UNAC has been contracted by the French DGA to supply up to 34 heavy explosive ordnance disposal robots to the French Army under the ROBIN program.
The program is intended to equip engineering regiments with robust robotic platforms for reconnaissance and high-risk operations. The Gard-based company was selected over major competitors such as Arquus, KNDS, and Soframe.
According to the DGA, each 1,500-kilogram (3,307-pound) robot must be remotely operable from several hundred meters and feature an articulated investigation arm with a lifting capacity of 120 kilograms (265 pounds) at a reach of 3.8 meters (12 feet). The arm will include cameras and specialized tools, including a gripper, grid, and air blow gun.
The system is based on UNAC’s Fardier air-droppable all-terrain vehicle, already used by French special forces and airborne units. The Fardier carries 900 kilograms (1,984 pounds) of payload, with a trailer-boosted capacity of an additional 400 kilograms (882 pounds).
Safran Electronics & Defense will handle the integration of hardware and software, including vehicle control and data systems, while UNAC is responsible for the complete design, assembly, and field deployment of the platform, arm, and associated tools.
