ARMMO Defense Technologies and GDELS Santa Bárbara Sistemas integrated and launched ARMMO’s autonomous BANDIT-X interceptor from a tracked ASCOD HMC during the ATLAS 26 exercise in Huelva, Spain. Held from 19 to 23 October, the trial demonstrated a vehicle-launched configuration for a system designed to counter unmanned aerial threats, bringing an interceptor together with a mobile ground platform. It was an early practical result of the companies’ cooperation on autonomous technologies and mission systems for armoured vehicles.
BANDIT-X is developed by ARMMO. Company-provided performance estimates reported by Infodefensa give the interceptor a speed above 360 km/h, an endurance of 20 to 25 minutes and an operational range of 40 to 50 km, depending on conditions and mission profile. The ASCOD HMC is a modular tracked vehicle developed by GDELS Santa Bárbara Sistemas.
The companies have established a memorandum of understanding covering the development and integration of autonomous technologies and mission systems on armoured vehicles. No procurement contract, production decision, investment or development timetable has been reported for the demonstrated configuration. The trial also does not establish that it has been approved for operational service.