Germany requires uncrewed land sensor systems

To bolster its battlefield situational awareness, Germany has launched a competition for the supply of 28 mobile uncrewed land sensor systems.  

Announced via the EU’s Tenders Electronic Daily on 4 May, the competition says that these mobile systems will be used during mounted and dismounted operations, providing reconnaissance “continuously and without delay”.  

The systems will travel in either a semi-autonomous fashion, based on pre-programmed waypoints, or through remote operator control. Avoiding obstacles during both day and night is a key requirement, along with the ability to work in adverse weather conditions – including when there is limited visibility.  

Although the sensor systems will be operationally independent, Germany highlights the importance of compatibility with currently available and future armoured personnel carriers and transport vehicles.  

Entering the competition  

Following a negotiation phase, a framework agreement will be awarded, covering the development, manufacture, and delivery of the systems and associated services.

Of the 28 systems to be supplied, 26 will be “ordered services”. This reflects a broader trend in the defence industry, where the ‘as-a-service’ model of procurement is gaining ground. However, Germany notes that financing for the ordered services is “not yet secured”.  

The agreement will last for four years and there is no opportunity for renewal.  

While Germany says that the competition is not open to SMEs, application consortiums my enter.  

Only one framework agreement is available and the deadline to participate is 10 June.