Australian Army Trials Vegvisir Mixed-Reality Tech on Unmanned M113 APC
The Australian Army recently conducted successful trials of the Vegvisir situational awareness solution on its retrofitted M113 armored personnel carriers (APCs). The trial explored how this cutting-edge, mixed-reality technology can enhance battlefield awareness and vehicle management, particularly in unmanned and optionally-manned scenarios. This shift reflects the growing global trend to modernize military vehicles by upgrading aging platforms rather than scrapping them—a strategy that extends the lifespan of once-outdated equipment like the M113.
The Vegvisir solution, developed by the Estonian-Croatian startup, provides an immersive experience for operators, combining 360-degree vision and real-time data with ultra-low latency. The system is made up of vehicle-mounted cameras and thermal sensors paired with an immersive headset. This setup gives operators a bird’s-eye view of their surroundings, allowing them to navigate complex environments and avoid threats more effectively. The system also includes features like bitrate limitation for each camera and custom driving aid lines, helping operators make precise decisions in the heat of battle.
The trials allowed Australian Army personnel to manage a fleet of unmanned vehicles from a single control hub, testing the Vegvisir Remote variant designed for unmanned or optionally-manned vehicles. The Vegvisir Core version, on the other hand, is tailored for fully manned vehicles, providing a flexible solution for a variety of battlefield scenarios. One of the standout advantages of the Vegvisir system is its ability to integrate seamlessly with older, converted platforms like the M113 APC, proving that even decades-old equipment can be updated for modern warfare.
The M113, once a staple of many military forces, is a tracked armored personnel carrier first developed in the 1960s. Its original design allowed it to carry up to 11 soldiers and a crew of two, making it versatile in various battlefield roles. However, with the advent of newer and more advanced vehicles, the M113 has gradually been phased out in many countries. The Vegvisir trials, however, demonstrate a new direction—rather than discarding the M113s, they can be retrofitted with modern tech to serve unmanned or optionally-manned roles.
This technological leap represents a massive cost-saving opportunity for the Australian military and others worldwide. As Vegvisir’s CEO Ingvar Parnamae pointed out, there are hundreds of thousands of aging armored platforms across the globe. Repurposing them with modern technology like the Vegvisir system could provide a significant return on investment for defense budgets.
The Australian Army’s decision to trial the Vegvisir system is a sign of their commitment to modernizing their military capabilities. The ability to control fleets of unmanned vehicles, monitor network quality in real-time, and utilize mixed-reality overlays could be a game-changer in future combat scenarios, especially as the nature of warfare continues to evolve with advancements in technology.
Vegvisir's success in these trials suggests the system could soon be a staple in the global defense sector, particularly for countries looking to maximize the efficiency of their existing military assets without the need for an entirely new fleet of vehicles. The Australian Army is positioning itself at the forefront of this shift, leveraging technology to transform how its vehicles operate on the battlefield.
