ARX Robotics and Supacat sign MoU for British manned-unmanned teaming

With ARX Robotics and Supacat signing an MoU, the British MoD could tap into a rich seam of uncrewed developments. The two aim to support the development of manned-unmanned teaming using legacy platforms.

By Sam Cranny-Evans, editor of Calibre Defence, published on April 28, 2026.

ARX Robotics and Supacat have signed an MoU to collaborate on the development of robotic vehicles for land forces. According to an April 28 press release, the companies have agreed to integrate uncrewed ground systems with high mobility platforms. These platforms are intended to support manned-unmanned teaming.

ARX Robotics will be providing its uncrewed ground vehicles (UGV) and Mithra, its command-and-control software suite. The company has already worked with the British Army, supplying its Gereon UGV for Exercise Haraka Storm in 2025. More recently, ARX Robotics secured a contract from Task Force RAPSTONE in support of “Recce-Strike experimentation activity.”

Integrating platforms like Gereon into Supacat’s Jackal 2 could offer a useful extension to the sensor range of the UK’s reconnaissance troops. Exploring the role of UGVs in this way makes sense, but they may face competition from aerial alternatives, which tend to be more mobile and are better understood.

The two companies are also planning to work on developments for existing platforms in the UK’s fleet. Phil Applegarth, Director, Head of Supacat, said:

“Our work together on optionally crewed vehicles such as the Jackal, will demonstrate how existing platforms can be transformed to meet tomorrow’s challenges.”

Building on this, the press release summary states that they will, “develop optionally crewed legacy vehicles which can be operated remotely or autonomously.” Those platforms will be able to integrate “seamlessly into today’s digital battlefield,” it adds.

Calibre comment: Sweating the legacy fleet

The British Army has a large legacy fleet of armoured vehicles that could be repurposed into uncrewed or autonomous systems. While the ARX Robotics and Supacat MoU likely focuses on Supacat’s Jackal/HMT family, there are opportunities beyond that. For example, the UK has a number of surplus Challenger 2 hulls. Additionally, the out of service date for the Warrior IFV is supposedly approaching. All of these platforms have established training and maintenance pipelines. This should in theory make it easier to continue using them in a different role. That is assuming the parts and industrial base are available to do so. Nevertheless, it is reasonable to assume that the Jackal and Coyote fleet produced by Babcock and Supacat will remain in service for some time. Building autonomous or robotic versions of those platforms could provide a route to the hybrid force the British Army hopes to achieve.