NATO announced on January 19 that the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) awarded a contract to Milrem Robotics for the Concept, Development and Experimentation Services of Robotics and Autonomous Systems for the Italian Army.
During this 5-year framework contract, NSPA, through its contractor, will support the Italian Army’s strategy by experimenting force development and connected warfare, updating the Army RAS strategy and outlining an implementation roadmap for the introduction of uninhabited autonomous systems to the war fighter’s arsenal.
In particular, it will identify capability gaps for future warfare, assess operational solutions with the use of robotics and autonomous systems, select and develop operational tactics for particular multi-domain challenges and verify the contribution of this disruptive technology in force effectiveness, through field trials and pre-defined experiments.
NSPA Random Brokerage Services team is responsible for this project. “Our Customers recognize the benefits of emerging and disruptive technologies in multi-domain operations and connected warfare. We are extremely excited to support our Italian customer’s future force structures by acquiring autonomous robotic systems capabilities”, assured Ms. Céline Danielli, NSPA Programme Manager for the contract.
Mr. Orhan Muratli, NSPA Director of Support to Operations stated:
“Disruptive technologies will be a major driver that will transform our Allies’ operational requirements in the future. NSPA is ready to support NATO Nations and Partners by incorporating emerging and disruptive technologies in their capability portfolios.”
Emerging technologies are changing the nature of peace, crisis, and conflict. In recent years, NATO has stepped up its work on emerging and disruptive technologies, including and adopting an implementation strategy to ensure NATO’s edge in key disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence, data and computing, autonomy, quantum-enabled technologies, biotechnology, hypersonic technology and space.