BAE Systems Australia has tested the VANTAGE Automated Turret System (ATS), demonstrating target engagement at an initial range of 750 meters (2,461 feet).
Developed in collaboration with Slovenia’s Valhalla Turrets, the VANTAGE will be mounted on the BAE ATLAS autonomous combat vehicle unveiled last year.
The test results exceeded expectations, said BAE Systems Australia’s director of Integrated Defence and Autonomy Systems, Kisa Christensen.
“We’ve come away from this test firing knowing that the VANTAGE ATS fires accurately and performs exceedingly well, demonstrating excellent performance, offering our customers the ability to integrate VANTAGE with a range of crewed and uncrewed platforms, and offering a lower acquisition cost through the adaptive reuse of legacy cannons already in service,” Christensen explained.
“Also, we’ve seen the performance of VANTAGE successfully verified during the conduct of the factory acceptance testing period,” she added.
VANTAGE Automated Turret
Optimized for operation on autonomous vehicles, the VANTAGE is controlled through a wireless link.
The turret is equipped with a 25mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun, and its scalable design allows for the installation of larger caliber weapon systems.
Also integrated with the system is BAE Systems Australia’s passive multi-spectral automatic target detection, tracking, and classification system, which helps reduce the operator’s cognitive load.
Future Tests With ATLAS
VANTAGE’s factory acceptance testing culminated with the test firing in Slovenia, paving the way for its re-integration with the ATLAS for vehicle dynamic testing and sub-system integration in Australia.
The ATLAS is a next-generation 8×8 unmanned ground system with the potential for a high degree of autonomy.
It is designed for “dirty and dangerous” tasks performed by manned systems, such as direct fire support, obstacle clearance, combat reconnaissance, and very short-range air defense.
