{"id":39480,"date":"2021-09-13T13:20:17","date_gmt":"2021-09-13T13:20:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2021\/09\/13\/iai-debuts-new-hybrid-ground-robot-joining-the-uk-army-inventory\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:11:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:11:43","slug":"iai-debuts-new-hybrid-ground-robot-joining-the-uk-army-inventory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/dsei\/2021\/09\/13\/iai-debuts-new-hybrid-ground-robot-joining-the-uk-army-inventory\/","title":{"rendered":"IAI debuts new hybrid ground robot joining the UK army inventory"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 Israel Aerospace Industries<\/a> will debut REX MK II, its newest ground robot set to be fielded to British troops<\/a>, at DSEI, the London-based defense exhibition, which begins Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IAI<\/a> signed a contract with the UK in the second quarter of the calendar year and has sold the vehicle to other European countries, Rani Avni, IAI\u2019s deputy general manager for robotics and autonomous systems, told Defense News in a Sept. 12 interview ahead of the show. He declined to identify the other countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The light unmanned ground vehicle draws on IAI\u2019s previous experience building robotic vehicles, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

REX can perform a range of missions and offers improved maneuverability with all-wheel drive, the ability to climb obstacles, significant endurance and a large payload capacity of 1.3 tons, Avni said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hybrid-electric vehicle is capable of \u201csilent watch,\u201d meaning it can perform certain missions without running an engine that would allow for easy detectability by enemy forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The robot is also able to operate on land or amphibiously and can perform autonomous missions or be controlled by a single operator remotely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The robot is designed to support infantry and special forces, whether focused on intelligence gathering, logistical support or remote attacks, Avni said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With REX\u2019s payload, it can carry a large amount of food, water, munitions, medical equipment or other supplies and could help evacuate injured personnel on stretchers, he noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

REX comes equipped with a system of electro-optical sensors and radar that give it the ability to perform surveillance and reconnaissance for units at the tactical edge and can be armed with weapons like a 7.62mm machine gun and a .50 caliber heavy machine gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\t