned quadcopter can reach a height of 80 m when tethered to the THeMIS and carry an electro-optical sensor payload weighing up to 4 kg so that it can relay geo-referenced surveillance imagery. The tether is used to supply power to increase the quadcopter’s endurance.

The THeMIS is designed so it can be equipped with a vast variety of payloads to perform a number of different tasks. These include functioning as a remote weapon station outfitted with large or small caliber weapons, detecting IED’s, operating as a drone platform or a remote surveillance station. However, there is four variant of the THeMIS UGV, thus, at the present time, it is not clear which variant of the THeMIS UGV is deployed to Mali.

The variants of THeMIS includes:

• THeMIS Transport (Combat Support UGV)
• THeMIS ADDER DM (Weaponized UGV)
• THeMIS with GroundEye (EOD UGV)
• THeMIS ELIX-XL (UAV Carrier)