BAE Systems Australia has successfully tested its VANTAGE Automated Turret System (ATS), demonstrating effective target engagement at a distance of 750 meters (2,461 feet). This advanced turret system has been developed in partnership with Slovenia’s Valhalla Turrets and is set to be mounted on the BAE ATLAS autonomous combat vehicle, which was unveiled last year.
Kisa Christensen, director of Integrated Defence and Autonomy Systems at BAE Systems Australia, reported that the test results surpassed the team’s expectations. “We’ve come away from this test firing knowing that the VANTAGE ATS fires accurately and performs exceedingly well,” Christensen stated. She emphasized that the system’s performance provides customers with versatile integration capabilities with both crewed and uncrewed platforms. Additionally, she noted the potential for a lower acquisition cost through the adaptive reuse of existing legacy cannons already in service.
The VANTAGE Automated Turret is specifically optimized for operation on autonomous vehicles and features wireless control capabilities. It is outfitted with a 25mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun, and its scalable design allows for the installation of larger caliber weapons as needed. Furthermore, incorporated into the system is a passive multi-spectral automatic target detection, tracking, and classification system developed by BAE Systems Australia, which is designed to alleviate the cognitive load for operators during engagements.
The completion of factory acceptance testing and the recent test firing in Slovenia positions the VANTAGE for further integration with the ATLAS vehicle, which will undergo dynamic testing and sub-system integration in Australia. The ATLAS is an 8×8 unmanned ground system characterized by a high degree of autonomy. It is engineered to undertake “dirty and dangerous” tasks typically carried out by manned systems, including direct fire support, obstacle clearance, combat reconnaissance, and very short-range air defense operations.
As BAE Systems Australia continues to advance its capabilities in autonomous military technology, the successful deployment of the VANTAGE Automated Turret System represents a significant step forward in modern defense solutions.
